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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

714 Replies

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  • dan03733
    dan03733 meteor63

    Posted

    I was taking sertraline and all i can tell you is when i came off them i did experience some bad side effects.

    But my docter advised that i needed to come off them more slowly so i was put back on them so that i could decrease my dose over a longer period.

    I should say that this did help and am now off of them completly and feeling much better.

    It was hard but with the right advise this can be atchieved.

    • don45258
      don45258 dan03733

      Posted

      Hi be been on sertraline for 6 months had a been like a roller coaster I've gone down to 25 4 weeks ago planing to go to 12 1/2 next week any advice ?

      When u was on them how did they work for u ?

      Do u feel better off them than on ?

      Thanks

  • joette21110
    joette21110 meteor63

    Posted

    I was on 100 mg for 2 years.  Tapered down to 50 and couldn't stop crying.  Back to 75 mg now and have leveled off.  I guess I will stick with this does and see how things go. I was hoping the Ativan would stop the tears but no such luck.
  • thetinman
    thetinman meteor63

    Posted

    I tried twice before without success.  Had headaches, horrible dreams, panic attacks, pain behind my eyes and eye sockets, brain zaps and dizziness.  This time I prepared  wtih fish oil, magnesium to sleep better, prescribed anti inflammatory meds (naproxen) for the headaches.  It worked.  I've been off sertraline for more than a month and with very mild symptoms which are almost nil now.  Now my task is to be attentive to and disciplined about managing my emotions.  Where the sertraline kept me calm, now I have to stop and relax myself.  Breathe.  Get some sunshine and fellowship. Take care of myself so I can live my life.  So far so good.

     

    • michael58834
      michael58834 thetinman

      Posted

      Hi My name is Michael and I have been on sert since march started on 50mg and went up to 100mg over time, I have started to taper off them now for the last two months so back down to 50mg at the moment but next week will be going down to 25mg and then please god will be off them after christmas. So far I am not too bad anxity can be pretty high some days but fine other days, and the head can be all over the place some days also but again I can deal with it at the moment, my question is how much magnesium and fis oil you take every day and which type, also could you tell me if you went through any of the symptoms that I have decribed above and if so have they gone or do you still have them.
  • ian07120
    ian07120 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi guys,

    Intrigued by reading everyone's experiences with sertraline and other SSRI's.

    I stupidly came off sertraline with no winding down period in mid July believing I would function better medication free which hasn't turned out to be the case.

    I was diagnosed with the worst form of OCD three years ago and was prescribed this drug in attempt to combat severe irrational thoughts and it worked for a good while enabling me to get back to work and become reasonably successful.

    Unfortunately my intrusive thoughts have returned with a vengeance and feel as if I've stepped back three years. I know fine well what my mind concocts is nonsense yet it's much harder to ignore nowadays being sertraline free. Other than sleeping better there has been no improvement. 4 months since ceasing and I'm feeling gradually worse.

    What's the general consensus guys, do I hang fire and hope it'll pass or give it up and go back on them?

    Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks smile

  • cheryl09737
    cheryl09737 meteor63

    Posted

    I am totally freaking out.  My Dr. did not tell me anything about this drug. no mention of side effects or stopping.

    Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  i hope these pharmaceutical companies enjoy their day. i bet none of them feel like i do. I took .25 mgs for 4 weeks. After realizing that sex would basically be over for me, no orgasms? I stopped totally.  I have been a zombie since taking this poisen. I hoped stopping would make it stop. No such luck. Withdrawl? For .25 for 4 weeks?  This should be illegal.

    I plan on checking out sites for reporting this bull to someone.

    I forgot how to use my vacuum cleaner today.  i just sat there looking at it, trying to figure out how to do the attachment. I have this machine for years.  Screw this.  I have been poisened.

    • laura43429
      laura43429 cheryl09737

      Posted

      So sorry Cheryl, that this is happening to you! 

      I took only 5 tablets of an antidepressant and I'm in hell for 10 months already. These drugs have horrible, horrible side effects. Check out survivingantidepressants .org and rxisk .org. Depending on how bad you feel and how long ago you stopped, it may be necessary to reinstate the medication and taper off slowly. 

      It's a tricky decision. On survivingantidepressants, they will help you make that decision. Don't rush it. Take your time and get informed. 

      If you're in the US, you can report your side effects here: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=consumer.reporting1

      I would wait with the reporting until you're recovered though, because then you'll know exactly for how long this drug affected you and how much it cost you. 

      For me, it destroyed my life, but everyone is different. Fingers crossed you'll recover soon. 

      Cheers Laura

       

    • cheryl09737
      cheryl09737 laura43429

      Posted

      thanks for the imformation.  I firmly believe this drug is poisen.  I did decide to titrate. I felt so sick...nothing like anything I have ever felt before.  Last year I stopped taking methadone 10mg per day for 7-8 years for pain. I felt nothing going off that. I did taper off, 5mg, then 2.5 then done.  That was a walk in the park compared to this.

      I have not heard many people say they have taken this drug successfully.

