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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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  • lee99674
    lee99674

    Posted

    I started weaning off Zoloft l50 mgs per day that I took for 8 years on December 3, 2011 and finished the weaning off it on May 17, 2013. While withdrawing I had many side effects....major dizziness, headaches, leg, groin and sciatic pain, nausea, vomiting, major indigestion, etc. Almost at the end of weaning, say two months....these side effects subsided....and I felt that I was beating this thing.

    So May 17, to October, things were looking pretty good...just mild side effects that I could easily cope with....But then late October all hell broke loose and I had and still have new side effects which are:

    Pins and needles my entire face, lips, tongue and neck....head pressure, headaches, lightheadedness that is always there, and my head is never clear, light sensitivity just in one eye. When I look at a distance looks distorted, but not when looking close....(does anyone have this)? panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, and crying spells.

    I was so scared, the fear was terrible, anger, slight depression.......and then.....acceptance.

    I no longer have anxiety, nor panic attacks....if I do have a light bit of anxiety it is when I wake up in the morning, but is gone in a few minutes...

    But what is acceptance...is it giving up...is it total resignation, Is it the raw reality that I might never get better....Did you ever watch the look on peoples' faces that have suffered so much that they have the look of resignation on their faces?......

    What I feel now is ....sadness and the raw reality that this may never leave me....remember I have no panic attacks nor anxiety any more...

    Having said all this......these side effects to not stop me from living. Yesterday I took an elderly lady to the bank, to the passport office, out for lunch for her Birthday, took her grocery shopping then took her home. Then I went to get my Income Tax done....All this feeling very bad with all those side effects.

    I go out with my best friend shopping and lunch...take care of my house and animals....do everything.....all never feeling well. Sometimes I do cry...but nothing near what I use to.

    So what is acceptance.....that is the question...as you can see I have accepted it all...or is it resignation....Is this a dangerous place I am in now...? I just don't know.

