weaning off 50mg sertraline.

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi. I have been on 50Mg sertraline for over 6 months now. Last Friday I started weaning myself off by having 25mg one day and 50mg the next. Like I said I been doing that for a week. To the best of my knowledge I haven't experienced any side effects. Do you guys think it's ok to up the anti now by taking 50mg one day and 0 the next for 14 days?

Thanks,

Denise.

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    I would say do it a bit slower as a weeks not very long but then I am a total wuss! Maybe if you feel ok, 25mg every other day and see how you go. What did doctor say?
    • Posted

      Hi. THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE. I MEANT TO NOW GO TO 50MG EVERY OTHER DAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND THEN AFTER THAT 25MG EVERY OTHER DAY FOR 2 WEEKS; THEN THAT IS IT. SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A 5 WEEK WEAN OFF TIME.
  • Posted

    I would leave it a while longer. Maybe go onto 25mg daily now for a week or 2 then 12.5 then come off x
    • Posted

      HI. AS I HAVE JUST WRITTEN, OR GO TO 25MG NOW FOR TWO WEEKS. THEN 25MG EVERY OTHER DAY FOR 2 WEEKS, WHICH ALSO AMOUNTS TO A SIMILIAR WEAN OFF PERIOD.
  • Posted

    As you say, you've had no noticeable side effects so if it was me I think I'd go with 25mg one day and 12.5mg the next (if you're able to break that little pill again) and try that for a week before trying to miss any days!

    I agree with Natalie, a week is not very long, the slower the better I would say..

  • Posted

    Apparently, the lower you can go with weaning off, the higher the chance of a relapse
  • Posted

    Hi godblessed,

    For myself I would only wean myself off of powerful medications if my doctor said it was ok and guided me through it.

    Dawn

    • Posted

      Thanks Dawn. I have  successfully weaned myself off 50mg sertraline before. When I went to Doctor her suggestion of wean off was more quicker, and I preferred my way, which lilke I said went really smooth-no side effects during and after. But I was just wanting second opinions again. 50mg is not a high dose and my anxiety wasn't extreme, and I have no depression, so for others whose situations are more acute or chronic than mines, a Doctor's input is advised. Though some doctors still get it wrong!

       

    • Posted

      I am glad it works out for you. I also take a low dose. Are you weaning off in order to try another med? Or are you doing much better and do not need it anymore? I use it off and on as needed and this is the only med that helps me combat depression.

      😀 Dawn

  • Posted

    Hi my advice is definately not, if you are coming off anti-depressents it has to be so gradual and can take up to a whole year to do so properly.  Were you advised by your GP to wean yourself off?  I would like to ask you a question - if you had a heart condition would you try and wean yourself of the heart tablets, or spray!!! of course not as you could die.  Depression is not as people label it a mental health issue, it is a physical condition and needs to be treated as such.  If you have decided yourself to wean off the drug, I would say ask your GP if this is wise.  My own experience many years ago was trying to wean myself off just as you describe only to end up in a very dark place.  However it took me several times of ending up in this dark hole as I terms it to realise that yes!! some people have to take tablets for heart, some for diabetes, others for numerous ailments - So what is wrong with taking tablets for however long it takes for Depression.  I am still on Sertraline after a great many years and you know what as it helps me lead a normal life so perhaps I am staying on them for a long time to come.

    I should mention my depression started in 1975 as post natal depression which was not at the time diagnosed.  I fought this for a few years and then had to accept that I had clinical depression and have been on Sertraline since 1983. 

    Let me know how you get on.

    regards

    rotweiler

  • Posted

    Im on 50 every other day and im fine. Next month im going down to two a week
  • Posted

    Hi Denise, It is really good to hear that you have not being having any side effects, as I too am on 50mg aday, I have been on it now since March last year, I have not tried coming off it, but I would suggest may be cutting down every 2 or 3 days rather then every other, this is what I did proxatine, but we are all different and respond in different ways, good luck, 

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