Luci11e: updose advice for sertraline needed after lockdown-induced cold turkey disaster

[Luci11e]

Hi - I would hugely appreciate advice on how best to proceed after inadvertently stopping my sertraline dose entirely last week... 

 

A brief history of my antidepressant journey: I first took citalopram in 2013 - for about a year (my memory for precise dates is terrible and I would have to speak to my doctor to be exactly sure). I tapered off that slower than the doctor advised but still not at 10% level. But I made it off relatively unscathed - helped by the fact that citalopram was never a great fit for me. I needed help again in 2016 and this time it was sertraline, which worked better for me, although I needed 150mg to feel any kind of benefit. About 18 months ago I felt I had been stable long enough to taper down slightly - again I did it slowly (not 10% slowly though) and managed to reach 100mg without any major issues. I stuck there though as I didn't want to push my luck, and have remained there ever since.

 

Fast forward to last week when I realised I had miscalculated how many pills I had left (I know - I am a fool. It's the first time I've ever done this and am still berating myself) and was going to run out within days. I rushed to order my prescription and split my last couple of pills in an attempt to minimise the effect of my mistake. Unfortunately being under COVID lockdown meant a 1-2 day prescription turn around became an 8 day turnaround and I have been hit hard by withdrawal symptoms. Brain zaps, insomnia, tinnitus, headaches, crying, mood swings etc. I knew I wouldn't avoid symptoms with such a sudden stop, but nonetheless I have been shocked by the severity of it, and how debilitating it has become (I managed to keep working through last week - painfully aware that my mistake had precipitated all this, but today has been a non-starter) - all the reading in the world can't prepare you for what it actually feels like.  

 

I now - finally - have my prescription in hand and am not sure what's best - take my usual 100mg, or build back up to that to avoid making things worse?

 

In time I would like to come off entirely but my only priority now is regaining some stability and dealing with withdrawal symptoms that are becoming very difficult to cope with. 

 

Thanks. 

L

[ChessieCat]

Hi Lucille and welcome to SA,

 

You could try taking 3/4 of the dose you last took.  If that was 100mg, try 75mg.  This topic explains how to get your dose:

 

tips-for-tapering-zoloft-sertraline

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

It is better to reinstate a lower amount than the last dose and increase a small amount if needed.

 

Please note that it takes about 4 days for a dose to get to full level in the blood and a bit longer for it to register in the brain.  You may start to feel some improvement within 24 hours.  Please keep notes on paper of your symptoms so that you can be objective about how the reinstatement is helping.

 

Please see Post #1 of this topic:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

Please continue to let us know how you are doing so that we can assist with an additional updose if needed.

 

This is your own Introduction topic which is the best place to ask questions about your own situation and journal your progress.

 

And a message from SA's founder, Altostrata, and a link to a recent interview with her which explains how SA was started and how the information about withdrawal and tapering was obtained:  INTERVIEW with Altostrata, SA's founder    

 

  

On 11/7/2020 at 8:23 AM, Altostrata said:

Please don't just go away when you feel better! "Pay it forward" by updating your Intro topic with your progress

 

 

Edited December 1, 2020 by ChessieCat
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