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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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  • katsta4
    katsta4 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have been on Sertraline 50mg for nearly 4 years for anxiety and panic attacks. I must say for me it has been a life saver. When I started it I had a dry mouth for about a week but no other side effects I can think off . I decided to come off it as felt ok and have put 28lbs on over that period of time. My GP told me to take it every other day for a month which I did with no side  effects. She has now told me to stop taking it altogether [ which I did 4 days ago ] and I am finding that I am a tiny bit anxious , snappy and have no energy . I am hoping that these side effects will decrease over the next couple of weeks as I never want to feel the way that I did when I first went on them [ that was my terrible anxiety not the meds ] x

    • hans82434
      hans82434 katsta4

      Posted

      When things get tough, just remind yourself it isn't necessarily your old self reappearing. It's just withdrawals. Helps me

  • bridgette43102
    bridgette43102 meteor63

    Posted

    I am 6 months off of Zoloft.  I had been on it for 16yrs.  It's been hell.  I had to go on it due to anxiety and depression from a head injury I had gotten from a car accident in my teens.  I am going through the displacement feelings.  I have turned to vitamins, exercise and healthy eating habbits.  I still suffer from the ringing in my ears, the brain zaps, headaches, mood swings, physical pain and my specialist has given up on me because I decided to stop these meds that were slowly killing me.  I first started on 25mg, then over the 16yrs went up to 200mg per day.  I was worse off depression wise, gained so much weight, was in constant pain, had insomnia, chronic fatigue.. it was hell every single day.  I have good days and bad now, but I too want to know when this will stop.  I know I was on it for so long, I just hope that it will end sooner rather than later.  I hope you find relief and solice from this horrid medication soon meteor63.  I will continue to follow this thread.  It's such a relief to know that I'm not the only one dealing with this.  It makes me feel like I'm not crazy, I'm not the only one experiencing these horrid side effects.  I am glad I'm not living this nightmare alone.

    • alana76961
      alana76961 bridgette43102

      Posted

      I totally understand exactly how you are feeling. On one hand it is so nice to hear I am not the only one feeling this way and going out of my mind having all these crazy withdrawals. But on the other hand it is so unfair we even have to go through this considering this drug was meant to help in the first place. My dr told me to half my tablets (zoloft100mg) to 50 for three days then go cold turkey on nothing for 3 days and then start on 15 mg of mirtazapane at night time for anxiety and insomnia. Oh my god the withdrawals have been shocking and I have 2 small children to care for which have been seeing kranky angry sad mummy the last few days. How can they even think that this is possible, obviously my dr has never experienced this before. So I went back to the dr yesterday and all they said to do is double the mirtazapane and I should start feeling better soon. I feel I'm trapped inside my house as I don't feel safe to drive anywhere or see anyone incase I snap...

      Have you found anything that takes the edge of all these feelings? If you need to talk to someone that understand pls feel free to contact me.

    • hans82434
      hans82434 bridgette43102

      Posted

      How are you doing these days? I'm interested in your story as mine is almost identical. Thought I had it beat but then I went downhill once again. Thanks for posting.

    • hans82434
      hans82434 alana76961

      Posted

      I took mirtazapine for 15 years along with srrtraline and I am now off sertraline and I don't think it makes withdrawals any better though our situations differ a bit. You started one after the other. I'd say it might help you sleep better, but your body is now dealing with adjusting without the one but also adjusting to something new. I would think this would be tough on the mind. Good luck.

  • connie97285
    connie97285 meteor63

    Posted

    Has anyone from these posts gone back to taking sertraline? Seems the conversations ended over a year ago. I need to know if things will ever get better. It's been 6 months and I'm going to go back on it...can't handle this another day. Anyone???????

    • samantha74870
      samantha74870 connie97285

      Posted

      Hello, I have been off sertraline for over a year now & I feel 95% better. The first few months were hell, I thought I was going to lose my mind. I had brain zaps, head pressure, body aches, strong depression & anxiety, dizziness (which I still have)... I was so scared from everything I was feeling that I started getting tested for different things. I started taking fish oil & probiotics & it helped a little bit. I must say that my life is so much better! I am back to work & I can acually function in life now. You are definitely in my thoughts.

    • connie97285
      connie97285 samantha74870

      Posted

      Thanks for replying..Am going to wait just a little longer but will probably go back on them. I've been hoping for months it would get better but am thinking being on the drug is much easier than the withdrawals. One question....I keep reading about brain zaps...what is that???

    • hans82434
      hans82434 connie97285

      Posted

      The best way to describe brain zaps are little pulses of electricity you feel in your head when you do certain things. For me, moving my eyes side to side cause zaps. Honestly, they are disconcerting but pale in comparison to the other side effects IMO. They do lessen over time.
  • connie97285
    connie97285 meteor63

    Posted

    As soon as I posted new comments popped up...so maybe it hasnt been over a year since the last comment smile

    • Tezes
      Tezes connie97285

      Posted

      Ive been off it for 4 months and feel better by the day. I avoided all the nasty withdrawals by following the 10% tapering method as advised on this site. It takes patience but it works !

      sertraline is a nasty drug, easier to go on but can be hell to come off, a lot of the withdrawals can be mistaken for a relapse of the reason you went on it in the first place - hang in there

    • connie97285
      connie97285 Tezes

      Posted

      Thanks Tezes, but I went on a 4 month tapering method and I am not feeling much better since I stopped...6 months ago. I'm glad it helped you and hopefully others wanting to quit will try that way.

    • Tezes
      Tezes connie97285

      Posted

      Hi I don't know how you came off but it took me 8 months to come off 50 mg using the 10% taper. The most important thing to remember when your tapering is that the smaller the dose the more carefully and slowely the taper. E.g I've found that people tend to get down to what they think is a safe dose to jump off and inevitably stop too soon. 

      I wish you you the best whatever you decide to do

  • billy08333
    billy08333 meteor63

    Posted

    Ive been on sertraline for 6months, 200mg a day and last week I went cold turkey. Holy sh#t it has be the most emotional week of my life. I never cry but all week im crying for no reason. Im happy all of a sudden. Im angry and irrate a few minutes later. Ive flu like symptoms and my ability to maintain a conversation has dwindled away. The brain zaps are very powerful, not quite painful and slightly enjoyable but definitely a nuisance after awhile. I thought I could cope but clearly I cant, my psychoanalysis councillor urges me to see him from every second week to 3 times a week because he is worried. I hope you're doing well and you have gotten the answeres you are looking for that will help you on your road to recovery 😃

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