Stopping Sertraline - horrifically awful dreams

[feelinglikeanawfulmum]

I spoke to a pharmacist and they advised that if I wanted, I could taper off 50mg Sertraline that I’d been on for 18 months. I had no reason to come off it other than feeling like I didn’t want to take it anymore, I felt quite happy on it but I was wondering if it was causing weight gain…
Fast forward a few weeks, I tapered down to 25mg then down to nothing and had my last dose nearly 3 weeks ago.

However I’ve been having horrific, violent and upsetting dreams for about a week or so now, and been having trouble falling and staying asleep. I’m exhausted.

Is this likely to pass or should I restart taking them again? Maybe taper up again slowly? I am on so much medication for other conditions I just want to feel well again.

I have the awful dreams whilst on it strangely. I know how unsettling they are and they can take me all morning to get over them sometimes! I still want to take them though. I hope it settles down for you soon x

In my experience it will pass. See your GP though if it is bothering you - they may be able to suggest going back onto 25 and tapering more slowly (say by taking a pill every other day, then every three days, etc).

I have the vivid dreams if I miss a dose. But almost always I relish them. It's like a free and very weird cinema

I came off it abruptly and had the sort of nightmares I can’t even describe, I also had an intense itch which drove me crazy. Was a very difficult time. I’d get advice about tapering more slowly maybe?

My OH had awful dreams while he was on it like PP. He has other side effects that are still going on years later and was like a zombie when he was on it. I wish he'd never taken it tbh. You may need to go back on at a low dose and taper off more slowly, I would talk to the pharmacist about it. I think what you're experiencing is quite common if you google it.

Thanks all for replied so far. Honestly the dreams have been so violent but my response in dreamland was just so arms-length and distant - but in real life reflecting on the dreams I’ve been so upset by it. Think graphic violence, horrid allegations, against my nearest and dearest.

I just don’t know whether I need to go back on them or not? I tapered alternating 25 and 50mg, then a week of 25mg, then 25mg and nothing alternating.
The symptoms I’m having are so much like my depression and anxiety!

It's hard to know what to do isn't it. The dreams are horrific. I plan to stay on them for many years though as I feel kind of protected by them. It could just be that you need time to adjust, maybe give it another couple of weeks. Disclaimer- I'm no doctor!