Sertraline withdrawal side effects

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Hi. Been a week off 50mg sertraline that i been taking for 15 months. Weaned off slowly over 4 week period. Now finding it difficult to stay asleep and have been having scary dreams. Now my stomach aches and has been cramping-but I am also menstrauating and being perimenopausal I now experinece period cramps and pains-never got them before, so I don't excatly know what belongs to the sertraline withdrawal side effects and what belongs to being on period. Feeling a little sorry for myself. Have other people experienced similar withdrawal side effects and how long do they generally last.

Thanks in advance!

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi , like you I'm coming off 50mg  ,I'm on day12. I've been on them 5years .menopause made my anxiety go though the roof . I've also had weird dreams and not sleeping very good . I've been taking sleeping tabs from the chemist which helps . I'm postmenopausal so no period. I've not had tummy problems but I hate the morning feel very low , shakey don't want to get out of bed.but think it's part and parcel of coming off these mess. I think it's just your period that's making you feel worse. Can I ask why you are coming off them.? Please keep in touch .we can help each other. Be stronge and look after yourself.

    • Posted

      Hi Sharen. I was on it for 12 months as doctor told me too. I have done 1 month weening off. Been tablet free for 4 days now. I am sleeping better than i had last 12 months. I also post menopausal. Stomch has been a bit sore. Muscles feel like flu. But did whilst taking tablet. I had a few body shocks and had to calm myself down. Few pains in my head. A little short tempered. Unusual for me. Trusting God so much with my health issues. I am happy to go through this with you. I hope you are happy too. Good night god bless. Ps i hope i have made sense xx
    • Posted

      Hi jasmin, how you doing , I think what you are feeling is all normal withdrawal . I was ok for the first 8days then woke up the other day (last Sunday ) feeling crap felt so low , I just stayed in bed till 1pm . But made myself get up and meet friends for a drink and felt much better , so I think you just have to go with what your body is feeling at the time.I think menopause doesn't help . I'm coming back as a man next time. Keep in touch. 

  • Posted

    Hi Godblessed, yes I’ve experienced sertraline’s effects on my period in terms of cycle and heaviness of flow, so it seems to me that this may be related to withdrawal. The withdrawal side effects usually last 2-3 weeks. Please hang in there. Also, I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but I hope you have other methods of combatting whatever symptoms that you were on this med for. I don’t want you to stop these meds and have the symptoms coming back full force.  I’m on it for OCD (pure O), anxiety and depression and every time I’ve gotten off my attack comes back, and I’ve been on and off 8-9 times in past 2 decades. I hope you feel better. Take care.
    • Posted

      Thanks for responding! Side effects easing- sleep is returning, tummy not hurting as much. My back plan is valarian and passiflora and exercise and meditation and recently I've been eating more for health than comfort. And when my anxiety interupts sleep I have been told by my doctor I can take 2

      10mg of amitriptyline. Been on 10mg of amitriptyline for a couple years. Hope to come off that in the next 5 weeks and take as and when needed. I did notice my last period was heavier than it had been...maybe that is a side effect and hoping it will continue back not being as heavy- I have been moving finally away from very heavy periods before coming of sertraline.

      Thanks again for taking the time to comment and share! X

    • Posted

      I mean I have been told by my gp that I can take 10mg of amitriptyline as and when needed specifically to aid sleep...
    • Posted

      Yeah, my period's gotten really bad, very heavy in recent years and I get severe cramps and headaches and bloating when I'm on it. My best wishes for you.

    • Posted

      Ditto! Never used to experience cramps and bloating before , but this last 8 months or so! There's a programme on BBC One tonight on the menopause. - Kristy Walk: The menopause and me. Take care too x

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