SertralineIssues29: Sertraline withdrawals I think, please help

[SertralineIssues29]

So originally I was put on citalopram way back in July 2014, I was OK on 20mg for a while until it pooped out, I was switched to sertraline January 2015 and was on 50mg for roughly 2 years, I then went down to 25mg for the longest time right up until December 2022, in December I had a panic attack and tried to go back up to 50mg at the doctors advice and it caused me horrible suicidal thoughts and homicidal thoughts from the first dose, I then was taken off it cold turkey from December 18th 2022 the first month was hard as I dealt with waves of anxiety, panic attacks and depression, from January 2022 depersonalisation set in and hasn't left since then until today March 20th 2022 I've have been on no meds and things have gone from bad to worse symptoms are: mood swings, constant vertigo, brain fog and cognitive decline, chest pain and shortness of breath, horrible random thoughts and feelings of imminent dread, confusion and mind blank, trouble regulating heat, heart palpitations, cramps in muscles usually when I wake up and tinnitus that comes on and of occasionally, constant Head pressure and brain burn, nausea. I'm trying to work out if a tiny reinstatement of sertraline would be a good idea as I'm suffering, please help, I'm so close to giving up 

Edited April 19, 2023 by manymoretodays
: to seperate name from title

[SertralineIssues29]

Just an update, I'm am seriously considering reinstatement, it's either that or the worst case scenario as I cannot fathom going through this pain for much longer

[SertralineIssues29]

@Altostrata

[SertralineIssues29]

Hey I'm a 29 year year old male from the UK, I was on sertraline for a long time around 5 years or so, I've put it in my signature, since stopping cold turkey in December I had the first set of withdrawals, mainly anxiety and panic, but since February I've had some horrible symptoms, head pressure constantly and a terrible pulsing at times in my head, confusion, spacing out, dpdr, cramps in legs mainly in the morning, nausea, occasionally I feel like I'm coming up on a drug and that's a weird one for me, mood swings, anger, restlessness, intrusive thought, jumbled thoughts and things keep getting worse, I have occasions for a few hours where I can feel not too bad but they can be short lived, I really want to know if I am in WD or what could be wrong and moderators that could help would be lovely as I'm slowly losing hope thankyou, i should also add that I've had bloods done and I'm great and a Ct scan which found nothing too@Altostrata @Shep

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @SertralineIssues29

 

Yes, you still have withdrawal syndrome. If I were you., I might try 1mg liquid sertraline to start. Your doctor should be able to write you a prescription. 

 

Please let us know how you're doing.

[SertralineIssues29]

Thankyou for your reply alto, I'm struggling really bad, the restlessness is awful I can't stop pacing, my brain feels like it's both blank and racing 24/7, I'm having wierd random thoughts when I wake up like just nonsense thoughts about everything and my memory is shot to peices, like I cant even remember what I did in the day, it's terrifying, everything seems really dreamlike and off, nothing feels familiar, I'm in the UK and I'm not sure how to get the liquid sertraline, would shaving a tablet work. I should also add that during the last 2 months I was given a 0.5 lorazopam and had a paradoxical reaction to it which scared me to hell, I was anxious, panicking and went to sleep having closed eye visuals. Any further info needed let me know 

[SertralineIssues29]

Hey @Altostrata just to update you, I've made a telephone appointment for later today for my gp to see if I can get liquid sertraline, I fear he may just offer me the 25mg tablets though, any thoughts on what I could do? Thankyou 

 

SI xx

[SertralineIssues29]

So just an update, I'll probably be starting reinstatement tomorrow, current WD symptoms are : intense head pressure, face pressure, restless legs, feeling of dread, uncomfortable anger, Derealisation to a scary extent (like a bad trip or something) ear worms, occasional tinnitus, sweating, nausea and overall sense of unease. Fingers crossed for the reinstatement 

[LostInCanada]

I too had to reinstate after 3 months CT off paroxetine. It took a bit to see improvement and I am still in waves and windows after almost 4 months but the desperation and suicidal thoughts are gone. Overall the nausea has subsided so I am glad for that. Be patient and kind to yourself. Canada doesn't have liquid paroxetine so I am cutting pills with a good scale at the moment. You can also make your own liquid... It is on the site. 

