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My experience of coming off sertraline

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I have found this site very helpful during the period that I was taking sertraline and felt I should share my experiences of coming off the drug, in the hope that they may be of help to others.

I was diagnosed with depression last year and have been on 200mg of sertraline for approx 10 months. I also had some therapy during this period and recently took the decision (with my doctor's support) to come off the medication. Wary of repeating the experiences some other posters on this site have had I resolved to reduce my dosage gradually over a period of about a month (more gradually than suggested by my doctor).

Each week I reduced the dosage by 50mg a day. So week one I went down to 150mg a day, week 2 100mg a day etc. The first two weeks were fine with no real changes. By the end of week 3 I began to feel a bit light headed, with hot sweats and dry-mouth also returning. As a result I remained on this dose another week instead of stopping altogether in week 4.

I have now been 5 days with no sertraline and have found the experience of quitting surprisingly easy. I still feel a little light-headed now and again, but other side effects I suffered during the full dose (yawning, tiredness, sexual dysfunction) have all but gone, and although I kind of miss the 'wrapped in cotton wool' feeling I am glad to be back to life without medication.

For what its worth I would suggest that gradual reduction of dosage is the most effective way to avoid the worse of the side-effects experienced when coming off sertraline and that the good news (for me anyway) has been the speed at which the side-effects disappeared.

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  • summer.harley
    summer.harley

    Posted

    Hi Janine, are you still having the bad head aches etc after 2 weeks? Do you know how long it lasts? Sometimes my headaches are so bad I just don't know how much more I can take, I'm tablet free just 8 days now
  • julie393
    julie393

    Posted

    Well done to those if you who have been meds free

    I'm working my way towards that.

    Perhaps if headache is so bad have a couple paracetemol and drink plenty of water to help flush toxins from body. Try to get some you time so you can relax and refresh yr mind. Never forget how well you gave done

  • timty
    timty

    Posted

    Thanks for the numerous experiences! They're really interesting and helpful.
  • londoner
    londoner

    Posted

    Hi

    I posted back in may when I first started reducing the dose. I've now been tablet free for a couple of months. The dizzy spells did pass (although they were pretty weird) and I'm so grateful for the posts here as I wouldn't have realised what was going on. I didn't have the headaches and I really sympathise with all of you who are having to deal with that on top of everything else. I put on nearly 2 stone while I was on sertraline (without really noticing) but have felt better enough to do something about that and most of it has come off. I've had some pretty tricky moments over the past few months - the problems that were there before and led me to feel depressed are still there, but I feel a little stronger and really hope I'll be able to face them now. Just want to say thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and wish you all the best.

  • janine26
    janine26

    Posted

    hi summer.harley

    yes i did have head aches and yeah they where bad at time,they last for just over a week i used a for head stick that i rubbed on my fore head that helped to reduce pain alot, but yeah take pain killers also..id say my side effects lasted 2 weeks and i think im over the worse now as i feel my sell, abit snappy at times but learning to deal with this..people who are on here my advice is if your addiment you are coming off these tablets keep going..there is light at the end of the tunnel and its the best and challenging thing i have every done..but thank u to this site as if it want for this forum i would of deffinatly think i was cracking up...

    good luck guys.xxx

  • leanne58201
    leanne58201

    Posted

    OMG I am so happy I found this forum. I am three months pregnant and have been taking Zoloft for about 8 years and I made a decision to completely stop my meds as I really only took them every second day anyway. the doctor advised me to cut down half my dosage every two days but I felt in my mind I was fine, and im glad to say I am just I am experiencing really severe dizziness which I put down to pregnancy coz all my other blood tests and blood pressure results are fine but after reading here I see this is a normal symptom of coming off Zoloft phew . Anyway I really hope this dizziness ends soon but want to say thanks
  • summer.harley
    summer.harley

    Posted

    Hi crystal , be strong you can do this my head aches are now pretty much gone only getting little niggles now compared to thr first few weeks coming off the meds. Also haven't had the dizziness at all for the last 5-7 days. It gets better I promise. I was almost going to go back on them because I couldn't deal with the side effects. But just think how they are affecting our bodies if this happens when we try to stop taking them. Exercise had really helped me I signed up for 3 classes a week for the last month and no matter how bad I felt I always made it my business to go and it always helped a huge amount, you will feel more energized and also a sense of achievement. Sugar will also drag you down so try only have sugary foods once a day as cutting sugar out altogether will only make the head aches worse for me. You're doing great so keep going !!
  • anne7890
    anne7890

    Posted

    I am having a heck of time with the headaches and odd sensations- like dizziness... associated with getting off the zoloft.

