Recently come off Sertraline but wondering if I should go back on it

[keepyup]

If you've come off antidepressants how did you cope without?

I was on Sertraline 50mg because of anxiety for almost two years, but ran out recently and didn't get the prescription in time so decided to try going without.

While on some level it's OK, I am much more emotional (not in a good way), tearful, even volatile if pushed, more arguments at home.

I felt better on ADs but started thinking that I don't really care about anything while on them and became quite passive, happy with a very basic existence. Not that bothered about same elements of my relationship although tried to go with it which was another reason to try to come off ADs.

I thought I might become more active and acquire more 'get up and go' without ADs but not sure if that's happened, at least not how I'd hoped. I have more restless energy but also feel quite held back by a certain listlessness and low mood, and my anxiety is definitely back, quite unpleasantly when I wake up at night like I used to.

But is it a good idea to stay on them forever? Now I'm off them the threshold to restart seems quite high. But they did help in making me not bothered about the tedium of my life right now: not much to get excited about, not many prospects, feeling pretty isolated and lonely. But is being medicated just masking something?

Sorry for the long ramble.

Would welcome any opinions/experiences.

Also wondering if some of my feelings could be down to approaching (peri)menopause, although I have always been quite anxious and emotional. But do ADs help with (peri)menopause symptoms? That alone might be a reason to go back on them.

You shouldn't come off 50mg straight. You should have weaned off.

Well that ship has already sailed, more than a month without them. Initially because I couldn't get a prescription during the holidays.

I've been of sertraline for 12 years. Currently on 150mg a day! I've tried numerous times to lower the dose but within months I'm struggling again and need to go back to 150mg. I've accepted now that it's not a failure to be on them. I wouldn't be here without them.

Do you feel there are any downsides to being on them?

Yes tiredness and weight gain and the lack of emotion but the benefits far outweigh the negatives in my experience