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Sertraline Withdrawal .. Does it go away?

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meteor63
meteor63

Hi. I just wondered if anyone had been through sertraline withdrawal and got better? I look on the internet and can't find anything positive about ssri withdrawal, particularly sertraline. I guess when people stop posting, it means they've got better. All I seem to see is posts from people who've been suffering for months or longer. I just want some hope.

I was on citalopram last year (first ever anti depressant) and came off it after 2 months because I had terrible reactions to it. A week later I was put on sertraline and reacted terribly to that too (I'm still suffering the side effects).

I took my last sertraline 3 weeks ago. My top dose was 100mg and I was going nuts. I dropped down to 50mg for about 5 weeks, 25mg for 2 weeks and 25mg every other day for a week.

Since then (and during titration) I have been having brain zaps all day every day and every time I move my eyes. I'm more exhausted than I've ever been in my life. I have sweats. I have worse sinus problems than I've ever had. I have loads of pressure behind and around my left eye. I can barely look at the television or read. I have long crying bouts. All this on top of the existing hideous and ongoing side effects which are worse than withdrawal.

I was on sertraline for a total of about 3.5 months and have been off 3.5 weeks. I've heard the average for withdrawal symptoms is around 6 weeks but can be much longer. Given my extreme sensitivity to medication, I'm afraid that I may be one if the unlucky ones. I was much better before I took any meds.

I'm taking loads of fish oil and magnesium, eating healthily and drinking lots of water. I was trying to be positive but am becoming less positive by the day.

Anyone else experienced this and recovered? I can't bear the thought of going on any more meds because I can't tolerate them.

Thank you.

31 likes, 714 replies

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  • samhorton
    samhorton meteor63

    Posted

    Hi meteor63, I've been looking for a way to describe what happens with my head (brain), and you described it perfectly. .....brain zaps at random and seemingly every time I move my eyes. 6 hank you so much for that. I also can't remember things, and can't seem to hold a conversation because I have trouble finding words. Scary and aggravating. I hope you find resolution soon.
  • joette21110
    joette21110 meteor63

    Posted

    I am happy to have foudn this site but sorry for everyone's trouble.  I have recently started tapering off Zoloft because I felt I had no energy at all. Everyday after work is a nap and then trouble sleeping at night.  I am feeling chest crushing anxiety and cry everyday. I have heard people say they woudl rather feel every emotion to its fullest than be medicated.  I am a teacher so crying everyday isn't working but I can't seem to stop. Has anyone tried Ativan to help with anxiety?
    • joette21110
      joette21110

      Posted

      As a teacher you would think my spelling would be better.  Sorry, I got carried away typing!
    • laura43429
      laura43429 joette21110

      Posted

      Hi Joette, 

      sorry you're in this situation. You probably tapered too fast. Doctors unfortunately have no clue how profoundly those drugs change the brain and how addictive they are to some people. The recommended speed of tapering according to patient self help groups is 10% of your dose per month. That would mean splitting pills or changing to liquid formulation if needed. 

      Check out rxisk. org or survivingantidepressants. org (sorry for the broken links, the moderators usually remove links to critical websites. 

      Are you already completely off the drug or still taking some? If you haven't been off more than a week or too, it might be an idea going back on the last dose where you felt well. 

      All the best, Laura

    • don45258
      don45258 joette21110

      Posted

      Hi

      I'm had problems with sertraline been on them for about 6 months and only had 2 good weeks so I decided to taper down I was on 100mg then 50mg now it's been 25mg for the last 3 weeks 1 more week on 25mg then going to 12 1/2 mg I don't think this meds for me had high anxiety and low mood how long have you been on this med ? And what problems did you have with them ? I think this med just try's to cover thinks up and that's not what I want I want to deal with the problem

    • e37242
      e37242 laura43429

      Posted

      Laura is right on! Doctors have no idea. After being on Sertraline for years, I tried to taper and stop several times but the side effects were so bad I went back on.  This last time I was successful BUT I took six months to taper, not a few weeks like doctors will tell you.  From 100 mg, I went to 50 for two months, 25 for two months and 25 every other day for two months, then quit. This time I had no brain zaps but cried all day for two months, very high anxiety and chest tightness, one panic attack. After 3.5 months I finally had no withdrawal symptoms.

      what saved my sanity was a book called the Unteathered Soul by Michel Singer. I learned how to take control of myself and not feel helpless. I highly recommend it.

      so maybe go back on 25 mg to stabilize yourself for a while. Then taper veeeeery slowly.

      Good luck!  Ellen

    • don45258
      don45258 e37242

      Posted

      Hi

      Why did you come off sertraline?