    I was taking 50 mg for about 3 years, and increased to 100mg this past year, for a year. So 4 years total.

    I want to feel my feelings again....

    I feel somewhat dead inside/ so unemotional, and I think it's b/c of the zoloft.

    I got on to not be so bitchy to my husband and kids- and

    to give my threshold for patience a bit more depth- before snapping at some one.

    The tappering went from 100mg to 50 mg for 2 weeks.

    Then 25 mg for 1 week, and now I have had none for 9 days.

    I am feeling very very dizzy.

    I think it's worse if I lay down.

    I am being very cognitive of my emotions- and really looking at situations, and not getting upset, rather, taking a step back- and trying very hard to not snap.

    I really think I've been doing a good job!

    If only these horrible dizzy brain waves would subside.

    This forum has been helpful to see what other people are/ have gone through-

    I'm wondering if the long term use makes getting off it more miserable, and makes it take longer-

    After the taper- i'm surprised my symptoms are as strong as they are.

  • karen261
    karen261

    Posted

    Hi Ive been on antidepressants for 10 years since i had my son. I was on estialipram cant spell it first, was ok on that, for about 8 years, then my doctors couldnt afford it, so they put me on citrapram, went from feeling ok roughy but not brillinat to feeling awful with headaches numness in head, then couldnt sleep, asked to

    channge tablets so went on to sertraline. Have been on this since June this year 2013. I sleep all night then wake up feeling like a havent have numbness in my head, am panickey even when im on my own without the children, it feels like in my brain im on a seasaw going up and down all the time, i talk quick cos i feel very anxious, have been anxious all my life but now am much much worse. I dont do much exerxsise i know i should. But when you feel tired mentally and phically its hard to do housework walk the dog and cope with your children. Ive tried coming off these tablets doing one every other day, and i dont feel any different.

    Has any one got any advice to what other tablets have worked for them, or how to come off these tablets.

  • SarahJ
    SarahJ

    Posted

    Just to give everyone an update. After making the mistake of coming of 100 mgs a aday of Sertraline too quickly, I'm now into my third month of only 50 mgs a day. So far so good and no side effects. Am planning to stay on 50 mgs until January and then cut down to 25 mgs a day. A slow reduction seems to be the best way to go. Another bonus is I am gradually losing weight after putting on more than 2 stone over the last 3 years. Hope this helpful to those who are also trying to come of the medication.
  • Jaymee
    Jaymee

    Posted

    I'm currently on week 3 of coming off Setraline and I'm now experiencing the light headedness and actually a bad case of Nausea. My doctor didn't mention the Nausea to me, but he did say someting about a "brain shock" feeling when coming off of it. The first two weeks weren't bad at all, but since last night 12/1/13 I have felt really down and sick, hopefully after this week and the next this feelingw ill go away completely.
  • anne7890
    anne7890

    Posted

    Bd strong.

    My first 6 weeks were really difficult-

    And eventually all the headaches/ dizziness subsided.

    The best advice I got- through this website- was to get on multivitamins with strong vit. B complex.

    It really helped-

    And I stuck with my yoga practice-

    And/ or daily walk.

    I feel really good- and surprisingly level headed....

    Been 3 months or so since the tapper...

    Best wishes to you to get through the yucky stuff.

    : )

  • hilary99085
    hilary99085

    Posted

    I'm so grateful for this thread and all the advice everyone has given. In my experience, doctors stick you on pills without much thought and then forget about it, so you obediently carry on taking them for years - believing they must be doing you good because the Doctor gave them to you!

    I've been taking 100mg Sertraline for 14 years, then this time last year I had a mini-breakdown (bereavements etc) and the GP upped the dose to 200mg. I've been thinking for some time that it's high time I came off them. I have tried before, but without success - I think my mistake was to try and come off ALL my medication at the same time. Maybe my nervous system got confused.

    I believe Sertraline is stored in body fat. It's good to know from previous posts that people have been told it takes about 4-6 weeks for withdrawal symptoms to wear off. Because I've been on them for such a long time though, I'm wondering if I'm going to have awful problems. Has anyone else heard of the drug being stored in body fat (which there's a lot of thanks to Sertraline side-effects), and whether it takes longer than 4-6 weeks for the stored drug to leave the body?

