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Sertraline Withdrawal

Posted , 7 users are following.

Jh16
Jh16

i have been taking 200mg for 2 years, i started withdrawl 8 weeks ago. 150mg for 6 weeks then dropped down to 100mg 8 days ago. I have stomach cramps, slight fever, headache and very tired. I didn't really notice any side effects on 150mg. Is anyone in the know, do you get side effects eveytime you drop a dose? Or just at the start of withdrawal? I'm doing it 50mg at a time. Just not sure if these are side effects of the sertraline or something else? 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Holly1974
    Holly1974 Jh16

    Posted

    Hi there,

    Deff. sounds like sertraline withdrawal, the main side effects with any SSRIs and gastrointestinal. I take 150mg ( 200mg is a very high dose I am sure you are aware, not many people take it beyond 100mg/150mg max , and some take 50mg successfully )....anyhow, I went to Europe for a week and forgot my sertraline !! ( except because I take other meds I didn't realise for 3 days )...reason I thought about it was I started getting a LOT of hot flushing, felt v nauseous in the morning and couldn't eat breakfast, and got v bad stomach cramping.....I got my family to bring it to airport when I landed back in UK and went back on 100mg straight away, and within 24 hours I was fine ! 

    I would suggest going to speak to your doctor who prescribed it. You are doing the right thing in coming off 50mg each time, and slowly, as your body is used to it.....however some people DO have diff. with withdrawal side effects when stopping an SSRI for diff. reasons, and you dr will probably be able to suggest a work around. It's not worth feeling so yuvk, it is the seraline for sure, just you have been on a high dose for quite a while. best done under drs supervision.

    • Jh16
      Jh16 Holly1974

      Posted

      Thanks very much, i am due to go back to my dr. I think it has caught me slightly off guard. Had it of come on a few weeks back then i would of associated it with withdrawal. I will book an appointment 
  • Tezes
    Tezes Jh16

    Posted

    Hi

    Please look on this site under 'sertraline withdrawal, does it go away' there is lots of good advice on that thread.

    Basically the researched method of withdrawing is the 10% taper

    So you reduce 10% of the last dose, stay with that for a month then reduce another 10% of what's left and so on. You wait a month between each reduction to allow your system to stabilise.

    The lower the dose the higher the chance of withdrawal effects so it's important not to get impatient towards the end.

    I was on 50mg for 2 years and started tapering in Oct last year. This was my second attempt I reduced too quickly the first time and had horrible effects so I went back to 50mg and waited until I felt stable enough to start again using the above method. I completed the taper three weeks ago and I'm still adjusting.

    Going down by 50mgs is way too fast so I'm not surprised you have withdrawals, your nervous system goes into shock hence the symptoms you have. The advice in your case is to reinstate to the last dose you felt well on, wait or until you feel better then start the 10% taper. It's designed to minimise any withdrawals and lasting and sometimes permanent effects and in my case it has.

    Good luck

  • sophie32128
    sophie32128 Jh16

    Posted

    Hi Jh16, these are withdrawal symptoms. I have started coming off mine and although I haven't had them symptoms, I have had low moods and achy legs etc!

    Good luck with continuing to drop down

  • Shed1976
    Shed1976 Jh16

    Posted

    Hi,

    Everyone is different but my feeling is you have tried to reduce too much too soon.

    I was in exact same position as you (on 200mg for 2 years)

    After 2 years I started coming down to 150mg one day at a time (with around 3 months between starting on new day)

    I am now down to 150mg Mon-Fri and 200mg at weekends.

    I know it's super-slow but there have been next to no withdrawal symptoms.

    Despite my doctor suggesting I drop more and at a quicker pace, my gut instinct (having been caught out before) is to continue this way.

    Good luck and let me know how you get on.

    smile

    • Jh16
      Jh16 Shed1976

      Posted

      Thanks for the feed back, it's really good to hear your experience. I think i do feel like that i need to slow it down but didnt know what that looked like. initially my doctor said drop 50mg every 4 weeks to start with. I'll go back to the doctor. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again 
  • Tezes
    Tezes Jh16

    Posted

    Hi again

    just to pre warn you before you see your GP. My GP (and a lot of GP's according to this forum) give very poor advice about tapering off these types of drugs. My first attempt coming off failed due the the advice from my GP. He told me to halve my tablets for two weeks then stop taking them altogether  !!!! 

    So a 50% reduction then stop, the worst advice ever I was sooo ill.

    thats when I went back to full dose and did my research - so ok it's taken me 6 months but worth the wait,

    kind regards

    • Jh16
      Jh16 Tezes

      Posted

      Thanks for the feedback, I had a very hard time when I started sertraline, every side effect I experienced. I'm expecting some side effects but not like this so I will discuss with the dr and slow the process. I'm not in a rush, I'd rather less effects! Thanks again.
  • Vegas05
    Vegas05 Jh16

    Posted

    I am going through this right now. Been on 150mg for 8 years. I can honestly say I know what a drug addict must feel like because this is TERRIBLE!! I thought after the physical withdrawals (nausea, stomach upset, dizziness, brain zaps,etc) I was good... Now it's the anger and irritability I feel. It's been about 3 weeks since I have been completely off and now I have noticed im always yelling. I have no patience with my kids, husband, neighbors, strangers. I just feel so angry ALL the time. I'm really hoping this passes. I just don't want to be dependant on anything anymore :-(
    • Tezes
      Tezes Vegas05

      Posted

      Hi vegas

      By the withdrawal symptoms you have had it sounds like you came off to quickly and it's taking a time for your system to adjust.

      what dose did you drop off ?

      if things are really bad I would recommend you go back to the last dose you took until you stabilise and then reduce using the 10% tapering method, good luck x

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