coldturkey1: tough withdrawal after stopping sertraline cold turkey

[ColdTurkey1]

Hi All

 

I have been taking SSRI for the last 4 years, last 2 years I tool Sertraline 20mg.

I really wanted to stop them !

3 months ago, I went to a water fasting retreat, and at the advice of the instructor I stopped them cold turkey. Big mistake !

The first 2 months were great ! I felt good, alive, and happy that there are no withdrawal symptoms.

But last month the withdrawal started kicking.

I had severe insomnia, few days of rage, depression and feeling of anxiety in the solar plexus coming and going. 

I didn't know what to do, so decided to see if I can handle it without going back to medications.

I am quite self aware, went to quite a few body\mind treatments, started doing body exercises, started taking Omega 3, and tried to do good things for myself. 

These things help, but the symptoms persist, and it is hard.

 

The situation now is that I have:

Severe insomnia, quite sensitive emotionally, mild depression sometimes, the anxiety in the solar plexus comes in the evenings, weak memory, and I worry\think a lot about the situation - how long will it persist, and what should I do. 

My day-to-day functioning is OK for now. and sometimes I also feel happy.

 

My question to you in this amazing forum is what should I do now ?

Should I go back to taking Sertraline and start tapering it off very slowly ? to what dosage should I return ?

Or, if I already did the stupid cold turkey withdrawal, and am already 1 month into the withdrawal symptoms, maybe I should just hang on the best I can until the finish ?

[dalsaan]

Hi CT1

 

Welcome to the forum and thanks for filling out your signature. We recommend a very conservative trial and error approach to recovery. Reinstatement is better done sooner rather than later. We have a thread on reinstating here. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/page-2

 

3 months out its possible that your system has become very sensitive in withdrawal so if you consider reinstatement you want to start on a very low dose eg 2 mg

 

It's difficult to say how long things might take to settle either way (whether you reinstate or not)

 

Perhaps you could read the above thread and then come back here to ask questions, talk through your options

 

Dalsaan

[ColdTurkey1]

Thank you Dalsaan

 

1) Are there instructions in the site on how to turn a 50mg pill into 2mg ?

 

2) I don't understand from the posts what is the meaning of becoming very sensitive after 3 months. what may happen if I reinstate by taking 25mg (half a pill) ?

 

3) After how many days should I decide weather I should go up from 2mg ?

 

4) The withdrawal stories here on the site are very frightening. Would love to get some reassurance that the withdrawal can also be not so bad, and that even if I stopped cold turkey, there are chances that the symptoms will subside in not a long period (with 

[dalsaan]

We go into withdrawal because our nervous system has become used to functioning with the drugs in our system.   Our brain has kind of remodelled itself around the presence of the drug.   If we take the drug away our brain has to adjust to this absence.   If the drug isnt in our system and our brain hasn't fully adjusted to that it becomes a bit unbalanced or destabalized.   This is what generates withdrawal symptoms.

 

Within this destablized state, our systems get very sensitive to stressors.   Reintroduced the drug can be experienced as a stressor by our nervous system therefore some people have an adverse reaction when they reinstate.   The more you throw at it the greater the risk so we suggest very small amounts.  

 

We don't have a crystal ball so we can't say that your symptoms will resolve in x amount of time.   Some people have very little trouble coming off these drugs, some people have a moderate degree of difficulty coming off and it resolves over a few months, some people have significant trouble and it is prolonged.

 

We cant know which category you will fit in.   Stopping cold turkey isn't great because you have given your brain no chance to adjust.   That's why reinstatement is an option that people consider.

 

Your symptoms are not horrendous and unrelenting so that is cause for some optimism. The fact that your functioning is ok and you can feel times of happiness is a good sign.

