Severe anxiety and tearfulness

Posted , 7 users are following.

Having tried numerous meds for my depression over the years I finally got my life back with Seroxat 20mg. 17 years later realising I’d forgotten to pack my tablets on arrival at my holiday hotel I decided to go cold turkey. Suffered horrendous stomach problems, vertigo sweating etc which ended up ruining the holiday, but decided to continue with the withdrawal. Now 10 weeks down the line physical symptoms have abated but have developed severe anxiety. This hit me out of nowhere this week and I can’t stop crying. Would love to know if this is my depression returning or withdrawal. Advice appreciated.

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  • Posted

    Hi 

    I was on this medication for depression for 13 years and decided to come off it cold turkey. The first 2 weeks were fine then I got very tearful and had awful sweating and tummy cramps.  This carried on  for 2 months. It’s been a year now and I still get tearful but it’s always for a reason ie sad film, bad news , bad day at work. When I think back to  b4 I took this medication I was the same , . I will never go back on them. Good luck

    Julie xxxx

  • Posted

    A lot of what you are all talking about is withdrawal symptoms from comin off of the medication too quickly.  It is not a return of your original symptoms.  These medications are very powerful and need to be reduced VERY slowly in order to prevent withdrawal symptoms. It is possible to get off the medication-you just have to do it the right way.  It is recommended to reduce by 10% or less of your most recent dose and hold for 4-6 weeks before making another drop.  This could take years, but it is the safest way to do it.  Just giving my 2 cents worth😉

  • Posted

    Been reading this thread with interest. I'm suffering severe withdrawal effects after tapered reduction. Obviously not tapered enough and now have extreme difficulty getting any sleep and have dreadful sweats. GP now says go back onto full dose but I am thinking only 10mg. I'd love to be off the drug which may not be working very well after 20+ years but fear life without it as I have a history of anxiety and depression. I'd really appreciate people's ideas on the alternatives to seroxat and how long the withdrawal effects have lasted. Thanks folks.

  • Posted

    I have been without Seroxat for about a week now.  I cut down from 40 mg, then 1 week at 30 mg, then 1 week at 20 mg, followed by three months on 10 mg.  I am hoping to go on a herbal prescription including St John's Wort; if that doesn't work, I am trying Sertraline.

    I also have severe anxiety, uncontrollable crying ans shivering at present. I think a lot of it is about withdrawal as we have both been on it for such a long time, and our brains have to learn to readjust.  As I run a business single-handed, it is very difficult and I totally sympathize.

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