Coming off sertraline

[mrsdiddlydoo]

I've been taking sertraline for over 3 years. I was on 100mg and in the last year I've reduced to 50mg. My circumstances are such that I am ready to stop taking it so I have been tapering off and currently alternating taking 50mg and 25mg each day.
I've been finding it much harder than when I went down to 50mg. You regularly see people mentioning withdrawal symptoms like brain zaps and dizziness and increases in anxiety. I just wondered what symtoms any others had experienced. I suffered pretty badly going onto sertraline and at the moment I feel like a mess and it's making me question what I'm doing. My anxiety has rocketed. I get dizzy. My head feels fizzy sometimes. I'm struggling with my sleep. And I've randomly started having digestive issues... Indigestion, burping, stomach pains. I'm not looking to get down to zero sertraline overnight but I am wondering if I'm possibly stuck on it for life to avoid all these feelings.
Is there anyone out there who can reassure me that they felt shit before they got better during withdrawal. If anyone else is also coming off sertraline who fancies a bit of a handhold, feel free to join me!

Thanks

I'd take it even slower. So 6/7 days full dose the first week and 1 day on the half dose then 5/7 etc

Sorry I can't help but you have my sympathy. I'm on 50mg and have been thinking of possibly reducing it but I'm worried about how I'll cope. My mother has been on antidepressants for about 30 years and I've watched her go on and off the rails, so figured I'd probably be the same and always need to take it.

I got really bad IBS. I ended up buying a pill cutter on Amazon and reduced it tiny amounts. Took months. The brain whooshes lasted for weeks after I stopped it all. I thought I would never be normal again but I was.

@stripybobblehat i think I will thank you. After 2 weeks my body seems to be accepting my current dose better but it's going to be a slow slow tapering off for me.

@SaulHudsonDavidJones my GP once said to me that she thought I might be someone who needs to stay on rather than come off completely. It's stayed with me but i want to try again. If I end up back on it again at some point I won't have failed.

@BlueDotsRain thats how I feel. Like I won't be normal again whatever that is 😉 and I don't think I've even got to the really difficult bit yet. I keep seeing pull cutters mentioned. I'll have a look. I'm hoping my GP will prescribe me some 25mg tablets which will be able to be broken in half to 12.5mg. I'm glad to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel if I push on (slowly). I'm sorry you suffered with IBS symptoms. That basically feels like where I'm heading. So sore all the time.

Hi @mrsdiddlydoo ! Sorry to unearth an old thread, but I was wondering how you’re doing now? Did you manage to taper down? I’m trying to come off too. I’ve gone from 100mg to 75 so far, and I feel hideous!

Hi @Zippidydoodah I did manage to taper off. I took it really, really slow and that helped. Like 75mg for 3 days, 1 days at 50mg for about a week then 2 days at 75mg and 1 at 50mg, and so on to 50mg, and similar to 25mg.

Managed to have a bit of a break down at the end of the year though and have gone back on and up to 100mg. My advice now would be to question your reasons for coming off or tapering down. And check in with your GP so they can support you too. 😊

Thank you so much for the reply ❤️
Today I nearly caved and went back up to 100mg but I’m going to persevere. If anything, maybe I can reduce my dose long term even if I still take it.
I’m sorry you had a breakdown but hope you’re feeling better now!

Oh and I think I might taper more gradually, like you did. Thanks again 💐