Sertraline Withdrawal .. Does it go away?
Posted , 276 users are following.
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
ruth91434 meteor63
Posted
Hey everyone. I posted about four months ago asking for help, so thanks very much for all the many many replies. After posting I had to go into hospital on emergency admission because I had Serotonin Syndrome. Basically, the stupid GP reduced the dose so extremely fast and suddenly that my brain was starved on Serotonin, and the side effects were extreme. I thought I was going crazy for a while there. The Body zaps we've all talked about were constant and happened even 20 or so seconds. So I had to be sedated and put on a drip for a bit. Damn silly GP. Currently waiting for an appointment in the New Year with the local mental health team who are going to supervise me coming off Sertraline but in a very slow and measured way. Looking forward to the day I can stop these pills. If I ever had any clue that withdrawal could be like this, I would never have agreed to be on them in the first place. Good luck everyone. I hope you all find a sympathetic doctor or nurse who can help you get to where you want to be with your meds. Take care of yourselves x
sharon36528 meteor63
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ann55375 sharon36528
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sharon36528 ann55375
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ann55375 sharon36528
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ann55375 sharon36528
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sharon36528 meteor63
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amanda19172 meteor63
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I don't no why its saying I posted 4 years ago maybe ive done something wrong or posted wrong but I have been off this a horrific drug now for at least 4 months now and as I said in previous posts I felt so bad on it I just stopped taking it if was silly but I thought just get off it and be done with which I don't advice but like you exactly the same eyes hurting headaches you name it I had it but I'm still recovering from this after all this time but what I can say that I feeling more in control less edgy eyes better and its getting better everyday so there is light at th end of the tunnel hope you get there soon
dani7810 meteor63
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I just started tapering off sertraline about a month ago, I starting taking anxiety meds roughly 17 years ago. My doc assured me I could do this in 4 weeks since I take a low dose of 100mg a day. This has not been the case, brain fog and dizziness have hit me hard the last few days, and I have been feeling a bit emotional. I have started using cbd infused products and have found that they have taken the edge off. If it's legal in your state it's really a great alternative to big pharma, I have also been ingesting lavender oil, and lavender infused teas. Lavender is very calming both topically and orally and is also a nice alternative to medications. Of course as always these methods should be approved by a doctor. I hope these suggestions help others searching for a natural way to deal with anxiety and depression, oh and be sure that your essential oils are approved for oral consumption, some forms are only to be used topically or as aromatherapy.
christophe86122 dani7810
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dani7810
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I posted about a month ago and am still doing a slow taper off of sertraline, it's been difficult even with alternative methods being used. I do feel much stronger now, and am only taking the drug every 4th day. I will admit there have been a few hard withdrawals days where I wasn't sure I could do it. But all in all, mentally I am feeling really good, it's the physical withdrawals that are the worst. For anyone else out there trying to get off their meds, you can do this, there is light at the end of the tunnel, just take your time and don't rush the taper.
matt39801 dani7810
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Well said Dani, well done , keep strong 💪
christophe86122 meteor63
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tony12044 christophe86122
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Hi Christophe,
I can completely relate to your situation, I have dealt with panic and anxiety related issues for almost 30 years. As I mentioned in the previous comment, I finally got off the Zoloft I'd taken for 20 to 25 years. It was difficult but the final result was more than worth it. I now feel normal and am no longer a victim random panic attacks that would seemingly come out of nowhere. I have the added advantage of being a psychiatric nurse and dealing with people with these issues and have researched the subject thoroughly. Ultimately I have found that healthy diet, lifestyle and exercise have essentially cured me of this condition. The drugs should be used as a bridge, I means to an end. Not an end in and of themselves. It all boils down to what you really want. If you want to barely get by with these nostrums then that is okay. But if you want to be that person going drug-free means you have to deal with the issues that cause the problem in the first place. A healthy diet, exercise, and appropriate mindset have released me from the clutches of these drugs. I truly believe as a psychiatric professional that the natural methods are far superior in the long term verses dependence on drugs.
In summary, utilize the medications as you need them in the lowest dose is possible for the shortest time necessary to achieve an equilibrium. Then adjust your lifestyle and your mindset to move forward and Beyond the clutches of anxiety and panic. Good luck, My Method has work for me and I'm sure there is a path out of this for you but you must determine what that path may be
matt39801 tony12044
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Hi Chistophe
Wow I just had to comment on your post .
I’ve been on and of AD’s for years most recently I had a breakdown 7 months ago and upped my Citalopran dose , it wasn’t helping so I was switched to Sertraline 50mg then zapped up to 200mg and 15 mg Mirtazapine and 5mg I’d Diazipan 3 times s day (Diazipan) I seemed to better with the anxiety but a depression hit me hard , any way long story short I had a seizure, had bloods taken and a CT scan all ok but the psychiatrist got me to drop the Sertraline to 100mg over two weeks, nobody has confirmed this but had hinted that the dose and cocktails of meds I was on had caused the seizure!
I also realised that I had a Mirena coil in for 7.5 years so likely the Progesterone had run out , I’m not quite through the menopause, I had a new one 4 weeks ago and felt calmer the next day !
Like you I have now done massive research on AD’s and anxiety and depression, I to think they should be treated as a short term solution, I’m reading a couple books , one about how society has changed and increased these problems and another that says AD’s are NOT the answer, we do not have a malfunctioning brain we have emotional problems that make the brain act in a different way , and we can learn to change that ourselves with hard work and determination and of course believing in our own strength.
I am slowly weaning off Diazipan so I will be able to drive again and reconnect with people and find something meaningful to do , I except that it’s gonna be a bit hard , I’ve had some nasty withdrawal coming down from 200mg to 100mg of Sertraline and I know I’ll probably have some yuk coming off Diazipan but I am more convinced than ever that I want to be med free and get my brain into a happy rewarding place.
Thank you for your post it has really inspired me 👍
Matt
julie7526 tony12044
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Tony12044,
Thank you for telling your story. I am currently suffering through a brutal withdrawal after being Sertraline and like you have taken it for 15 plus years. Everything people have described experiencing since stopping this drug I have to the extreme. I thought I was dying, maybe I am...it's hard to fathom that this torture is coming from tapering off a medication my Doctor gave me. My greatest fear the last few weeks is that the damage is permanent and I will have to live like this for the rest of life. I had no idea what Zoloft was doing to me and feel like years of my life were taken from me. It seems you made it through this dark tunnel and found light on the other side. Although I am nearly paralyzed by fear your experience gives me some hope that I eventually feel normal again. Thank you.