1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

Sertraline Withdrawal .. Does it go away?

Posted , 276 users are following.

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

Prev Next
  • anthony10094
    anthony10094 meteor63

    Posted

    Hello mate,

    I have been off sertraline for 2 weeks now and I am having the zaps every bloody time I moved my eyes as well. I keep thinking I'm about to drop. I have had some palpitations as well. I feel lighted headed most days and I'm getting so frustrated. Your not alone mate. Hopefully this feeling goes soon

  • sim78629
    sim78629 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi I've just been reading through these responses to see if I can relate to any of it. I have been on 200mg of sertraline daily for 3 years and recently due to circumstances I could not get a prescription for a week. I've been getting weird jolt like feelings in my brain when I move my eyes and feelings of nausea through out the day. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, how long did it take you until these symptoms were no longer prominent? x

  • hans82434
    hans82434 meteor63

    Posted

    Hello meteor63, I took sert for 14 years and must say it does get better.  I have been sert free for about 7 months and at the moment I feel pretty good. I must say though that I may not be out of the woods just yet but I am enjoying a withdrawal free period of time right now. The best way I can describe it is 2 steps forward with one step back. This is why I may not be done with it yet.  Brain zaps will subside and emotions will level out. Seems everyone is different so hang on and try to be healthy. Keep your mind stimulated and try to stay active. Vtamin D might help as well.
  • Torsi
    Torsi meteor63

    Posted

    24/02/2017

    How's everyone going with this?

    I've just stopped 50mg went down to 25mg for a week then cold turkey (as I was away and forgot tablets).

    The zaps started slow and are quickly getting worse when I move around/move my eyes, and now 1 week later they're very bad. Not dizzy but just uncomfortable shocks all throughout my body.

    Also I am getting much angrier than ever before, at the tiniest things I just 'blow up' then a second later I'm fine again..

    My sleeps are horribly interrupted and waking early unable to 'snooze' again. I'm usually a record sleeper. 10 hours is not enough some nights, so this is strange for me.

    Sick of feeling 'off'. Want to get back to normal ASAP. Any suggestions to cope?

    When did you guys start feeling normal again?

    • heather52246
      heather52246 Torsi

      Posted

      Are you feeling any better ? Am off it 4 days now and keep having dizzy spells every time a move like my eyes trying to catch up or something it's horrible a couldn't take them anymore tho they where making me so unwell think I've came off to fast and now am worried but a really can't bare going back on really want this dizzyness..sweating lack of sleep to stop.. please tell me there's hope and am not stuck like this

    • Torsi
      Torsi heather52246

      Posted

      Yes! It absolutely goes away! It's slow and steady but it gradually gets better and better, it took a few weeks but it does go for good! I'm 100% back to normal now, been off the pills 3 months and feeling great! X

    • heather52246
      heather52246 Torsi

      Posted

      I ended up taking 25 to see it stops the dizziness as it's awful and I have three girls to look after and everytime a move am taking dizzy spells I really want off this horrible pill tho after this bad experience I'll never take anything ever again

  • liam_55617
    liam_55617 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi everybody just wanna ask people question on this site I've been on sertraline 50mg for 3.5 months wanted off just wasn't helping me my question my doctor told me to take half tablet for 5 days I should be fine and I'm not have withdrawls symptoms I'm sure heart won't stop racing clammy hands broken sleep chest tightness numbness in hand feet but I got true to my other doctor she told I should of taking half of tablet for 2 weeks then after two weeks take half tablet every second day but I havint taking a tablet in over a week should I start back up or should I just hold out and ride the storm

    • liam_55617
      liam_55617

      Posted

      Also have shaking and brain zaps
  • hannah99311
    hannah99311 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi, I've seen a doc today having stopped 50mg of sertraline. I cut from 100mg to 50mg and felt ok as I added in supplements and more exercise, which usually helps me anyway. But, I was down to 50mg every other day then ran out and so stopped. Ever since, I've been emotional, angry, frustrated and highly intolerant. So, doc this morning said to go back onto 50mg and she'll see me in a months time.

    Question is though... do I do this or should I try and suck it up as I'm unsure as to whether weaning off in the future would be better than going through a few weeks/months of hell now!

    Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.

