Hello Everyone
My name is Lee (female) I was on Sertraline for 9 years. On December 3, 2011 my GP and I decided I should taper from Sertraline. It took me a year and a half to get off it completely. Thing is, Sertraline here anyway, comes only in capsule form, 25, 50 and 150 mgs. I had to taper 25 mgs at a time, albeit stayed on that amount for a good 4 months, then dropped another 25 mgs for another four months, and so on.
On May 17, 2013, I was off completely. While tapering I had a multitude of side effects which were mostly physical. Pain in legs, groin, sciatica, IBS. I thought I was doing very well, but the worst of it started when I was off completely. Started with head pressure, face pain, lightheadedness, migraines, they were mild at first, but when about 9 months off things got worse...I got some reprieves we call Windows, and the Waves are when you are in badly with WDs....around 11 months off.....things got even worse....visual disturbances depersonalisation, and all the above just got worse with anxiety and depression.
I had a few Windows which were great...but now I am in another wave since two months now and It is one of the worst I have had....but I know through experience that this will pass too.
I hope this is not discouraging to some. It is a very long haul for some. I am off 19months and still suffering....but it will get better, it is called discontinuation syndrome. There are many success stories but for some it takes a good 2 maybe 3 years before we actually feel all better again.
So if you are in the same position I am...dont give up...you will get better..I have taken nothing to try to fix it....because really, in my opinion one best not try to take anything else to try to fix it. I worked in a Psychiatric Hospital and believe me what I saw was not pretty. People coming in with Life trials, trials we all face, divorce, deaths, losing a job, etc. only to be given antidepressants and then the trouble starts. I have seen it.
Dont give up, and if you are taking antidepressants and are trying to get off them, please do it very, very, very slowly, never cold turkey. And if you are on it and not intending to get off it, I wish you well on them. No one should try to convince you to go off it. That is only your decision and your doctors decision.
thank you for listen
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the Rainbow
So can.......you.......and.....I