hi all been on sertraline for 8months up to 200mg still not much change in anxiety and panic seen gp today and has prescribed fluoxetine and guide to taper off sertraline anyone had any success HOPING THIS WORKS was on fluoxetine a few years ago and did well mostly worrying about the coming off sertraline side effects x
Brenda; you may experience; nausea, tremor, dizziness, muscle pains, weakness, insomnia and anxiety. While many people coming off Zoloft have none of these symptoms, some people do have one or more. The symptoms usually last 1-2 weeks; but, in some instances, they may gradually decrease over a period as long as a month. There are not any hard and fast rules for tapering off Zoloft, one person may do it within a short amount of time while another may take longer.
Hi brenda80266,
I just want to offer you some support.
Obviously I know nothing of your medical difficulties, but I will explain my experiences which may help you.
I was prescribed Sertraline over twenty years ago, when it was a fairly new drug. I have only just stopped taking it. Twenty years on 100mg day. I was given it for crippling panic attacks. Over the years I have tried a number of times to stop taking it because I don't like be reliant on tablets. Until this year I had been unsuccessful in stopping. However, I have not had any meds for a month now. I still have ghastly head zaps when I move my eyes suddenly and I generally feel a little low. BUT, I am med free for the first time in twenty years. And that makes me feel good. Interestingly, I have felt far less anxiety since stopping Sertraline. It's been hailed as a great drug for depression/ mood disorders but I don't think it's great for stress and general anxiety. I have turned to having acupuncture once a week, I think it has truly helped me. I intend to continue with acupuncture as long as I need to. I felt trapped when I HAD to take Sertraline because not taking it made me feel terrible. Now I am in control not chemicals and doctors (doctors who have no first hand experience of what it's like to live in a body wrecked with worry and anxiety)
I would love to wave a wand and make all people on this forum better. We all know that won't happen but I want people to realise that anxiety isn't the way you're meant to be. We are all victims of a crazy busy world which imposes high expectations upon us. I have become so aware on what I've missed out on by being under a cloud of either anxiety or drug induced apathy.
Its a hard battle for us all; but please know that you are an amazing person, you can be free from constant worry.
I wish you all the very best, however you choose to move forward.
Thanks for your support I have suffered severe anxiety for years slowly came off all meds well for over a year then went down hill gp started me on sertraline back in May increasing to 200 at times I thought it was helping but then hit a brick wall I feel sertraline was adding to my anxiety never felt so ill now started fluoxetine after reducing sertraline over a week on gp advice up till now I feel an improvement I have had fluoxetine before which worked well personally I think sertraline is an awful drug would never touch it again feel as though I have lost 8months of my life onwards and upwards all the very best x