Ruthie0210 Posted February 22, 2017 Posted February 22, 2017 (edited) Hi everyone, I started taking 25mg Sertraline roughly four weeks ago and pretty soon decided it wasn't the right thing. I took 25mg for a week, then 25mg every other day for the next two weeks and have taken 25mg every three days for the last week. Can anyone recommend if I should now just stop, or should I get a liquid so I can drop down further and more consistently? There haven’t been any major WD symptoms so far but the first week of taking it I experienced sleep disturbance and extreme agitation/palpitations, which has got better since I started tapering it. My feeling is adding it to the Mirtazapine is not a good idea despite the doctor’s advice to try it for my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms (they’ll never admit drugs might be part of the problem..). I'm really nervous, even about a short term taper, as in hindsight I believe the Mirtazapine taper I did between Nov 2015 and Aug 2016 (45mg to 33mg), then reinstating 45mg, has resulted in a hypersensitive nervous system. I'm also starting to suspect the CFS is partly caused by long term AD use (8 years on Sertraline before changing to Mirtazapine). I want to get off all this stuff one day! Me and my battered nervous system very much appreciate any comments/advice! Edited February 23, 2017 by Petunia tags added, font changed for easier reading Sertraline 50mg 1998-2006 Tapered off Sertraline between 2006-2009 Mirtazapine 45mg 2010-present Tapered from 45mg to 33mg Nov 2015 - Aug 2016 Reinstated 45mg September 2016 Started Sertraline 25mg 25th Jan 2017 for one week Since 1st Feb have been taking 25mg alternate days, then every three days
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted February 23, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Posted February 23, 2017 Welcome Ruthie, Thank you for joining, for sharing your story and for adding your signature. I'm sorry you've had such a rough time, but it sounds like you made a good decision to not continue with the addition of Sertraline. Unfortunately, the way you have been tapering is not recommended, skipping days tends to destabilize the nervous system and as you said, yours has already been battered enough. This topic explains how to taper Sertraline safely: Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline) You haven't been taking it for very long, so don't want to be stretching your taper out for months, but if you can complete the final part of your taper in a more consistent way, it may protect you from further destabilization and increased symptoms. Using liquid now is and option, or you could make your own liquid from your tablets. This topic explains how: How to make a liquid from tablets or capsules If I were you, I would try and stabilize on about 8mg per day for a week or so and see how you feel. Take the same amount at the same time every day. We usually recommend tapering by no more than 10% of the current dose every 4 weeks. But because you were only taking it for 4 weeks, you may be able to taper faster. Be guided by your own body and symptoms. Why Taper By 10% of My Dosage? Its good that you haven't experienced any withdrawal symptoms so far, hopefully you will be able to avoid them completely. I'm confused about your drug history. Were you taking Sertraline previously, for 8 years before starting on Mirtazapine in 2010? If so, please would you add this to your signature. Also, please would you add the most recent addition and taper. Its interesting that you suspect long term AD use is contributing to CFS. Evidence is starting to show that long term use of psychiatric medications ultimately does more harm than good. I'd highly recommend reading Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker. Psych meds can cause harmful side effects and long term, they can worsen health, increasing the risk of other illnesses. But coming off them too fast, especially if they have been taken for longer than a week or two, can cause even worse problems. You can use this thread as your ongoing journal to track progress, write about symptoms, ask questions and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want. Its a good idea to bookmark it or follow it, so its easy to find again. Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. Petunia. I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes
Ruthie0210 Posted February 24, 2017 Author Posted February 24, 2017 Hi Petunia, Thanks so much for your detailed response - this is a great site I'm also hoping the withdrawals won't be bad after such a short time but will look into making a liquid if they are. The doctor said I could only have a liquid on an expensive private prescription (I don't think she was being difficult but genuinely isn't allowed to prescribe it on the NHS). Really I've known this for some time, but it's still a shock to realise the medical profession thinks tapering isn't necessary. She's a comparatively sympathetic doctor who is respecting my experience but you can always see them kind of glaze over and harden when the question of long term withdrawal or long-lasting effects come up - we could really use their support! Maybe one day they'll cotton on.. Sertraline 50mg 1998-2006 Tapered off Sertraline between 2006-2009 Mirtazapine 45mg 2010-present Tapered from 45mg to 33mg Nov 2015 - Aug 2016 Reinstated 45mg September 2016 Started Sertraline 25mg 25th Jan 2017 for one week Since 1st Feb have been taking 25mg alternate days, then every three days
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 25, 2017 Administrator Posted February 25, 2017 Welcome, Ruthie. If I were you, I would not skip doses of sertraline, especially with your nervous system sensitivity. However, you've gotten this far with an irregular dosing pattern. If I were you, I would take 7.5mg sertaline every day, stabilize on that for a month, then (if all is well, relatively) start the 10% reduction as Petunia kindly described above. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted.
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted February 25, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Posted February 25, 2017 Hi Ruthie, This graph shows the difference between Skipping Days vs Every Day Dosing It is possible to make your own liquid from your tablets. Please see Petunia's post above for the information links. These helped me to understand SA's recommended taper of 10% of the previous dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug: Brain Remodelling Video: Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management
Ruthie0210 Posted March 25, 2017 Author Posted March 25, 2017 Hi, I started on Sertraline, added on top of Mirtzapine a month ago, didn't like its effect and tapered very erratically - I deeply regret this but here we are. I took 25mg for a week, then every other day for two weeks, then every three days for another week and then jumped off. After three weeks I started getting unbearable withdrawals - extreme body jerks, tensing up of the face and twitching, violent shaking and reinstated at 25mg (has been 6 days now). Since then I'm unable to sleep at all and am in a constant hyperaroused state. I went to hospital today with suspected serotonin syndrome but was told I didn't have that. I'm constantly going from hot to cold and getting steadily weaker with no sleep. Can anyone advise what they would do at this point? Many thanks Sertraline 50mg 1998-2006 Tapered off Sertraline between 2006-2009 Mirtazapine 45mg 2010-present Tapered from 45mg to 33mg Nov 2015 - Aug 2016 Reinstated 45mg September 2016 Started Sertraline 25mg 25th Jan 2017 for one week Since 1st Feb have been taking 25mg alternate days, then every three days
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted March 25, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Posted March 25, 2017 In Post #4 above Alto suggested taking 7.5mg each day. It would seem that you have updosed with too high a dose. I will ask the other mods their thoughts on whether you could reduce to a lower daily dose. If you are currently taking both Sertraline and Mirtazapine it is possible that it may be serotonin toxicity. Interactions between your selected drugs Major sertraline mirtazapineApplies to: sertraline, mirtazapine Using sertraline together with mirtazapine can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted March 25, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Posted March 25, 2017 Alto has suggested that you drop to 6.25mg -- one-quarter of a tablet, taken daily. * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management
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