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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.

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  • Faith81
    Faith81 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi Meteor63, 

    I was on Citalopram for about 4 months. My GP then changed me over to another SNRI because Citalopram was giving me more side effects than relief. I have finally come off them and I am going through withdrawal symptoms, too. It has only been 16 days since coming off them. I feel pressure on the sides of my head, i get dizzy every time i move my eyes, I'm more exhausted than I've ever been in my life - I can just take 3 steps and it feels like i have been running for hours, racing heart etc...

    You are not in this on your own. I pray that it does get better, and I would honestly advise everyone I know to try natural therapies rather than taking taking SSRIs or SNRIs.

    Hope you feel better soon smile

  • linda49227
    linda49227 meteor63

    Posted

    I am so glad I found this thread.  I have thought I was losing my mind, truly.  I went off Zoloft (Setraline) about 3 1/2 weeks ago.  I slowed down and stopped taking it really slowly and over a long period of time.

    I have been crying off and on and scared that I might have to go back on it.  I almost took one in desperation yesterday.

    I've been forgetting things, making mistakes and I have had some headaches and all sorts of things.  I actually went to the doctor yesterday and talked about my prescriptions and brought up that I have been having memory issues that scare me.

    I thought I was developing Alzheimers or Dementia or something, but in questioning all my medications I mentioned going off the Zoloft and it was like a light went off in my doctor's brain, you could literally see it on her face!  She thinks it is Zoloft withdrawal and not something I will need to worry about.

    I wonder how long this will go on?  I want my brain back and I don't think I could ever go back on this drug again due to this "withdrawal".  I can sympathize with heroin addicts right now more than I did before.  I never thought I would have to feel this way going off a drug.  It has been so stressful and I feel miserable and now I, at least, know perhaps why this is happening.  I wish I had seen this about 2 weeks ago!

    • maureen75524
      maureen75524 linda49227

      Posted

      Definitley W.D. Linda, like you I thought I was losing my mind until I found this forum.  Go back and read posts from over a year ago and you will see many of us have suffered with w.d. for a long time.  I've been off it two years and still have loose bowels every morning, I now believe this is permanent!  

      Memory issues are common, i would be in the middle of a sentence and forget what I was saying, this lasted a year!   I also still experience nausea, early in the mornings.  This is a psychiatric drug, thus takes a long while for our brains to return to normal I assume.  Your Dr. at least realized this was/is your problem, mine sent me for a multitiude of tests when I was confidant it was w.d.  

      Take care Linda, rest assured things will be better, it just takes time. Take care.

    • linda49227
      linda49227 maureen75524

      Posted

      Right now, I am documenting memory issues that happen to me and having to write them all down is a scary thing, indeed.

      I hope that I see an improvement.

      My sleep has been very disrupted and I was given a prescription to help me relax for Lorazapam.  I was asked to track if the memory issues are the days after I have a poor night's sleep.  I'll be looking into that.

    • AngieNew
      AngieNew linda49227

      Posted

      Hi Linda,

      Please be careful with the Lorazapam as it also can cause witdrawal. I am going through it now. I recently tapered and then stopped my Lorazapam and cut back on my Zoloft from 100mg to 50mg. I have been very anxious, shaky, that sinking feeling in my stomache, rubbing my tongue on the front roof of my mouth right above my 2 front teeth which is something new for me. When I lay down at night to try and sleep I can feel my teeth lightly quivering. My throat has also been very dry. I know this all must be witdrawal syptoms.. I'm not sure if it is the Zoloft, Lorazapam (Adavan), or both causing this.  I was put on both Zoloft 100mg and Pristiq 50mg which I found out can be dangerous. I saw a different doctor while my doctor was on vacation and he wanted me to stop one or the other and he picked to stop the Pristiq 50mg and continue the Zoloft. I did, but instead of continuing at 100mg of Zoloft, I started taking 50mg to see how I would do. I could actually be withdrawling from Pristiq, Zoloft and Lorazapam. I have to keep praying and Trusting The Lord to get me where I need to be with all this. sad

  • pam80844
    pam80844 meteor63

    Posted

    I was taking 50mg of sertraline for about 2 years. I am waiting to go on Duloxatin and have to be off the sertraline for 3 weeks before beginning the new drug. My G.P. just said stop the sertraline, I queried weaning myself off and he said I didn't need to.

    I literally hit a brick wall after 9 days of not taking sertraline. I had a terrible flare up of my fibromyalgia and M.E! My skin is crawling and I don't know which bit to scratch first! My sleep patterns is rubbish anyhow so haven't noticed any difference there, but I'm so emotional and physically worn out.

    Not sure if u want to try the Duloxatine now either.

    • Tezes
      Tezes pam80844

      Posted

      Never ceases to amaze me how some GPs are so careless with these drugs. I'm afraid the only safe way to come off them is ultra slowly.

      you will find the link with the exact details of the 10% taper on this thread. I used this method myself after being on them 2.5 years and it worked, I avoided any nasty withdrawals.

      I wish you you good luck in getting stabilised

    • maureen75524
      maureen75524 pam80844

      Posted

      I cannot believe a G.P. would advixse a patient to just QUIT a psychiatric drug.   These drugs alter our brain chemistry, and must be tapered to avoid nasty withdrawls.  You would think they would research this in theri medical journals if they aren't aware ~ good grief.  

    • pam80844
      pam80844 maureen75524

      Posted

      Dear Maureen 75524,

      Thank you so much for your comment. I even asked the doc if he was sure I didn't need to wean myself off. Tragic isn't it. Think I'm gonna ask for a private referral as a one off. Can't really afford it but nor can I carry on like this.

    • pam80844
      pam80844 Tezes

      Posted

      Dear Tezes,

      Thank you for your comment. It's shocking isn't it! I think I'm going to ask for a referral to a private consultant as a one off. Can't really afford it but I have lost all faith in our gp's at our practice. I shall be seeing a good doc on Thursday and will ask for a longer consultation with her and go from there.

    • maureen75524
      maureen75524 pam80844

      Posted

      Good idea keep us posted.  If you have time go back in this thread and you will see what many of us went through, as a result of our physicians!
    • pam80844
      pam80844 maureen75524

      Posted

      Thanks maureen75524 😊

      Yes I will certainly come back with how my consultation goes.

      I will certainly read blogs asap.

    • karen030371
      karen030371 Tezes

      Posted

      Hi Tezes, is the link with the exact details of the 10% taper still on this thread.  I have been trying to find it but not sure if I'm looking at the right thread.  Thanks

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