    Thank you for listening

    Love

    Divalee

    Next time your found, with your chin on the ground

    There's a lot to be learned, so look around

    Just what makes that little old ant

    Think he'll move that rubber tree plant

    Anyone knows an ant, cant

    Move a rubber tree plant

    But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes

    He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

    So any time your gettin low

    Stead of lettin go

    Just remember that ant

    Oops there goes another rubber

    • thetinman
      thetinman lee99674

      Posted

      love the poem!  thanks for sharing!  acceptance seems to lessen anxiety for you and that makes SO MUCH SENSE.  thank you for the lesson in life: if you're alive, LIVE.  In spite of, with, around the depression that affects so many of us human beings.  I feel it's like having one leg shorter than the other.  You can go not walk so no one sees (I hid in my house mostly, for years), you can limp around on your own focused on how you look compared to others, you can get a crutch like Zoloft which helped me get around better while my legs got stronger, or you can limp in plain view and still hold someone else's lean, as you do with the elderly.  In the latter case, who cares if you limp, when you've got a full life to walk in. :-) <3 share yourself!  i stopped taking zoloft last week, no weaning off this time, after taking it for 4 years. i also took buspar to overcome the breakthrough symptoms for the past two years.  i've tried two other times to get off the meds: once weaning them both and once just "cold turkey."  both times the withdrawal was so scary and overwhelming i went back on after about a week.  this time i planned and prepared myself for about a month by weaning off the buspar, in this order:  from twice per day to one pill per day, to one pill before bedtime, to one pill every other day, to no more buspar!  there were some days of great sadness and sleeping all day.  but i still had the zoloft to deal with.  before cutting off the zoloft, i started exercising, and prepared my spirit--this time the withdrawal symptoms have been, relatively, mild.  i've started taking emergen-c with b vitamins, fish oil, two tablespoons of flax seed (over the day), a basic vitamin, lots of h20 and non-starchy vegetables.  i also take an anti-inflammatory (curamin or ibuprofen 600mg; that would help the horrible drop that happened when i would have the least amount of alcohol whileon the meds -- but sometimes i just wanted a glass or two of wine with my husband) i spend time in prayer and write in a gratitude journal.  key: (1) i expected the withdrawal symptoms i'd had before and prepared to fight them (2) i decided with a made up mind to get through to the other side of those symptoms, whatever that is--my original depression and anxiety? i hope not but i'll be better balanced and with my clean slate i will find a different approach to living with it. (3) i notice the symptoms without being the symptoms. for instance, when i feel weepy, i cry and say to my self: "this is the withdrawal, i'm not sad, this is my reaction to not having the zoloft; this is the backlash effect of my brain letting go of the drug so just get somewhere where you can cry for a few minutes to let the pressure release, and then get back to what you were doing."  or "this lightheadedness and dizziness, and that brain zap you felt a while ago is due to coming off the meds."  and one final note:  no alcohol.  zero.  i know from experience that one beer or one glass of wine while on these meds is disastrous for my mood, my energy the next day.  and i would get a monster headache as well.  hence, the ibuprofen and curamin -- actually, taking those was also due to the new exercise routine! wink so far, so good. hope you made it too!  share="" yourself!=""  i="" stopped="" taking="" zoloft="" last="" week,="" no="" weaning="" off="" this="" time,="" after="" taking="" it="" for="" 4="" years.="" i="" also="" took="" buspar="" to="" overcome="" the="" breakthrough="" symptoms="" for="" the="" past="" two="" years.=""  i've="" tried="" two="" other="" times="" to="" get="" off="" the="" meds:="" once="" weaning="" them="" both="" and="" once="" just="" "cold="" turkey."=""  both="" times="" the="" withdrawal="" was="" so="" scary="" and="" overwhelming="" i="" went="" back="" on="" after="" about="" a="" week.=""  this="" time="" i="" planned="" and="" prepared="" myself="" for="" about="" a="" month="" by="" weaning="" off="" the="" buspar,="" in="" this="" order:=""  from="" twice="" per="" day="" to="" one="" pill="" per="" day,="" to="" one="" pill="" before="" bedtime,="" to="" one="" pill="" every="" other="" day,="" to="" no="" more="" buspar!=""  there="" were="" some="" days="" of="" great="" sadness="" and="" sleeping="" all="" day.=""  but="" i="" still="" had="" the="" zoloft="" to="" deal="" with.=""  before="" cutting="" off="" the="" zoloft,="" i="" started="" exercising,="" and="" prepared="" my="" spirit--this="" time="" the="" withdrawal="" symptoms="" have="" been,="" relatively,="" mild.=""  i've="" started="" taking="" emergen-c="" with="" b="" vitamins,="" fish="" oil,="" two="" tablespoons="" of="" flax="" seed="" (over="" the="" day),="" a="" basic="" vitamin,="" lots="" of="" h20="" and="" non-starchy="" vegetables.=""  i="" also="" take="" an="" anti-inflammatory="" (curamin="" or="" ibuprofen="" 600mg;="" that="" would="" help="" the="" horrible="" drop="" that="" happened="" when="" i="" would="" have="" the="" least="" amount="" of="" alcohol="" whileon="" the="" meds="" --="" but="" sometimes="" i="" just="" wanted="" a="" glass="" or="" two="" of="" wine="" with="" my="" husband)="" i="" spend="" time="" in="" prayer="" and="" write="" in="" a="" gratitude="" journal.=""  key:="" (1)="" i="" expected="" the="" withdrawal="" symptoms="" i'd="" had="" before="" and="" prepared="" to="" fight="" them="" (2)="" i="" decided="" with="" a="" made="" up="" mind="" to="" get="" through="" to="" the="" other="" side="" of="" those="" symptoms,="" whatever="" that="" is--my="" original="" depression="" and="" anxiety?="" i="" hope="" not="" but="" i'll="" be="" better="" balanced="" and="" with="" my="" clean="" slate="" i="" will="" find="" a="" different="" approach="" to="" living="" with="" it.="" (3)="" i="" notice="" the="" symptoms="" without="" being="" the="" symptoms.="" for="" instance,="" when="" i="" feel="" weepy,="" i="" cry="" and="" say="" to="" my="" self:="" "this="" is="" the="" withdrawal,="" i'm="" not="" sad,="" this="" is="" my="" reaction="" to="" not="" having="" the="" zoloft;="" this="" is="" the="" backlash="" effect="" of="" my="" brain="" letting="" go="" of="" the="" drug="" so="" just="" get="" somewhere="" where="" you="" can="" cry="" for="" a="" few="" minutes="" to="" let="" the="" pressure="" release,="" and="" then="" get="" back="" to="" what="" you="" were="" doing."=""  or="" "this="" lightheadedness="" and="" dizziness,="" and="" that="" brain="" zap="" you="" felt="" a="" while="" ago="" is="" due="" to="" coming="" off="" the="" meds."=""  and="" one="" final="" note:=""  no="" alcohol.=""  zero.=""  i="" know="" from="" experience="" that="" one="" beer="" or="" one="" glass="" of="" wine="" while="" on="" these="" meds="" is="" disastrous="" for="" my="" mood,="" my="" energy="" the="" next="" day.=""  and="" i="" would="" get="" a="" monster="" headache="" as="" well.=""  hence,="" the="" ibuprofen="" and="" curamin="" --="" actually,="" taking="" those="" was="" also="" due="" to="" the="" new="" exercise="" routine!="" wink so="" far,="" so="" good.="" hope="" you="" made="" it=""> so far, so good. hope you made it too! >
    • michael58834
      michael58834 thetinman

