Is this because I stopped sertraline?

[fairgame84]

I was on sertraline since 2015. For the past 2 years I've only been on 25mg per day just to take the edge off. GP said that dose does nothing so advised me to wean off which I did slowly over 6 months. I've been off them completely for about 2 weeks and I feel like I need them again.

I've been a little irritable most days.
I've been more emotional, like teary maybe half the week.
But for the past 5 days I keep getting this horrible knotting feeling in my lower stomach. Its makes me really irritable and makes me feel quite itchy and like I have to get rid of it but nothing does. I try going to the loo or laying down and deep breathing but I just have to wait it out. It's horrible. It only happens in the afternoon.
Is this a withdrawal symptom?
Im tempted to start the sertraline again to make it stop but I feel like it's not the right thing to do.

It could be. Try coming off it slower, get it in liquid form and go from like 15 for 2 weeks then 10 for 2, weeks then 5 and then 2.5. Your body won’t have any withdrawal!
Chat to your gp x

Cut your tablets, halve them, take them every other day, every third day, every 4th day, once a week... then you'll forget if you've had one or not, realise it's over, and get a life!

Would you start taking 25mg again daily and then wean from that or go back to 50mg again for a few weeks until its back in my system and then wean from there instead?

If you were on 25 daily when you stopped I'd do 25 every other day or two days out of three. P Wait until you feel better at that dose, stay on it for a couple of weeks, then reduce again.

Don't endure side effects, there's no rush. Don't ever feel you 'should' stop, or reduce faster. Literally take another one just in case, until you've realised you aren't taking them any more,

I hope you feel better soon! I'm not an expert- I just know that the slower you stop taking them, the less you'll notice an impact.

Thankyou.
I feel like such a failure that I've had to take them again but I can't cope with stomach symptoms like that and I can't leave it until Tuesday.
It's just a blip and I'll try again.

Of course you aren't a failure! You were inadequately advised as to how to reduce, and are now going back on a better dosage for reducing, that's all.

I started taking them when my dad was terminally ill. I could manage, but knew that in time I wouldn't be able to. I got ahead of the game!
When I was ready to stop a friend warned me of the need to be very slow. It's not an immediate affect, it kicks in a few days/weeks.
I tapered so, so slowly I never noticed a thing. I didn't stop as such, I just ended up on such a small amount it didn't really count. Half the smallest tablet every few days 🤣. Until I couldn't be bothered any more. Bored with remembering when I had it last.

There are no prizes for being tough, you know. Just for getting through a day at a time.

I’ve just come off Citrolapram and had very similar side effects to you. I just took half a dose again every other day. I wouldn’t go back to your full dose as it puts you back to square one! You’ve done really well so far.