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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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  • jrich911
    jrich911 meteor63

    Posted

    I've been on 200mg of sertraline for almost 10 years. I stopped taking it once when i got pregnant and all of your symptoms sound normal, albeit terrible. My withdrawal symptoms were a nightmare because i army cold turkey. I recently tapered down to 150mg and feeling many of the same things you are. I don't have much advice, but know that you're not alone and it will get better❤
  • parisian
    parisian meteor63

    Posted

    Hi folks. Such a relief to find this forum! I live in France where doctors of all persuasions (including shrinks) seem totally unaware of these symptoms - so much so that in the last week they've had me do a doppler of the carotid arteries and a brain cat scan (both clear thank god) and are now suggesting an MRI. Scary.

    But now thanks to you I know my symptoms are classic: most of all the dreaded brain zaps (or brain blinks, or involuntary reboots etc) but also crushing fatigue, loss of appetite, vague nausea, lack of enthusiasm, bad temper (just ask the missus!), anxiety...I don't really feel the need for the MRI since I found this forum; seems cut and dried to me.

    Confusing isn't it how some of these symptoms resemble the burnout that drove me to Sertralin in the first place? But I reckon I'm not depressed or burnt out now, just having great difficulty living with withdrawal.

    So let's do a little survey, shall we?

     

    How long did you take this muck? How slowly did you taper? How long did the zaps etc. last?

    In my case: two years at 100mg, then one year at 50.

    I tapered off (without medical supervision) starting last November, as follows: down from 50 to 25 for a month, then 25 every other day for a further month. Then free...(famous last words)...

    Somewhere in there, though, the zaps and the general horror kicked in and have been going on for two months now.

    To counteract it all I have self-prescribed Omega3 and B12 in the day and gin & tonic in the evening. Occasionally a little spliff (I raid my teenage daughters stash) if it's all too much. That helps.

    Complicating factor: I've also been taking Imovan to sleep during that three-year period (currently tapering), and popping a little Xanax from time to time, although hardly ever now. But these two also can have fearsome withdrawals I believe.

    So that means (for me):

    Treatment: 3 years

    Taper: 2 months

    Symptoms: 2 months and counting...

    Over to you!  [smile]

    • laura43429
      laura43429 parisian

      Posted

      Hi parisian, 

      so sorry to hear you're yet another person taken aback by the horrors of this medication. 

      And you're right, doctors haven't got a clue about these symptoms and drugs. 

      You seem amazingly positive for what you're going through. Congrats. 

      Seems like you tapered too fast. The recommended taper speed by patient groups is 10% of the current dose per month maximum. 

      There's some good infos on the website "survivingantidepressants. org" and withdrawal.rxisk. org and  cepuk . org. Some info in french is on toxicantidepressants. fr 

      Direct link to the 10% taper method is here listed here: 

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

      So here's my answers to your survey: 

      Treatment: 5 days and severe adverse reaction

      Taper: None

      Symptoms: 11 months of hellish horror show and counting. 

      Cheers, 

      Laura

    • parisian
      parisian laura43429

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply, Laura.

      Seems you're paying a heavy price for those five days.

      The doc initially put me on another SSRI (forget which) three years ago and like you I had a bad reaction to it (five days in bed shaking like a leaf and upset by the slightest ordinary event: that was fun for my family! Not!) so he moved me straight away to our lovely Sertraline.

      So I've checked out your link to the 10% way and well yes seems I blew it by going too fast - although I thought I was being very responsible tapering over two months. My GP even reckoned I was going unnecessarily slowly...

      But I'm Sertraline-free for two months now and feel most reluctant to take the bloody stuff again even if only to "re-taper".

      So looks like I'm stuck with the horror show till it leaves town.

      Eleven months, huh? I must say your reply is not very encouraging...

      Hope no permanent damage is done. That's the real worry, isn't it?

      Anyway, best of luck to both of us and thanks again for writing.

      Anyone else want to join the survey?

    • Tezes
      Tezes parisian

      Posted

      On it for 2 years at 50mgs as I resisted upping the dose.

      when I decided to come off my GP recommended cutting to half a tab form two weeks then stop. I didn't get past the cutting in half more than a week before I went back on 50 because of the withdrawal effects.

      came onto this site and took advice,have been tapering since last Oct now down to 12.5 mg. I will be cutting back some more on the 3rd of March for a month and then hopefully stop altogether - never again

    • parisian
      parisian Tezes

      Posted

      Thanks for replying, Tezes.

      So glad you're doing it right. I wish I'd found this site earlier, as you did.

      You were very smart to recognise what was happening to you as withdrawal symptoms, and to overrule the advice of your GP.