    • liz80736
      liz80736 hilary99085

      Posted

      Hi Hilary,

      I was on sertraline for approximately 18, so nowhere near as long as you, but still a reasonable period of time. I attempted to stop suddenly at first.....big mistake. I had headaches, dizzy spells, brain fogging, tingling in my ears, bad chest pains. I went back on it after a week. My best experience was when I reduced it gradually.....I was only on 100mg so I asked for 50mg tablets and took 2 of those, halving one, so I took 75mg. After about 1-2 weeks, I began taking 1 50mg tablet and then reduced this to half (25mg) in the same time frame (1-2 weeks). However, the difficult part was stopping altogether.....they do not give sertraline in less than 50mg tablets.....so I began taking half every other day for about 2 weeks, then every 2-3 days for about 2 weeks, etc. Eventually I was taking it once a week at 25mg and I stopped from there. You will still experience side effects, usually a day or two before your reduced dose is due, you'll feel dizzy and sick and lightheaded. I would recommend reducing at a pace that is best for you, as experiences of side effects vary.

      I work in mental health nursing and I strongly agree with the statement that antidepressants cause weight gain....some worse than others. Sertraline is actually in the top 3 associated and lengthy use will no doubt cause major changes in your body. Before sertraline I was on cit for about 6months and in my 2 years taking antidepressants, I gained over 2 stone. Now personally for me, this was counter-productive, as my depression stems from my earing disorder and my lack of ability to lose excessive weight and control my diet. Therefore, I had to come off it and try something else instead, such as therapy. I was also on 80mg slow-release propranolol, for migraine disorder (caused by taking yasmin contraceptive pill) and this is also associated with weight gain. I stopped everything, even my pill. Now, 12 months on, I feel amazing on the depression side of things and have lost around half a stone of my gained weight. I no longer have headaches and I sleep miles better. However, my folate is low and I too began experiencing issues with my thyroid that my doctor ignored.....she refused to believe I was gaining weight, but as an ex-anorexic I think I should know. They are less concerned about weight gain, as the negative effects of depression are worse than weight gain, so they act as though it's not an issue......for someone with an eating disorder, it is. I'm currently on folic acid 5mg tablets and a multivitamin....that's it smile However I am now experiencing issues with my weight again, such as being obsessed with dieting and concerned about how I look, etc. I'll just jave to try keeping on top of that, as it's too risky for me to go back on tablets and risk weight gain.

      My advice to you would be to reduce your sertraline and come off it if you feel stable enough mentally. If not, I'd recommend looking at antidepressants that are less concerning when it comes to weight gain, such as venlafaxine, wellbutrin or a product known as Adderall (US only). These also have other side effects, but none relating to weight gain....Adderall is actually known to cause weight loss, due to its ability to drastically suppress your appetite, but I asked my doctor for this and because I'm a diagnosed anorexic, she won't give it to me.

      Sorry for the lengthy letter lol. I wish you all the best in your journey to good health xxx

    • hans82434
      hans82434 hilary99085

      Posted

      I have taken them almost as long as you have and am trying to get off them for the third time.  I am much more determined this time and know what to expect.

      I have done alot of reading on all this and the time it takes for symptoms to subside can take up to 6 months in worst case scnarios. I dont know how the length of time someone has taken sertraline impacts the time frame of the withdrawal symptoms but I am bracing for the worst and hoping for the best.

      ?I think staying positive, getting exercise, vitamins, and support will go a long way to making you feel better faster.  Hope it works out and remember that you will have more than one chance to get off sertraline. No need to worry to much.

    • staci82418
      staci82418 liz80736

      Posted

      Hi Liz. Thanks for sharing. I was on 50mg of Zoloft for close to 2 years and I've managed to gain about 30lbs. It's so depressing and that's why I decided to wean myself off. I went down to 25mg for 2 weeks and then I took a 25mg pill every other day. Now, I've been off for about 4 days but I'm still having the weird brain zaps and the nausea. I'm so worried about getting bad anxiety in a month or 2. I always lose weight when I stop the SSRIs but end up needing to go back on them because I end up being really on edge, unable to function in social situations, anxious, etc and like an emotional rollercoaster. It sucks so bad. Any luck with a different medication. I also heard that Wellbutrin is great for depression and doesn't cause weight gain but I heard it causes anxiety. Adderal is for ADHD, right? I never knew that it could help depression. I need a change. I hope I make it through this hell for once without needing to get back on the meds. I'm taking a lot of natural supplements and trying to exercise as often as I can. Thanks again for your post.

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