[Altostrata]

@SertralineIssues29 UK GPs can prescribe liquid sertraline but many don't know about it. Try being polite but firm.

 

If all else fails, you can make your own liquid with water and a tablet, explained here Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)

[SertralineIssues29]

@LostInCanada thankyou for stopping by, yeh im definitely in desperation at this point, it's the constant 24/7 head pressure that drives me crazy, I wake up with it and fall asleep with it plus the dpdr and it's a recipe for a bad time, feel like I've barely got my grip on reality atm

 

SI xx

[LostInCanada]

Did you start reinstatement today? Despite hating this drug I am on, I believe the reinstatement was the right choice in a bad situation. I reinstated too high as I had not found this site yet. Just keep communicating with Altostrata. Hopefully you can get this turned around. 🙏

[SertralineIssues29]

Hey @LostInCanada sorry I've just noticed this message, I haven't yet as I'm struggling to find someone who will prescribe it for me, I'm set on doing this as I know it could make this worse but for the chance for it to get better I'll take it, the chance to be a dad to my kids again properly and be there for my family. It's hell off the drugs and if I have to get back on them and stay on them then that's what I will do, I'll keep pushing.

 

How did your reinstating go? Even though it was too high and how long were you off the drug for?

 

Thanks for the message 

 

SI xx 

[SertralineIssues29]

Hey @Altostrata thank you, I am trying to get someone to prescribe it but it's been a battle, I've got talks in the morning with a doctor who I've now "schooled" on PAWS, he has gone away tonight to do more research on it and will be contacting me in the morning. If all else fails I'll make my own with the 25mg tablets

 

Thankyou for your support alto, I really appreciate it 

 

SI xx 

[Altostrata]

Give your doctor this 

 

[LostInCanada]

7 minutes ago, SertralineIssues29 said:

Hey @LostInCanada sorry I've just noticed this message, I haven't yet as I'm struggling to find someone who will prescribe it for me, I'm set on doing this as I know it could make this worse but for the chance for it to get better I'll take it, the chance to be a dad to my kids again properly and be there for my family. It's hell off the drugs and if I have to get back on them and stay on them then that's what I will do, I'll keep pushing.

 

How did your reinstating go? Even though it was too high and how long were you off the drug for?

 

Thanks for the message 

 

SI xx 

I was off paroxetine for just over 3 months. The withdrawal really intensified then. When I went back on the reduced dosage my nausea came back and dizziness but the desperation started subsiding after about a week as did the suicidal thoughts. I've been reinstated 4 months and still not stable yet. Still cry easily, get shakes in the early morning, some dizziness, and wake often during the night. I just went through a wave but it was short lived...2 weeks. I can tell I am getting better and will definitely be tapering off this drug once stable. These drugs can poop out at anytime so better to be able to control a slow stable taper and get off forever. Hope this doctor gets on board for you. Keep me updated pls.👍

[SertralineIssues29]

31 minutes ago, LostInCanada said:

I was off paroxetine for just over 3 months. The withdrawal really intensified then. When I went back on the reduced dosage my nausea came back and dizziness but the desperation started subsiding after about a week as did the suicidal thoughts. I've been reinstated 4 months and still not stable yet. Still cry easily, get shakes in the early morning, some dizziness, and wake often during the night. I just went through a wave but it was short lived...2 weeks. I can tell I am getting better and will definitely be tapering off this drug once stable. These drugs can poop out at anytime so better to be able to control a slow stable taper and get off forever. Hope this doctor gets on board for you. Keep me updated pls.👍

I will do, my symptoms are so weird. Anxiety is there but mostly anxious about the symptoms, constant Head pressure, weird lsd trip feeling and almost a coming up on drugs feel. Hypomania, some cramps, dpdr (especially hate this)... Hopefully I can get this sorted and get back on track.

