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Sertraline Withdrawal Head Zaps

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DaveWOwen
DaveWOwen

I have been on Setraline 50mg from Feb15th 2014 to December 15th 2014. I had been prescribed two different brands but they seemed to ease my symtoms of anxiety/depression.(i know some will say these cant be grouped). When the source of stress reduced I asked the Dr if I could come off them and he said yes - just stop taking them. I did what he said and after about 3 weeks since stopping, I started getting Head Zaps. I did not know what they are but soon found descriptions of the symtoms on this web site. They were managable (just) and I was due to see the Dr on 6th Feb. I tried to make an appointment two weeks in advance but fully booked. I picked up a bout of flu around tue 27th and the Head Zaps took off. They are there all the time unless i am perfectly still. I am at my wits end - rapid fire zaps whenever I move or cough sneeze or chage my gaze. My Dr is back on Monday and I will go and queue at 8am for 830 opening in the hope of getting one of the allocated appointments. I have got 10 tablets left so I cpuld restart. I may go and see the Pharmacist tomorrow for help. I would advise anyone to discuss withdrawal symtoms with your Dr before stopping.

Head Zaps are the pits.

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • scott8888
    scott8888 DaveWOwen

    Posted

    Hi there dave, all I can say is I was on citilopram for 6 months about 4 years ago and the withdrawal was amazingly bad. It took me 3 months to regain 20/20 vision and the head zaps was terrible. They do ease but you need to wean off as I went cold turkey and very funnily caught the flu aswell which was the worst experience in all my 27 years of life. Go back on them and wean off just split the pill to 25mgs fella. All the best
    • DaveWOwen
      DaveWOwen scott8888

      Posted

      I thought I had replied but I cant see it so here goes again. Thanks for the advice Scott - I have just taken the first half. I will keep the blog updated if I can work out how to. Much obliged.
  • trevor95913
    trevor95913 DaveWOwen

    Posted

    Yes. I know only too well about withdrawal , had them recently and had to re-take them,

    And they more or less stopped within one day.. It was a horrible experience and now I'm tapering off much slower!

  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee DaveWOwen

    Posted

    Oh my! I think your doctor was negligent for I have always understood that powerful brain medications must be tapered off of, never cold turkey. Every now and then, in the past, I would skip a couple of doses due to circumstances beyond my control or poor planning on my part and when I closed my eyes I would see bright lights flashing and that frightened me. I cannot even imagine what head zaps must feel like.

    Sometimes the pharmacist knows more than the doctors, or at least they are willing to take the time to explain things.

    Good luck and hope all levels out for you.

    Dawn, US

  • DaveWOwen
    DaveWOwen

    Posted

    Just updating my post.

    Following the nasty head zaps and "flu" symtoms i did restart on half tabs so I took 25mg yesterday evening and 25mg this morning. I have not had a single head zap all day. Amazing. I see on Wikipedia there is a reference to "Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome (ADS)" this seems to describe my problem perfectly including the 1 day miracle cure for head zaps. The reference also refers to flu like symtoms being possible with the syndrome so now I am wondering if I have had flu or has it all been ADS. I will visit the Pharmacist tomorrow to see what he thinks.

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