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Sertraline Update

Posted , 5 users are following.

trevor95913
trevor95913

Hello,

A little while ago I posted on here about the withdrawal I was having from stopping taking Sertraline after three months.  I was on 50mg (daily), and the reason why I wanted to come off the drug was because of the horrible, Depersonalization (Feeling like your not in your body) feeling.  It was horrible.  

My doctors told me to start taking half (25mg) every day for a week then stop altogether.  Two days after I stopped, I started getting the Brain Zaps, Withdrawal, Head shivers, when i moved my head/eyes I got these heartbeat like pulses in my head.. what ever they are, It was getting worse as the days went on.

I didn't know what to do and I found this website, and after posting on here and getting some advice, and calling a anti-depressant drug helpline, I started to re-take 25mg every day and the symptoms stopped more or less by the next day.

Since all that I have been tapering off Sertraline and now take 25mg every two days, and from this Saturday it will be every three days.  During the days I’m not taking sertraline i don't seem to have any withdrawal symptoms, so fingers crossed, by tapering off longer, I’m hoping not to get the withdrawal.  Although, I have been told I could experience some sort of withdrawal, but everyone is different.

Just thought I would share this with anyone who might be suffering from the same symptoms.

 

Thanks.

2 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • lina1357
    lina1357 trevor95913

    Posted

    Thank you so much for your sharing, would you please tell me how did you do withdrawal. Several times I tried to do it but due to those symptoms you jjust mentioned I could not quit and again I backed to the Sertralin.

    Your help would be highly appreciated .

    • trevor95913
      trevor95913 lina1357

      Posted

      Hi Lina,

      Well i am still taking it but, 25mg every two days, I will continue this for another week then reduce to taking it every three days and so on... It's a slow taper but it's what i think is best for "me" to reduce these withdrawal effects.. Also a doctor told me to taper off like this too.

      Everyone is different though! I know someone who was taking it for months and tapered off over a week and had no withdrawal at all...so who knows...

      All I can say is tapering off slower has worked for me, but everyone is different.. Best go see your GP and get some more advice biggrin)

  • PharmaSara
    PharmaSara trevor95913

    Posted

    Thanks for that, it's really interesting. Can I just ask what is this helpline you phoned? I'd love to have the details to give to patients if they ask me. 
    • trevor95913
      trevor95913 PharmaSara

      Posted

      Hello Sarah,

      Not at all.  Here's the link with all their details, and their telephone number is - 0151 932 0102

      http://nearyouk.com/b1154884/involuntary-tranquilliser-addiction-liverpool-0151-932-0102.html

      When I called them up, I spoke to a lady who said they have been giving advice for 20 years or so, and deal daily with people having symtoms of coming off drugs like this.  Becuase i'm suffering from Anxiety after having a stroke three years ago, when I was first suffering from theese withdrawal effects, I thought could it be something to do with the stroke I had. which increaed my anxiety.

      When calling this helpline, who the origanisation 'Mind' refered me to, they put my mind at rest and said it was withdrawal....

      Hope this helps..

       

  • rosemary44014
    rosemary44014 trevor95913

    Posted

    Hi Trevor,

    i have been taking Setraline for a month now, 25 mg 

    land am due to start on 50 mg, as of today..

    lim just wondering, if I will have to go through all the side effects of nausea and diarrhoea , when I go up a dose,, I have not truly, gotten over the first lot of side effects...

    although on the whole, I seem to have a little improvement in my mood, but still have night time panic attacks,, and sweating..

    and anxiety attacks, that set of my Atrial Fib.

    just wondering if I'll ever feel normal again. As I have a husband with parkinsons 

    whom I have to care for...

  • hells5335
    hells5335 trevor95913

    Posted

    Thank you so much Trevor.

    I began on Sertraline 3mths ago - 50mg for 2 weeks then 100mg, for anxiety predominantly. Amongst other things, i didn't feel any benefit, and have had galloping diarrhea for those months. So i decided to take myself off it using common sense, reducing back to 50mg for a fortnight and have been off it now completely for a week. Fwiw, the diarrhea has all but disappeared (yaay!), but relevant to your post, i've experienced what feels like electric shocks in my head/face when i move sharply sidewise or nod or similar. I obv panicked (given my pre-existing probs) but having read your post, I am reassured that it's likely a side-effect of self-removal from Sertraline. I'm obv sorry that you've suffered, but am seriously grateful that you posted this publically because i'm reassured about my own head now (-ish...). Thanks. H.

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