 

Thanks again for the support 

 

SI xx 

[SertralineIssues29]

Hey @Shep I'm pretty sure I kindled a small bit, I was on sertraline on and off for about 5 years, tried to go back on and got suicidal and homicidal thoughts from my 25mg dose, stopped that cold turkey because a hospital said to and then was given 0.5mg lorazapam and had a paradoxical reaction that resulted inclose eye visuals and extreme anxiety, plus some amoxicillin that I would guess didn't help but I needed for a chest infection

 

My question is I'm now 4 months out from sertraline and 3 months from the benzo mishap and 1 month from the amoxicillin but my windows and waves are weirdly getting closer and I feel they can change throughout the day, like the waves have definitely worsened and my windows have if anything shortened, is this normal? Like I can have a few windows and waves in a single day and that seems weird 

 

 

SI xx 

[SertralineIssues29]

Just now, SertralineIssues29 said:

Hey @Shep I'm pretty sure I kindled a small bit, I was on sertraline on and off for about 5 years, tried to go back on and got suicidal and homicidal thoughts from my 25mg dose, stopped that cold turkey because a hospital said to and then was given 0.5mg lorazapam and had a paradoxical reaction that resulted inclose eye visuals and extreme anxiety, plus some amoxicillin that I would guess didn't help but I needed for a chest infection

 

My question is I'm now 4 months out from sertraline and 3 months from the benzo mishap and 1 month from the amoxicillin but my windows and waves are weirdly getting closer and I feel they can change throughout the day, like the waves have definitely worsened and my windows have if anything shortened, is this normal? Like I can have a few windows and waves in a single day and that seems weird 

 

 

SI xx 

I should probably add that my symptoms are somewhat physical: vertigo, headaches constantly, nausea visual disturbances like blurred vision and minor hallucinations (smokey effect, pulsing effect when looking at stationary objects, sensitive to light, auras, halos etc) also I constantly feel, high or drunk

 

My mental ones are : dpdr (to an ungodly amount) constantly feeling like I'm on a bad trip, terrible brain fog, suicidal thoughts, dread ( mostly about the WD or adverse reaction) racing thoughts and weird thought patterns, confusion, disorientation.

 

But all these seem to get more or less throughout the day as and when they please and have definitely worsened over the last month for sureee, so I'm lost, it feels like I'm deteriorating inside of getting better 

[Shep]

@SertralineIssues29 Please note I moved your last two posts off the Hypersensitivity and Kindling thread.

 

Please ask questions about your taper here in your Intro/Update thread so all of your information is in one place. 

 

17 hours ago, SertralineIssues29 said:

 

My question is I'm now 4 months out from sertraline and 3 months from the benzo mishap and 1 month from the amoxicillin but my windows and waves are weirdly getting closer and I feel they can change throughout the day, like the waves have definitely worsened and my windows have if anything shortened, is this normal? Like I can have a few windows and waves in a single day and that seems weird 

 

Yes, windows and waves morph and wane, bring in new symptoms and / or worsen old symptoms. All of these oddities are normal. 

 

17 hours ago, SertralineIssues29 said:

But all these seem to get more or less throughout the day as and when they please and have definitely worsened over the last month for sureee, so I'm lost, it feels like I'm deteriorating inside of getting better 

 

Some of this may be the cumulative effects of all of the changes. Since some psych drugs may not show symptoms of withdrawal for several months after you stop, it makes sense that you may have worsening symptoms later on. But there's no reason to think you won't heal. It's just how withdrawal goes.  

[SertralineIssues29]

13 hours ago, Shep said:

@SertralineIssues29 Please note I moved your last two posts off the Hypersensitivity and Kindling thread.

 

Please ask questions about your taper here in your Intro/Update thread so all of your information is in one place. 

 

 

Yes, windows and waves morph and wane, bring in new symptoms and / or worsen old symptoms. All of these oddities are normal. 

 

 

Some of this may be the cumulative effects of all of the changes. Since some psych drugs may not show symptoms of withdrawal for several months after you stop, it makes sense that you may have worsening symptoms later on. But there's no reason to think you won't heal. It's just how withdrawal goes.  