      Did it work for you ?

    • e37242
      e37242 don45258

      Posted

      Don, I started taking it when my sons left for college - empty nest. That was 15 years ago!  I asked myself, why do I still need to take it?  It worked great for me, numb but great.  But talking long term prescriptions stresses your liver and I'm developing liver issues. So I made that decision.  Six months after taking my last pill, I am completely fine. 
    • laura43429
      laura43429 e37242

      Posted

      Thanks Ellen! It's good to hear from others who are also having a bad time. I took 5 pills of Effexor (Venlafaxine) and am suffering in hell for 8 months already. 
    • e37242
      e37242 laura43429

      Posted

      I'm so sorry. These drugs are soooo serious.  Hope you get some relief soon.
    • don45258
      don45258 e37242

      Posted

      Thanks for reply

      As yoir anxiety gone ?

      Its negative thoughts that I'm struggling with dos you have them on this med ? That's why I'm tapering to see if they improve

    • e37242
      e37242 don45258

      Posted

      In the midst of the high anxiety I had some negative thoughts. Though I'm a very prayerful person. Again, this was when I was off Zoloft, not while on.  I never had any bad thoughts or problems on Zoloft.
    • Emis_Moderator
      Emis_Moderator laura43429

      Posted

      "Check out rxisk. org or survivingantidepressants. org (sorry for the broken links, the moderators usually remove links to critical websites."

      This is not true so please do not say this in the forums. Links will be approved if they are relevant and do not breach the rules. There is an FAQ about links in the help section linked at the bottom of the page. I have also added a link to the 10% taper to the discussion below if you want to guide users to it.

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/depression-resources-298570

    • laura43429
      laura43429 Emis_Moderator

      Posted

      Apologies... I had't seen these resources yet. I had a link deleted once and assumed that it was because it was because it pointed to a critical website. Seems like I was wrong. Sorry again. 
  • beyw08717
    beyw08717 meteor63

    Posted

    I can see a lot of people discussing and asking questions here, hopefully someone will be able to help me as well.

    I took 100mg Sertaline for 8 months and then decided to stop taking it, the doctor gave me some 50mg tablets and told me to gradually take less and less. I did this, however I did come off the sertaline a lot quicker than the doctor had suggested, which I now regret.

    I have been feeling quite unwell recently with severe headaches, dizziness and generally being more irritable than usual amongst other symptoms, it's quite unpleasant.

    However, I have not taken any Sertaline for over 2 weeks now and I'm not sure whether to start it again and try weening myself of it again but more slowly this time or whether to just ride it out. I don't want to start taking it again as I feel I have been through a lot to come off it and I would have to go through it all again if I re-started but the withdrawal symptoms are becoming unbearable.

    Thanks for your help.

    • laura43429
      laura43429 beyw08717

      Posted

      Hmmm, sounds like you have come off too fast. Re-instatement or not is always a tricky questions as the outcomes are totally unpredictable. I have read from people who reinstated and had horrible adverse reactions. I have also heard from people who reinstated and felt saved. 

      My personal theory is that the adverse reactions happen if the nervous system has already been completely fried from months of withdrawal and then people try to re-instate.

      It also depends how severe your withdrawal symptoms are. If they are very severe, chances are they will stay with you for months or years. With severe I mean rolling on the floor in pain-severe. 

      My personal opinon is (this is not medical advice, I would ask your doctor too in case he knows about withdrawal): 

      Re-instate a very small amount, maybe 1-5mg or even less and see if this fixes your symptoms. Take this dose until you feel stable. Then taper 10% of the dose per month. Survivingantidepressants has suggestions how to achieve a dose of 5mg. 

      This is only my personal opinion. You can also ask the guys from survivingantidepressants what they think. 

      Probably everyone will give you a slightly different suggestion, just because tapering and withdrawal is vastly different between people and there are no rules that apply for everyone. 

    • e37242
      e37242 beyw08717

      Posted

      Hey, bey,

      these withdrawal symptoms are a bear, aren't they??  The longer you take to taper your dose when quitting, the better.  Maybe get back on a low dose to stablize, say 25 mg, then after a while drop down to 25 every other day for several months, then every third day for several months. Then stop.  So many of us here share your story. So hard.  I took 6 months to taper my doses before quitting then had 3.5 months of withdrawal side effects still.  But now I'm 100% fine. Glad I made it through hell and got to the other side. Holler if you have more questions. You have a good support group here. Ellen

    • legan
      legan e37242

      Posted

      Hey e37242 ,

      How do you feel now

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