Coming off 25mg Sertraline

[jasper333]

Hi

I've been weaning off from 150mg since April 2021. I've been taking 25mg for the past few months. I thought I had taken my time and was ready to stop taking it on Saturday.

Got to yesterday and I had the realisation that I won't be seeing my child as much as I want due to having to work till 5pm (I coparent 50/50). It really upset me yesterday and work declined a reduced hours request.

It then got worse during the next couple of hours and I cried non stop, something I don't really do on sertraline. It caused me to have suicidal thoughts and then I couldn't sleep, I took the liquid Nytol and then a tablet and it was only when my son climbed into bed at 1am that I nodded off.

So I took 25mg this morning and realise I've got to take it every other day for a while first before stopping.

Just wondering about other people's experiences and what worked for you.

Hi, not sure I can offer much help but wanted to reply.

I have taken sertraline in the past. It sounds like you have been reducing very slowly which is great. I have came off 50mg suddenly and then on another occasion also gradually tapered off of 200mg (NOT as gradually as you though.)

In both cases it seemed to work okay and I was well for a significant period of time after. Unfortunately I did eventually begin struggling again although the doctor was sure it was a relapse rather than withdrawal both times.

Wishing you the best of luck.

Hopefully you are just experiencing a little blip these last few days.

I am now on another AD. I increased my dose last summer after a rough spell. I then decreased again at the beginning of the year and felt everything was going well, but I am struggling again this week. I don't want to increase the ADs again as that is always awful. I am going to try and ride it out this time.

Thank you

Yeah I think I made a mistake not factoring in PMT. Next time I stop taking it I will make sure it's just after my period!

I have gone back to 25mg per day until I'm settled fully.

Then I will go every other day for a couple weeks, then once every 3 days etc.

Hell basically. If you google for threads on coming off sertraline you will find a few.

It's like waves and windows, waves of whooshing feelings and windows where it feels okay. I had to basically shave a little amount and then stabilise for two weeks and then shave a little more. I think it took about three months. I am completely back to normal now whereas at the time I thought it might be permanent damage of always feeling whooshy.

Nutrition was very key. I think magnesium helped as well.