Reducing dosage
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi I have been on Cit for 18mths & gradually have reduced from 40mg to 20mg. After about 8 months on 20mg & two days ago I reduced to 15mg by cutting tabs ,I now am suffering with terrible brain zaps consisting of pressure in my head & dull ache also behind my eyes & feeling extremely tired. I obviously expected to suffer withdrawal symptoms but this has happened very quickly. Has anyone else had this & if so any idea how long it lasts. Very appreciative of any help. Thanks
0 likes, 11 replies
john059 linda05005
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linda05005 john059
Posted
Thanks for your advice. It's great to have your advice & concern it is really appreciated, & makes me fill I am not alone 😀
lois95799 linda05005
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lynn67615 john059
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john059 lynn67615
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lynn67615 john059
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Hope you see improvement soon. I was on sertraline for 23 years at 50mg, and it worked beautifully then pooped out this past June. They tried raising it for 13 weeks to 175 and I got worse and worse. I found out recently from a genesight test that I am a poor metabolizer for certain drugs and can only take a low dose. Sertraline was one of them and so is Effexsor. I started at 37.5 and noticed good improvement after a month. Last Thursday started on 75. I do feel better anxiety is much reduced as well as depression. Going to my third treatment of acupuncture which helps also. After being on this website I am amazed at how many people also struggle with anxiety disorders and depression. The side effects come back when they raise the dose.
lynn67615 john059
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Aspinan linda05005
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Hi Linda, getting brain zaps are very common when you either miss a few doses or are cutting down, they usually go within a few days but if they don't then it might be prudent to go back to 20mg and with the supervision of your GP cut down more slowly by cutting the tabs more slowly.
You might want to see how you are in a couple of days having given your chemistry time to adjust to the lower dose before doing anything, after which if your still exoeriencing these symptoms perhaps consult your GP.
KevB5 linda05005
Posted
What I've learned per experience is tapering only 3-5% every 2-4 week's. The first taper waiting a month to see how you stabilize. This being if you've been on a while.
Also one can reinstate the med for a limited time. My doctor's as well as 100s of others I've heard from people are clueless on tapering properly. They do it way to fast and often switch you to another. 25 year's experience with SSRI's for me. Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac. Do your homework on SSRI's for yourself and all meds before taking. The side effects, long term issues, side effects, withdrawals etc. Very typical withdrawals your experienceing. I suffered many months. Just my experience. I wish you the best.
linda05005 KevB5
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Many thanks for your advice, it's very appreciated 😀
gillian176 linda05005
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And the points and advice made
I am on my second time round but when I did reduce ... over a year... from 20 mg
I would reduce by 2.5mg a time and on alternate nights - 20/17.5/20/17.5
And so on
I had no major side effects
And stayed on that for two weeks minimum before the next reduction
If I felt a wobble. Which I did. I would go back to the last dose for a further 2 weeks then start again
I used a pill cutter and 10 mg tabs
I kept all the bits and used those up too