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Weaning off of an antidepressant(ssri)?

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lulubell88
lulubell88

I’m kind of just reaching out here but last October I started getting severe panic attacks. Got checked out by my regular doctor and found nothing wrong with me physically and suggested a psychiatrist that deals with anxiety disorders. By mid-November I was diagnosed with a panic disorder and put on Sertraline(Zoloft). At the time I felt that the medication was helpful but now I don’t find it very helpful and my doctor agreed to start weaning me off of it. This last week the withdrawal symptoms started surfacing. I’m not completely off of my medication and my doctor suggested cutting my dosage in half(I feel that maybe that was a bit much to cut out to begin with).

 

To just some information, when I began getting these panic attacks I developed major health anxiety mainly dealing with my heart. I have also received a pinched nerve in my neck and major tension on my left side of chest, shoulder, around the shoulder blade which causes pain in my neck and down my left arm. Pain is my main trigger.

 

Anyway, the symptoms I’ve been getting are a little bit of nausea, insomnia, elevated blood pressure and sometimes heart rate and some dizziness. It freaks me out but I want to stick it out until my body is completely rid of the drug. Anyone have issues getting off of Zoloft? Was your anxiety increased? Would anyone mind telling me what it was like weaning off of an SSRI or sertraline? I just get so fearful of my symptoms, if someone can relate to my issues it would really put my mind at ease =(.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • lattifa7777
    lattifa7777 lulubell88

    Posted

    this is somthing I want to do too, but I'm too scared. do you feel a 100% back to normal is that why you are wanting g to come off?
    • lulubell88
      lulubell88 lattifa7777

      Posted

      I really didn't want to go higher than I already was at and it wasn't something I saw myself being on for life. I also didn't like how it made me feel, made me feel spaced out and also some other personal reasons that I find it affecting my life. It isn't horrible, so far, but I definitely notice some issues from withdrawal. 
  • adrian54
    adrian54 lulubell88

    Posted

    Hi there. Am tapering too and was advised by doctor to cut and skip days and there would be no side effects. Boy was he wrong!! The advice on this website is much better. Cut by 10% each month is the only way to avoid side effects.

    Maybe reinstate to your previous dose until you settle then start reducing by the 10% each month.

    Check out other posts on this site regarding withdrawl from sertraline some good advice and support there.

    Hang in there...

    • lulubell88
      lulubell88 adrian54

      Posted

      I'm already 3 weeks into cutting my dosage in half, I might as well keep going at my rate but he suggested that after this week I cut it out completely. 

      After this week I'm going to maybe do like 25 for another 4 weeks. I definitely need to wean off slower than he suggested because I am definitely feeling the symptoms. Did you by chance also see a change in blood pressure? My BP has been higher than usual. And thank you for the response! I will definitely look around at other forums! cheesygrin

    • dodo81786
      dodo81786 lulubell88

      Posted

      I didn't wean off yet but I went to my doc yesterday and he told me that I will be having this med for 2 years . Next November will be my first year . So I think he has the strategy of weaning off slowly .
    • Tezes
      Tezes lulubell88

      Posted

      Hi there

      please don't go cold turkey it can devastate your nervous system.

      you are having serious withdrawal symptoms and I'm not surprised since you've cut 50% of your dosage in one hit !

      GP's give terrible advice - mine gave me the same advice as yours and I suffered horribly so after two weeks at half dose I reinstated to the full dose (50mg) in my case and waited until I stabilised. Once I felt OK again I started the recommended and well researched 10% taper. You need patience but it's worth it believe me to avoid the often long lasting (way beyond the time you come off completely) and sometimes permanent damage to your system.

      I was on sertraline for 2 years at 50mg (I resisted the GP trying to increase the dose), it took the edge off my anxiety enough so that I could function reasonably. My situation changed and improved over time so I took the decision to come off them. After the initial disasterous attempt I followed the advice on this site and reduce 10% each month. It works, 5 months later and I finally stopped altogether last week and no problems. 

      Please check out the advice on here, you will find the link to follow the tapering method if you search the thread 'sertraline withdrawal, does it go away ?'

      All the best x

       

    • lattifa7777
      lattifa7777 Tezes

      Posted

      That's very valuable advise Tezez.

      I'm not coming off yet but just thought ide ask you some advise plz. I'm currently 50mg of sertraline for 5 months now for severe panic disorder and depression that occurred due to a bad reaction to citalopram that I should not have been prescribed as I was not depresses. anyway , after the initial side affects of the drug I got better I've had 2 blips, I'm still not 100% I do get slight anxiety in the morning and feel down when alone. that's been a lot more lately.

      due to start a job next week . but should I increase my dose? or try work through things my self first. I really don't want to be on these meds anymore , but right now I know I need them. I'm soo confused in what to do. any advise will be much appreciated.

      thank you

      lattifa

    • Tezes
      Tezes lattifa7777

      Posted

      Only you know how you are managing and how effective your current dose is. Instead of increasing the sert I would always advise getting some other therapy alongside the Meds such as cognitive behavioural therapy which is to help you react differently to situations/life events etc. You could ask your GP to refer you or get it privately. Good luck with your job at least that will be  something new to focus on.

      all the best x

  • iris46
    iris46 lulubell88

    Posted

    The best way is to wean yourself of e trembly slowly.....I'd say miss one every third or fourth day for a few weeks, then miss one every third day for a few weeks, and so on
  • iris46
    iris46 lulubell88

    Posted

    Yes....I was on 150 mg/day.  Cut out 50mg every fourth day etc
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