    • Christycrazy
      Christycrazy hannah99311

      Posted

      Hi there , I came off.. Wasn't easy but had no choice...

      I have just gotten out of hospital for 53 days..

      Whoahhh.. rough ride..

      I was put in lexapro along with some other meds due to insomnia.. Well got serotonin syndrome.. no more ssr. Or ssri..

      Made me very ill...

      Everyone is different but I had to be put on alot on benzos to. be weaned off due to how sick I was..

      It wasn't a good choice for me.

      I now take remeron which I take at night with seraquil & very little side effects..

      Wish you all the best..

    • Tezes
      Tezes hannah99311

      Posted

      To avoid long term and sometimes permanent damage to your nervous system you need to taper this drug ultra slowly. 50 mg is way too high a dose to just stop taking abruptly.

      i would reinstate to the last dose you took as your dr advised, take a month to stabilise your system and then begin the recommended 10% tapering method as outlined on this site.

      i came off 50mg using this method, it took 5 months but I avoided all the nasty immediate and rebound withdrawals. Good luck

  • romina95981
    romina95981 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi

    Can we communicate further ? I am in the same situation I feel a victim and I feel so sad to have put myself through this hell. Can you please communicate with me further ?

  • heather52246
    heather52246 meteor63

    Posted

    I know this is been a long while ago but I've been off the sertraline now for 4 days and am getting worse dizzy spells constant every time a move a get them and sweats and the runs sad when does this go away and settle sad a couldn't bare being on them they made me worse and a suffered so long waiting on them to supposedly work but didn't couldn't try anymore come off them felt better coming off them but now these symptoms I really wish a didn't go on them now... would really love anyone to tell me how long it took for them to get this horrible drug out their system sad

    • Tezes
      Tezes heather52246

      Posted

      Please read back on this post for info on how to taper off this drug in the recommended way to avoid these withdrawal symptoms, good luck x
    • heather52246
      heather52246 Tezes

      Posted

      But that means going back on the thing a want off sad a understand a need to do it slowly I done it quite fast over few weeks as a just couldn't bare how they make me feel.. just horrible to think a now have to go back on to stop the withdrawals but when a come off won't they just give me withdrawals again

    • Tezes
      Tezes heather52246

      Posted

      That's the point of the 10% tapering method, it's the only way to avoid the nasty withdrawals, it takes a lot of patience and perseverance but is worth all the effort.

    • heather52246
      heather52246 Tezes

      Posted

      I understand a had to take half of one in the end anyways a can't take the dizziness among other symptoms am gonna talk to the doctor again and ask her best way to get off only been on them 2 months a didn't think withdrawal would be so bad at that short space of time sad

    • Tezes
      Tezes heather52246

      Posted

      To put it into perspective I tapered off 50mg over 6 months, I avoided the withdrawals. 10% reduction every month is the way to go,

      I hope your GP is better informed than mine was as his advice was to take half for two weeks then stop altogether - it was horrendous. .

       

    • heather52246
      heather52246 Tezes

      Posted

      Yeah 2 weeks half then every other day but I just stopped as a couldn't deal with how a was feeling but like a say big mistake the dizziness has been horrific all with broken sleep hot flashes sweats it's been terrible so after four days today I've taken 25 and I'll take that until a level out then not sure what to do then as I've no 10

    • heather52246
      heather52246 Tezes

      Posted

      But being on them am getting side effects so am getting it both sides sad it really is horrible sorry to have a wee moan but my journey has been so hard since December and to still be going through it I could cry...
    • Tezes
      Tezes heather52246

      Posted

      It can take up to eight weeks for side effects to go once you start taking them.

      cuttung down by 50% is too drastic a cut for your nervous system so it goes into shock, hence the withdrawals. 

      Some me people request liquid sertraline and use a 10 ml syringe to taper more accurately but I just shaved my original 50mg tablet down each month over 5 months each cut until I was at approx 12.5 mg for a month then stopped. It's a hard road both ways, a very nasty drug for some people. All the best X 

    • heather52246
      heather52246 Tezes

      Posted

      Thank you I've never been on anything before in my life and don't think i ever will after this experience but I will prob go with your experience as a want no side affects if a can avoid them anyways thanks for your input and even replying means a lot smile

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.