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owlman1313: Sertraline, Tapering From 50mg


owlman1313

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Hi all. Thanks for accepting me on this forum.

 

I was prescribed Sertraline 50mg 6 months ago. At the time I was suffering from an intense bout of SAD and anxiety that spiralled out of control.

 

This was my first time on anti-depressants as I'd resisted in the past and managed to pull myself out using self-help techniques.

 

Sertraline worked within the first two weeks and I remained stable on 50mg per day until recently with no side-effects.

 

I contacted my GP recently as I hit the six month mark and wanted to come off. I only ever approached it as a temporary course of treatment to get me over the hurdle I was at.

 

Just over a week ago I was advised to taper down to 25mg. For the first two days, nothing changed. On the third day, I began to feel a bit irritable, then tired and since then it's been a changing cascade of symptoms, ranging from bouts of low-level anxiety, terrible headaches, dizzyness, loss of appetite, slightly depressive feeling, occasional euphoria and just generally feeling in a fog and unwell, like a really bad hangover.

 

I was told by the pharamacist and GP (and other people who I know that have been on a similar dose/time-frame) that a lower dose of 50mg for a short period (six months) shouldn't produce many withdrawals.

 

I guess I'm here for reassurance and to find out if I'm doing the right thing. I'm terrified of my nervous system or brain being damaged. I can't seem to find many experiences online of people who have suffered these symptoms from simply tapering from 50mg to 25mg after six months, or how long the symptoms persist, and also to find out how I further taper to get off these tablets safely. Most of the experiences of withdrawal I've read are from people coming off completely at the end of a tapering process, rather than what can be experienced en route to that via lowering the dose.

 

My GP advice was a month of 25mg, then stop. But if this is the reaction from a lower dose, I don't feel that's good advice.

 

It's been just over a week now of lowering to 25mg and I'm still feeling unwell.

 

I'm hoping there's someone who can relate and give me reassurance and pointers.

 

Many thanks.

 

 

 

50MG Sertraline - 12 2022 - 06 2023 - Reduced to 25MG recently

2016 - Present: Omega 3

2016 - Present:

Vitamin D (25UG) Daily 

Calcium 800MG Daily

Magnesium 300MG

2016 - Present

Turmeric 3000MG Daily

June - September 2022

Ashwagandha, Cordyceps, Reishi Oral Tincture - 3 x Daily

 

 

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  • getofflex changed the title to owlman1313: Sertraline, Tapering From 50mg
On 6/27/2023 at 9:24 AM, owlman1313 said:

Hi all. Thanks for accepting me on this forum.

 

I was prescribed Sertraline 50mg 6 months ago. At the time I was suffering from an intense bout of SAD and anxiety that spiralled out of control.

 

This was my first time on anti-depressants as I'd resisted in the past and managed to pull myself out using self-help techniques.

 

Sertraline worked within the first two weeks and I remained stable on 50mg per day until recently with no side-effects.

 

I contacted my GP recently as I hit the six month mark and wanted to come off. I only ever approached it as a temporary course of treatment to get me over the hurdle I was at.

 

Just over a week ago I was advised to taper down to 25mg. For the first two days, nothing changed. On the third day, I began to feel a bit irritable, then tired and since then it's been a changing cascade of symptoms, ranging from bouts of low-level anxiety, terrible headaches, dizzyness, loss of appetite, slightly depressive feeling, occasional euphoria and just generally feeling in a fog and unwell, like a really bad hangover.

 

I was told by the pharamacist and GP (and other people who I know that have been on a similar dose/time-frame) that a lower dose of 50mg for a short period (six months) shouldn't produce many withdrawals.

 

I guess I'm here for reassurance and to find out if I'm doing the right thing. I'm terrified of my nervous system or brain being damaged. I can't seem to find many experiences online of people who have suffered these symptoms from simply tapering from 50mg to 25mg after six months, or how long the symptoms persist, and also to find out how I further taper to get off these tablets safely. Most of the experiences of withdrawal I've read are from people coming off completely at the end of a tapering process, rather than what can be experienced en route to that via lowering the dose.

 

My GP advice was a month of 25mg, then stop. But if this is the reaction from a lower dose, I don't feel that's good advice.

 

It's been just over a week now of lowering to 25mg and I'm still feeling unwell.

 

I'm hoping there's someone who can relate and give me reassurance and pointers.

 

Many thanks.

 

 

 

50mg Sertraline since December 2022.

50MG Sertraline - 12 2022 - 06 2023 - Reduced to 25MG recently

2016 - Present: Omega 3

2016 - Present:

Vitamin D (25UG) Daily 

Calcium 800MG Daily

Magnesium 300MG

2016 - Present

Turmeric 3000MG Daily

June - September 2022

Ashwagandha, Cordyceps, Reishi Oral Tincture - 3 x Daily

 

 

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Just to update since posting this yesterday. Symptoms have morphed into severe anxiety, some insomnia, no pleasure in anything, no sexual feelings present at all (which could be a result of anxiety as my past experiences have always included that part being shut down when I have severe anxiety).

 

I have rescue Diazepam that I use very sparingly and I had to take this last night as I woke up with nightmares, extremely hot, physical anxiety in my stomach.

 

Most people around me think this is disproportionate for a taper of 50-25mg after only being on the drug for six months with no prior history of SSRI's, and that I'm relapsing. So I'm rather confused and don't know if I'm doing the right thing or not. Most people have said that withdrawals are mostly physical.

