Hi. I just wondered if anyone had been through sertraline withdrawal and got better? I look on the internet and can't find anything positive about ssri withdrawal, particularly sertraline. I guess when people stop posting, it means they've got better. All I seem to see is posts from people who've been suffering for months or longer. I just want some hope.
I was on citalopram last year (first ever anti depressant) and came off it after 2 months because I had terrible reactions to it. A week later I was put on sertraline and reacted terribly to that too (I'm still suffering the side effects).
I took my last sertraline 3 weeks ago. My top dose was 100mg and I was going nuts. I dropped down to 50mg for about 5 weeks, 25mg for 2 weeks and 25mg every other day for a week.
Since then (and during titration) I have been having brain zaps all day every day and every time I move my eyes. I'm more exhausted than I've ever been in my life. I have sweats. I have worse sinus problems than I've ever had. I have loads of pressure behind and around my left eye. I can barely look at the television or read. I have long crying bouts. All this on top of the existing hideous and ongoing side effects which are worse than withdrawal.
I was on sertraline for a total of about 3.5 months and have been off 3.5 weeks. I've heard the average for withdrawal symptoms is around 6 weeks but can be much longer. Given my extreme sensitivity to medication, I'm afraid that I may be one if the unlucky ones. I was much better before I took any meds.
I'm taking loads of fish oil and magnesium, eating healthily and drinking lots of water. I was trying to be positive but am becoming less positive by the day.
Anyone else experienced this and recovered? I can't bear the thought of going on any more meds because I can't tolerate them.
Thank you.
Hello, I'm still on sertraline so can't advise on withdrawal but I'm curious to know if your doctor suggested you came off? Mine told me I had to stay on sertraline for at least 6 months from when it started working - which was after 8 weeks of taking it.
You weren't on very long before starting your withdraw so was just wondering if that's to do with it? May just be coincidence.
I've been on 50mg consistently for 4 months now and if I still feel better was told to start weaning off in summer. I'm on them for anxiety, stress and low mood - due to a stressful situation.
Thanks Yorkshire. Mine never worked. I had akathisia (which I still have) and got extremely suicidal, heartbeat of over 150mg, intense shaking along with a whole host of other nasties. The doctor suggested 50mg every other day for 2 weeks and then stop. I did it slower than that.
I guess I should have titrated a lot slower. SSRIs just don't seem to suit me.
Thanks again.
I mean heartbeat of over 100bmp, not 150mg!
Hope you start to feel better soon. Good luck with it all :-)
You can step off this med safely. There are people who don't have problems and many who do. Sometimes much anxiety is felt coming off and can be felt up to months later. Your body simply needs time to reproduce the chemicals that were usurped by the med.
These meds were NEVER meant to be taken long term! That's what doctors and pharmaceutical companies to NOT make clear in the beginning. If they were clear - many of us would not be willing to take them and that would affect their bottom line. Long term use can lead to serious side effects some, of which, can be PERMANENT.
Search term the risks of staying on these meds. Don't think that they'll never happen to you. They will and do happen to people JUST like us!
Thanks Resigned2B
These meds are scary. I feel way worse now than I did before I took them.mive had akathisia since I went on citalopram, only to have it worsen on sertraline. I still have it, although it's not as bad as it was. I feel like my brain is no longer able to produce seretonin and I now how horrid withdrawal symptoms too. Feel like something's sitting in my head behind my eye and it's impossible to watch television or read. I pray these things will all clear up.
I was only on meds 6 months. (I spent most of that time begging doctors to help me off them, unsuccessfully.) Hopefully my brain chemistry will return to normal now I'm no longer poisoning my body.
Dear Metero63,
You can step off this med with your doctor's understanding and help.
I recommend drinking lots of pure water (at least two quarts or eight glasses a day), a good diet, good protein, whole wheat, fresh veggies, fruit, fiber, etc.. This side effect should pass. You weren't taking them long and that should mean a quicker recovery time with less permanent damage. Many times it is too late and these meds cause PERMANENT muscle movement disorders. My doctor put me on 1000 units of Vitamin E. Check with him/her and see if that is okay for you to try. Research has shown Vitamin E is helpful in healing the neuro-pathways that control movements. It took six months for me to stop shaking. It was very scary since Prozac, and all psyche meds can cause the same issue. I had been on Prozac 14 years. It was not the offending med in my case.
There are other ways people have been successful in treating issues such as depression. Maybe you could d
o some research and see if any of them might work for you. In connection with talk therapy, even with a good friend, will be helpful. Try not to isolate yourself from friends and family. This is so common and very destructive to healthy mental healing. Be gentle with yourself and tell close family and friends that you need their support and understanding at this point in your life.
Try to relax and remember this has a good chance of healing since you've caught it so early. Some days will be better than others until finally, every day will be a day with little or no symptoms. Good luck...
PS You said you pray these thing get better. I could NOT have gotten through this without prayer. God will be there for you when you think you can't take one more trial. He is the ONLY one who can truly help you in your darkest moments. Take Him up in His promise. You are His child and He wants to be invited into your heart, is anxious to help all of His children get through the roughest times in our lives.
