Gingerhead: Ginger new member looking for advice

Posted January 6 · January 6

Good day everyone

Been on 100mg of sertiline and 54mg of concerta since I was a teenager. Started to experience stomach issues the past 6months from taking sertiline. Ran out and never got around to getting a refill so went cold turkey two weeks before Christmas. Just starting to experience some interesting symptoms. Friends and family and coworkers have noticed a improvement in me since stopping the sertiline. I'm more family orientated and was struggling with what I considered a addiction with pot which has also stopped since stopping sertiline, no longer " crave" the high or the act of smoking. Have smoked a couple times since stopping sertiline and the high is much different. I have just started to experience the bladder symptoms of the withdraw and am not sure if it's related but have developed what I belive is a hemerroid that I am getting checked out on Monday. Not 100% sure if that's a symptom or not. Mentally considering the dosage I was on I've been decent. Just keep telling myself it's the med I'm coming off. I assume symptoms will continue to pop up and hopefully go away in due time..lots of good information on here.

Ginger

Edited January 7 by Emonda
Name to title

Posted January 6 · January 6

Also forgot to mention I have had alot of stress/emotional distress the past three weeks from having to put our family dog of 8 years down to my vehicle basicly breaking down a couple days before Christmas. Mind you that was in the early stages of coming off the 100mg sertaline but I seemed to handle it fairly well I feel as do everyone around me. Had alot of frustration and venting but was no longer directing anger towards anyone as I had been known to do before stopping the sertaline CT. I find that since stopping I'm more able to actually communicate what I'm going through to other people rather then bottle it up inside. I know it's early on and will let the doctor figure out what is the next step now that I've stopped taking them. I am still taking the concerta for my diagnosed Asperger's syndrome for my ability to stay focused.

Posted January 7 · January 7

Welcome @Gingerhead,

So the moderators can best help you, please complete your drug signature by following these instructions. Adding a signature ensures your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist.

2 hours ago, Gingerhead said:

Ran out and never got around to getting a refill so went cold turkey two weeks before Christmas. Just starting to experience some interesting symptoms.

CT is not the recommended strategy on this site. Please have a read of this: Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

As a result of your CT, you are likely to experience WD Symptoms: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF)

They can be very unpleasant and last > 12 months.

I'd have a read of this link: About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms. If you decide to reinstate, let us know before you do, and someone will provide further information to help you work out an appropriate amount to start with. If you go straight back to the old dose, you risk Kindling

These links may be helpful:

Windows and waves pattern of stabilization

Emotional Spirals

Non-drug coping strategies

Magnesium

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

Avoid smoking pot and drinking alcohol.

Please post any updates here in your thread.

Once again, welcome to S.A.

Emonda.

Posted January 7 · January 7

1 hour ago, Gingerhead said:

I have had alot of stress/emotional distress the past three weeks from having to put our family dog of 8 years down

I understand this pain...sorry to read this.

1 hour ago, Gingerhead said:

coming off the 100mg sertaline

Going from 100mg of Sertraline to 0mg CT is a significant change. Knowing what I know from past personal experience, I would not recommend this to anyone.

Please add your drug signature so we can understand more.

Posted January 7 · January 7

Updated my signature. With what I can recall. Will update it once I get my medical report with the actual dates. I will be seeing my family doctor on the 18th. I'm going to a walk in clinic for the hemorrhoid and my lack of urine pressure/not being able to fully empty my bladder (at least it feels that way) which I have now found is a withdraw symptom. I will avoid pot and alcohol. Is CBD recommended or advised against? My ultimate goal is getting off this medication for good. Even if that means having to go back on it for a short time. Should I refill my prescription and take the 100mg on Monday? Or is that going to be to strong? I'll ask the doctor at the walk-in clinic as well but open to advise from people who have actually been through this as well

Posted January 7 · January 7

39 minutes ago, Gingerhead said:

Is CBD recommended

That goes into the avoid category, as well.

40 minutes ago, Gingerhead said:

Should I refill my prescription and take the 100mg on Monday?

So you stopped 3 weeks ago? If so, going from 0mg to 100mg, you need to be very aware of Kindling.

