Coming off sertraline, any experiences/advice?

[ffs74]

So dh has decided to wean himself off sertraline. Was on 150mg a day for anxiety and to help generally with his mental health but after 2 years he's had enough. The tablets make him feel numb, he struggles to focus at work (a big problem) and they have definitely impacted our previously great sex life (although we do still have one thankfully!)
He's dropped to 100 and is now reducing them again, he's refusing to go to the drs and instead is making my life crap!
He's knackered but can't sleep, feels unwell generally and worse of all is so unbelievably irritable/angry he's impossible to live with.
He's a good man and I love him but this is really taking its toll on me

Anyone?!

Really slowly is my advice. I was only on 50mg and it probably took a couple of months. Your DH really needs to titrate as much as he can. I went to 25mg every day then every other day then every two days etc but the brain zaps were hellish even then.

I had no issues coming off sertealine at all, I took it slowly going from 150 to 100 to 50 to 25 over about 2 months but suffered no ill effects.

Positive mindset and try keep him active, plenty of exercise and engaged. Sometimes the thought of negative side effects can be powerful enough to bring them on iykwim x

Sorry also wanted to add - please encourage him to speak to his gp about weaning off rather than going it alone. It sounds as though he needs some additional support.

for you. Even though I've been on the other side it can't be easy living with and loving someone who is struggling with their mental health xx

Slowly and with support I should imagine .

I really should think about weaning myself off them too .

Thanks everyone. He is coming off it slowly but I'm cross that he's not seen his gp first. Our surgery isn't great, so I can understand to some degree why he hasn't bothered!
He's just so difficult to live with and unfortunately can't see it I did try to point out that out of the two of us, only one of us was currently doing something that might drastically alter their personality but he can't see it!! He is permanently agitated and has a 'the whole worlds against me' thing going on.

@Purpletigers how long have you been on them?

If he’s dropped straight from 150 to 100 and is reducing them again when he’s clearly not well then he’s doing a very stupid thing. He needs to see his GP. Not all anti depressants suit all people. But he needs to work with medical professionals to find a way forward.

I thought I'd come off it slowly enough. But four weeks after my last tablet the side withdrawal symptoms were so bad o went back on it!