      Posted

      Hi thetinman, I have been on sertaline (Zoloft) since march of this year for anxiety. I started on 50mg and after 8 weeks went up to 100mg and stayed on these for 8 more weeks but this was too much for me so back down to 75mg which was just fine,I was almost a 100% but just not there, anyway I now am in the process of weening off them so for the last week I have been taking 50mg and will be on this amount till the end of november, then will be on 25mg till the end of december and then off them, so the thing is I have been ok the first few days but these last two days my head has been all over the place, mood has been ok some of the time and can be low other times, plus a few other mild side effects that I just put up with, So should I expect this everytime that I reduce the dosage, also has exercising helped? as I am a mature student and get very little chance to exercise but am willing to do whatever it takes. If you have any advice for me please drop me a line.
    • thetinman
      thetinman michael58834

      Posted

      Sorry for the delay michael58834.  YES exercise helped!  I suggest swimming; it is the best. I can't do that every day but what I can do that has helped me keep my mind focused is walking in a place that has trees and grass and birds, squirrels--being out in nature, especially when the sun is shining.  Yesterday I had a couple of brain zaps right together in the morning. Rather than stay home, I got out of the house.  I took a cup of coffee and drove to a local park where I sat on a bench and absorbed the sunshine and cold air.  I was still.  Then I got up and walked, not fast, just moving and being.  After about half an hour, I turned around and headed back to my car.  I was able to be productive all the rest of the day.  With a few deep breaths I was able to get past the brain zaps and come up with just that little plan to get out with coffee and walk.  Much better than a pill.
    • tricia03235
      tricia03235 lee99674

      Posted

      Hi Divalee,

      I know you posted this a long time ago, but the way you describe how you feel/felt is exactly what is happening to me. I'm 5 months in and still feel so disconnected. I'm getting more and more worrried as the days go on. Are you still medicine free? I hope everything worked out for you! I would love an update!

      Thank you,

      Tricia

  • lee99674
    lee99674

    Posted

    I am sorry, the moderators have to check me out....which I don't blame them. I wrote a detailed post to tell you my story. I am sure it will be on here soon.

    Love

    Divalee

  • Resigned2B
    Resigned2B

    Posted

    Dear M,

    It did take six months to stop shaking AFTER stopping the offending med. Many times THIS particular side effect (Tardive Dyskonisia) is PERMANENT. I'm unclear as to whether this is happening to new poster, Lee. Her comments are awaiting moderation so we'll have to see what her symptoms are.

