Has anyone stayed on sertraline forever?

[screamslikeabanshee]

I've been taking sertraline 100mg for the past 3 years for OCD and GAD and it's changed my life.
There are some side effects I'd rather not have -mainly poor memory- but overall I'm 100% more stable.
the GP is trying to wean me off, I've tried a few times and as soon as I go below 75mg daily all the old symptoms come back.
On one hand I don't want to take tablets forever but on the other I don't want to slip into a downward spiral where I can't enjoy life.
Has anyone stayed on sertraline forever? Will the GP force me to stop? I'm very worried.

Bump

I’ve been on 100mg for 10 years. At one point the gp recommended i have a go at reducing my dose but as soon as it became clear I wasn’t coping I was back to 100mg.

I need them to function and have no plans to come off. Be clear with your dr that you do not feel it is a good time to reduce your dose and they will support you.

Thank you. A different GP told me before that there was no risk in long term use and I could stay on forever but this GP said they don't know the long term risks and I should try to come off. I will maybe ask to see the first GP again

I've been on venlafaxine for 18 years with a few odd occasions of switching to sertraline.

I'm staying on it forever. I've tried to come off for periods a few times and it's just not worth it. My life on venlafaxine is a million times better than without it.

My life on venlafaxine is a million times better than without it

That's how I feel. My family are also suffering and I don't feel in control of my moods and thoughts at all.
I'm willing to take the risk of (as yet unproven) long term effects in order to have a normal life now

I’ve been on 200mg of Sertraline I would be dead without it, been on it about 10 years and have been told likely to be on it for life, I need it

Sertraline is not easy to come off. It 'alters' chemical make up so when you do try it's horrible and you end up back on fairly quickly. I was on it for 7 years until I decided in October I'd had enough of one particular side effect. Psychiatrist suggested another med and I dutifully followed procedure, but it was hell. Even after I was 'off' I was experiencing withdrawal symptoms for weeks afterwards and combined with side effects from new meds I'd had enough. Been off both since end of December. No it's not easy. Do I regret coming off? No. Do I struggle? Yes. But I've found CBD oil helps with some stuff. I thought I'd always be on sertraline. I feel I need some sort of "xx days free" token 😏

I have bipolar disorder and I have been on 200mg sertraline for about seven years along with mood stabilisers and anti psychotic medication