Coming off Sertraline

[SliceOfCakeCupOfTea]

I've been on Sertraline since February 2020.

There have been a couple of occasions where my next box has been delayed and I've had a few days pill-free and during that time I really felt anxious, uncomfortable, irrational etc. Spoke to the Dr recently who wants to start weaning me off and said that all the side effects I've experienced previously when not having the pills were in my mind and not as a result of not having the pills, but more a psychological reaction to not having them.

I just want to hear from some people who have experienced coming off this sort of medication. Have you had to go back on? Could you feel that you were 'pill free'?

TBH coming off them has triggered my anxiety again which I know is a barrier I need to get through.

Bump?

When I've tapered off anti depressants previously the main side effect I have had is brain zaps. Have a Google as it's so hard to explain!!!

Do YOU want to come off Sertraline?
I've resorted to the fact I'll always need anti depressants. I've been on a very high dose of fluoxetine for a year and have no intention of decreasing my dose.
You do want you feel is best for you.

I haven't experienced coming off Sertraline properly myself yet as I only started it this year. However, like you I missed a few days in a row and felt incredibly strange. Dizzy and completely out of it. Felt unsafe driving. And that must have been physical not psychological as I didn't know I had missed them at first (I completely forgot due to a family bereavement).

The pills have a physical effect on the brain when you take them, and it is not unusual to get withdrawal effects when you stop.

I could have sworn the side effects from missing some pills was real but the Dr is adamant that what I experienced was all in my head.

No I don't want to come off them, but apparently you're not supposed to be on them longer than a year so I've already gone over...

Change your doctor. They are absolutely real.

I ended up getting it in syrup form and weaning myself off over a very long time.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea

I could have sworn the side effects from missing some pills was real but the Dr is adamant that what I experienced was all in my head.

No I don't want to come off them, but apparently you're not supposed to be on them longer than a year so I've already gone over...

Who told you the 1 year thing? My GP said that we would re-evaluate regularly buy that some patients stayed on them longer term and there was no issue with that for most people. NHS would seem to concur.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea

I could have sworn the side effects from missing some pills was real but the Dr is adamant that what I experienced was all in my head.

No I don't want to come off them, but apparently you're not supposed to be on them longer than a year so I've already gone over...

The side effects will be real, never doubt yourself. I was on Sertraline for 2 years and only charged as they stopped working for me. Don't feel any pressure to come off them and only do so when you're ready. I'm 10 years into being on some form of antidepressants and fully believe I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them.

Please do think about changing Drs.

The Dr...
He is usually very good and kind. I'm wondering why he wants me off then then??

Maybe worth asking the Dr his rational to give you a piece of mind it's in your best interest.

With respect, your doctor is talking bollocks. Many people are on sertraline for years - decades - and there is no need to come off it if it's working for you. You also absolutely get physical side effects within a day or two of missing a dose as they have a relatively short half life in the body. It's given various names but my psychiatrist calls it discontinuation syndrome. It can be pretty tough going.

I've been on Sertraline for almost 3 years now, and although they said they would review regularly it's never been mentioned again.

But then, possibly not the best example as they recently prescribed me tramadol for something else and failed to mention the possible interactions.

If it works for you and you don't want to stop tell him no. Even if they were 'all in your head', which I don't think they were either, you experienced side effects from missed pills, so probably not the best time to be messing with what works for you.