InesAlmeida1990 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Hello. I quit sertraline cold turkey on November 6 after three years of taking it. I was with a 50 mg dose. I am suffering abstinence symptoms since the end of December. Right now the dominant one is a terrible insomnia. I only manage to sleep some hours when I take zolpidem. I am becoming super sleep deprived and I am afraid of the future impact that this will have in my life. I tried supplements: one with various vitamins (Magnesio Ok +), Passiflora, 5 htp, fish oil and melatonin. I also took lexotan some days (doctor’s advice) and victan for panic attacks. The only thing that makes me sleep last days is Zolpidem, but not for much hours. Before my situation becomes worst, what do you think I should do? Link to comment
Moderator Onmyway Posted January 11, 2022 Moderator Share Posted January 11, 2022 Dear Ines, welcome to SA. I am so sorry that you are dealing with terrible insomnia from quitting sertraline. The only thing that has a good chance of helping with the insomnia is to reinstate a small amount of the sertraline and once stabilized, taper slowly from it. This thread provides information about reinstating. We recommend reinstating a very small dose to make sure that it will not make things worse and as soon as possible after stopping the drugs. About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants While taking other psychotropic drugs may help a bit with insomnia, they unfortunately pose a risk of dependence as well - lexotan is a benzodiazepine and zolpidem is also psychoactive. So is 5HTP. We advise people not to take any psychoactive supplements or drugs including alcohol, caffeine (esp if you are feeling on edge/activated), weed, and some vitamins (B, D) as many seem to be sensitive to them. We only recommend Magnesium and Omega-3. But pls introduce them one at a time at a low dose to see that they are not making things worse. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ King of supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants These couple of threads will help you understand what is going on with you and what to expect. The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants What is happening in your brain? - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants How psychiatric drugs remodel your brain - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants Take heart, you will recover from this but it make take a while to get better. Here are some of our members' success stories to give you some hope. Insomnia does get better and it doesn't harm you as much as people are worried about it. There are numerous tips (blackout curtains, white noise machines etc.) to help you deal with it. Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving Antidepressants Success stories: Recovery from psychiatric drug withdrawal - Surviving Antidepressants Finally, can you please create a drug signature so that we can advise you better and more quickly. We will be able to see your history at a glance even when your thread becomes long. Here are some instructions. How to List Drug History in Signature - Introductions and updates - Surviving Antidepressants Again, welcome to SA! You will be OK and we are here to support you on this difficult journey. OMW "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate Link to comment
InesAlmeida1990 Posted January 11, 2022 Author Share Posted January 11, 2022 Thanks a lot for your answer! I’ve been reasing this forum back and forth, in the hope of getting some enlightenment about my situation. Regarding the reinstatement, how much do you think I should start taking? Thanks again! Link to comment
Moderator Onmyway Posted January 12, 2022 Moderator Share Posted January 12, 2022 Hi @InesAlmeida1990, I'd recommend starting with 1mg. Look at the tapering forum for tips for tapering sertraline specifically and it will have ways to get to 1 mg - liquid/weighing etc. If you don't get worse on 1 mg and the insomnia doesn't improve we can increase to 2mg. These drugs are very potent at these low doses so 1 mg might be enough to get you some relief. OMW "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate Link to comment
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