Hopefully, a moderator will jump in with their thoughts. It's just a best guess; they may suggest between 25mg and 50mg. Best to start lower, maybe 25mg and see how you go.

Hope that helps

Posted January 7 · January 7

28 minutes ago, Emonda said:

That goes into the avoid category, as well.

So you stopped 3 weeks ago? If so, going from 0mg to 100mg, you need to be very aware of Kindling.

Hopefully, a moderator will jump in with their thoughts. It's just a best guess; they may suggest between 25mg and 50mg. Best to start lower, maybe 25mg and see how you go.

Hope that helps

I gave coworkers a heads up I was out of the meds on the 14th of December. So let's say worst case a week before that? It's not in solid pill format it's a capsule.

Posted January 7 · January 7

So call it a month off, then. 25mg may be a better place to start.

I believe they come in 25mg tablets.

Posted January 7 · January 7

4 minutes ago, Emonda said:

So call it a month off, then. 25mg may be a better place to start.

I believe they come in 25mg tablets.

I assume any doctor including one at a walk-in clinic can prescribe this? Should note that I started to experience vertigo like symptoms about a week or two after going CT and started taking B12 as per what I read online as it was supposed to counteract the withdraw symptom? Thanks in advance

Posted January 7 · January 7

Here's what I've experienced thus far.

About a week after stopping the Sertiline: vertigo like feeling blurred vision when turning head to fast, urine issue started on and off from what I recall. Regular knee and back and let pain I always have experienced so not sure it's a symptom

Begging of this week - hemorrhoid showed, Urine issue got worse sometimes a trickle but still no pain.

Yesterday - thought my urine problem and hemorrhoid was/could be cancer as I was talking to a older friend who just had prostate cancer so I believe I projected on that, like full on crying and worrying (no pain when urinating and no pain from hemorrhoid) settled down after keeping busy all day but had what I thought at the time was just another getting old and working in the cold effect of my knuckles wanted to sieze up on my right hand (as I'd I had to crack the knuckle but I tried and couldn't). Knee also started to shake while working in the cold with insulated coveralls when supporting my weight. This lasted maybe 10-20 mins. Had a half a small joint and two puffs off a pipe and had a clairuty while high that let me accept the reality it's not probably cancer and it's just coming off the pill. After this Ive seen mentally fine again. Hand were also sensitive to going coldish faster then what I'd consider normal but it was -6c outside when I was working.

Today

Vision seems clearer. No vertigo when turning head fast. Able to think clearly. Right thigh started to ache. urine problem persist. Gut pressure like someone pushing on my stomach but I have also been poking and prodding to see what I could feel when urine issue started.

I'll keep updating for support and advice as each day goes by and will avoid pot and CBD from here out. Reason I wanted to get off the med was some wicked stomach pain I'd get randomly after taking sertiline, and when I stopped taking it the pain stopped. For lack of better word felt like a knife was in my stomach. Also side note. I used to smoke alot of pot. Like strong pot in excess because I lost the "high" feeling of the first time years ago and kept chasing it with stronger and stronger pot. Still got high but seemed my tolerance for it was way up. Which I now understand is more then likely from this Sertiline numbing it's effects? Not sure if quiting that cold turkey from everyday smoker to once a week maybe and now after being advised to advoid it down to none?

Posted January 7 · January 7

Restless night. Kept waking up ever three to four hours. Was freezing cold the one time had an shower to try to regulate didn't help. Kept telling myself it was withdraw symptom then it seemed to help. Thigh pain is still there but much less today. So far.

Posted January 7 · January 7

Having the "dread" feeling on and off. Been trying to stay busy to keep my mind busy. Also want to just stay in bed (assuming this is onset of depression?) And sleep but have forced myself to keep moving. Had pressure in my face this morning and felt like someone was pulling down on my face at times, hoping it's not to late to go onto a lower dose and try to stabilize. Very vivid and scary dreams about being chased and impending doom. Restless night. Any suggestions to counteract the night sleeping issues? What should I be asking the doctor for tomorow when I go to the walk-in clinic? While I'm still ahead of alot of the listed withdraw symptoms id like to curb it some until I can taper correctly. I know it sounds weird, but I feel my Concerta is sorta counteracting the withdraws a little bit?

