Please help me - sertraline withdrawal

[abitfunny]

I’m on week three of coming off 50mg. For the past two weeks I’ve been doing 50 one night and 25 the other. Up until today I’ve felt fine, maybe a bit more tired than usual but nothing I can’t deal with.

Today is completely different. Got to work, felt fine then out of nowhere my hands started shaking, blurred vision and just generally out of sorts. I’m part of a small secretarial office and am friends with my colleagues, they know I’d been taking sertraline but I didn’t tell them that I’ve been coming off of it (stupidly). It got so bad that I had to hunt my manager down and basically break down to him. He was really kind and sent me home.

I’m now home and luckily have my mum here to help with my son. Still experiencing the shaking and my palms are sweaty. I’m so scared that I won’t be able to do this successfully. I have to work. I have a family to look after. It almost feels harder than starting them?

Should I come off it more slowly? Am I doing something wrong?

GP just called me, and seemed surprised that this has happened?! Said because 50mg is the lowest dose I should’ve been fine to go down to 25 then stop. I’m so confused...

She then said either go back to taking 50mg or take 25 every night for two weeks and call her. Not that helpful?

Hi @abitfunny I came off sertraline fully two weeks ago, tapered down from 50mg over the course of six weeks. First two weeks - took sertraline two days then one day off. Then second two weeks, sertraline every other day. Then third two weeks, sertraline every third day.

I did feel very tired, and I had the odd day where I felt terrible. Symptoms like you described. However the really bad symptoms only lasted a day, and basically if I just rested, or had a nap, then they got better. Coming off sertraline isn't going to be easy whatever method you take, but just keep going if you want to, because its just your body going through withdrawal. Also I found that quitting alcohol was helpful as I went through it, as it gave me a bit of a mood boost and helped me sleep better. Good luck.

I was on citlopram for a long time and was taken off too quickly by a gp and had horrendeous withdrawals ... thing is it is STILL not recognised that these are extremely powerful drugs and can take months of withdrawals.. I would reinstate and taper down 5% there is a fb though called sertraline should be illegal that helps. Withdrawal need to be known when taking these drugs feel free to pm me

DD came off sertraline and I'd read about this ( I'm a doctor) so I warned her to take it slow.

She got a pill cutter off amazon and came off super -slowly. It's difficult to cut the tablets very accurately but she quartered the pills and had 1 then 3/4 for a week then 3/4 a day for a week then 1/2 alternating with 3/4. It took ages but she didn't experience any withdrawal. Maybe worth a try?

I’m afraid GPs often give out appallingly naive advice on AD withdrawal. The NHS official advice is to go much more slowly.
If there’s no urgent reason you need to stop them, then I’d reinstate your original dose and research how to do it and prepare yourself first.

This book is helpful, and gives tapering schedules, but many people go even slower:

www.amazon.co.uk/Antidepressant-Solution-Step-Step-Overcoming/dp/074326973X?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

This is another helpful book: www.amazon.co.uk/Recovery-Renewal-benzodiazepine-tranquillisers-antidepressants/dp/0957213050?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

The only problem with reading about withdrawal is that you can get scared by some of the worst experiences, but don’t assume that you will have an awful time. As long as you prepare and go really slowly, it shouldn’t be anywhere near as bad as your current experience.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/how-should-antidepressants-be-discontinued/

It took me good three months to come off it. I did the following, each step for 2 weeks:

2 days whole tablet, third day half
Alternate whole and half
2 days half tablet, third day whole
Half a tablet every day
Half a tablet 2 days, skip 3rd day
Half a tablet every other day
Half a tablet every 3rd day

Then I stopped completely. I haven't had any physical withdrawal symptoms whatsoever, but I did have a bit of a breakdown about a week after I stopped. I was, however, going through quite a bit of stress (redundancy), so not ideal timing. I've been fine since then - this was 2 years ago.

I had shaking, double vision, brain zaps, and felt suicidal - to the point of planning it. It's one nasty drug to come off. I wouldn't go back on it for anything.

Taper really slowly like others have said and accept you will feel weird and get possible brain zaps and stuff. It's not v that bad just weird but as long as you taper you can power through it no problem.