The one thing that will surprise us most when we meet Him again is how WELL we know Him. Every prayer we have ever uttered will be there between us. Again, God bless you.
Resigned2B thank you so much for your wonderful replies.
I am so sorry you have been through so much.
I took 200mg of vitamin E last night and will add the vitamin C tonight. I'm also taking magnesium and fish oil.
I'm drinking lots of water (incredibly thirsty), and cutting out sugar, dairy and gluten. I feel like I'm recovering after being poisoned. This is a very unusual depression because all of this started after taking antibiotics which break through the blood brain barrier. Shortly after taking them I got extremely agitated and depressed. It was really sudden and led me to SSRIs. Anything drugs that hit the brain seem to be really bad news for me.
I see friends quite often and make myself go out and do things despite the constant terror. Trying to retrain my brain.
Today,the brain zaps are calmer, the eye pressure has eased quite a bit and my mood isn't as black. So that's good!
Thanks for your lovely message about prayer. I pray a lot. I think this must have happened for a reason..maybe when I'm better I can help others through it.
Thanks again.
My prayers are with you, too! Thank you friend...
Hi, I'm currently in predicament... I've been taking Sertraline since 07 and was on 50mg up until June last year after a mental breakdown, which resulted in a 3 week stay in psyche ward. I was informed on Monday that I've an interactive thyroid. The GP told me Sertraline can cause this. However my psychiatrist advised that this is not the case. It is the Mirtazapine 15mg which I've been on since December that will not help. So me being me, I cut down sertraline from 100 to 50mg on Tuesday. I have the brain zaps and stomach cramps accompanied by headaches and a 'hungover' feeling. I'm determined to stop all these meds so that I can get a clear blood test in June for my thyroid(follow up bloods). The GP said it is 'borderline' ie untreatable at this stage 
My care coordinator just advised to wait for my appointment on Monday with the psychiatrist. Anyone out there had a similar problem ? First timer on any forums but just need help!!! Thank you in advance 
Dear OMM,
I would search term the side effects of your new med. If you need to get more answers call the.company that makes the med and ask them if they have ever had reports of the thyroid issue. You can also get on the ADA site and see what problems have been reported. Many times the doctors do NOT have all the information on drugs they may prescribe every day.
Search term the name of your med along with 'lawsuits' and see if you can find information about adverse side effects that way. You will likely be amazed at what docs aren't telling you.
My guess is you have stepped of the Sertraline too fast if you cut your dose by half in one day. You can get information on stepping off these meds from your pharmacist. Or search term 'stepping off (then the name of your med). There likely will be side effects , however, you can find out how to step off safely and at least know what you can expect and for about how long.
Do you know what your Vitamin D levels are? We are often low on Vitamin D. It is known as the 'sunshine' vitamin because you can get it from the sun. But the nickname also describes what the vitamin does for your outlook on life. It effects your mood. You can take too much of this vitamin so please find out what you may need from your doctor.
PS These meds were NERVER intended for long term use though that bit of information is often ignored by both doctors and pharmaceutical companies since it clearly effects their bottom line. The longer you are on the meds the more their side effects may become apparent. Sometimes the damage has been done before you realize it.
I was on Prozac for 14 years. The side effects, for what appears to be a VERY popular drug, are staggering! I'm truly surprised I didn't end up dead! I am now, after 24 years, not on ANY psych meds. I try to inform people who might be at 'misinformation risk' regarding the meds they have thought were relatively harmless. Meds have their place to be certain but too much of a good thing can be reckless. Just make sure you are armed with the right facts.
Good luck...
Sorry, I meant 'NEVER'...
Dear Redesigned2B, Thank you for taking the time to reply. Can you just confirm what the ADA site is? 😊
Hi offmymeds (great name!)
Just wanted to say I am thinking of you and I wish you didn't have to go through this. I don't know what to advise so I'm not much help but Resigned2b has given u some great advice.
Resigned2B I am so sorry for what you have had to endure from taking meds.
Hi meteor63, Im so grateful to you and Resigned2B for taking time to post on here. Yes you have given me some hope to stay away from these awful Anti- D's. Because atm it feels like Im just about existing. It is so hard to get through to even my care coordinator how I feel ⛔ I think she thinks Im a hypochondriac. And then see a different Psychiatrist everytime I have an appointment so it's been difficult to get support. So thank you once again. I hope my experience like you will help someone else
Clarifying ADA - whoops! I meant FDA! Glad you asked... They have all the recorded problems with meds at their disposal.
BTW - Your 'care coordinator' should try a few of these meds herself. She wouldn't be SO quick to judge you! I'm not sure why people think it is so easy to be handed off from one doctor to another time and time again. Just that alone is enough to put ANYONE into a mind-slide!
Write again if you need something...
I have been off Sertraline for 10 months now and still have side effects....has anyone had side effects so long after withdrawal
Divalee
Dear Lee,
I am so sorry you are still suffering from withdrawal side effects from this med. It can take a long time. I'm sure you've done a search online. It not - there are many things written on this subject.
You didn't mention what your symptoms are after so long? Can you tell us more?