Sertraline Withdrawal Advice Please?

[clatteringhooves]

Just after some advice about my next step if possible please. Have been on sertraline 1000mg per day for 5 years. Over the summer i have been reducing my dose and am now down to 25 mg every other day. Each time I've reduced I've had brain zaps, ear ringing and general low feelings which have eased as I've adjusted to the lower dose. Three days ago i stopped completely, I've had the same withdrawal feelings today. I now can't decide if I should do 25 mg every third day or just bite the bullet and stay stopped. Does anyone have experience of how i might feel going forward with regards the withdrawal feelings if I stay stopped? Or any advice at all please? GP just said be guided by my feelings ... Thanks for reading

[NeverHadANickname]

I did the same as you and cut right down with the same dose as you every other day. I went cold turkey after a couple of months like that and still got brain zaps and dizziness but it passed after a while, maybe a week? Only very occasionally at the end of the week. I had some spare tablets so knew I could start again if it didn't improve after a while but stuck to it.

Good luck.

[clatteringhooves]

Oh thank you for that. I have some spares as well so I could see how it goes. A week is definitely doable . Just really want to be off them now!

[NeverHadANickname]

I was the same. Some days I felt like I'd quite like to be on them forever but knew it wasn't realistic so once I decided I made sure I cut right down and then went for it.

[areyouanappliance]

I'm down to 100mg probably twice a week. I had to take today as the brain zaps became unbearable. It feels like my eyes are 10 minutes behind my brain if that makes sense? Vertigo, nausea, headaches. It's awful when he withdrawals come after a few days

[clatteringhooves]

This is what i'm worried will happen - still ok today though, day 4! Just a few tiny zaps but not bad enough to stop me carrying on as normal. Thanks for the messages x

[TieGrr]

If you can, power through without taking any more. I had a bad couple of weeks when I stopped but have been off them for months now.

If it gets bad, take one though. It won't 'restart' the process of withdrawal.

[NeverHadANickname]

Areyouanappliance the doctor recommended I cut the dose right down before taking breaks so maybe you need to go down lower than 100? I got down to 25 then started to go every other day.

Glad you are doing ok OP

[clatteringhooves]

Thank you so much for all your help, really glad I posted

[NeverHadANickname]

How are you getting on clattering?

[clatteringhooves]

I'm doing okay I think! I've done 10 days without any Sertraline at all and the withdrawal zaps have stopped and I feel normalish. I have noticed that my mood is a little bit low, but i'm not sure if that's related to the withdrawal or just that I am more aware and less numb now and so circumstantial? I wonder if that's normal?
Thank you for checking back x

[Jerseysilkvelour]

Based on my experience of coming off sertraline I'd say that's normal, don't worry and give it a few more weeks before appraising whether your mood is ok.

Also, it's common for sertraline withdrawal to go in cycles, so you might start getting brain zaps and other symptoms again after you've been off it for six weeks or so. Again, don't worry about it but be aware it can happen.

I came off sertraline about 4 months ago and I had various withdrawal symptoms of varying degrees off and on until about 2 or 3 weeks ago.

[clatteringhooves]

Thank you, that's reassuring . It really helps knowing what to expect. I'm telling myself it will pass, and it is nice to have actual feelings again, although happier ones would be even better !

[NeverHadANickname]

I'm glad you are doing well and that's really good advice from jersey
When I took them the first time I came off too soon and my moods were all over the place and I was crying a lot so it does need to be the right time but it sounds like you are doing well monitoring yourself.

[clatteringhooves]

Thank you x