Thanks for the reply shep, 

It's all very confusing because I had only been on 25mg of sertraline before this and hadn't been on it in a good 3, 4 months it was only as I started it up again that 5 days later I had the extreme homicidal and suicidal thoughts, obviously I stopped but was left with panic attacks and stuff lingering, once the 0.5mg of lorazapam was tried and that went paradoxical was when the dp/dr set in and then things went downhill over the next month which lead me to march until now where things are just weird as mentioned in my post earlier

 

Multiple waves and windows per day, where as just after the benzo mishap I just had dpdr it's like things have got worse the longer I've gone from that, I know healing takes all forms I just hate that things seem to get worse before better lol. I think to be honest I need to change my intro name as I don't truly believe this is withdrawals and more just a kindling or adverse reaction due to bouncing on and off sertraline over the years

[SertralineIssues29]

I also don't really get panic attacks anymore, don't get me wrong I get anxious as hell cause I have health anxiety and having a constant brain for/dementia like effect along with pressure in my head, lsd like dpdr and a host of visual issues including minor halluctions had me thinking I had a damn brain tumor or some sort or brain inflammation but the panic attacks got killed off after the benzo mishap 😂

Its like the benzo gave me one final panic attack and then killed them in place of ocd, anxiety, anger and hypomania 

[LostInCanada]

How have you been? Did you reinstate?

[Altostrata]

The cold turkey from 25mg sertraline in mid-December probably didn't help. So, did you reinstate?

[SertralineIssues29]

6 hours ago, Altostrata said:

The cold turkey from 25mg sertraline in mid-December probably didn't help. So, did you reinstate?

Haven't managed to yet, I've been getting weird episodes which end up in me in an ambulance, it almost feels like mild seratonin syndrome attacks everyone so often, any idea what this could be? 

[SertralineIssues29]

I should add that the symptoms in these "attacks" are major visual distortion, shortness of breath, vertigo, confusion, anxiety, nausea and loose bowel and bladder 

[LostInCanada]

It sounds like withdrawal to me...my withdrawal symptoms changed/peaked/got worse at 3 months. That is why I reinstated, it was the only way to alleviate any symptoms. Altostrata mentioned 1mg reinstatement 2 weeks ago. She knows what she is talking about. But the choice is yours.

[Altostrata]

Symptoms of withdrawal syndrome typically come in waves and windows. The waves can be quite dramatic. 

 

This usually can be alleviated with low-dose reinstatement.

[SertralineIssues29]

@Altostrata

@LostInCanada

Yeh it's definitely withdrawals, I've had so many tests done, I'm currently waiting to be seen by the mental health team in the hospital and I will stress the urgency of the situation. 

 

Thankyou again for your support 

[SertralineIssues29]

I'm also scared of the reinstatement making things worse but I don't feel like I have a choice at this point, I'm not functioning at all 

[LostInCanada]

21 minutes ago, SertralineIssues29 said:

@Altostrata

@LostInCanada

Yeh it's definitely withdrawals, I've had so many tests done, I'm currently waiting to be seen by the mental health team in the hospital and I will stress the urgency of the situation. 

 

Thankyou again for your support 

If the mental health team doesn't recognize protracted withdrawal, they will just put you on another drug at a higher dose than necessary. Just be careful. Even if they give you sertaline at a higher dose, you don't have to take it. Do not take more than 1mg if you choose reinstatement. All I can say is psychiatry got me in this mess and they are the last ones I would trust. 

[LostInCanada]

24 minutes ago, SertralineIssues29 said:

I'm also scared of the reinstatement making things worse but I don't feel like I have a choice at this point, I'm not functioning at all 

I did not want to reinstate but when you understand the science it makes sense. Your body is struggling to balance out the shock of CT. It changes bits and pieces at a time and then has to recalibrate. It is a long process. We took these drugs for years, we can't expect the body to undo all those changes quickly. That is why slow tapers are so important.

[Altostrata]

The reason this site exists is because very few clinicians, emergency departments, mental health teams, even psychiatrists and neurologists have a clue about psychiatric drug withdrawal syndromes. Good luck.

[SertralineIssues29]

2 hours ago, Altostrata said:

The reason this site exists is because very few clinicians, emergency departments, mental health teams, even psychiatrists and neurologists have a clue about psychiatric drug withdrawal syndromes. Good luck.

I know, it's such a shame that it's not more known about, the only way I can get prescribed the sertaline again to reinstate is through my mental health team so I have to do it this way, it's annoying but it's the only **** I've got 

[LostInCanada]

The system is definitely stacked against us. Have you had a follow up with the doctor you saw on March 29? 

[SertralineIssues29]

I ended up in hospital for a week due to these episodes as they very much resembled seizures I was due to be discharged yesterday and then caught covid and I'm now in an isolation ward due to that soooo I'm having all the fun