Coming off 150mg sertraline in 6 days(!) after psychiatric advice

[hmmha]

Hi. I was on 150mg sertraline (started on 50, went up 100 then 150mg over about 4 months with little improvement). I’m 50, been on 4 pumps oestrogen gel, for 18 months (was on 2 pumps all good for 2 years) but things started to spiral so Dr upped Oestrogel, also for 3 months I’ve been fortunate to have been able to get testosterone on NHS, so a tiny blob of testosterone gel daily also (have mirena for progesterone). Sorry, felt those facts relevant.

Anyway, 2 weeks ago after a drs appt, (where I agreed I’d like a psychiatric referral as I truly feel like I’m losing my mind and desperate for help and Dr thought would be good as obvs Psychiatrist will have specialist knowledge with the various meds I’m on - I’ve only just started with a psychotherapist and had 1 session). A day later Dr called saying Psych dept got back to her and until I see them (obvs a wait) they wanted me off the sertraline in 6 days (3 days down to 100mg then 3 days 50mg then start escitilopram on day 7. It’s been hell. I don’t want to take the escitalopram as I just want everything out my body. I had got really bad on 150mg of sertraline and I presume this is why the psych dept wanted my dr to get me off it asap as I know you’re meant to tail off v slowly.

After reducing to 50mg on day 6 I continued taking 25mg for 3 days as felt so unwell (not suicidal but in all honestly just not wanting to ‘exist’ anymore as the mental torment I’m going through is a living hell. That’s why I just want it all out my body now and don’t want to take the escitalopram. In all honestly I think my severe anxiety causes the depression anyway so want to get to the root of that.

I have drs appt Mon but i just wanted to know if anyone else has been told to
come off sertraline or another AD in 6 days or really quickly. It’s really scared me tbh. I don’t feel in control of my own mind and im
desperate to be myself again. I can’t sign off work as I’m a freelancer (dr said she would be signing me off for 3 months normally). i scored 3 points under the top range for severe anxiety and severe depression on the test things. I have 5mg diazepam for the anxiety and panic attacks when needed which only take the edge off tbh. I shake violently when having an attack and am overwhelmed and cry my heart out. Dr thinks menopause exasperated mental health (I have history of ‘bouts’ of anxiety and depression since late teens but NEVER ever this has). Also had thyroid blood test this week as psych dept wanted to rule that out as causing the extreme anxiety (haven’t had results but even my dr doubts it’s thyroid but best to check of course).

Id appreciate any advice or thoughts on cutting the sertraline so quickly, or stories of anyone who has got through something similar. Been getting worse over last 12 months and just so exhausted I would do ANYTHING to get better.

fyi I’m a v healthy eater, although lost weight due to not being able to eat when this anxious. I meditate, am a yogi, live in countryside so able to get fresh air (very grateful) and everyone including my Dr says I’m doing everything right, so why aren’t I getting better?! I’m so scared as I feel like im
fighting for my life - that is, again, I do not want to harm myself, I want to live as have so much I want to do in life, but when I’m really bad I don’t want to ‘exist’ as everything is so incredibly painful and hard and I feel like a pathetic, weak mess and so guilty about being like this.

Hope this makes sense to someone. Sorry so long. Trying to get facts in. I know I’m lucky to have the help I’m already getting and in pipeline to get, so feel dreadfully guilty about those who might be suffering more than me. I’ve just never felt this close to losing my mind and sense of being before 😢

Hiya. I came off citalopram (another SSRI) cold turkey after being on it a couple of years. It was unpleasant (very) for a couple of weeks, but then it was over. Something you can do to help is drink lots of water and remember that the half life of sertraline is about 26 hours, so the actual drug will be out of your body in a couple of days. Withdrawal symptoms can be anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

I've also tapered off ADs (Prozac) and that was bloody awful, so I've tended to cold turkey with others. Note that tapering is supposed to be the best way to minimise withdrawal symptoms, but it is possible to come off quickly, it just hurts a bit more.

Thank you so much for your reply @NomadicSoul.

Did you get the whooshing in your head when you came off?

I keep telling myself I just need to get through this and I can start working on the root of the problem/s from the start. I’m meant to be getting more good days than bad eventually but I’ve literally had 3 ‘good’ days in about 4 months. When I have a good day (good for me is a more mentally balanced day where I also have a little more energy and positivity about things, and can control the anxiety with meditation instead of taking a Diazapam. I give myself a hard time about taking the diazepam which everyone, inc my dr has told me to not to, because it’s just to help me now when I need it. When I have a day when I feel more balanced then I absolutely do not want to take anything that ‘dulls’ me iykwim, so I’m not worried about getting addicted to diazepam; it’s more me being a twat and too hard on myself which I know I need to get over. But when I do need the diazepam I really, really do need it because nothing I do calms me, I feel agoraphobic about going out for a walk due to the extreme anxiety and I just need my mind to stop it with the awful thoughts and fear that grips me.

I get very nauseous the next day if I forget to take sertraline. I can imagine that stopping so fast will cause problems.
Why they are in such a hurry?
I have swapped from one antidepressant to another in one go. No adverse effects.

@hmmha Yes I had wooshing in my brain and electric crackles through it. It was not a nice feeling at all.

I understand what you mean about not wanting to be a zombie. I also know what you mean about having a safety blanket in the form of diazepam. I use sleepseaze (Boots) to knock me out when I'm struggling or Kalms for during the day if I have something really stressy going on. I am working at sorting out my anxiety though, so these are temporary plasters until then and I dont use them anymore than once every couple of months.