SSRI's - Sertraline and Escitalopram _ Fybromyalgia

Hi Pauline,  One thing is for sure, you're not alone.  This forum is full of supportive individuals who understand what it's like to suffer with anxiety/depression. The aches and pains might well be the result of increased tension in your body as I found my anxiety sky rocketed on Sertraline. At it's worst, it took me a couple of hours to pluck up the courage to get out of bed and I was having watery diahrrea several times a day.  I'm still not 100% and that was back in November. It made me worse not better so I went cold turkey as I couldn't have felt any worse than when I was on it.  It would be more sensible to taper it off and let it come out of your system slowly if you can.  Take care, Adam

I've also experienced this when I have tried to get myself off of sertraline. The immediate reaction I had was general depression, but I alleviated this with excersize. And while this helped for me, it is extremely difficult to get started. I gained weight, as you did, and utterly lacked motivation to help myself.

After a month of being off medication, I began to experience cold pain in my thighs and forearms. NSAIDS, especially Aleve, helped with this, but the symptoms persisted even after two months.

What I eventually did was being my sertraline regime once again as the doctor ordered, but VERY slowly tapered off. Even when you reach taking very small doses daily with no side-effects, stopping completely may cause discomfort, no matter how small a dosage you have reached.

But the most important thing is to go by what you feel. Sertraline withdrawels vary greatly even for one person. The first time I stopped, I had brain zaps and couldn't sleep. The second time was the experience I just described. The third and most recent time I have had zero symptoms at all. Listen to your doctor's advise, but if you are willing to endure a bit of discomfort I would recomend responsibly tapering off.

I've been on Sertriline for about 4 months but after beiong on various anti depressants for over 10 years thought i should try to see what I was like drug free, I tried to taper off sertriline, over a period of a month but it must of been way to quick, i came down with cold steats, hot fevers, perminant aches and pains, lost my appetite, it was none stop pain for 6 weeks, untill I finally went back on, 2 days (just 1 75mg pill each night) sypmtoms abruptly ended, going on anti depressants might, just might of save my life 10 years ago, but I feel its at the very least negligent of doctors to allow someone to stay on them this long knowing how ill the medications can make some people. Incidentily, I felt less angry and more motivated for the 6 weeks I was off them, now I suspect i'm my meds cause the majority of my symptoms of depression and anxiety, along with being addicted, on top of that many studies show long term use of anti depressants take years if not decades of life expectancy. The Industry has a lot to answer for.

Whart i will say, is it's best to really make a serious attempt to change your lifestyle or and learn to live with anxiety and depression by learnin and putting into practice ways to reduce the symptoms when you experience them, use local charities, meditation, relaxation techniques, change diet, reduce if not stop alcohol use completely and of course stay off drugs including and specially caffeine and nicotine, once you have done all you can, then you should decide whither you feel well enough in yourself to life without medicatin, and then finally take that step, it's not the same for evey one just as the mental illnesses itself isn't either, but when I next try to come off the meds, I will doit as slow as possible, even if it takes 18month. certainly never give up, aim for a better you, but remember perfection is never attainable, set yourself small goals, and recovery is possible, and don't give yourself a hard time if you think you're not doing well enough, I like to remember a phrase, it was oriinally in the bible, but a local charity I'm ivolved with use it too, 

Grant me the Serenity to accept the things that I cannot change,

the courage to change the things that I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference

It made me cry listening to people say it, I finally realised i'm just me, and it's okay, that i didn't have to try to please anyone else, or prove i wasn't well,it was me finally forgving myself for not being perfect, for not being what my dad wanted me to be, or what my mum wanted me to be, or my partners etc, it's my life, and i'm living it, not them, 

So my philosophy now, be a better me, not a perfect me, just better, every chance i get, help someone carry something that's too big or heavy for them, or give directions, or save a life, things i wouldn't of been able to do through my anxiety and depression and in failiing to do them, making myself worse, 

Lol I've ranted for a bit here, anyway, if you're ill and not ready for coming off meds, but the meds are making you ill, then there are others you can try, you should be awware of what withdrawel you might experience, and be sure that living without meds is what you really want to do and you're ready, then go for it, A doctor can't stop you coming off them, but listen to their advice, eat as healthy as you can, raw or at least fresh veg and fruit, nuts and seeds, as these foods will give your body what it may lack otherwise, see the sun, even if you are alone try to see as much daylight as possible, I'm not sure wha the stance is on exercise and withdrawel but i'm guessing gentle exercise will help, particularly with sleep patterns