My experience of coming off sertraline

I've been wanting to come off meds of 200mg a day sertraline for a while. Been taking it for two years now and feel so much better. Only problem is that I have gained 3 stone in weight.

I've been reading thru some of the topics - all helpful, so will ring gp tomorrow

Julie,

I've been weened off the medication for 7 weeks now. All the withdrawal symptoms are gone but unfortunately the weight has decided to stay . Good luck with your journey.

Julie I have gained three stone in weight and never knew it was because of that sertraline. I'm really angry, because I've been moaning About my weight for nearly a year now. I have also read some things today that indicates that they can cause weight gain. I am actually a herbal life distributor for weight loss and I have lost weight but it's the cravings that I keep getting that are what is making me keep the weight,

Apparently it's something to do with the serotonin Levels and sugars I've don't really know much about it so I would ask your doctor as I am doing the same tomorrow when I was on the citalopram I was at my skinniest because I had lost weight and then I cracked back up to my normal weight. I'm not sure if I should go back to citalopram or not

I've started reducing but only by 50mg - so I'm still taking 150mg t night time. No side effects but its only day four. I'm seeing my doctor next week, and will def be talking about some of the points everyone have made.

I know a lot of people are going to think im silly but,i was on 150mg a day of sertraline for 3 months, I stopped taking them cold turkey 3 weeks ago. at first I noticed nothing, THEN a week into not taking them, I started getting like massive dizzy spells and like little electric shocks in my head and limbs! I have read that a lot of people are getting these wilst even being weaned off and calling them brain zaps!! im getting a little worried now, its been weeks now and they just seem to be getting more intense and are now coming along with spouts of heart palpitations! I loose my balance and stuff... I stopped the tablets because my anxiety went through the roof wilst on them, an no matter what my doctor told me to stay taking them religiously I couldn't no longer, I feel so much better mood wise without them wich I find VERY STRANGE as I thought they were supposed to help!! its not like I didn't give them time to work either, I was having the feeling of jumping out of windows and off buildings on them like never before!!! I wasn't even scared it was like a normal thought and the only reason I didn't was because I thought of my mum and dad and what it would do to them. im currently still on the mend, but im doing it alone, with out medication. IF I had known how my body and mind would of reacted to coming off these pills and being on them, I never would of agreed to take them, all the withdrawls are not explained AT ALL!! tablets are just thrown at you!! im disgraced I was ever even put on these tablets as they destroyed my life for a short period of time. not knowing how I felt, if I was happy or sad, strangest feeling I have ever experienced in my life. these brain zaps and palpitations are really starting to worry me...! will they ever stop? and when? I feel like some sort of junkie coming off drugs its a joke and absolutely disgusting that nothing was explained to me before hand. please someone help with some good advice. thank u xx

Well I've now reduced my dose from 200mg down to 100mg. Taken at night before before bedtime.

No real side effects, but I am seeing gp tomorrow to get checked out and to discuss how I can reduce this weight I have gained since taking Sertraline

Hi Nicola,

I did the same thing as you and went cold turkey recently. I was originally on 100mg of Sertraline then when that didn't work they increased the dose to 200mg. I then started to get really bad physical side effects and so they advised to go back down to 100mg which they advised would resolve the side effects issue, which it did, but I felt it was pointless being on them as the 100mg wasn't doing anything in the first place and didn't understand what the point was on staying on them.

After a couple of weeks of going back down to the 100mg I decided to stop taking them altogether, which isn't the most sensible idea I realise now, but I guess you're the same as me and thought you'd be better coming off them as they mess with your mind and body so much.

Anyway, it's been 2 weeks now since i've not been on medication at all and I'm suffering some of the same kind of things as you - my balance can be really off, I've had heart palpitations and also i've been having these waves of fuzziness/dizziness and feeling really really sick. I wouldn't describe my feelings as 'zaps' like a lot of other people are experiencing but today these waves of fuzziness/diziness have been a lot worse for some reason.

I've done a lot of research and it seems all of this is really common and I believe from what i've read that it could take up to 4 weeks before we will be back to normal, depending on the person. I've not read anywhere that it is a long term thing. Like you I feel better for coming off the medication, my anxiety has been much better the last two weeks and i also find it easier to function and so it makes life slightly easier at the moment as i've not been able to go to work for nearly 3 months. It makes me angry too that I believe the medication made me worse and has delayed my recovery - if that time will ever come for me.

I agree with you in that doctors just give out this medication and don't warn you about anything. Even when i go back for check ups every 2 weeks or so the doctor never asks if i'm experiencing any side effects. I'm seeing an NHS Psychiatrist tomorrow and hoping they will recommend a better antidepressant that might actually work and not make me feel worse!

I hope what i've said helps to put your mind at rest a little but obviously i'm not an expert and am just going by what i've read from other people's experiences and my own x

Hi

New to this forum and so pleased i found it..

I have been on Sertraline 50mg just over 18 months now, having lost my mum suddenly...

since being on them i have had counseling which has helped alot and now i feel its time to come off them.as really it was only ever a short term thing, i have come to term with alot but need my life back...

As everyone has said i felt while taking them i have been emotionless(which has been a good thing) regarding what happened..but you feel like your wrapped in cotton wool, forgetfulness, is horrible which isnt me at all, loss of concentration when people are talking to me, slow weight gain which i did not realise until reading others posts..

so now i have been taking 25mg for about 2 week now..my own doing, and in the next coupe of days going to 25mg every other day and wean myself off that way..been having hot episodes and headaches coming and going..just not sure what to expect from these shock things people have had..

really need to get back to being me....

xx

Hi, just a quick update.

Doctor is supporting me thru reducing my sertraline. She suggested take 100mg for three more weeks, then reduce to 50mg. I'm doing ok on 100mg, no side effects, and I feel happier in myself.

I'm plsd I've reduced from 200 down to 100 and I know I can eventually be off these altogether. My mood is quite level and like others have said - feeling less anxious too.

I hop everyone else is ok

It's really interesting and helpful reading everyone's experiences. Being depressed is a lonely experience, but coming off the drugs can appear worse. I've now been off one whole week, after taking 6 weeks decreasing gradually from 100 mg. twice as long as suggested by my GP. It was bad enough decreasing with headaches nausea, and dizziness. I now cry all the time. I can't get an appointment with my Doc until next week!

Having been on antidepressants for nearly 20 years I am now scared that this weepy weak person is the real me...not someone I want to be.

Has anyone got a positive story to give me hope?

hi..deb36.

i havent been on these tablets half as long as you have but coming off them slowly im feeing the same as you with the weepyness, im hoping this is something that will go eventually...

all i feel i can say is just take one day at a time..xxxxx

Thanks Janine26. I just hope I don't alienate too many people in the process. I'm by myself now, and have to work., but I am determined not to go back on the tabs.

Best of luck with yours. xx

Guys has anyone had bad experience from changing from 100mg to 40 mg citralopram.

Last night I had the ambulance out, I've never had such a bad panick attack. I thought the devil was inside me and I wanted to just curl up and die, finally after two hours I calmed down, feel really shit today. But the dr said to me he doesn't know and can't say if its my citralopram.

Has anyone had the same thing, I've honesty never felt like this before.

I actually wanted to send myself to a mental home.

Xxxx

Hi, cannot comment on the drug u r taking, but well done on calling for help. You need to feel safe, just try and stick with yr plan to reduce dose. Drink plenty of fluids to help flush out yr system

Just done a long update and now lost it....