 

If you are going to try to reinstate to enable you to taper off slowly, you need to do that asap.  here is a link on tapering off sertraline and how to make a liquid (which is the easiest way to control your doses and take very small amounts) http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1441-tips-for-tapering-off-zoloft-sertraline/

 

I'm sorry there are no black and white answers.   Our general advice to people is to taper slowly.   That's why we recommend reinstatement.   However, the longer it is since you last took a dose the more risky that becomes - your brain has changed since the last time you took your drugs.   You can mediate the risks of a negative reaction somewhat by taking an extremely low dose and listening to your body in terms of how to respond.   Whether you want to try this or wait out the symptoms is up to you.

 

Dalsaan

[ColdTurkey1]

Wow, I really appreciate your long and caring responses.

I will try to reinstate

But I don't understand something about tapering off after reinstating - if I reinstate only 3mg, it seems that the tapering will be very short

And another thing - how long should I give the 3mg dosage a try, before you raise the dosage ? (in case the 3mg doesn't help)

[joey122]

The memory gets better for me it has at least hang in there . I am like 5 months in the first few months were brutal for cogniton and memory now it has improved.

[Altostrata]

Hello, ColdTurkey, did you reinstate?

[apace41]

Would love to get some reassurance that the withdrawal can also be not so bad, and that even if I stopped cold turkey, there are chances that the symptoms will subside in not a long period (with 

 

Hi ColdTurkey1. Welcome to the site.  As Dalsaan said, it is impossible to predict how any one person will react to getting of SSRIs because (i) we are all so bioindividual and (ii) it is impossible with current testing to ascertain what level of affinity for the drug your serotonin receptors have developed.  Based on my experience, I would say the factors that tend to lead to better outcomes are:

• shorter duration of usage
• lower dosages during usage
• younger age at time of attempting to get off the drug

I don't know your age but 50mg is a relatively low dose of Zoloft and 4 years is not extremely long by comparison to many (myself included).  While I would test the reinstatement (please answer Alto's question as to whether you did), I would find optimism in how you have reacted so far and would be hopeful that you will have a good recovery.

 

But I don't understand something about tapering off after reinstating - if I reinstate only 3mg, it seems that the tapering will be very short

 

This site recommends tapering no more than 10% per month so even at 3 mg the tapering process will take a while.  It is the safest way to come off with the least amount of adverse effects.

 

Best of luck and let us know how you are doing.

 

Andy

[ColdTurkey1]

Hi Friends

 

Sorry for not answering, I don't get notifications for responses

 

I still didn't reinstate. I'm taking some amino acid supplements - 5HTP, Gaba, Same-e. and also Omega 3

Things are not getting better.

I'm getting depressed from small things in my life.

 

I'm starting to think about going back to Sertraline 50mg for a few months to stabilize, get my life in order, get a therapist, start doing sports

and then to start tapering down in the right way, not cold turkey as I did

 

What do you think ?

[bubble]

Since you have been off the drug for over 3 months there is a risk that the full dose will be too much.

 

That's why you have been advised to start much lower such as 2 mg.

[Altostrata]

Please read the links we have given you.

[ColdTurkey1]

Face + Scalp spasm\contruction due to Lexapro\SSRI\Benzo ?

 

Hi

 

A year ago a went off Prozac, in the beginning I was fine, but then got severe Insomnia and depression, and had to go back to meds.

I have started taking Lexapro 3 months ago, after a very long and Anxiety\Depression period of trial and error of various meds that didn't help

For the severe anxiety that I had, that was probably increased dramatically due to starting Lexapro. I was given Lorazepam (benzo)

I'm now taking 20mg Lexapro, 30mg Mirtrazapin, 2mg Lorazepam (twice daily), and Ambien

I'm not suffering from anxiety or depression now

I'm slowly going off Mirtrazapin because Lexapro was the med that really helped

 

My problem is that I have facial\scalp spasms that are suppressed only when I take Lorazepam

At about 10am I start feeling the scalp muscles contract (not twitch, just contruct and stay that way), and also the right upper side of my face and rmuscles around the right eye

This is very worrisome to me

I don't know if it's because of the Lexapro, because of anxiety, becuase of trauma, or because of the benzo

I don't know how to get oof the benzo if I get these cramps if I don't take it

I don't know if the benzo is "hiding" the size effects of the Lexapro

And I don't know if indeed it's a sizez effect of Lexapro, will it go away if I wait enough

 

I wish I could get off all the meds, but currently it's not possible for me

 

Does anyone know of such side effects ?

