ryland: Is this Zoloft Withdrawl?

[ryland]

Hi All, I'm based in New Zealand and have a history of using ssri. Was first prescribed citolopram which made me feel tragic and stopped after 6 weeks or so. Then I tried sertraline (zoloft) and have been on 100mg for 2 years. I've recently cut back to 75mg (3 weeks ago). Fist week I was fine, second week I was anxious, third week I was having panic attacks. Would this really be withdrawl? Or me just stressed out. Any help appreciated. 

Edited September 7 by Emonda
Name to title

[Emonda]

Welcome @ryland

 

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1 hour ago, ryland said:

tried sertraline (zoloft) and have been on 100mg for 2 years. I've recently cut back to 75mg (3 weeks ago).

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage? The reductions should get smaller and smaller each month, for example: 10mg, 9mg, 8.1mg, 7.3mg etc. This process involves a degree of trial and error, as there is no way of predicting how an individual will respond. Importantly, if you develop unpleasant side effects from tapering, halt the taper, give yourself time to settle, and once stable, taper more slowly and by smaller amounts moving forward. The experience of others suggests that the lower you go in dose, the slower you need to go with tapering.

 

1 hour ago, ryland said:

Fist week I was fine, second week I was anxious, third week I was having panic attacks. Would this really be withdrawl?

 

Those that taper too quickly often develop very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) is a helpful summary of what many experience. What you describe sounds like WD to me.

With time, things can improve. Some of us draw a line in the sand (say three weeks as an example), and if things haven't improved, they might increase their dose slightly, sit back and observe. When I say 'slightly', less than a 10% increase.

Recovery from ADs and tapering is not linear. There are good days and not-so-good days/weeks/months. This is referred to as the Windows and waves pattern of stabilization.

The following general links are worth reading:

Emotional Spirals

Non-drug coping strategies

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.

Once again, welcome to S.A.

Emonda

[ryland]

Thank you