      I was never told about being addicting.  I would never have taken it.  I wasn't even depressed, just anxious.  WTF!

      thank you for responding.

      peace

  • maureen75524
    maureen75524 meteor63

    Posted

    Laura/Cheryl I can completely identify.  I lost two years of my life, trying different A.D.'s for SAD.  I was up to 150 mg of sertraline, before I said ENOUGH.  I decreased over three months, however 2 years later i still have intestinal problems and morning nausea.  I know they help many people but i was just not one of them!   To complicate matters my G.P. denies this could still be w.d. two years out.  It maybe not w.d. but permanent damage.  
  • cheryl09737
    cheryl09737 meteor63

    Posted

    after 4 weeks of this crap, I am done. While at the pharmacy yesterday I was asked my phone number...I could not remember my number, nor could I remember how to look it up, android.  Later in the day, I was preparing to vacuum. I needed the ulpholstery attachment...I sat there so confused. I could not figure out or remember how to use it.  This scared the sh*t out of me.

    How can anyone prescribe this crap?

    I want this out of my body......

    thanks for sharing, I need to know so much more.

    peace

  • JayInVA
    JayInVA meteor63

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with premature brain atrophy 10 years or so ago, and I've been on 100mg of sertraline ever since to quell the terrifying internal "virbration" senstations & sudden muscular twitches I had; it stopped those almost completely, but made me yawn like crazy & dulled my sexual gratification. Due to a delay in getting the prescription refilled, I've been off it cold turkey for about a week, so I thought I'd see what would happen: while I've thankfully yet to experience a return of the vibratory symptoms I had & the yawn is gone, I've had a vicious onset of my occasional occipital neuralgia (stabbing pains at the top-back of my skull & side of my neck) & increased carpal tunnel pain. What I don't know is if this is withdrawal  from the sertraline cessation, or just an unfortunate coincidence. I'm also terribly short-tempered when it comes to everyday aggravations (slow computer, my own clumsiness), but unfortunately, that's nothing really new.

    Anyone else experienced the occipital neuralgia?

    • laura43429
      laura43429 JayInVA

      Posted

      Hi JaylnVA, 

      going cold turkey from an antidperessant can be really, really dangerous.

      I've heard of both symptoms (occipital neuralgia and carpal tunnel symptoms) in releation to antidepressant withdrawal. For me, the carpal tunnel symptoms were one of the first syptoms, followed by months and months of hell. 

      I know somone who had measruable optical nerve damage after going off an antidepressant cold turkey.

      I would recommend to go to survivingantidepressants and check with the moderators if they recommend reinstatement. I guess a reasonable doctor might even advise that, despite doctors don't know much about antidepressant withdrawal sadly. 

      Can I ask what caused the premature brain atrophy and internal vibrations? It's crazy because antidepressants can actually cause both, so I'm curious why you were prescribed them for it. 

      Laura

    • JayInVA
      JayInVA laura43429

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply. I have no idea what caused the brain atrophy, although I suspect it was HBP & sleep apnea - the latter being STILL unresolved, CPAP being useless so far.

      Thanks also for the suggestion to look into reinstatement; I might start taking a low dose again, just to help taper off. As with everything it seems, it looks like it's shaping up to be a trade-off: more aches, pain & fatique - but still no vibrations & yawning (YET)....

  • betsy0603
    betsy0603 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi meteor63, 

    I'm sorry that it has been such a tough road for you, especially since you were on the med for a relatively short time.  Usually that means someone can get off equally fast, but these drugs are incredibly powerful and sometimes have unexpected consequences for some people. Though you thought you did a reasonable taper, it apparently was too fast for your nervous system to adapt back and you are in a very destabilized state.  The last part of your taper from 25 mg down was too fast.  Perhaps reinstating at 25 mg will give you some relief, and from there you can do a much slower taper.  I recommend people needing support for withdrawal and tapering go to the support forum Surviving Antidepressants.  If you do a web search with the capitals, you should get there.   If I put the link here, the moderator will block my post.  I don't know why, as I am only trying to help people to find the one place that has the most knowledge to help people with this issue! 

    These drugs cause your brain to change physically, buidling the drug's action into the wiring.  Coming off can definitely be harder than going on, and many think they are relapsing when withdrawal hits with a vengeance at 3 months and beyond.  If there was disclosure to patients before taking these drugs about the horror of coming off, I bet that most would decide "maybe I'll try the alternatives first."

    • Emis_Moderator
      Emis_Moderator betsy0603

      Posted

      Hi Betsy,

      "If I put the link here, the moderator will block my post.  I don't know why,"

      It is because we cannot allow repeated "hot" links to the same site as this can be considered advertising or SEO posting. Just saying the name of the site is enough for users to find it using a search engine. Alternatively just tell users to click on your name as you have the link in your profile. I also added SA taper discussion to the pinned discussion here

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

      You can use this link without it going for moderation as you have done in the past.

      Regards,

      Alan

    • betsy0603
      betsy0603 Emis_Moderator

      Posted

      Thank you.  I appreciate that.  I just got blocked again and didn't put any links to anything.  I referrenced self help techniques such as Emotioinal Freedom Techniques and was blocked.  I understand the concern about advertising.  I appreciate also your putting that Depression page together with the links and have been referencing that. 

      Have a nice day, 

      Betsy

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