Sertraline on and off

[coooperboom]

I imagine other people just bloody take their medication or consult a doctor but I'm afraid that's not me. Years of antidepressant and anxiety medications stopped and started because I can't manage to take them as prescribed or struggle with renewing prescriptions.

I wanted to ask in case there's anyone like me. How do you feel when you come off sertraline in particular? I feel weird if I miss a dose and generally lightheaded, palpitations, feel like I have low blood pressure. Think I've been off a week now accidentally and don't think my mental state is good to restart now because the first few weeks it makes me reckless with my life. Wondered if anyone has any insight into why I feel just a bit floaty, weird...

Starting and stopping these kinds of medications is really not recommended. If and when it works it is altering the composition of neurotransmitters in the brain. So, going on and off, will change how you feel.
If you want some general advice on managing symptoms take a look at Georgia Ede on YouTube, she details quite clearly how diet and nutrition affect mood and mental health.
Best of luck!

Ooft op! Stopping and starting on and off is not good particularly Sertraline - no wonder you are feeling odd. Speak to your gp? If you can’t take the meds consistently, perhaps there are other things you can do to help.

Why? Is it harmful?

I have been on Sertraline for c.9 years now and I feel truly dreadful if I miss one dose and am basically bed bound if I miss more than one. Even if I’m just a few hours late I feel it - like my body isn’t my own, have horrible brain zaps.

will your GP let you set up auto repeat prescriptions - I have it so they just get posted to me every month, I don’t have to do anything

You need to just take the medication. You shouldn’t be stopping and starting without medical advice.
You need to solve the problem of you not renewing prescriptions and work out why you don’t take them.

My DH is changing from sertraline and has been told to taper off over 5 weeks. Work with your GP who can give you advice and support

I have automatic prescriptions posted out. You'd think it would help. To a point it does. I'm thinking the medication doesn't help necessarily. I am where I am. Stuck in a bit of a corner because calling gp is too much, and not needed. I have the medication here, just haven't taken it.

Maybe we all felt better before?!

I know that for me I definitely didn’t feel better before taking Sertraline, I was deep in OCD and had a miserable life where I spent most of my time crying / screaming / in panic attacks / completely numb / disassociating.

I really do think you need to talk to your GP
, however, if you don’t think this is the right course of action for you. There are other meds options, some people don’t get on well with Sertraline for example, but do well with fluoxetine. Similarly, if you don’t want to be on antidepressants at all, it would probably be better to not be stopping and starting all the time but think about what action you do want to take - talk therapy of some sort, or there are non-drug treatments such as rTMS.

Me neither.
Just seem to be stuck in this self destructive rut.
Simple solution maybe. Doesn't feel very simple and will change nothing.

What's rTMS?

We didn’t, and you know that. You just need to take it regularly and you’ll feel a lot better

What's frustrating I guess is 6 months ago I was desperately trying to get this prescription again. Just counted and I've taken about half the doses prescribed. And its just not unusual for me. Why am I like this? Now it's been a week I'm fairly convinced on not taking it because it might be harmful. Definitely not in a space to have the suicidal thoughts and intentions, got those on my own. Never met my gp, nor previous gp. Convenient for them and I know they are far more overwhelmed than me but no chance of opening up.
I'm OK for today don't worry yourselves. Even moved the meds onto my dining table so I see them and make a decision

To take them or not. That sounded bad. Sertraline unlikely to be helpful for that!

If it feels too much to call the GP then it is needed. Have you had CBT? Could be useful. I set a time to take my pills. With breakfast works for me. Or maybe when you clean your teeth. Something you do each day at about the same time. Getting into a routine would help. Or set an alarm on your phone?

Tiny habits, built over time- add taking your meds to something you already do every single day. What’s something you do automatically, that doesn’t take too much energy because it’s a habit you do on autopilot? Like brushing your teeth , or eating a meal , or feeding pet.
I take mine when I feed my cats, because they would never let me forget feeding them 🤣

it sounds like a bit of a struggle with the executive function part of the brain , and if that’s the case, tiny habits built in to already existing habits is the way to gently help that along.

as for Sertraline: yes, when I go off it (or restart it again), I get a bit of vertigo feeling. Some nerve “zaps” that are a little odd.
if you have anything more severe than that, make sure you’re getting salt in your diet (healthy salt - like sea salt-) because it can be indicative of some deeper issues, and your body needs the salt/ magnesium.

you deserve your best care. Think of your body as a small helpless child that is depending on you - the only way it can try to tell you what it needs is by sending you these signals of feeling “off.”