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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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  • maureen75524
    maureen75524 meteor63

    Posted

    I agree with Resigned 2B, Meteor. I have now been off this horrible med. totally for 7 months. I still periodically have nausea, fatigue, loose bowels first thing every morning and internal shaking.

    At four months I still had many of the symptoms you've mentioned. It will take time but your body will return to normal. Drs. do not understand, I would definitely not reinstate. My Dr. tried to convince me when I had uncontrollable crying after quitting that I was depressed.! I said it's the w.d. I know my body. I went through hell with trying various a.d.'s for two years, never again! I live in Canada and in my mind they hand these meds. out like candy here. They have a long lasting effect on some of us. I was nearly crazy with worry until I found this site. I then realized my w.d. symptoms were REAL, and I was not alone.

    Hang in there, you'll be fine eventually. Stand your ground with your Drs. or find a new one that understands. Take care we are here for you! Hugs.

    • meteor63
      meteor63 maureen75524

      Posted

      Thank you Maureen. That has helped me so much!!

      im glad you're getting better and am sure you will get to 100%.

      THANK YOU!

  • joolsmc70
    joolsmc70 meteor63

    Posted

    Hi, I'm new to this discussion. I started taking sertraline last sept for anxiety, after going to the doctor for help, because the beta blockers were no longer helping me. I started on 50mg, then it was upped to 100 then upped again to 150mg, this is when I started to experience the brain zaps, but I didn't tell anybody about these for a few months, because I didn't have a clue what they where? In may I decided I wanted to come off the tablets, so I have been weening off them gradually. At the moment I am on 50mg every other day. I recently mentioned the brain zaps to the doctor, as I read on the internet they where a common side affect !!! But I started having these way before withdrawal. My doctor didn't acknowledge them at all. Today I haven't had a tablet, it's only my second day of alternating and the zaps have been driving me mad. I was driving home earlier and just went in to a trance state & felt exhausted. I get pins and needles in my hands, dry mouth, weird dreams, sometimes my kind just goes blank, and while I was just typing this, completely forgot why I was typing this. I picked up a prescription earlier and was asked a question and my mind just goes blank. Most days I would be quite happy to just sit on the couch all day.
    • natalie20548
      natalie20548 joolsmc70

      Posted

      Hi I am new to this discussion too and I have just came off Setraline 100mg after being on them for over 3 years. I have came off them as I am trying for a baby and I spoke with my doctor and she suggested to come off them. I did drop down to 50mg before coming off them. I felt ill for the past few days but that has eased off now the only thing I am getting is the brain zaps and they are horrible. Do these ever go away? I keep thinking every day when I wake up they will be away but seem to come back. 
    • meteor63
      meteor63 natalie20548

      Posted

      Hi Natalie. Fish oils are meant to be good for brain zaps. If you can find some with high EPA/DHA. They should calm down, mine are better than they were.
    • meteor63
      meteor63 joolsmc70

      Posted

      Hi jools. A lot of doctors recommend the every day thing but that just creates chaos and instability. It's better to take the same dose every day. The best way is to reduce by 10% of your current dose every 3-6 weeks. And go much lower than the lowest 'therapeutic' dose. The surviving antidepressants website offers good advice. Good luck.
    • natalie20548
      natalie20548 meteor63

      Posted

      Hi, thats great thanks so much for the reply. I will get them then see how that goes. Mentally I feel ok just now but physically I cant handle these zaps but its good to know im not the only person experiencing them.
  • joolsmc70
    joolsmc70 meteor63

    Posted

    I feel really disappointed this week, as the weening off seemed to be going well. From 150mg I'm now down to 50mg every other day, but this has to be the hardest week yet. The zaps are out of control and they are driving me mad. And my mood is low too. I'm going to go back to the docs, maybe taking 50mg every other day is not quite right for me ?? 
    • meteor63
      meteor63 joolsmc70

      Posted

      I definitely wouldn't do the every other day thing. I don't know why doctors suggest that. It makes it all worse. Maybe stay on the 50mg for a while and stabilise on that dose? Then cut it down by about 10% of that dose. I know you want to get off them but slow is so much better and should minimise withdrawal. I was desperate to get off mine and rushed off them. Now I'm a mess. Don't want to worry you. I just want you to do this in the most comfortable way. Obviously it's up to you. Maybe try fish oils for the zaps? Good luck.
    • maureen75524
      maureen75524 meteor63

      Posted

      I agree, my Dr. took me down 25 mg @ a time for two weeks each time. I then took 25 mg. every second day for two weeks then 25 mg every third day etc.

      I've been off 8 months and still awake every morning with nausea!! it's not an easy journey, at least hasn't been for me!

  • joolsmc70
    joolsmc70 meteor63

    Posted

    I'm going to try and get an app to see my doctor this week & see what she has to say. I've lost my get up and go this past week, which bothers me cos so many people have said how much better I seem lately. I forced myself to keep busy yesterday so I didn't just spend the day on the couch, but being busy doesn't help with the zaps, so it's like a no win situation. Will look into the fish oils.
    • FlyFx
      FlyFx joolsmc70

      Posted

      I am very thankful I found this forum!  I have been struggling for months now after stopping Zoloft.  My doctor has been NO help and only offered that I should try to reduce the dosage gradually and start in the summertime so I get plenty of Vitamin D.  Thanks!  So about 6 months ago I started tapering the drug every three weeks by half and eventually got down to 12.5mg every other day.   That's when the symptoms hit me like a freight train just as you all have described.  Anxiety, sweating, zaps, flu like dizziness and more.  I would forget the simplest things and tasks.  My mood swings have been unbelievably severe.  I am Zoloft free for almost 3 months now and have felt like the symptoms are increasing with time, contrary to what my doctor told me would happen.   This forum saved me .... reading about taking Fish Oil supplements has pulled me back from the brink of giving up and starting the drug again.  Omega 3s have  done wonders  for my symptoms. Taking a daily combo of flax seed oil, fish oils and krill oil has dramatically reduced the zaps and flu like symptoms.  I also have found that whole raw food smoothies packed with Kale, spinnach, and fruit & veggies really makes me feel good again through out the day.   I still wake up every morning feeling like I have the flu, dizzy and off balance but with the omega 3s and multi vitamins I start to feel back in control in a couple hours.  I so regret ever starting zoloft.  I felt terrible,  lived in a haze and gained over  40 pounds.   Not to mention the huge emotional toll this has caused on my personal relationships and most of all my marriage.  The only blessing here is that after reading your comments I see that I am on the right track.  I have to look past the short term and realize this is going to take many months to fully recover.   Thank You  - Dave (Seattle)
    • meteor63
      meteor63 FlyFx

      Posted

      I am so sorry to hear this, Dave. Doctors don't have a clue what to do for withdrawal, bar chucking more drugs at it which make it worse. I'm really glad the fish oils are working for you. My brain zaps are a lot better now. My sweating is calming. So that's a start.

      good luck. I hope things start to get better soon.

    • FlyFx
      FlyFx meteor63

      Posted

      Thanks for the reassurance and positive thoughts. 

      Be Well,

      Dave

    • steveromo
      steveromo FlyFx

      Posted

      Hi Dave,

      I'm experiencing the same drawn out flu/dizziness/mental and physical fatigue symptoms. How long did yours last? 

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