Setraline- what to know before starting!
Posted , 4 users are following.
I am a 22 year old who was prescribed Setraline for "situational anxiety" (I studied abroad for a month which made me very anxious). I have been on Setraline for 6 months (even though I really only needed it for about a month). One my prescription was up, I decided I really didn't need it anymore and just stopped it this past Saturday. Every day since I have the spins, ALL day. It feels as if I'm intoxicated almost. I also throw up every day from this. I was only on 50mg. If I could go back and do this all over, I would have never ever taken Setraline. This feeling is miserable; it makes me incapable of doing so many things. In my opinion, it is better to live with anxiety instead of taking medication to treat it. I have never felt so ill and "off" in my life. My brain is not working like it should be and it scares me; I want to cry all of the time. I wish my Dr. had told me that this could happen when going off of Setraline. I would have NEVER started it in the first place.
If anyone out there has anxiety, I recommend using other methods such as talking with a therapist, doing yoga, eating healthy, working out, pretty much anything to avoid taking medication. Trust me, you will be thankful in the long run! This feeling is unbearable and worse than my anxiety ever made me feel.
2 likes, 13 replies
don45258 laura2114
Posted
laura2114 don45258
Posted
laura2114
Posted
don45258 laura2114
Posted
laura2114 don45258
Posted
DawnDedee laura2114
Posted
DawnDedee
Posted
Glad you made it through ok. Sertraline has helped me greatly along with therapy throughout my life and I recommend it. I tend to use it for two or three years at a time usually following a major life shock. An event that I cannot cope well with. Have had plenty of those.
Take care,
Dawn, USA
Tezes DawnDedee
Posted
just saw this and wondered if you could give me some advice on 'weening' off sertraline/lustral.
i have been taking 80 msg slow release for approx 18 months for anxiety during a combination of very stressful life events, culminating in being diagnosed with a neuro condition called dystonia. Dystonia also causes anxiety and anxiety makes the dystonia more pronounced. However since I am now also having to take clonazepam and propranolol for life, I would like to stop taking the sertraline . I'm hoping I may not need it now I'm taking propranolol.
therefore as you have come off sertraline before I would like your thoughts on the best way to stop it.
many thanks
Tezes
Posted
DawnDedee Tezes
Posted
First I want to preface saying that your doc needs to know your plan to ween off of sertraline and perhaps he could guide you and also supply you with smaller and smaller doses of sertraline as you go along so you do not have to mess with pill cutting which can be a pain.
However, my opinion is that weening can be done slowly over two to three weeks depending on the dose size you begin with and how long you have been on it.
I was on 100 mg for about three years. Similar to you, I was put on another med and felt that doubling up was too much. I live with a depressive disorder and have found that a small nighttime dose of Amitriptyline keeps me level as well as causes great sleep.
So, here is how I would ween off. Just start cutting the pills in half and do that for a week. Then, cut into thirds and take one third for three or four days. Then stay at that low dose and begin skipping one day between each low dose and you will know when you can stop altogether.
Just keep it slow and you can always go back up a bit on your dose if needed at any time. If you begin to feel funny in your head, or see bright psychedelic lights when you close your eyes or have really weird unsettling dreams, then you will know you are weening off too fast. BUT, you might find that your clonazepam will help you through it.
Good luck and hope it goes smoothly for you.
Take care,
💛 Dawn, USA
Tezes DawnDedee
Posted
things have settled now, I feel great on them but don't want to have to take so many meds for evermore. Last night I split the tabs and took 3/4 so will do that for a month then go to 1/2 for a month then a 1/4 for a month then try without. I hope that works so that I don't experience the horrific side effects.
will keep updating xx
Â
USAngel laura2114
Posted
And as for my doctor ever prescribing me anything else for whatever ails me. I will do my research prior to the consumption of The Quick Fix/little fix-it pills in a bottle, package etc.
NOTE: This is coming from a guy who does not suffer from mental illness. I took Tramadol for severe back pain due to rear end collision. Then wanted to get off. Had to wean with various other drugs and Zoloft was one. Tramadol is ANOTHER story horrible weaning experience. I wrote about my experience under Tramadol.Â
I hope your doing better laura2114. What did your doctor recommend for your weaning off of Zoloft/Setraline?Â
Zerodark laura2114
Posted