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
  • pmnc
    pmnc meteor63

    Posted

    Very gradual withdrawal helped reduce my brain zaps,  insomnia and other symptoms, took a couple months.  Drs and you want something that works, they like evidence based medicine, see research that zoloft helps many so prescribe it and you take it, makes sense.  There's little research on how meds don't work so docs ignore that, they can only prescribe what they can, which is limited to similar 90's drugs (SSRIs) 

    The problem is it doesn't help a lot of people and even if it helps, side effects and withdrawal problem may be greater than the help (like me.)   The problem is I'm now on my own.

     I think of people deal with drs and tx for ALS, cancer, heart disease or other diseases that may or may not be treatable.   Like us,  some are helped,  many are not.  Some of the latter are strong enough to accept their condition and that for them medicine is in the dark ages and can't help. Doubt I could be that brave with those conditions but think I can with mine.   But if you're condition is life threatening, please keep trying till you find someone who can help.  

    There's a definition of insanity as doing the same thing (that doesn't work) over and over again expecting it will eventually work.   Ditch those crazy docs who keep prescribing the same meds and find one who listens.   (for moderate problems like mine I think a support group would help but have aslo met clueless counselors, contributors to this list are more knowledgeable of what doesn't help than them) 

  • lizanne333
    lizanne333 meteor63

    Posted

    I too just went of Zoloft..I too have suffered from what feels like  a 'buzzing' not only in the brain, but also in the body, 'dizziness'.., and while on Zoloft or Sertraline..intense sweating.., and continuing after cessation of the drug..I had been wondering if the link to the brain buzzes, was due to carbinated drinks.., as if the ''bubbles" enter the bloodstream...and I can feel it in the brain...Sound familiar?, and has it gone away for you???  The sweating is still continuing..
  • maureen75524
    maureen75524 meteor63

    Posted

    I've been off this drug as noted on here before ,now being NINE months. I'm still have bouts of nausea, weepiness, ears ringing, and just recently insomnia. I'm sure it's still the w.d.'s. The anxiety around the insmnia is the worst, which of course creates a cycle.

    Anyone been off this long and still have these symptoms, it's so damn frustrating.

    • Shakespare8
      Shakespare8 maureen75524

      Posted

      Hi Maureen,

      I suddenly stopping sertraline about three months ago and I've been taking 50mg daily from mar to june this year., The reason why I stopped due to side effects, I never had ringings in ears before I started taking this med. As you are aware that ringing in ears is a side effect of this med.I'm still have ears ringing other side effects subsided like headache and dizzness. Withdraw symptoms can take a long time to wear off. It takes while for the brain to reset itself after stop taking SSRI.

      How long had you been on med? Hangs in there, W/D will go away it takes time. Because brain needs time to adjust the rapid changes. Listening to the music when you're out be busy take your mind off about clicking on ears.

    • lisa27289
      lisa27289 maureen75524

      Posted

      Hi Maureen, your post is from a year ago. Can you tell me how your symptoms are now that it's been a year plus 9 months since you stopped taking it? I'm struggling after being off it for 2 months. It's been hell. I am willing to stick it out if I find others got past it with prolonged withdrawal. Most advice posts say it takes up to 8 weeks but I have seen some saying it's been up to 7 years while still suffering. If I can get my brain to feel better, calm my central nervous system, and have improved sleep, I'll feel I won. Some say to go back on a small dose and wean off super slow with minute almost impossible to make dosages. Would be nice to find a doctor to help thru it, however they are impossible to find as they seem to want one to take it forever. The last doctor I had said Zoloft is like a vitamin for the brain. Needless to say, I have stopped seeing him.
    • Concerned314
      Concerned314 lisa27289

      Posted

      Were you able to continue remaining off of sertraline. I have a friend beginning the process and he is worried.
  • meteor63
    meteor63

    Posted

    I'm still having a terrible time with withdrawal. I've been in acute for 6 months plus after suffering severely for 6 months on meds. During the last 6 months I tried to reinstate at a very low dose but it didn't help and I've been med free for about 3 months.

    I was also on quetiapine for 3 months and have been off that for seven months. I took lorazepam here and there between December and April. I think I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from all 3 drugs.

    I'm now dealing with severe akathisia and drug induced suicidal ideation, feelings of doom and terror, inability to feel connection to people or memories, sweats, inner shaking, blurred vision, problems focusing my eyes, problems watching tv or reading, headaches, pressure behind my eye, hair loss, skin reactions, brain zaps in the morning, loss of everything that made me me, no feelings apart from fear and horror, loss of creativity, inability to function or perform simple tasks, shaky hands, lip and facial twitching, the list is endless. I honestly don't know how I'm still here. I just pray I will recover and I will get some sort of life back. My current one is torture every minute of every day.

    I'm sorry for the negativity but after a year of living in a nightmare I've just about had enough.

    How on earth did we not know this could happen?

