Tom8601 Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 Been on Sertraline for 8 weeks and want to come off due to feeling really numb. What’s is the best taper schedule? I currently take 50mg a day in the morning. Setraline started Jan 23 50mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted February 28, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 28, 2023 Welcome to SA, Tom8601. It's great you found your way here. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates--in your case, dosage of Sertraline and date started. Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. We recommend tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every 4 weeks. This link gives you reasons and particulars: Why taper by 10% of my dosage? A person is at risk of withdrawal symptoms after a month of being on an antidepressant. In the eight weeks you've been on Sertraline, your brain has adapted to being on the drug and needs the time afforded by a slow taper to adapt to being drug-free. The link also gives information about how you can taper more quickly in the event that your system can deal with a more rapid taper. But it's best to start slowly to avoid the danger of withdrawal. What is withdrawal syndrome. Brain Remodelling This link is specifically about tapering Sertraline, including how to get the nonstandard doses needed for a 10% taper. If prescription liquid Sertraline is available, that's an excellent way to taper. I don't know if there are issues with the NHS in getting liquid Sertraline. If you do use the liquid, it's best to do a gradual crossover from the pill to the liquid before beginning your taper. If you can't get the prescription liquid, there are other good methods to taper described in the link. Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft) We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium (glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community. I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Oct 15: 3.2mg Taper is 96% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Tom8601 Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 Thank you, I have updated my signature. Do I still need to do the long taper after only being on for a short period? I worry that the longer i take the more numb I will become. Setraline started Jan 23 50mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted February 28, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 28, 2023 23 minutes ago, Tom8601 said: Do I still need to do the long taper after only being on for a short period? There isn't always a correlation between time on the drug and severity of withdrawal symptoms. We're dealing with unknowns here, specifically how much your brain has been altered by the drug. That's why we take a cautious harm-reduction approach of startingwith a 10%/4 week taper and, if you can, speeding it up later, as described in the 10% link. I understand your reluctance to stretch out the period of being on the drug after such a short time on it. That's the perversity of these drugs--they are so powerful and can have far-reaching effects after only a short time. Some people can "get away with" a faster taper but some can't, and for those who can't, they're in a Humpty-Dumpty situation of trying to put together the pieces after being destabilized by a too-fast taper. I sympathize that you don't want to become more numb. I know it is frustrating. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Oct 15: 3.2mg Taper is 96% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Tom8601 Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 Thank you that makes sense, I will speak to my doctor about reducing that way. I currently have a 50mg pil so difficult to go down to 45mg. Setraline started Jan 23 50mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted February 28, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 28, 2023 1 hour ago, Tom8601 said: I will speak to my doctor about reducing that way. I currently have a 50mg pil so difficult to go down to 45mg. So you're prepared, it's been our experience that the vast majority of doctors know little about safe tapering (and don't believe in significant withdrawal from these drugs) and so almost invariably taper their patients too quickly. 1 hour ago, Tom8601 said: I currently have a 50mg pil so difficult to go down to 45mg. The methods for getting a 45mg dose are in the link in my earlier post, "Tips for tapering off Sertraline." I tapered off 20mg Escitalopram using a digital scale. As always, it is your decision how to taper and how fast. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Oct 15: 3.2mg Taper is 96% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 25, 2023 Administrator Share Posted May 25, 2023 Hello, @Tom8601, how are you doing? 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. Link to comment
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