Sertraline withdrawal

[London59]

I'm currently trying to come off sertraline. Been on it about 4 years, started on 100mg. I've tried to come off it before as I feel completely better but when I reduce my dose I get awful withdrawal symptoms.

I've now been on 50 mg for about 6 months. At the start of lockdown I thought now would be a good time to come off them completely as I am in a pretty good place (I'm wfh so I figured I'd be better able to cope with the withdrawal symptoms, the last time I tried coming off them I'm sure my colleagues noticed as they kept saying I wasn't myself. I feel relatively 'safe' at home where no one can see my hands shaking or me crying because I've dropped a pen etc).

So I've tried cutting 50mg tablets in half so I was taking 25mg a day for about 4 weeks, then 25mg every other day for 4 weeks, I've now been taking 25mg every 3 days for about a fortnight and feel awful. Absolutely bloody dreadful. I have headzaps, feel sick, moodswings, feel irritable and generally not myself. I keep bursting into tears at the littlest thngs. I have no motivation for work, I've just tried to write an email and sat staring at my sceen for 10 minutes solid, almost paralysed.

Not sure why I'm posting really. Just to see if anyone else has had a similar experience and can offer any advice?

I am aware there is a 'sertraline buddies' thread. Maybe this can be a thread to give support to anyone else trying to come off sertraline.

Hi @London59 - how are you feeling today? Great idea to have this as a withdrawal thread (even if it's just us two commenting!)

I am also trying to come off sertraline 50mg. I started tapering about six weeks ago after being advised by GP to take one 50mg tablet every other day. Bloody horrendous. I felt fine for a few weeks then bam out of nowehere was sat at work and my hands were shaking uncontrollably, blurred vision, sweating, heart beating so fast etc etc. This really scared me. I actually rang my GP surgery and demanded to speak to a different GP who then said to half the tablets and take one every day, because our bodies get confused with different doses.

I've since been taking 25mg every night for 2/3 weeks. I'm really anxious to drop it again. The next stage would be to either take 25mg every other day or invest in a pill cutter which I'm swaying more towards after what happened last time.

Obviously we all have different experiences but why don't you stop now? There is so little of it in your system now I can't see how it would make a huge difference to how you're feeling (even though you're feeling pretty rubbish).

Alternatively if it's that bad maybe go back to taking 25mg every day? Don't rush it if it's really having an effect on your every day living.

Let me know how you're getting on. Maybe now you've started this thread I'll find the courage to drop again?! X

Think it's one of those things where you gradually reduce and then cold turkey sadly. Have you told your gp? Do they have advice?

I once got put on a high dose of seroxat, this stuff was like poison. It addictive and had terrible withdrawal symptoms to the point made me relapse a bit. It took over a month but it did get better gradually.

It's just like getting this stuff into your system, it takes time to get it out and your body to adjust.