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[ChessieCat]

Hello and welcome back,

 

Please update your drug signature so that we can see your history at a glance.  Follow these instructions.  Please remove the spaces and also the last 2 lines.  We only need to see drug name and supplement name, doses and dates for dose changes and the last date and dose you took before stopping a drug.  Thank you.

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature
Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

2011-2013 - Prozac/Fluoxetine 20mg

2013-2015 - Sertraline 50mg

9.7.2015 - stopped Sertraline cold turkey

Got withdrawal symptoms 

Breaking my head what to do now 

 

 

Please put all the drugs/supplements you are currently taking in the Drug.com Interactions Checker and copy and paste the report OR copy and paste the URL for the report here in your topic.  Please ensure that if you copy the report that the duplications at the bottom of the screen are included. Thank you.

 

Q:  Are you getting any of the symptoms which are described in the drug interaction?  If yes, what?

 

The enable the mods to assess your situation please provide 3 consecutive days of daily symptoms notes, posting a 24 hour period in one go.  This post explains what is required and how the notes can help:

 

Keep Notes on Paper

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by ChessieCat

[ChessieCat]

Please note that the spelling needs to be correct to use the drug interaction checker:

 

Mirtrazapin --> mirtazapine

[ColdTurkey1]

On 12/18/2020 at 2:15 AM, ChessieCat said:

Please note that the spelling needs to be correct to use the drug interaction checker:

 

Mirtrazapin --> mirtazapine

Thank you ChessieCat

 

Sorry it took me time to answer, it's hard for me to enter this site as you can understand

I edited my signature, could you tell me if it looks fine ?

Also, Do you think that I should post a new topic ? my main problem is still the pressure\tension\pain on the right side of my head, that is relaxed with Lorazepam

[ColdTurkey1]

On 12/18/2020 at 2:12 AM, ChessieCat said:

Please update your drug signature so that we can see your history at a glance.  Follow these instructions.  Please remove the spaces and also the last 2 lines.  We only need to see drug name and supplement name, doses and dates for dose changes and the last date and dose you took before stopping a drug.  Thank you.

Thank you ChessieCat

 

Sorry it took me time to answer, it's hard for me to enter this site as you can understand

I edited my signature, could you tell me if it looks fine ?

Also, Do you think that I should post a new topic ? my main problem is still the pressure\tension\pain on the right side of my head, that is relaxed with Lorazepam; And Tiredness & Foginess in the mornings probably because of the Mirtazapine 

[ColdTurkey1]

Right sided scalp and face pressure pains

 

Hi All

 

I am cuurently on 3 drugs: Mirtazapine 30mg, Escitalopram 10mg, Ativan 2-3mg

I suffer from right sided pressure pains in my scalp and right side of the face

The pains are releived by Ativan, and slowely increase as the Ativan influence decreases. after 5-6 hours I usually need to take another Ativan

I was on 20mg Escitalopram and lowered to 10mg hoping this was the cause of the pains. the pains stay the same

 

So now I need to decide what is my next step, and would appreciate your help

I need to decide which of the 3 drugs most probably cause the head pains, and start withdrawal from it

 

 

If anyone has (or read about someone else who have) suffered from these one sided head pains , I would appreciate it if you tell me from what drug you think it was induced

 

Thank you very much

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

I did a search in this topic for "left side" and "right side".