Posted January 7 · January 7

Also can the title of this forum post be changed to add "looking for advice" as well? Thanks in advance.

Posted January 7 · January 7

Good evening

33 year old male here, was getting some weird feelings off the 100mg dose of sertaline I have been on as long as I can remember. Was having outbursts and random spouts of anxiety while on it as well as having weird stabbing pain in my stomach a couple hours after taking the pill in the morning. So I did what I should not of now that I read into it and went cold turkey after doing a quick Google search of the withdraw symptoms from coming off sertaline. Figured I could handle what they listed. Have had a long list of issues since coming off the 100mg CT and used to smoke pot in excess as I found I never could maintain a "high". So I smoked more and more. Quit pot a year ago and went through some wicked "withdraw" if you will symptoms from that. Started to smoke again about three months after quiting when stress started to increase as a way to escape. Also been on "Concerta as long as I can remeber as well. List of symptoms I have had thus far while going CT are listed here (hope it's ok to link to that post) I am debating reinstating the sertaline but need advice on how to tell either the doctor at the walk in clinic I'm going to tomorow or my family doctor that I'm seeing on the 18th. It has helped alot to see the symptoms for what I am assuming they are, symptoms. So far anyways. I appreciate any and all help and advice and have allready learned alot since joining this forum. Thanks in advance

Posted January 8 · January 8

Did some stretches I found in a Topic on this forum. Which defiantly helped with lower gut/bladder aches Ive been having. Also been having alot of baths to just soak in partly for the hemorrhoid which is slowly going away to also helping my bladder issue of not being able to empty or feel like I still can empty more but unable to. Had intrusive thoughts but had those before stoping the sertaline randomly as well so I'm good at dismissing them for what they are. Will update with what the doctor says tomorrow. Fingers crossed it turns out decent

Posted January 8 · January 8

Uneventful night. No nightmares that I can recall, only woke once to go to the bathroom. Keep having waves of uneasyness but keep talking myself down saying it's the drug and that seems to help. If it wasn't for the bleh feeling and the bladder feeling full issue I'd just rough it out. But I'm gonna try 25mg as suggested if the doctor will prescribe me it. Also definitely loosing weight. Down to 214ish from the 220ish around Christmas I belive.

Posted January 8 · January 8

Welcome back @Gingerhead,

I've just moved your new post back here.

Please keep everything relating to your own situation in this thread. It makes it easier to track your progress and for those trying to assist.

Emonda

Posted January 8 · January 8

The bladder issue has seemed to resolved it's self for the time being. Could it of been I was dehydrated? Have been sweating alot since going off the med. Have a appointment at today to discuss going on a low dose. I assume what I'm experiencing is the start of the windows and waves? Should I stay cold turkey or should I reinstate? Pharmacist I talked to suggested full dose to which I said no I don't want full does as I don't want to risk kindling. He seemed to understand. And is attempting to request a lower dose. Been getting tingling in fingers and hands on and off.

Posted January 8 · January 8

Doctor wants to start at 50mg. I need advice before I go down a path that will terrify me. I appreciate any and all advice. When I said I wanted lower he said to skip a day which I read is bad

Posted January 8 · January 8

Took my first 25mg dose. Prob a placebo effect but cleared up after a hour or two. Fingers crossed.

Posted January 8 · January 8

Just started experiencing slight tingling/itchiness on my left side of my face and some Muscle twitches. Also just checked drug interactions and concerta and sertaline can cause though rarely, the seratonine condition. What should I be looking for and what do I do if I find? @getofflex

Posted January 9 · January 9

Also quick question. I probly should of waited till morning to take the 25mg sertaline. But took it as soon as I got the prescription. Should I take one in the morning alongside my Concerta like I used to before I went cold turkey or should I continue the same time that I took the first 25mg?I am also taking B12 and vitamin D every morning. I started the B12 to counter act the vertigo feeling I was getting from WD. Should I continue on that?

Posted January 9 · January 9

Reinstated 25mg sertaline

Pins and needles on bottom of right foot

Restless legs

Falling back feeling on and off

Joint pain and muscle pain

Restless night

Irritiability

Also muscle twitching.

