Coming off setraline

[sunburntfizz]

Without going into detail here DD (17) will be coming off setraline. We will be reducing dosage by 25mg every 2 weeks. On the way down we may hit the dose that is right but right now 100mg hasn't suited. The advantages don't outweigh the disadvantages for her right now. There's not enough improvements and the anxiety and feeling on edge is still there. She has ASD so we don't know what is ASD and what is the depression or the medication. She also has extreme tiredness.

What are your experiences and learnings of a good way of coming off this.

@sunburntfizz
The rage is very normal! My DS noticed it most around day 6/7 along with faintness for what that is worth.
Regarding the probiotics....I will pass on what DS psychiatrist said.......”if you don’t get his gut health sorted prior to coming off the sertraline I would be concerned you will end up back at square one”. I cannot advise one way or another but personally I do not believe sorting out gut health and ability to absorb vit b and d can be overly harmful. We knew that my son did not absorb vit b or d well as a result of a urine test over 3 days and a poo test over 3 days. These tests were ordered to confirm what the psychiatrist already suspected. There is more being published about gut health and the brain. Perhaps wait until she stabilises so she is only coping with one change at a time?? Keep supporting your DD, I know that ignoring the ‘rage’ is tricky. There is a website I have looked at that asks you to consider coming off ADs like recovering from a brain injury. The brain does recover but it can be a slow process while the brain chemistry sorts itself out and allowances should be made. Something else I read was to remind those feeling the wd symptoms that it’s not hurting them but healing them (now I don’t know how much of this is true but it is a very positive sentiment). Once you DD stabilises on 25mg, my advise would be to hold for a month atleast before the next reduction. Stay strong. Xx

Thank you so much for that. Especially about what to say those experiencing WDs. I know DD was feeling very low that she was feeling low and thought she is never going I get better. Xxx

This article talks about the waves and windows of withdrawal.

npanth.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/waves-and-windows-in-ssri-withdrawal/

I once found a clever way of coming off it...it took a long time but was very gentle. I was in 100mg, and so week one I took 100mg for 6 days, and 50mg for one day. Week two, 100 mg for 5 days and 50 mg for 2 days.

So after 6 weeks I was down to 50mg a day. Then I continued the process .....6 days of 50 mg, 1day of nothing. It took 12 weeks, but had no withdrawal symptoms.

Thanks for that link @LiveandBreathe. Have read about waves and windows.

@recall glad that method worked for u. I think I am a bit too scared about chopping and changing doses each day.

Day 7 - DD continuing to have cold like symptoms - ie feeling like she's about to get flu. She says her organs are aching and she is also feeeling somewhat sensory in terms of taste.

I thinks she is having all the symptoms in the world - she has had pins and needles and felt like she was having a heart ache. But she did say it's not that bad just really inconvenient as can't do anything. She has stayed in bed al day - only coming down for food.

That should say heart attack not heart ache

@sunburntfizz
Although these symptoms appear alarming they are common when reading about withdrawl. Consider survivingantidepressants for advice.i think they could help you. Xx

Thanks you @Rainbows12 I have started reading the boards on that site.

@sunburntfizz
Remember these are the very worst cases on sites like these so don’t be overwhelmed with worry. The advice they can offer may be worth something - it’s just some more info, you still have to pick what is relevant to your DD. 😊

Today was slightly better. We were out for half a day visiting family and she seemed to manage this. Still feeling her organs doing something weird (like turning and bloating as if they are going to burst) and felt as if everything was dark today but generally better in terms of coping. She is as afraid as me to hope that it may be better tomorrow.

Another better day today. Symptoms such as nausea first thing, mood up and down and temperature disregulation still continue

@sunburntfizz Pleased to hear things are beginning to show improvement. This is positive news indeed. DS is day 17 with no sertraline. He appears fine but continues with mild dizziness in the mornings. So far, no other wd symptoms to speak of. I am mindful that it is school holidays and he is able to sleep plenty. Hopefully by September he will be back to ‘normal’ and will manage long days at school again.

I decided to stop taking sertraline on Friday. I'd got down to 12.5mg and was just having brain fog and wooziness. The brain fog has gone. I am still woozy but I think exercise with help. I was afraid my mood would dip but I am fine, just very tired. I am sure it won't all be plain sailing, I am glad I stopped though.

Glad to hear things are levelling out for your DD.

Really pleased to hear both of your updates. Glad to hear that your DS is doing well @Rainbows12

@LiveandBreathe this must feel really
Liberating. Very interesting what you say about the brain fog disappearing.

DD has been ok today. Still having pain in her abdomen and some nausea but no major mood fluctuations. Have introduced probiotics.

@LiveandBreathe how long were you on the 12.5

Approx two weeks. I had one week of alternating 12.5 and 25, followed by one week of 12.5.

Supplementing everything at the moment. Had wheat and dairy last few days (bad planning). Terrible muscle knots around ribs last night and today. Numb patches. This morning I've had paracetomol, echinichea drops, vitamin D, dandelion tincture, milk thistle tincture, probiotic, vitamin e and omega 3! Also, co enzyme Q10. No idea which worked but feel OK now. I think vit D and co enzyme Q10 probably helped most. I think antidepressants leach minerals and vitamins - read an article about that somewhere. Having sounded v negative about them I'd like to add that they did stop me completely falling apart, and help me transition back to healthier lifestyle. Will still avoid them in future, if I can.

@LiveandBreathe glad things settled a bit.

Completely understand about the supplements. The amount of supplements I am giving my daughter is increasing and is. A bit ridiculous at the moment.

Apart from the setraline she is having birth control pill (to help with awful periods and exhaustion ), vitamin b complex, multi vitamin, omega, omneprazole (GP pr her on this as she was taking setraline for a few months), probiotic and a vitamin D spray.

Once we get down to really low doses of setraline will stop the omneprazole. If the exhaustion is due to the setraline and eventually stops then will discuss stopping
The birth control pill.

Things are ok. No major symptoms but still fairly low motivation.

Reading the surviving antidepressants site and it is really shocking how many symptoms are associated with this. I also really worry as people talk about symptoms lasting for years.

Have agreed with the doctor that we are going to hold 25mg possibly for another 2 weeks. We will review again next week. She has stabilised on this and is doing much better. I am so tempted to reduce quickly as just want her off these.

@sunburntfizz that’s great to hear DD has stabilised. I completely understand you wanting to rush. It’s frustrating but going slow will be worth it.

That's great to hear and good the doc has been supportive. Sounds like a sensible plan. I'm going to carry on supplementing for a while as its helping. Focus has been good, less wooziness. Also using positive motivational self talk. Nothing else to report really. I feel optimistic about not having any lasting effects as long as I keep up a healthy routine.

That sounds great @LiveandBreathe

Long may it continue.

How are things with DS @Rainbows12