Coming off Sertraline: what should I expect?

[EasterRobin]

So it's not exactly planned but I've not been able to take my regular 50mg Sertraline dose for a couple of days, so it seems like this may be the right time to see how I feel in the absence of medication. Has anybody else on here come off sertraline without replacing with something else? How was it? What should I expect?

My head is feeling very busy and full of many many thoughts / observations /distractions right now. I'm used to being quietly wrapped up all cosy, snug and quiet in my comfy sertraline cotton wool cloud.

I came off it once cold turkey. Would never, ever do it again. Why can't you take it at the moment??

You probably should wean off it very slowly. I missed a couple of doses and it took a few days to get back to normal. Speak to your GP

If you are away from home without a supply any chemist will give you an emergency few. You may be fine cold turkey or you may have withdrawal which caneeds be very unpleasant indeed.

I do have plenty left; I've just missed a couple of days because I'd felt very nauseous one day when I took it (nauseous, sweating, had to go home from work as couldn't cope) - and haven't taken it since. Now I'm thinking maybe I'll just stop (I've been taking it for 2.5 years, and was always planning to stop one day). For those of you who found cold turkey unpleasant, what happened that was bad?

And thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply!

My gp told me to go cold turkey when I stopped. Worst decision ever. I had so much dizziness I had to take time off work as was scared to drive. Only lasted 3-4 days but I would probably wean yourself by taking one every other day and gradually reduce

Thanks JammyC. Really helpful to know.

Dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, brain zaps, mega snappiness aand moodiness.
And ultimately a return of the underlying condition.

2.5 years is a longish time. I really wouldn't just stop cold turkey. What's led you to conclude it is the sertraline causing your symptoms? Are you 100% sure it's the tabs?

It only takes a couple of days for me to start feeling really grim. I can miss a day, but after two days, the nausea and weird electrical feelings in my brain kick in. I get heart thumps too.
That's what reminds me to take my meds, so I've never gone past that I'm afraid.

Sertraline has a short half life unlike Eg prozac/ fluoxetine and so sudden cold turkey is harder to do. The usual recommendation is slow tapering. Not one day on one day off and then lengthening the intervals.

And obviously only if you are recovered and stable and both you and GP think it is time.

Do not EVER go cold turkey. You really need to slowly decrease your dose or find something to replace it with. Just stopping will make you feel absolutely awful. Despairing. Please get some medical advice.

Thank you for your replies. It's been really helpful to know what's normal and even words like "brain zaps" which has let me look up what is going on. Those were a bit unsettling as I'd not experienced them before, so I am much more reassured now - really thank you so much!

I understand it is not ideal to go cold turkey, but was thinking since I'm on what I think is the lowest prescribed dose (50mg per day) there wouldn't be much opportunity to taper off. Do people get 25mg tablets (or cut 50mg ones in half) as the usual method then?