 

migraine-headache-neck-ache-pain-and-head-pressure

 

These are the search results for those two terms:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q="left side"&quick=1&type=forums_topic&item=1785

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q="right side"&quick=1&type=forums_topic&item=1785

[ColdTurkey1]

I hope this topic is appropriate for my question

I am preparing for remeron withdrawal, but not yet

I have discovered that I feel lethargic for at least half a day every day becuase of this stupid pill (my dose is 30mg)

I tried not taking it for 2 days and the lethargy just dissapers !

I'm going on vacation soon for 1 week, and am wondering if I could handle not taking it for 1 whole week in order to enjoy more, and then return to the full dos (and start withdrawal after I stabilize

What do you think ?

[ColdTurkey1]

Can I stop Remeron for 1 week in order to enjoy a vacation more ?

 

Hi All

 

I am preparing for remeron withdrawal, but not yet

I have discovered that I feel lethargic for at least half a day every day becuase of this stupid pill (my dose is 30mg)

I tried not taking it for 2 days and the lethargy just dissapers !

I'm going on vacation soon for 1 week, and am wondering if I could handle not taking it for 1 whole week in order to enjoy more (since I will not be tired for half a day), and then return to the full dose (and start withdrawal after I stabilize)

What do you think ?

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[ChessieCat]

It's not something that I would do.  You could end up feeling worse after a few days of not taking it.

 

Please carefully read the following:

 

Cold Turkey and Too-Fast Tapers

 

And from the reinstatement topic:

 

  

On 10/9/2012 at 10:17 AM, Altostrata said:

Don't suddenly go off a psychiatric drug assuming that reinstatement is a safety net

 

This is one of the reasons we advocate gradual tapering to minimize withdrawal symptoms. Once the nervous system is destabilized by withdrawal, all bets are off. Humpty Dumpty the egg has fallen off the wall.

 

[ChessieCat]

And from ever-skip-doses-to-taper

 

Many people come here with severe withdrawal symptoms after following their prescribers' or their own misguided plan to skip doses in order to taper.

 

You may hear of people who got away with skipping doses to taper. That is possible, some people cold turkey without a problem. However, after cold turkey, skipping is perhaps the most risky way to come off psychiatric drugs. Both can result in terrible, severe withdrawal symptoms that might not fully be reversed by reinstatement of the drug.

 

Skipping doses causes the level of the drug in your bloodstream to go up and down, even with long-acting drugs such as fluoxetine. This puts stress on your nervous system, potentially causing withdrawal symptoms. It's like playing ping-pong with your brain.

 

NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER.

 

If after seeing this, you decide to skip doses to taper and get withdrawal symptoms, do not come back here asking for help.

[ChessieCat]

15 minutes ago, ColdTurkey1 said:

I hope this topic is appropriate for my question

I am preparing for remeron withdrawal, but not yet

I have discovered that I feel lethargic for at least half a day every day becuase of this stupid pill (my dose is 30mg)

I tried not taking it for 2 days and the lethargy just dissapers !

I'm going on vacation soon for 1 week, and am wondering if I could handle not taking it for 1 whole week in order to enjoy more, and then return to the full dos (and start withdrawal after I stabilize

What do you think ?

 

I have responded in your topic:

 

See the following 2 posts:

 

AND

 

[Ariel]

Hi @ColdTurkey1

I am not a mod but based on personal experience and from what I've read on SA, stopping a psych drug cold turkey is never a good idea, whether it's for one week or forever. 

 

Cold turkey is very hard on your brain, body, nervous system; it can have a traumatic effect on your physiology. 

 

Every time we go on and off a drug we risk withdrawal, destabilization, hypersensitization, and kindling, all of which can be uncomfortable in and of themselves, as well as making it much more difficult and unpleasant to quit completely at a later date. 

 

In my opinion it's not worth it. 

 

P.S.

ChessieCat beat me to it while I was still writing the above.

I agree with ChessieCat's advice. 

[ColdTurkey1]

Thank you @ChessieCat & @Ariel

You advice is very logical, and I will follow it