      It's a conundrum, isn't it? Thank god we have good, hardworking, well-meaning doctors BUT that makes it all the harder to recognise when they don't know what they're talking about.

      Any doctors out there have a comment on this?

       

    • CoolBeans
      CoolBeans parisian

      Posted

      Hi- Seems getting off antidepressants (for me, Zolft/sertraline) can lead to what's referred to as Protracted Withdrawal - symptoms that last well after you've dropped down or stopped taking the meds. If you do a web search on this, you will find lots of information, but a good theory is that the drugs change our systems, all at once and very quickly depending on the dosage of your up-jumps, hence the awful step-up symptoms. Getting off, however, the body re-wires to regain homeostatis based on it's own priority stack (often starting in a panic), hence the ongoing symptoms that change, frequently, often over long periods of time, even when you're off the meds for some time. I like this theory and it's the best explanation I've found.

      If you follow my input string, you'll see I was not able to handle the step ups (much less the drug at all): Started on 25, had to go down to 12.5, back to 25, then up to 50, had to go back down to 37.5. (I am a pharm lightweight). Never got over 37.5, the effects were too annoying: short term memory was awful, extreme anxiety (for which they gave me Xanax as needed), muscle pain and cramping, digestive system issues, trashed libido, disasterous female issues, interrupted sleep, and blackouts after a couple of cocktails (it's no fun when you can't remember the fun!), lost weight (good!), gained weight (bad!), etc. I started tapering down, and then forgot to take it for a couple of days, which was when the REALLY bad stuff started happening, and I had to rethink tapering and withdrawal, which I when I jumped in to this forum.

      I am off the meds entirely for almost a week now, quitting at about 6mg. I started in October and decided I didn't want it in January, especially after finding out the combination of alcohol and sert did a triple whammy on the liver (saffron!). All w/d symptoms come and go with each of us differently, but for me, I still have bad skin pinpricks (although the bumpy rash seems to be slowly going away), the itchiness was unbearable for awhile, but I found it to be exacerbated by red wine and chocolate (and possibly too much coffee, these things also (unfairly!) cause other issues with me like painful breasts and lymph nodes when I overdo any of them) - things that cause mild irritatation have been haunting me ten-fold, and I hope none have moved from sensitivity to allergy. The cramping is going away, and female issues seem to be getting back to normal. I do still get occasional eye flashes where I think my peripheral vision is behaving strangely (but those are shamefully kind of cool....).

      I am taking a bunch of supportive supplements now which seem to help (?). The quercetin (sp?) didn't help my itching. I'd like to think I'm getting positivie results from things like St. John's Wort and 5-HTP, but it could also be my attitude about wanting to feel better. I can, however, fall and stay asleep SO MUCH better now, so there are some physical effects coming through with the 5-HTP if nothing else. I haven't taken the Xanax, but having it available as a life-boat is re-assuring.

      I have not, but plan to call the US FDA about my symptoms and withdrawal; protracted WD isn't something that is discussed in detail anywhere that I can find in "formal" drug documentation. I didn't need it for chronic problems, and had I known it would be this difficult getting off, I never would have started it in the first place... I'll have this conversation with my doctor next time I'm there - they need to know that what they're prescribing comes with its own Pandora's box of issues.

      Good luck to you! I hope anything you're experiencing goes away quickly and without incident. Hang in there!! Best-- Beans

  • babs92428
    babs92428 meteor63

    Posted

    Hello, I have been ten years on Citalopram and recently it was changed to Sertraline 50mg.  It was changed because Citalopram did not manage to help me in my anxiety.  I found Sertraline fine in the first month, but now I have lots of headaches, face flushing and fast heartbeat.  At the end I decided to come off antidepressants for good.  It is my second attempt.  I was trying to come of Citalopram about a couple of years back.  I was tapering it for over a year, but in the end I could not cope without it.  I am going to try again with doctor's help.  I was told I need to be ready for side effect, which I alrady have anyway.  I will use EFT, supplements, exercise, mindfullness and all my will power to succeed.  The only thing that worries me are the fast heatbeats. They come and go during the day, being the fastest at night, between 3 and 5am.  I did not have any heart problems dignosed in the last set of tests.  Are those fast heartbeats normal?  Is it due to anxiety or withdrawal symptoms?  How many people have them when coming of antidepressants?
  • krista30436
    krista30436 meteor63