 

Many thanks for reading.

 

 

50MG Sertraline - 12 2022 - 06 2023 - Reduced to 25MG recently

2016 - Present: Omega 3

2016 - Present:

Vitamin D (25UG) Daily 

Calcium 800MG Daily

Magnesium 300MG

2016 - Present

Turmeric 3000MG Daily

June - September 2022

Ashwagandha, Cordyceps, Reishi Oral Tincture - 3 x Daily

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of doctors have no idea how to properly taper people off these drugs to avoid/minimize withdrawal.  Your doctor is tapering you off way too fast.  No worries, with your brief drug history there is an extremely high chance we can get back to feeling better, and then you could try a much slower taper in the future.  Let me give you some basic info first.  

 

Have you, or are you on any other drugs at all?  

 

Can you please give us specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs and supplements you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months?  It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise vertical list (no symptoms), only specific dates, include the day (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day), drug names, and dosages of each medication decrease or increase. Here is an example: 

 

March 12, ’22: Lexapro 5 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

March 29, ’22: Lexapro 4 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

April 17, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 50 mg

May 19, ’22:  Lexapro 3.8 mg, Xanax 0.5 mg, Trazodone 25 mg

 

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Sertraline

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 


Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

I think you stand a really good chance of being helped a lot by going back up on your dose, but first I need to see if you've been on any other drugs, and if so, what they are as explained above.  Please do this sooner rather than later.  We need more specifics about your drug history before we can suggest a good dose at which to updose/reinstate.  Here is some information about reinstatement.  

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Please get back in touch with us with more information, and we can advise you on a dosage.  Once you stabilize on your new higher dose, and hold for a while, then you can do a slow harm reduction taper.  There is a way to get off these drugs without going through major withdrawal.  

Edited by getofflex

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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8 hours ago, getofflex said:

Have you, or are you on any other drugs at all?  

 

Thank you for your reply and all of the information.

 

No, I'm not taking any other drugs aside from the supplements listed on my signature.

50MG Sertraline - 12 2022 - 06 2023 - Reduced to 25MG recently

2016 - Present: Omega 3

2016 - Present:

Vitamin D (25UG) Daily 

Calcium 800MG Daily

Magnesium 300MG

2016 - Present

Turmeric 3000MG Daily

June - September 2022

Ashwagandha, Cordyceps, Reishi Oral Tincture - 3 x Daily

 

 

Link to comment
On 6/28/2023 at 10:23 PM, getofflex said:

Have you, or are you on any other drugs at all?  

 

Thank you for your reply and all of the information.

 

No, I'm not taking any other drugs aside from the supplements listed on my signature.

50MG Sertraline - 12 2022 - 06 2023 - Reduced to 25MG recently

2016 - Present: Omega 3

2016 - Present:

Vitamin D (25UG) Daily 

Calcium 800MG Daily

Magnesium 300MG

2016 - Present

Turmeric 3000MG Daily

June - September 2022

Ashwagandha, Cordyceps, Reishi Oral Tincture - 3 x Daily

 

 

Link to comment

(Sorry, I double posted).

 

I'm still on 25mg as of two days ago and symptoms have got extremely debilitating. Very high anxiety, difficulty sleeping, no emotions, mornings are horrendous.

 

I spoke to my GP who said to go back up to 50mg for two days, then 25mg one day and repeat that pattern. Not that I trust what they're saying.

 

I don't know what the best thing is to do, whether to go back to 50mg (my original, consistent dose) and try and stabilize, then slow taper, or go up slightly higher, to say, 37.5. I'm also anxious that the longer this goes on, the more damage is being done/inability to reinstate.

 

I've only been on these drugs for over six months and it was the worst decision of my life!

50MG Sertraline - 12 2022 - 06 2023 - Reduced to 25MG recently

2016 - Present: Omega 3

2016 - Present:

Vitamin D (25UG) Daily 

Calcium 800MG Daily

Magnesium 300MG

2016 - Present

Turmeric 3000MG Daily

June - September 2022

Ashwagandha, Cordyceps, Reishi Oral Tincture - 3 x Daily

 

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
11 hours ago, owlman1313 said:

I spoke to my GP who said to go back up to 50mg for two days, then 25mg one day and repeat that pattern. Not that I trust what they're saying.

I don't blame you for not trusting this advice, it is bad advice.  Varying and jumping around on the dose is very hard on the nervous system. 

 

You are a very good candidate for reinstatement, as you have only been on one psych med, and very recently did your reduction.  I would suggest you reinstate to 45 mg of Sertraline.  If you choose to reinstate, do it as soon as you can.  The sooner you reinstate, the better.   Give it at least a week. as it can take this long to get into your system.  If you feel significantly worse, then let us know right away.  It is very important to take precisely the same dose, each and every day, at the same time of day.  This link will explain how to measure the non standard dose.  The easiest way is to use a commercial liquid with a syringe.  If not available, you can make your own liquid.  If you get the commercial liquid, be sure to ask the pharmacist how many milligrams of the drug is in 1 milliliter of the liquid, and let us know.  We can help you calculate the dose, if necessary.  

 

Tips for Tapering Sertraline

 

Please let us know what you decide to do, and keep us posted. 

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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