Sertraline withdrawal please help
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi
Quick back story, was on Citalopran for 14 years on and off had a breakdown last June was put on Sertraline 7 weeks ago , 50mg 1st week the 100mg then upto 200mg , had a seizure psychiatrist dropped me down to 100mg had another seizure dropped down to 50mg had a partial seizure (Pusdo seizures) went into mental health ward for a week and have now stopped Sertraline its day 10 now , having withdrawals, brain zaps , upset tummy, no energy, feeling very low , can’t get out for walks due to lost confidence, how long will the withdrawal last ? Any tips on helping the symptoms?
Also take 15mg Mirtazapine at night and in the process of weaning off Diazipan, was on 5mg 3 times a day now taking 5mg in the morning and 2.5mg in the afternoon.
Don’t know how much longer I can stand this , please if you have any positive feedback please take the time to reply , I want off all this poison and have registered these withdrawals on the Yellow Card on the FDA , if you have experienced any harsh side effects/ withdrawal please report them too.
Thank you
Matt
0 likes, 68 replies
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
I feel for you. I have stopped taking Sertraline and have got horrible withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, waterlogged head, head pressure. I am trying to do exercise every day to tire myself out. Withdrawal affects people differently. You are taking other meds so there is also drug interaction. Time seems to be the only course of action for withdrawal, so make sure you eat well and do some exercise.
Keep me posted on your progress.
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
Remember to post your withdrawal symptoms on the yellow card , just google it.
I’ll keep you posted, let me now how long you have been off Sertraline.
Matt
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
I have been off Sertraline for one week. I came down from 150mg in January to 25mg three weeks ago. I have probably tapered off too quickly but I am aware that even with a taper, you can still get withdrawal symptoms. I developed tinnitus on Sertraline so I am hoping getting off this med will help. Keep me posted and yes, I will post my WD symptoms.
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
How are you doing off the Sertraline?
Matt
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
I have been getting a very waterlogged head feeling and head pressure. Also some nausea.
This is day 10. I am hoping my symptoms improve as my head feels really terrible.
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
Hi lynn
Yes my head feels sort of like it’s pulsating and I have nausea and feeling very low and soooooo tired ! I’m day 11 , so I think we have a bit to go yet as I’ve read on other threads that it came take a while, some say 6 weeks or more agh ! But hopefully it’ll get less intense as the weeks go on.
I’ve even had some tinnitus!
I’m more convinced than ever that medication is not the answer so I’ll keep pushing on as I’m sure you will.
We’ll get there in the end and be med free 😁
Matt
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
Hi Matt
I also developed tinnitus while on Sertraline. Have you had any sleep disturbance/insomnia? I have had a bad day today because my head feels so weird. Please keep posting as it gives me strength to know that others are in the same boat.😂
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
Hi lynn
Hang in there ! My day has been bad to but it’s very early days in our recovery, be proud of yourself for sticking at it and going through this horrible withdrawal, it’ll be so worth it to be med free , look at it this way , if you think about what this withdrawal is doing to us then think how much crap is in it , better out than in !
Yes I have sleep issues, mine is that I’m so tired and just want to sleep all the time , if I wake up during the night and can’t get back off I put a Micheal Sealey meditation on , check him out on YouTube, he’s saved me and inspires me , best listening with headphones on, I’ve normally feel back to sleep for the end of the meditation 🧘??? 😁
Keep going, keep drinking lots of water , we can do this !
P.S I cried when I read your message, it’s so sad that we have to go through this , it makes me more determined to get through it and shout to the world “I’ve done it”
Deep breaths
Matt
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
Hi Matt
I was shattered last night. I fell asleep around 10.30 and woke around 7.30. I feel very nauseous and my head feels awful..so waterlogged and pressured. I also feel spaced out. I will force myself to walk today.
How is it going for you? 👍
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
Hi Lynn
I’m pretty much the same , woke during the night a few times and also feel spaced out !
