hopespringseternal: beginning a sertraline taper off from 50mg

[hopespringseternal]

Hello,

 

A few weeks ago, I was researching how to taper off of my 50mg sertraline on reddit and saw someone mention this community. Today I'm visiting my doctor to discuss a taper, and I'm going in with a printed copy of Horowitz & Taylor 2019 to discuss pacing. My system is very sensitive to small changes in medications of all kinds, so I'm confident that a slow taper is the way to go.

 

After being diagnosed with post-partum depression in 2018, they put me on 25mg of sertraline for a week- I felt better by the end of that week, but then they increased my dosage to 50mg. I kind of wish I had stayed at 25mg. Since then, I've worked through various issues in counseling, and I'm ready to be done with the medication. In March, I accidentally missed two doses of sertraline while away for the weekend and was incredibly irritable until I got home to get my dose, and that scared me. I have occasionally missed a day here or there and been fine-ish, but seeing how bad I felt after two days was eye-opening. I do not want to depend on this any longer, and I'm disappointed to learn how long it's going to take to taper off of this... but I'm ready to do what's best for me.

 

I will update after the appointment.

[Emonda]

Welcome @hopespringseternal

 

10 hours ago, hopespringseternal said:

I'm going in with a printed copy of Horowitz & Taylor 2019 to discuss pacing.

 

You sound very well informed...well done.

 

10 hours ago, hopespringseternal said:

My system is very sensitive to small changes in medications of all kinds, so I'm confident that a slow taper is the way to go.

 

You might like to read up on this: The Brassmonkey Slide Method of Micro-tapering

 

10 hours ago, hopespringseternal said:

but then they increased my dosage to 50mg. I kind of wish I had stayed at 25mg

 

Plenty of us say things like this. We just need to accept the past and move forward.

 

10 hours ago, hopespringseternal said:

I've worked through various issues in counseling

 

I've found it helpful to continue with this as I taper.

 

10 hours ago, hopespringseternal said:

In March, I accidentally missed two doses of sertraline while away for the weekend and was incredibly irritable until I got home to get my dose, and that scared me.

 

Sounds typical of WD symptoms: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

10 hours ago, hopespringseternal said:

I'm disappointed to learn how long it's going to take to taper off of this... but I'm ready to do what's best for me.

 

It's not a race. Slow and steady is the way to go.

 

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 for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

Avoid alcohol. 

 

Don't change the manufacturer of your AD.

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story. 

 

Once again, welcome to S.A.

 

Emonda

 

[hopespringseternal]

Thank you for the welcome, @Emonda, and for pointing me to the brassmonkey slide taper schedule.

 

The appointment was... a disappointment. I have a prescription for 25mg and sertraline and my PCP had never heard of hyperbolic tapering... she said she thought it "sounded interesting" but was really probably completely unnecessary. She seemed to think that most people could taper off in a month, and that 25 --> 0 was no big deal, but I could do 25 --> 12.5 --> 0 if I wanted to. She didn't even know that sertraline came in a liquid form, checked with someone else, and said that she could refer me to a psychiatrist who could prescribe that, but that she couldn't... so now I have another appointment to make.

[Emonda]

1 hour ago, hopespringseternal said:

The appointment was... a disappointment.

 

Sorry to hear this, although many here would not at all be surprised by your experience. 

 

1 hour ago, hopespringseternal said:

She seemed to think that most people could taper off in a month,

 

That certainly isn't my experience, nor the experience of pretty much everyone on this site.

 

1 hour ago, hopespringseternal said:

She didn't even know that sertraline came in a liquid form,

 

The reality is that we need to advocate for ourselves / learn the tapering process, and take responsibility for our plan. All I need from my doctor is the prescription.

 

After ~30 years with ADs, this community has been the only source of tapering wisdom I've experienced on my journey. For me, following the process I've learnt here has produced results I never thought possible.

 

Have a read of this:

 

 

Don't be discouraged if the next doctor's appointment is a flop. As I said, you just need the prescription, time, and the patience to follow the brassmonkey slide. 

 

Please sign out with any questions.

 

Emonda