Fingers feel like they are somewhat swollen even though they are not

Pressure on stomach area is back

Intrusive thoughts

I've had muscle and joint pain for the past four years. Just assumed it was my line of work and being on concrete all day causing it. This past year the pain has seemed to get worse though. I might be overthinking it tho. I really appreciate advice before I take my next dose at 3pm today.

Posted January 9 · January 9

Went through a mood swing this morning. Now feeling a heaviness under my right lower eyelid. Not sure if related or not. Also somewhat sensitive to loud noises more so then I was previously.

Posted January 9 · January 9

Please don't tag getofflex. They are not available at the moment. We have a very small team of volunteers. We respond when we are able.

Please put your current drugs into this https://www.webmd.com/interaction-checker/default.htm.

When I do that, it shows no interaction.

On 1/6/2024 at 6:21 PM, Gingerhead said:

started taking B12 as per what I read online as it was supposed to counteract the withdraw symptom?

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

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

3 hours ago, Gingerhead said:

I've had muscle and joint pain for the past four years. Just assumed it was my line of work and being on concrete all day causing it. This past year the pain has seemed to get worse though. I might be overthinking it tho. I really appreciate advice before I take my next dose at 3pm today.

I'll ask the team offline to glance at your post. If anyone has anything to add, I'll post back here.

Keep notes for yourself as to how you are progressing.

Posted January 9 · January 9

I appreciate the reply. I'm sorry I'm just panicking that I'm not doing the right thing reinstating it. If I don't think about alot of symptoms I feel I'm going through they tend to lessen some. I'm assuming this is anxiety? My main stresser is should I take my next and second dose of 25mg sertaline? Or am I causing more damage then not taking it? I'm assuming the panic I feel in the morning when I wake up is the cortisone spike? Everything seems to be lessening at the moment. I took B12, vitamin D, and my X2 54mg concerta this morning like I always do. Noticing eye and skin twitches. Or at least it feels like I'm having them. Mostly I wanna make the right choice and fear my body was trying to repair it's self and I messed it up more by reinstating. Again sorry for tagging. And should I stop the B12? I'm lacking vitamin D so I'm not sure if I should stop that one?

https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/concerta-with-sertraline-1606-976-2057-0.html is the site I looked on?

Posted January 9 · January 9

1 minute ago, Gingerhead said:

I'm just panicking that I'm not doing the right thing reinstating it.

Pharmacist said take full dose, Doctor said half dose. We said to be careful of kindling and suggested a more conservative quarter of a dose. It's completely your choice...everyone is different.

Go back and look at the WD Symptom checklist: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) This is likely what you are feeling as a result of CT from 100mg of Sertraline 3 weeks ago.

If the team have other thoughts, they'll either chime in, or let me know offline.

Posted January 9 · January 9

23 minutes ago, Emonda said:

Pharmacist said take full dose, Doctor said half dose. We said to be careful of kindling and suggested a more conservative quarter of a dose. It's completely your choice...everyone is different.

Go back and look at the WD Symptom checklist:

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) This is likely what you are feeling as a result of CT from 100mg of Sertraline 3 weeks ago.

If the team have other thoughts, they'll either chime in, or let me know offline.

Pharmacist agreed to starting at 25mg and working my way up as I felt needed was a good idea. Doctor wanted 50mg to start then work up, even after I pleaded a lower starting dose. Just don't want any long term medical effects from reinstating. As I was experiencing effects that I just thought was normal as I had them as long as I can remeber. (Muscle twitches, aching joints are more recently and intense hence why I was also smoking pot to curb the ache). I keep getting this numbness feeling in the top of my hands but mostly my left hand. Dissyness when I get up from a crouch. Face still has some slight numbness/lessened feeling on the left side too

Posted January 9 · January 9

@Gingerhead Just remember that when you are in WD, everything in your body that it attached to a nerve can misfire. I had some of the strangest WD symptoms imaginable. All of them turned out to be just WD related and went away as I healed. Also, you mentioned smoking pot to help you with the symptoms. This is something you need to be extremely careful about. A lot of members have reported negative side effects from it. Please read the following topic with the warning listed in the first entry from Altostrata

Posted January 9 · January 9

45 minutes ago, Emonda said:

We said to be careful of kindling and suggested a more conservative quarter of a dose. It's completely your choice...everyone is different.