  • maureen75524
    maureen75524 meteor63

    Posted

    So sorry to hear you're still going through this Meteor. You have a worse sensitivity to these drugs than me. I thought I had every w.d going. I did have everything you're having except they are lessening now after 10 months. I now have pins and needles all over, this is a new one, recently. I also still have sweats, anxiety, fatigue, and low blood sugar, like never before. I feel awful until I eat in the morning. I still have feelings of doom and terror also, it' so very frustrating as I was ot like this before.

    I know how difficult it is, but if you read many of these forums, you'll see you're not alone. If I recall Resigned 2b had a difficult time also, much like yourself.

    Take care and let us know how you're doing. xxx

    • meteor63
      meteor63 maureen75524

      Posted

      Thank you so much Maureen. You've no idea how much this helps. I'm so very sorry you've gone through so much and still are. I hate to think that you went through what I am but it helps to know you had the same and it went away. I'm sure the pins and needles will go away in time too.

      i find it hard to find old posts here but I will try to find some of resigned2b's posts.

      i guess I'm behind you in terms of timescale. Although I've been in acute for 6 months, I've only really been completely free of meds 3 meds. My last reinstatement was miniscule-1mg..so I'm not sure if it counts or not but I suppose it does as there was still a little of it in my system. I thought it would help the withdrawal but it didn't in the end.

      i wish you continued healing. I hope we will write a success story one day.

      thank you xx

    • ros23426
      ros23426 meteor63

      Posted

      Hi, are you feeling any better yet? Do doctors offer any advice on how to lessen these appalling withdrawals ? I am terrified of attempting getting off as the last time I tried I felt like I had severe sea sickness, zapping up the arms into the brain and blurred vision, I feel very angry that we were not told this is how it would be. Ros
  • maureen75524
    maureen75524 meteor63

    Posted

    One lady on this forum said she heard it takes 18 months for your brain to adjust sometimes. We're all different, some breeze through, I'm sure. This particular lady was at 11 months and still having withdrwals. The last time I saw my Dr. I told her I was still having withdrwals at SIX months. She said NO WAY, it's depression. I said afraid not, no more drugs for me! I never had depression, mine was anxiety, a close cousin I know!

    I've been walking with a group all summer, 6 km., three times per week. I find exercise really helps. I do hate the feelings, when they surface though. I have to keep reminding myself it's the drug and not me. It's difficult, and Drs should be made aware this crap really affects some people. It's dealing with your brain, but most won't listen, just keep piling on more drugs to offset the side effects. I've lost allot of confidence in Drs. during the past two years.

    Take care ~ we will all make it through this difficult journey! hugs.

    • meteor63
      meteor63 maureen75524

      Posted

      Yeah, I've lost confidence in doctors too. When I was on citalopram, I was sleeping 2 hours a night. I told the doctor it was the meds and he said no, it was more likely that I'd developed a sleep disorder. Funny how I started sleeping as soon as I got off the drug!!

      18 months sounds right. I've heard the average healing from an adverse reaction is 6-18 months off the drug.

      3 weeks ago I started having sort of windows of feeling a bit better and was able to go out sometimes. In one window, I actually had some feelings back and felt more like me. I've been in a massive wave for a week now. I'm hoping for a window soon.

      we will get through this. I hope to raise awareness.

    • Shakespare8
      Shakespare8 maureen75524

      Posted

      Hi Maureen,

      How are you? Sorry to bother you. In response to your posts relating withdrawal symptoms of Ringing in ears. Can you please tell me how do you hear the ringings in your ears? Does the ringing comes automatically? The reason why I asked this morning I went to see nurse who said that I diagnosis with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD), symptoms may include Tinnitus ringing in ears due to tube was congested or blocked in the middle ears.

      I looking forward to hear from you soon.

      I'll appreciated you reply.

      Thank you.

    • maureen75524
      maureen75524 Shakespare8

      Posted

      Sorry Shakespeare I was on holiday with very poor internet.

      The answer to your question is my ears just ring periodically, and yes the noise is quite evident. It doesn't last for long but still does come after 10 months off sertraline.

      Is your ringing periodically or alhe time? How long have you been off sert?

    • Shakespare8
      Shakespare8 maureen75524

      Posted

      Hi Maureen,

      Thank you for your reply, My ringing occurring all the time tone of ringing is varies sometimes it is mild, moderate or louder. As you may aware that I quit cold turkey off sertraline about 4 months ago, but I reinstated med about one week ago to prevent worst withdrawal symptoms and then tapering from that point only thing will be help, but it came back louder then stopped taking them. I have been advised there is small number of cases reported that underlying causes which may be corrected. e.g. A side effect of medication you are taking which is caused by tinnitus , change the medication may cure the problems.. I am going to try another A'D med hope that ringing will go away. At least there is a hope out there.

      best regards

      Shakespare8

    • maureen75524
      maureen75524 Shakespare8

      Posted

      No doubt a withdrawl symptom, maybe from quitting cold turkey. My hubby quit cymbalta cold turkey and is still on edge and miserable six months out.!

      Good Luck ~ keep us posted.

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.