with the new year steadily approaching I just wanted to reach out and hopefully get some words of encouragement
after over 8 years on sertraline (9 years on anti Ds) I decided to come off all my meds. The main reason is that I don't know if they are doing anything for me anymore, is it possible to become immune to these drugs?!
Anyway stupidly over the festive period instead of my planned step down in dosage I went a bit cold turkey.
so far the side effects haven't been so bad. I think I'm now on day 9 without anything and I'm feeling dizzy and a bit out of it when I stand up too quickly or move suddenly. But I'm also battling a dreadful cold so some of could be atributed to that? maybe other side effects are going unnoticed by me because I'm so unwell?
i guess I just want to hear from people that it will be ok, that the dizzy feeling will go and I'll be left feeling 'normal' again
any one been through something similar?
any ideas when I can officially class myself as off sertraline?
Happy new year!
Hi Amy...I have been on sertraline for approx 15 years. I have recentlydecided to come off as I am 33 aand don't want these tablets in my system my whole life!
I was on 200mg daily so I cut down - on advice of ddoctor when I said I wanted to come off - to 150mg a day for the last month. It has been 4 weeks exactly. Side effects were mainly dizziness as youhave ddescribed and general unease.
I am now going to go down to 150mga day for 4 wweeks and see how i go. I have also been going an hour exercise a day for 4 weeks.
Take it very very slowly coming off and the side effects will be less. ..
Sorry meant yo say i am going down to 125 mg a day for next month!
Hi Amy,
I just wanted to show you my support in the choice you have made. It's always a brave decision to reduce one's meds & one that is never taken lightly. I haven't experienced longterm depression like you have but I'm realising that it is likely I will need to take anti-depressants longterm to relieve the worst symptoms of my recurring suicidal depression. I have just come "cold turkey" off my current meds (Venlafaxine) after only a few months as I was feeling no benefit and the side-effects were really debilitating. From reading the patient forums, it seems that the longer you are taking a medication, the more difficult it can be to withdraw. And yes, I've read plenty of patients' experiences who say you can become immune to the benefits of a drug over time.
So well done for going "cold turkey". You must have felt this was the right thing for you to do. It can take several months to reduce and withdraw from a drug with minimal side-effects. Or like us, you can try to rid your system of it more quickly, and take your chances with the withdrawal symptoms. Of course, I wasn't on my meds for anywhere near as long as you. But I did know that it wasn't the right one for me!
I've come across your post because my psychiatrist today has changed my meds to Sertraline so I'm interested in gathering as much info as possible.
The dizzy feeling is very common. The disorientation when you move your head too quickly is known in the patient community as brain zaps (mini electric shock type sensations behind your eyes). The withdrawal will improve. It is all linked to the half-life of the medication. I can't claim to be an expert in understanding this but you would find explanations online.
Once again, you are not alone and soon your body and mind will feel better. I would encourage you to let your health professional know asap about your withdrawal. It may be that you need a new drug if the old one stopped working. Best case scenario, you may not need anything at all. Be prepared to deal with your emotions which the medication may have suppressed for a long time.
Looking forward to hearing how you are getting on. Better-than-last-year new year is my festive mantra :-)
Digsy
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