1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

Reducing dose from 200mg per day

Posted , 6 users are following.

Shed1976
Shed1976

Hi everyone, new to the forum and keen to get your thoughts. I've been on 200mg per day for around 9 months now. I've been on Sertraline since 2002. My initial dose was 100mg per day and over the years it's been increased, each time as a result of stress-related breakdowns (due to my working environment) 

Since my last bout of illness at the end of last year, I have completely revamped my working life and feel I have finally achieved the correct balance. The last few months have been the happiest of my life.

So my attention turned to reducing my medication. The doctor said 200mg is the maximum dose I can take. I don't suffer any side effects at all and, having spent the last few years working hard to lose 3 stones, do not want to be put onto any other medication, as I understand they all have weight gain as a side effect. Gaining weight would definitely put me on a downward spiral!

I feel as if, while helping me, the medication 'holds me to ransom.' I know you'll know what I mean when I say that. I would like to have 'wriggle room', the ability to increase the Sertraline if I ever need to in the future.

So, I came up with a plan which would see a super-gradual taper down. I decided on a Monday, to take 150mg and after a 4 weeks, do that on a Tuesday too, until I was taking 150mg every day. Surely, I thought, a 7 month long process would mean I wouldn't notice?

4 weeks in I began to feel spaced out and pressure in my head. Also waves of nausea, although not actually sick. The ones I'm most scared of are losing the rag with people and having brain fog. Thankfully, I haven't experienced those.

If I hadn't reduced my medication and this had happened I'd just think I had a sickness bug, but because I have, I'm super aware of every little sensation. The fear of going on a downward spiral is terrifying.

I am going on holiday at the beginning of September so I've decided to put the doseage back up to 200mg and try reducing again when I come back. If I experience the same symptoms I will KNOW it's because of the medication reduction.

I just find it very difficult to believe that reducing by such a tiny amount can cause all this.

Appreciate your thoughts and experiences guys.

Thanks x

1 like, 19 replies

19 Replies

Prev
  • maureen75524
    maureen75524 Shed1976

    Posted

    Everyone's experience on this drug is different, as are the side effects and withdrawl. Personally, the entire experience was a nightmare for me. I never felt well on it. always on edge.

    I have a friend who has been on it for 20 years for depression. It has worked well for her. She was at 200 mg. and has gradually reduced to a 100. She didn't feel she needed 200mg. Her Dr. advised her to increase after her mother passed. She said " I was sad not depressed". She has been fine reducing to a 100mg. She noticed as did I upon reduction, heart palpatitions, sweating, and periods of crying.

    Ten months in on 150 mg. I was suffering insomnia, my Dr. suggested another increase plus a sleeping med. I finally said ENOUGH, I want to taper down. I contacted my pharmacist. She informed me that if I was experiencing insomnia that in her opinion the dosage was too high. She was right! Drs. in my opinion, have to realize every patient is not a carbon copy of what they learn in their medical journals. My experience over two years was not positive, try one drug, then another, to offset the side effects of another.

    I'm now just beginning to feel more like myself after being off Sert. for 11 months. I will never embark on this path again. I go to the gym three times per week and do an hour on the treadmill, weights etc. I find this has helped me tremendously.

    Don't worry about reducing if you feel you're slipping you can always increase. You will feel withdrawl though, and this is normal.

    Take care

  • aurora1970
    aurora1970 Shed1976

    Posted

    Hi Shed

    I found you patience to withdraw so gradually very inspiring, thanks for posting your experience. I couldn't help wondering if it might be better to aim to space out the lowered dose days as much as poss? So do Monday and Thursday rather than 2 days in a row which surely might make withdrawal more noticeable? Or maybe my understanding of how they function in our system is basic/flawed and this tweak would make no difference at all!

  • longtalljules
    longtalljules Shed1976

    Posted

    Day 6 on 150mg daily after taking 200mg dailyfor several years...the light head has started to really kick in and having trouble reading words (e.g earlier I read a sentence with 'our' in it and somehow took the 'our' as saying/meaning 'their' lol) Also having trouble with clicking on things on computer screen. 

    I shall persevere!!!

    smile smile smile 

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.