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Coming off Sertraline advice

3 replies

Lindos1 · 21/07/2026 14:11

Does anyone have any advice re: coming off Sertraline?
A loved one is on 75mg for coming up to 2 years. Now feel it's time to come off.
They are willing to take this very slowly to avoid possible side- effects.
Have read it can be particularly tricky going from 25mg to 0. Would Sert in liquid form be of any help? Would the NHS prescribe this?
We have no experience of this, so any advice before we visit the GP would be welcome.
Many thanks x

OP posts:
FleecySheep · 21/07/2026 18:49

I’ve been on sertraline for decades, on various doses and have come off completely at times (although always had to restart although I’m on my lowest dose now.)

I would suggest doing it very very gradually and actually since they are on 75mg which is not the lowest prescribed dose, I would look to reduce to 50mg to start with and then stay on that for a while before reducing further.

There are 25mg tablets which are helpful for slow tapering. I would try to reduce by 12.5mg at a time, staying at the new dose for a few weeks. I just chop tablets up. I’ve no experience of liquid Sertraline.

Some people suggest taking tablets on alternate days but that seems a very bad idea to me and more likely to result in withdrawal symptoms.

I have never had any withdrawal symptoms when reducing v slowly (at one point down from 200 to 50 over many months). But have had to restart as I just need the medication (but that is not withdrawal, just needing the medicine).

I would recommend they ask someone to help monitor them. The GP may do this but I always tell DH too when I am changing my dose and ask him to let me know if he sees me declining. He can often spot that I am not doing well sooner than I do. Maybe you could offer to help with this. It’s good to have an explicit conversation and agree that the helper can tell the “patient” if they think they are not doing well. Sometimes it’s easier to spot from the outside.

Lastly think about external factors, any painful anniversaries, work or college stressful periods etc and time accordingly. My old GP always said don’t reduce in the late autumn or winter, wait for the spring. If your relative is affected by the seasons I think this is worth considering.

The main thing is - do it slowly and be prepared to plateau at a lower dose for a while.

DailySnail · 21/07/2026 19:32

I came off 50mg last year after having been on them for 2.5 years. I went to 25mg first for 4 weeks and then to nothing.

For the first 6 weeks after coming off there were definitely times I questioned whether I should go back on but my pharmacist was great and reminded me that it takes time for your brain up readjust to the new levels of serotonin and to give it time as long as I was still having more good days than bad. I kept a symptom log and within 6-8 weeks of being off them, I felt much better.

I've been off for 9 months now and very happy about it

Lindos1 · 21/07/2026 21:48

Many thanks for this helpful advice. This is v useful.

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