Coming off sertraline

[LifeLemonsLemonade7]

So I took sertraline after experiencing postpartum depression/anxiety. I took it for around 3 years, going up to 100mg dose and found a big improvement to my anxiety and overall mood.

However, a few months ago I started missing doses due to forgetting. I felt ok so i thought it might be time to come off. I was worried that it was making me numb to others’ feelings. So I thought it would be best to stop, I have stopped taking them completely for about 6 weeks.

I have felt really emotional, not resilient at all 😥 minor things have set me off. Looking back at all the things I have done wrong. Over thinking.

How should I feel?

Should I go back on sertraline?

thanks you

You are going cold turkey, there will be side effects. Do you have support in place?

It could be better to slowly reduce the dose but if you start taking a low dose now you will have to rebalance your moods for a few weeks before the level in your body stabilises.

You should speak to your GP/mental health team if you can to get support.

Good luck.

@LifeLemonsLemonade7 Id love to know how you got on with your Sertraline situation? I am currently taking one 100mg every 2 days in a bid to wean myself off. I too have been on it for 3 years for the same reasons as you. Just curious to know what you did in the end. I’m feeling pretty good at the moment, almost better than I did when I was taking them every day! TIA. x

I had to come off it very slowly with a pill cutter. It gave me awful gut issues when I came off it. All fine in the end though.

@Lifelessonssuck Actually as I felt I was struggling so much I restarted taking it. I cut the pills in quarters using a pill cutter so that I could build up to my normal dose of 100g.
Unfortunately I am feeling a but stressed these days and am forgetting to take them regularly which atm feels ok but considering how things went last time I Started missing doses, it’s not a good idea for me.

I think either you can carry on as you are or you can do like @ncncncncncnchhh did and reduce the daily dosage slowly.

@ncncncncncnchhh how many days did you cut the dosage for?

Sorry I wasnt much help. Have you asked the GP or mental health team how to stagger the withdrawal?

Hey @LifeLemonsLemonade7 , moving on from Sertraline was really tough for me. The electric shock feeling when I moved my head, the dizziness, it was horrible. But, not permanent! Like you I started taking Sertraline after experiencing post partum depression and anxiety, and it helped so much but then the side effects of missing doses or not being very organised with repeat prescriptions leading to withdrawal was really difficult to cope with.

Breaking tablets into half and slowwwwwwly coming off was the best way. If you can work from home whilst tapering off, or reduce other stressors, that would help.

@Lifelessonssuck Keep going as you are, but maybe ask if your prescription can be 50mg and 25mg tablets, so you can step down to 75mg and then 50, then 25 etc. It's been eight years since I was on Sertraline, you can come off it and it won't be as unpleasant as you think - I hope. I suffered awful Trainspotting-style gut problems coming off things like Citalopram/escitalopram but didn't have those issues with Sertraline. Take it easy and look after yourself. Withdrawal/coming off ADs should be more widely understood and appreciated but at least in my experience, doctors can be a bit casual about it. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need to taper off.

@DidILeaveTheGasOn @LifeLemonsLemonade7
Thanks for the responses. x
I’ve moved on to taking half a tablet (so about 50mg) every 3 days, seems to be working ok, some days I feel more chipper than ever but then when I’m tired I definitely struggle more, I seem to be sort of over reacting to thing when I’m tired more than I would normally…. It’s not terrible though and I am aware so I can manage it. I’m hoping I can live without it now, my kids are 6 and 3.
I am having therapy as well so I’m working through a lot at the moment.
I’ve wanted to come off it for a while now though and I just feel like it’s time. I’m going to just cut the pills and work my way down very slowly as suggested.
Anyway fingers crossed.
Hope you’re all doing ok too. xx