    Posted

    Hello, I was on citalopram for 1 year then detoxed myself and was the most depressed I had ever been in my life. Fortunately I made it through and felt much more myself. After stress picked up some six months later my doctor talked me into trying sertraline. What a mistake. Yes it helped some, but I hate the feeling of dependence on something for my happiness. Therapy is just as effective for me. Started detoxing myself two months ago to a pill every other day. Now I take half a pill twice a week. The withdrawal symptoms are awful. Dizziness, nausea, severe depression and increased anxiety. I can say they are slowly getting less severe and because I detoxed a year ago from citalopram I know it will work, my body will adjust and you do begin to feel normal again. I feel a little better every day. Good luck! 
  • Skymama
    Skymama meteor63

    Posted

    I'm relieved to have found this post. I am trying to taper off 150mg. My doctor said to jump first to 100mg and then taper down by 25mg from there. I'm on my 2nd attempt at reducing to 100. It's day 4 and I'm starting to feel weird. Reading all the posts here, I'm thinking maybe that was too fast a cut.   the doctor said that she didn't feel I would have any side effects until I got down to the very low doses but I seriously don't think these doctors have ANY idea what it's like to come off these meds!!!!! 

    If anyone else is currently tapering, please share how it's going. Thanks! 

    • adrian54
      adrian54 Skymama

      Posted

      Hi there. Am tapering too and was advised by doctor to cut and skip days and there would be no side effects. Boy was he wrong!! The advice on this website is much better. Cut by 10% each month is the only way to avoid side effects.

      Maybe reinstate to your previous dose until you settle then start reducing by the 10% each month.

    • Tezes
      Tezes Skymama

      Posted

      Adrian is right go back to 150, stabilise then start the 10% taper, you could try going up to 125 see if that works too but it's a gamble.

      ive been tapering for six months and now down to 10mg with only small withdrawal symptoms, well worth the patience to avoid lasting damage

      BTW the advice from my GP was useless too, he advice cutting by half the dose so 50% reduction, I suffered badly and had to go back up to full dose for two months before read this thread and I tried again 

      good luck x

    • juan_54101
      juan_54101 Skymama

      Posted

      It's very hard I tapered off slowly for 3 months then went cold turkey I've been clean for 100 days I still get side effects not as much as in the beginning but s to ll.hopefully soon they'll be gone what I did notice is my stomach acid picked up massively because of hcl

  • laura13118
    laura13118 meteor63

    Posted

    Yes, it is HORRIBLE and I think people do fall off the Internet once they have moved past the withdrawal (aka antidepressant discontinuation syndrome).  I was on a small does of Sertraline, just 50 mg, for about 2 years.  A few months ago, I started taking 25 mg and then about 45 days later felt that I was ready to stop.  As a therapist with some knowledge on psychopharmacology I was told 25 mg isn't even a therapeutic does, so I thought stopping at 25 mg would be easy.  IT WAS NOT and I don’t recommend it.  A few extra weeks or months to do it right and have a better experience would have been worth it.

     

    I have been keeping a log since April 30, 2016 and the last 3 days I have experienced the worst nausea I have ever had in my life.  Prior to the nausea, I had a feeling I was either high or drunk accompanied by feelings of vertigo (not feeling grounded in my legs and body).  I have no desire to eat and minimal appetite.  My eyelids sometimes feel like they are made of metal and all I want is to sleep all day.  The only thing that keeps me positive is my daily log and the desire to ensure none of my clients ever have to go through this experience. 

    I almost considered going back to 12.5 mg today, but I feel like I’ve been through so much already I don’t want to start again and then experience these discontinuation symptoms a second time.

    People, you are not alone in your suffering!  Every body is different and as such every body will respond differently to starting and discontinuing a medication.  Rule of thumb, low and slow titrate (when starting a medication) then super slow to taper off a medication.  In hindsight I would have followed this schedule for my discontinuation:  from 50mg to 25 mg for 3-4 months, then 12.5 mg for another 3-4 months, then stop. 

    Again, I am not a doctor, so please do consult with your doctor.  Tell them your concerns and what is happening in your body.  You are the expert on you, so if it feels wrong speak up and advocate for yourself.  

    • betsy0603
      betsy0603 laura13118

      Posted

      Hi Laura, 

      Even the taper you proposed above is too aggressive.  It will be interesting to see if you develop protracted withdrawal with anxiety and /or depression unlike you have ever known somewhere between 4 and 8 months.  Because this wave comes on so late, nobody recognizes it as withdrawal, but in fact withdrawal from these meds happens in a windows and waves pattern, back and forth, back and forth, feeling better and the feeling worse.  I'm sending you a link to a scientific article which illustrates why 12.5 mg of sert is still too high a dose to jump off.  At that dose your serotonin receptors are still occupied at  50%, with the max being about 90% no matter how high of a dose you go.  At the minimum effective dose, your receptors are occupied at 80%!

       

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