Decreased my sertraline dosage 4 days ago and already noticed a huge increase in anxiety - AIBU or is it just placebo?

[notagainpleas]

I decreased from 100mg to 50mg as I was getting bad side effects (hot flushes and night sweats). I've only been on 50mg for 4 days but I feel awful the last two days but today especially. I keep crying today, even crying on the train. Really embarrassing and whilst today feels like a 'bad day', I feel like crying out in public is quite an OTT response for me.

Could this be the decrease in dosage or is just a coincidence? Do I wait it out or contact my GP?

You should only reduce any long term meds on doctors advice and follow up. Maybe talk to doctor.

Go to your doctor for advice on how to taper the dose down. Going to half the dose in one go will cause a rebound reaction.

I have gone 30mg citaloptam to 20mg - as discussef with doctor last week and feel pretty rotten. I hope it peters out. I cried with my gym PT which was also v OTT.

It sounds too big a decrease in one go. I would have thought you would taper down to 75mg at a minimum. As others have said, I would make an appointment with your GP for advice on tapering down.

I did check with my GP before decreasing and they agreed and prescribed the 50mg for me. I asked about tapering and they said it would be fine to go straight from 100mg to 50mg, but I could alternate between 100 and 50 for a few days if I wanted to - which I did - and then go down to 50mg, so I've been on 50mg only for 4 days after a few days of alternating it with 100mg.

My doctor said that after 2 weeks of decreasing my dose I might experience an increase in anxiety and, if so, go back to them and I'll have to try another medication. Do you think I should wait it out for 2 weeks?

It's withdrawal related but should balance out in a week or so as your brain chemistry adjusts to the new dose if you want to keep reducing. it sounds like you need to anyway due to the side effects. If you get offered citalopram don't accept it, I have the same side effects plus retching/nausea for an hour after I take it.

Have you had any caffeine? If you're changing your dosage up or down then you should avoid caffeine, it can cause anxiety symptoms if you have an imbalance.

That is appalling advice and goes against the latest NHS guidance. Maximum 10% reduction at a time. Wait a few weeks to see how it goes, stabilise etc. Once have been gone for a few weeks, consider maki g the next 10% reduction. Having a different dose each day does not work for many people.

Are the night sweats and hot flushes definitely caused by the sertraline? Could they be menopause?

Everyone is different but in my experience, sertraline was horrible. Didn't like citaplopram. Love fluoxetine, even if I miss a couple of days it doesn't make a difference. Maybe have a chat with GP about different meds.

GPS can be appalling on tapering. That is a very quick reduction. Many people would have withdrawal symptoms from reducing like that.

Advice from RCPsych

It's withdrawal.

You need to taper off very slowly. I took months to come off Seroxat.

I am really concerned that appalling advice like this is still being given out by GPs. It is not a good idea to attempt to white knuckle it. You should not be taking advice from randoms on the internet, but as your GP had been so negligent… I would go back up to your original dose for a week or so, stabilise on that and then follow a proper tapering schedule, like the RCPsych above. (I am not an HCP, I have tapered myself, following this book book . Looks a bit dramatic but he’s a credible Harvard psychiatrist.)

More info from MIND

Sertaline is evil stuff. I had it & had to come off cold turkey as it only increased my suicidality. I'll never ever touch that stuff again. Coming off it is rough.

My daughter to reduce from 100 went to every second day 75 for a week or two you’ve come off it too quickly

If you have been on 50 I personably would not go back to 100 maybe 75 but better to call 111 and ask to speak to pharmist as we are all guessing

Talked to my GP again and I've been switched to 10 mg citalopram. It was literally a 2 minute phone call so not much time to discuss it, but she said to just start taking the citalopram from today onwards straight away

Sounds tough OP.

@notagainpleas I don't know if you read my comment, but avoid citalopram It has the same hot/flush night sweat side effects. I've been on it 5 years and too scared to stop. I also get bad nausea after I take it, it's a side effect that's supposed to go away after awhile but it never has

I've been on citalopram since 2005. But now it's less effective. Been feeling quite rough recently. GP told me last week to drop from 40mg to 30mg for 2 weeks, 20mg for two weeks, 10mg for 2 weeks. Then she'll start me on fluoxetine and it'll take a number of weeks to become stabilised on it. It'll be a long haul, but at least I know it's going to happen.
Good luck to all on such medication.