I would tend to agree with @Emonda, starting with 25mg is a safe approach and you can titrate up if needed.

57 minutes ago, Gingerhead said:

And should I stop the B12? I'm lacking vitamin D so I'm not sure if I should stop that one?

Some people find these activating and they may confound symptoms you are currently experiencing with those that might occur from resuming the sertraline. It is up to you, but we recommend making only one change at a time. See Keep it simple, slow and stable. Is the vitamin D new, or have you always taken it?

Posted January 9 · January 9

20 minutes ago, KenA said:

@Gingerhead Just remember that when you are in WD, everything in your body that it attached to a nerve can misfire. I had some of the strangest WD symptoms imaginable. All of them turned out to be just WD related and went away as I healed. Also, you mentioned smoking pot to help you with the symptoms. This is something you need to be extremely careful about. A lot of members have reported negative side effects from it. Please read the following topic with the warning listed in the first entry from Altostrata

I havnt touched pot alcohol since reading that it was a bad mix. Last time I smoked was New year's eve. Doctor wanted me to start vitamin D a few months back as my blood work showed I was low on it. But kept forgetting to take it until I started to experience WD symptoms. And have been taking it and the B12 religiously since I started to experience the symptoms (two or three weeks ago). The B12 seemed to relieve the dissyness I kept getting. Would it be to much of a shock to my system if I stop the B12 now? I'll continue taking the 25mg today @3 as I did yesterday. I'll await advice on if it's smart to stop the B12 tomorow morning.

Posted January 9 · January 9

18 minutes ago, Gingerhead said:

Would it be to much of a shock to my system if I stop the B12 now?

If it were me and I thought it was helping, I would continue taking it. Could you please add it to your signature, along with any other supplements you're taking.

Posted January 9 · January 9

1 hour ago, LotusRising said:

If it were me and I thought it was helping, I would continue taking it. Could you please add it to your signature, along with any other supplements you're taking.

I added it. Will add the dosage when I get home and see the bottles. Is it a good idea that I have the starting time of the 25mg sertaline from 3pm from anyone's past experience? 3pm let's me feel the majority of the symptoms at home rather then work so there is that plus, it's weird because alot of the numbing feeling has started to go away as mid day starts. Almost feel "normalish" with random muscle twitches in my eye lids on and off mostly the right side. For reference it's 1230pm where I am. Dose starts in 2 1/2 hours. I take the X2 54mg concerta and the vitamins every morning when I wake up roughly (6:30am work days - 9am weekends) I also realise eventually I'm probably going to start feeling or experienceing symptoms at work eventually I'd assume no matter what time I take the pill?

Posted January 9 · January 9

2 hours ago, Gingerhead said:

I havnt touched pot alcohol since reading that it was a bad mix

Good deal!

Posted January 9 · January 9

Updated signature with the doseage. So far knock on wood tonite after the doseage is pretty uneventful. Some tingling in my lips but that's it so far and a bleh feeling and weird feeling around my upper right eyelid couple hours after taking the 25mg.

Today up till now here's what I experienced roughly in orderish as I wrote them down as they happened or as I noticed them.

Panic/anxiety attack first thing

Left side of face feels droopy/numbish even though it's not droopy

Top of left hand pin pricks/numbish

Bladder is still normal.

Dissyness when getting up from sitting or crouching

Sensitivity to loud noise first thing this morning

Rainbow ish when looking directly at bright lights

Symptoms mostly went away around 2:00pm took pill at

3:00pm

Posted January 9 · January 9

It was not my experience, but ia lot of people report a decline in symptoms toward the end of the day. Whether that's because of the cortisol pattern, or just your specific pattern, I don't know for sure, but it's good you seem to be getting some relief

6 hours ago, Gingerhead said:

Is it a good idea that I have the starting time of the 25mg sertaline from 3pm from anyone's past experience?

If this is what you've done in the past and it works for you, then I would stick with it for now.

Gingerhead: Ginger new member looking for advice

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