    Going off anti-depressants vary for every person and can take many, many months. It's hard in many instances and doctors seem use this problem as a way to say, "See? You really NEED these meds." When, in fact, they just need help stepping off them safely.

    There are people who do need them. Unfortunately, they do NOT tell these patients that these meds were NOT meant for long term use and the side effects, sometimes after years, can be devastating and permanent... It just breaks my heart, having suffered through so many of them, to read some of these posts.

  • Resigned2B
    Resigned2B

    Posted

    Moderators - please redesign these posts so we can come back in and edit our typos after the fact...Thx!
  • lee99674
    lee99674

    Posted

    Yes, this is true, I am off Zoloft 10 months now and still suffer from migraines, pins and needles my whole face, lips, tongue.....pressure bridge of my nose....pressure on my head.....lightheadedness, and this is constant. I will have a window once in a while which means I get some relief for perhaps one day but it always comes back. I was told these are definitely withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft....

    I have faith that one day they will be gone....and I hope the same for you

    Love

    Lee

    Whoops there goes another rubber tree plant....smile

    • melissa80093
      melissa80093 lee99674

      Posted

      Hi,

      i was wondering if you had any news with your migraines and tingling? I have the same situation going on, was on Zoloft no problem getting of besides long lasting migraines n tingling left side of face . Drs through me on effexor went away got off same issue. I want off these meds, I have gained 50 pds and feel like I have no motivation for years. I just hate the tingling and headaches. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks Melissa

  • trendy10
    trendy10

    Posted

    Hi everyone. Since my last post I rapidly went down hill. So I phoned the GP. She suggested to taper off sertraline more slowly so Im now doing 100 then 50mg alternate days. I also get the shakes but it is periodic so can get by just as long as I take it easy. Lee99674.. I also get pins and needles and headaches.. Poor you 😐 I hope they start to go soon. Do you drink plenty of water? I found that this has helped.
  • lee99674
    lee99674

    Posted

    Those side effects I am having now is when I stopped taking the Zoloft.....but when I was weaning off it I had different side effects and they were...severe dizziness, nausea, vomiting, pains in my legs, sciatic and groin...indigestion, migraines...I took one year and a half to get off Zoloft...and the last month going off it .....these side effects went away except for the migraines and the dizziness. These continued to stay with me after total withdrawal together with the pins and needles, etc.

    I was told that they will all go away but it can take about 18 months or more....but please do not have a deadline....one never knows when they will go away....If we make a deadline and then the deadline comes and goes, we will just be disappointed.

    Where I am now......I have accepted these side effects which markedly decreased my anxiety...accepting makes one feel less stressed, we calm down and the side effects don't feel so bad....stress just aggravates the symptoms....so we must try to be calm, eating calming food.....exercise but not to exercise too hard...

    When we think we can't do anything because of the way we feel......do it anyway.....I find myself doing everything and I don't let these horrible side effects get to me....sometimes while I am doing something I cry, and it is okay to cry because we cry when we have been strong for too long.......but continue doing what you are doing anyway.......we must not let fear get to us....look fear straight in the face and stare it down....he will soon leave....you just wait and see......

    We will get through this.....we will......

    Love to you

    Lee (f)

    Some where over the rainbow

    Blue birds fly

    Birds fly over the rainbow

    When then can't you and I........

  • meteor63
    meteor63

    Posted

    Hi all

    Lee .. Thank you for your inspiring posts. You're amazing. I am so sorry you've been suffering so long. Antideoressant withdrawal can last a long time but I've read that it does get better. The fact that you are getting windows is really good news. Windows generally indicate recovery. I am sure that you will get more and more windows. You have a brilliant attitude.

    Offmymeds .. I hope you are okay. It's not my place to say how you should withdraw.. Just that slowly is best. I came off mine too fast. The surviving antidepressants website is good off advising on slow tapers.