I got electric shock type sensations throughout my body and head, as well as dizziness and shakiness for about two to three weeks after I stopped taking 50mg cold Turkey so to speak. After that I was generally fine but it was not a pleasant experience! Take it slower.

Thank you all - thing is, I knew this was coming as I’ve read posts about the withdrawal being hard. It’s more how my GP has dealt with it that’s taken me by surprise. I actually asked them to get another one to call me who was more helpful but again didn’t tell me to take it more slowly.

I took another half tablet (25mg) last night and am going to try and stay on that for a couple of weeks. Does that sound right?

Still really dizzy and shakey. Really unsettled stomach. Luckily my work are brilliant and fine with me being at home today.

So you’re back on 50mg every day for now? I hope your symptoms settle soon.

It’s very concerning that your GP has been so dismissive. It’s really inexcusable these days.

This is useful: psychcentral.com/blog/6-ways-to-prepare-for-withdrawal-from-an-antidepressant/

For the future: Taking alternating different doses is not ideal - you’re going to get peaks and troughs of the drug in your system. A pill cutter as a pp suggested is a good idea.

@SparklingLime - I’m now taking half my original dose every day. Was on 50mg and now take 25mg every evening by halving the tablet. To be honest what happened yesterday has really scared me. I’m not sure if it was the side effects or if I had a panic attack. I guess I’ve just got to hang in there.

Will check that link out now thank you!

Day three of taking 25mg. Very upset stomach. Intrusive thoughts have amped up again. Hope this bloody subsides soon!

Was just meaning to check in with you, @abitfunny. Can you list what doses you’ve been on and when you reduced? I’m a bit confused.

I’ve always been on 50mg. When I decided to come off them I did one day of 50 and then one day of 25 and kept alternating for a couple of weeks. This Monday I started taking just 25 every night.

So you’ve reduced further even though you were having bad symptoms? That’s why I got confused! It’s best to stabilise on a dose (that is stay there until you have only minimal symptoms) before reducing further. I can only again suggest that you get hold of the Glenmullen book and make a plan for a slow taper.

Is there any reason you are trying to do this fast?

This might also be helpful: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/apr/22/antidepressants-is-there-a-better-way-to-quit-them

Hi op, just to give you hope I had this. It took 2 weeks to settle on each lower dose. I got awful IBS and my eczema flared up. Once I stopped completely I had 'waves' of wooziness for about six weeks. But I did it and felt fine and normal again. Magnesium helped.X

I have come off these recently. Found during the lock down was forgetting to take them some days didn't feel good, then when remember to take each day didn't feel good either ! Took a half tablet every day for while then ever second day ... Now don't take them for about 3 weeks.
Actually feel really well and wonder could it be that as I didn't need anylonger they felt too strong?
GP said do not just stop taking she may not be impressed I stopped but with covid restrictions I didn't make appointment to discuss.
Best of luck bit by bit if you are not ready don't rush

Hi all, I've been encouraged by my GP and midwife to reduce my usual dosage (100mg) and eventually stop taking it as I have just found out that I am pregnant. Initially I struggled with the notion as the meds have become a bit of a crutch for me since my DS was born.

Anyway, I think I'm along the same lines as @swimkiwipanda in that I dropped from 100 to 50 for 3 weeks and I'm now on week 2 of nothing. Symptoms are all over the place (it's hard to tell what is withdrawal and what is pregnancy-related...)- mostly weird dreams, nausea, labile moods and occasional shakes of the hands.

One positive is that my mind feels clearer, less foggy compared to when I was taking 100mg (odd, as I thought it was meant to be something the other way round). I am more productive in my work and can actually feel again, rather than feeling numb.

I hadn't even thought of tapering and it was never suggested to me, which is disappointing as it seems like a safer way to do it. It would really help if professionals were more clued up withdrawal...

Anyway, I wish everyone the best through this tough process, however we go about it.

Hi all.. I’m in the process of tapering very slowly reduced by 25mg two weeks ago, 100mg down to 75mg not been bad only thing bothering me the last few days Is increased anxiety, tight chest feeling! As anyone else had this?