Sertraline withdrawal

[TheMostHappy]

Hi,

I have been taking sertraline for the past 18 months or so, and my doctor suggested as I had been feeling a bit better it might be time to consider coming off them. It was only quite a low dose - 1 tablet a day, but I forget the mg. very low.

I came off them initially and it went badly, I was really stressed out with work so started again. They ran out and I went to order the repeat prescription to find that it had been cancelled as a repeat and they never turned up, so I thought I would have another crack at coming off them. This was about 2 weeks ago and I'm really struggling. I'm exhausted, no energy whatsoever, I'm so miserable, angry and moody for absolutely no reason, no motivation, and just generally feel really sorry for myself all the time - I would remain in bed not interacting with anyone else at all 24/7 if I could get away with it , but I can't I have work and 2 dc. I feel very snappy and impatient, and that's not who I want to be.

What I don't know is whether this will pass gradually when my body adjusts to being without the sertraline orrr if this is just who I am?

Has anyone had any experience who can share please?

Many thanks.

Hi OP
I have been on sertraline for about 2 years. Absolutely changed my life for the better. My dosage was 1 tablet a day - 50mg. It's a small dose but like I said it was a game changer for me.
My gp suggested I came off it about 6 months ago. I tried and after about 4 days I knew that I wouldn't cope. I started taking again.
I had struggled for years before but I just feel normal when I take them. I hate the idea of being dependent on meds but I also can't go back to living with anxiety and low mood all the time. I am
now able to go to the gym, sit in a meeting without feeling tense to the point I had to take pain killers prior.
Not sure if my reply is of any use..but just wanted to say that you are not alone in feeling like that x

Hi OP I came off them about a month ago, just stopped taking them. It wasn't fun, not going to lie! I was really anxious and felt all over the place when I was prescribed them and possibly peri menopausal. I didn't like taking them, just felt meh all the time so I asked my GP for HRT and decided to stop the sertraline. I felt appalling for about a week, very emotional- everything from howling tears to proper rage. I now feel fine pretty much. Reading up online it is not advised to go cold turkey and to reduce the amount of sertraline over time but I was only on one tablet a day so I thought it wouldn't be that bad. It was! If I was doing it again I would take half a tablet for a while then every other day or something. NOT a doctor though - just my experience. Good luck!

Yeah the first time I tried coming off of them the doctor said, "you can either wean yourself off and have one tablet every other day, or since you are on the lowest dose I would be comfortable with you to stop taking them when you run out" so I just stopped, and I feel physically fine but I'm just a proper nasty bitch, I'm pissing myself off being like it let alone people around me and what they must think.

I've gone from being stable with ups and downs to being low mood with no ups and very angry depressed downs all the time. I can't remember when I stopped taking them now whether it was about a month ago, so whether it's withdrawal effecting my mood or whether this is just who I am as a person without the medication. I don't know what to do.

Did you come off them really slowly - I can't tell. If so you would feel crap. But you might want to consider (like @postcardfromme) and myself that actually you function much better with a daily small dose. I've tried coming off several times (I've been on them maybe 12 years) and I notice the difference so much.

I resisted for so long but I need them to be a 'normal human being'!

I'm thinking I might need to go back on. It's not normal to be on the brink of tears on a whim is it really. Like normal people wouldn't be in tears over this conversation sat in the car on the school run. It's really not a big deal is it. I guess I will have to call the doctors again on Monday.

Thanks all x

Definitely have a chat with your doctor. Go on a low dose and give it a few months. Honestly before I went on them I could barely get out of bed every day, and I would cry at everything. I still have spells where I feel down or really anxious but I do spend a lot less time worrying and crying! Look after yourself x

I have spoken to the doctor yesterday- it took 45 minutes and 27 attempts to get through to reception but that's a whole other thread. The doctor has prescribed sertraline again and have to follow up in 4 weeks. Thanks for all your helpful advice.

Sorry to jump in this thread but I was looking for anyone that suffered back symptoms while coming off sertraline?? I've been on 100mg for 2 yrs. Dropped to 50mg for 2 weeks and now on 50mg every other day for 2 weeks to try wean off. The headaches, nausea and just generally feeling run down have been really bad for me. To the point I've not been able to go to work some days. I know it'll be temporary but just wondered how everyone else got on?? ❤️