Coming off Sertraline/Zoloft.

[Fairy Poppins]

Hi folks.

I have decided it's time to come off my Sertraline tablets.

I have been on 100mg since I was first diagnosed with Clinical Depression and OCD 5 years ago, but feel that since I no longer suffer extensively from either, there is no need for me to be dosed up to the eyeballs.

I was wondering if any of you have had experience of being weaned off antidepressants, Sertraline/Zoloft in particular? Did you suffer withdrawal symptoms even when the dosage was reduced slowly?

Thanks in advance,

JazzyJazz.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

While I have not taken Zoloft, you probably will experience withdrawal symptoms. It's impossible to say which ones you'll experience as people often experience only some of them. Some of the withdrawal symptoms can be worrisome, so it's sometimes recommended to take fluoxetine toward the end phase since it has a half-life of up to 3 days (or up to 6 days when used chronically), whereas Zoloft has a half-life of around 26 hours. As a result, a low dose of fluoxetine becomes a buffer to reduce the intensity and amount of withdrawal symptoms. Coming off of fluoxetine isn't a big problem since of all the SSRIs, it has the fewest withdrawal symptoms and they are pretty uncommon especially when fluoxetine is used for a short time.

In regards to Zoloft, some of the withdrawal symptoms can include paresthesia ("pins and needles" feeling with no known origin), unstable emotions and flu-like symptoms of dizziness, headaches and possible nausea and diarrhea. As I said, people don't experience all these symptoms so you may unfortunate and experience all them or be lucky and experience few of them.

Of course I have to chime the usual babble of talk to your doctor first to know if he/she approves and you know the rest.

[Fairy Poppins]

Thank you for your response.

I had to go to my doctor anyway in order to get a new prescription.

She prescribed me some 50mg tablets and has instructed me to alternate between 100mg and 50mg each day to start with.

We'll see what happens I guess.

[Ghost On The Highway]

I experienced no withdrawal symptoms coming off a low dose of wellbutrin. However, I missed two doses of effexor xr 150mg the other day and felt like hell, I was ready to call 911.

[Fairy Poppins]

Well, it's day 8 (of taking 100mg one day and then 50mg the next) and whilst mentally I feel fine, my libido has taken a rather drastic nosedive.

Let's hope this isn't a permanent change.

[Magical Forest.]

I got quite bad withdrawal symptoms from coming off sertraline. My speech went a bit funny, got dizzy a lot. But that was only for like a week or something. But its good that you spoke to your doctor about it, unlike me!!

[Fairy Poppins]

Did you go cold turkey, Hannah?

I did that a couple of times and o dear, it was not fun. Kept having these weird sensations that I can only refer to as "brain shivers".

Are you no longer on anything?

[Ella.x]

I had no problems when I came off sertraline, but venlafaxine was awful. I got the "brain shivers" plus a load more. I'm glad you're doing okay though