    I was advised to reinstate sertraline at a very low dose. I've done this. After a month off and horrible withdrawals, I've been on 3mg for 3 days and it's helping! My brain zaps have completely stopped! My eye is a lot better too. I will stay on this dose for a while and then go a bit lower to see how I feel. Hopefully, this will stop the withdrawal symptoms when I get off them.

    resogned2B, I am so sorry u have suffered so much because of these drugs. If you don't mind my asking, have all your symptoms stopped or do you still have some? I do hope you are much better now. Side effects and withdrawals can last a long time.

    Thank you to all of you for your wonderful posts. All will be well.

    • betsy0603
      betsy0603 meteor63

      Posted

      meteor63, I'm glad you found your way to the Surviving Antidepressant forum and that their advice helped you!  I am glad you are here helping others get the proper information to deal with withdrawal and to hopefully prevent it with proper slow tapering!  I'm glad I'm now not the only one!!  What is your username there?  I'll look for you.  I'm SquirrellyGirl :-)
  • meteor63
    meteor63

    Posted

    Sorry, I meant 2mg not 3mg. It's a very low dose but it really does seem to have halted the brain zaps!
    • Tezes
      Tezes meteor63

      Posted

      Don't understand this, I'm trying to wean myself off I asked a pharmacist today if there is a lower dose tablet than I take which is 50mgs, he told me 50 is the lowest dose made !
    • laura43429
      laura43429 Tezes

      Posted

      So sorry you're also in this situation.

      The pharma companies don't make it very easy for people to get off these drugs. They want people to stay on and spend more money after all....

      Some pharmacies have liquid Sertraline, so that you can measure the dose you need with a syringe. 

      Otherwise, the website survivingantidepressants. org has some good hints how you can make your own liquid from the tablets. 

      What I would definitely recommend: Report your withdrawal problems to the government authorities (FDA, Yellow Card Scheme etc). 

      The horrible withdrawal symptoms are both underreported and underrecognized. This will only change if enough people report their issue and speak up. Hopefully then doctors will think more carefully before handing drugs out like candy. 

      All the best! I hope you feel well soon. 

    • Tezes
      Tezes laura43429

      Posted

      Hi Laura,

      you are right of course, my GP advised me to reduce by half  to 25mgs for two weeks then stop ! I've been taking them for 2 yrs, I tried his way and felt dreadful with horrible vivid nightmares so I went back to 50. That was three months ago so now I'm doing it myself, I've started by taking 3/4 of a tablet then I'll try 1/2 then 1/4 over a period of a few months. Hope this will reduce withdrawals. (I also take clonazepam and propranolol for dystonia which will be for life so this is why I want to stop the sertraline).

      hope you are feeling better now ? 

    • laura43429
      laura43429 Tezes

      Posted

      Hi Tezes, 

      sorry to hear that your GP is not of much help. Fingers crossed it goes well with your tapering method. Some people are very sensitive, others aren't. 

      I'm still totally disabled from taking only 5 pills of Venlafaxine, but I think that's an exceptionally unlucky reaction. Some can't metabolize antidepressants and then they get poisoned. 

      I think that's what happened to me. 

      Is your dystonia a medication side effect? So sorry to hear you're suffering from that! 

    • Tezes
      Tezes laura43429

      Posted

      No I had symptoms before I went on sertraline, the other meds are for the dystonia. I've done well on sertraline tho it has helped me through all. The medical tests etc as it was a worrying time lots of horrible conditions had to be ruled in/out etc so it served its purpose. I still get anxious but am hoping the other meds will help anyway so don't want to duplicate as it seems they all have similar effects.

      sorry you're having a horrible time and I hope you get better very soon,

      xx

    • allison03169
      allison03169 Tezes

      Posted

      My prescription was 25 mg. for three years and reined myself over one month as per the dr.s instructions and now one year later still awful withdraw...but not like in the beginning.....it will leave
    • betsy0603
      betsy0603 meteor63

      Posted

      Forgot to ask, how are you measuring your doses, meteor?
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