Still getting buzzing in my head on and off it’s like sand being shaken in my head , very tired again today and low .
I’ll try and get out for a walk to but the couch looks so comfy 😂
Another day to tick off though!
Hope your day picks up but if not there’s always tomorrow.
Matt
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
Hi Matt
I had a terrible nights sleep. Insomnia most of the night. I feel awful today. Head is hurting and I have anxiety. How are you? Do you think this is withdrawal or something else?
😩
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
It is definitely the withdrawal, it’s just all part of it , anxiety and low mood sneak in two it’s judt part of the process I’m afraid, I have a thick head , slept all night but feel sooooo tired, still upset tum and headache, it’s a horrible day outside so stick on a film and cosy down if you can’t go out today don’t be annoyed with yourself, you need to go with the flow and don’t force yourself to do anything, yes getting out for a walk is good but if you can’t face it today get cosy , drink lots of water.
I am getting ready to go to the hospital at the moment, I was in the mental health unit for a week two weeks ago as I was manic ! I will be discharged from them today but will find out what support I can get locally, I’m full of anxiety too today , I am now day 14 off Sertraline, just keep ticking the days off , we’ll get there !
Dig in you can do this
Matt
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
Hi Matt
How was your day? I hope it was OK. I wanted to ask you how your head felt on medication? Since my anxiety started last year, my head has not felt right. I had loads of test but it feels muzzy and brain foggy.
Tapering off the Sertraline has made me feel worse. Have you found your sleep being disrupted as you have come off meds?
😊
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
Hi Lynn
Do not worry about your head , anxiety and depression play havoc with your head in all sorts of ways , headaches, brain fog, dizzy spell to name a few then the meds make it worse , well they did for me, then we withdraw the meds and it plays even more havoc whilst it leaves our system, my consultant said to me today it can take 6 weeks for Sertraline to completely leave the system and withdrawal to stop , he says up to 6 weeks so me being me who has no trust in what I’m told about antidepressants would give it 8 weeks ! I’m on week two now and suffering the same as you and the same as others coming of AD’s.
Don’t focus on it in a bad way , just keep reminding yourself this crap is coming out of your system and almost make it a positive that you can feel it coming out.
I keep a diary and rate how I feel each day and write down what withdrawal symptoms I’m having and rate them too , it’s good to look back and see some days are better than others , even some times of the day are better than others , it’ll be great to read it back in a few weeks and see improvements.
Keep drinking water, get out for short walks if you can , read if you can (some days my eyes won’t focus) stick radio 2 on and listen to pop master at 10.30am , I always try and play along on my own , takes my mind off things .
We’ll get there Lynn but we have to be strong 💪
Matt
lynn260 matt39801
Posted
Thanks Matt
I had a pretty good sleep but I am suffering right now with terrible head pressure/waterlogged feeling and nausea. Day 13 now. My tummy seems upset but the horrendous head pressure is awful. My body feels as though it has hypertension. I am going for a walk soon. Do you have any thoughts about why I seem to be feeling worse now than at the start of withdrawal?
I truly hope you have a good day and your contact with me on this forum gives me hope and strength. 🙏
matt39801 lynn260
Posted
Hi Lynn
It’s easy in the first few days because it’s still working in your system then it hits you like a brick because your body is saying hey where’s thsy drug ! That’s when it starts the withdrawals.
Everything you are experiencing is withdrawal and thousands of poor people have been through it too and came through it , just keep going you’ll get there .
I’m staying in today and being very kind to myself by doing nothing 😂 might go for a short walk though.
Keep strong 💪
Matt
matt39801
Posted
Just a thought, are you in the UK and do you have a computer?
I’ve been doing NHS webinars, Mindfulness and low mood , they are at 6.30pm , you can see the therapist, he can’t see you and you can’t see the other participants, I find them really good , you can type in questions and he’ll read them out and answer then , never saying your name and it’s good to hear other people’s questions, let’s you know your not alone with your thoughts .
If you want to join them let me know and I’ll send you the links.
Matt