SSRI Discontinuation

[Elizabeth181183]

Hello!

I've been on Sertraline for 4 years (having been on Citalopram twice before).

Both times I've come off Citalopram I got the dreaded head zaps, but they usually resolved themselves in 10 days, to be precise.

However, in September I weaned down from 50mg to 25mg and nearly 2 months later, am having the oddest brain zap sensations - plus other crazy brain sensations.

Sometimes it's straight brain zaps, sometimes it feels like my brain did a back flip, sometimes it's like a lightheadedness and (only way I can describe it) that my brain is levitating. Sometimes it's a fizzing in my face and dizziness.

All a very disorientating and trigger my anxiety to rocket.

My GP looked at me bemused when I mentioned it and since - I've started to get a lot of anxious thoughts I've got a brain tumour or something - as discontinuation symptoms have never lasted this long before (particularly when just cutting a dosage in half).

I'm reluctant to go back up to 50mg as I so want to try and get a handle on the anxiety that has plagued me for so many years (plus, weight gain). But also I'm scared of these sensations never going.

I have a nearly 2 year old and also just want to be my very best for him.

Has anyone had similar experiences?

Many thanks

Hi @Elizabeth181183,

did you go straight from 50mg to 25mg? If so, that might have been a little on the fast side. Everyone’s different but I’m currently tapering Sertraline and am doing it by 10% reduction every 4 weeks and haven’t had any side effects so far.

I’ve heard of these brain zaps although not experienced it myself, I tend to just go into total panic when I withdraw too quickly 🤦🏻‍♀️

You could increase the dose back up a little to see if it helps with a view to doing it slower next time? You might have to break the tablets. Otherwise you could try supporting yourself in other ways as your body is basically going through a detoxification process, make sure you are eating well and not putting your liver under any additional stress. I’ve been through withdrawal a few times myself and am currently training as a functional medicine health coach. Hope that helps!

I’ve gone from 100 to 50 verrrrry slowly this summer. No notice left withdrawal.

But, I have had 3 or 4 incidences of what felt like a brain flip as you describe. Not sure what a zap feels like! But definitely had a flip like feeling, very disorienting, that passed in a matter of seconds.

in spring I’m planning to cut down to 25 and then nothing if all goes smoothly. But I’ll likely cut the tablets and alternate 25 then 50 for the first month, then 25 daily for another month, then 25 every second day or something like that.

You know, ridiculously, I never considered that I perhaps did it too fast.

The doctor said to move 50 - 25mg and when I've done that with citalopram, things seemed OK after a rocky 14 days. However, this is nearly 2 months down the line and the weird brain sensations, dizziness seem to (if anything) getting worse. So that's really interesting. Also, really interesting re your comment about detoxification. I've never considered that either - I do know your brain has to rebalance itself a little during the weaning process, but perhaps underestimated what that means for the brain itself! Thank you so much.

No problem, I wish there was better information out there about antidepressant withdrawal, it’s a tricky thing to negotiate. I have found the site ‘surviving antidepressants’ quite useful not least just to reassure you that you aren’t alone and you’re not imagining it!

From all the weaning down from antidepressants
forums, blogs, information
The best one I’ve read that talks sense to me is
surviving antidepressants (as mentioned)

Everyone is different and each ssri & snri are different strengths (not as in mg’s)

I would personally (when I pluck up the courage)
only every do a 10% cut each time, staying on each decrease dose until any symptoms disappear. If no symptoms happen on the 10% decrease I’d still stay on that for at least 4-6 weeks

if you can put up with the symptoms and there not too distressing then stay on the 25mg until symptoms disappear before next drop.