Littlebluetemple: Adios, sertraline

[Littlebluetemple]

Hello all, story time.

 

I've been on antidepressants for 11 years.

 

At University, age 20, I started on prozac for severe depression and anxiety. I hit rock bottom, lost a lot of weight and had to drop out for a semester to recover. But recover I did, and my antidepressants really seemed to help. 

 

A year or two later, I wanted to stop taking the meds as I was feeling well. I followed my doctor's advice and halved my dose for a month, then stopped altogether. No-one told me about withdrawal syndrome, so when I started feeling anxious and upset, I assumed it was because my body needed the drug. I resumed my full dose.

 

In later years I switched to citalopram, then sertraline which I found suited me well. I tried several times to stop my meds without success.

 

I had five years of therapy which helped address the underlying causes of my illness. It was excellent but my therapist always dissuaded me from trying to stop my medication. I tried to accept I'd be on sertraline for life. 

 

A few months ago, I found an article on antidepressant withdrawal by coincidence, and a light went on. If I tapered very, very slowly, I might just be able to kick the meds. By going 10% at a time, I'm now down to 150mg/day. Joy!! It hasn't been a walk in the park so far but it IS happening. I'm finally succeeding.

 

After helping myself to other people's insights and advice on this forum for a while, I thought it might be polite to actually contribute.

 

So that's me. Hello

[mammaP]

Hi Littlebluetemple, welcome to SA. Yes it is an eye opener after years of believing you need drugs for life then finding out that it is not true! 

Are you tapering 10% of the current or starting dose? We recommend tapering 10% of the current dose. This means the cuts get smaller and the brain can adjust. 

When I tapered effexor I cut 10% of the start dose, it took a year. Then after a month off I had terrible withdrawal, came here and discovered I should have tapered 10% of the CURRENT dose.  If you have been having symptoms, however mild you would be best to have a long hold to let your brain catch up, then restart when you have been feeling stable for a month or two. Pushing through means the nervous system is becoming more unstable. It's best to slow down or hold to let it recover, you will still get there but without being knocked down by withdrawal after being so careful. I was devastated after all that time thinking I was doing it right, I even felt better as the dose lowered but felt some mild withdrawal and pushed through because that was not as bad as the side effects. Then found that full blown withdrawal is MUCH worse than side effects!  It sounds like you have been reading here for some time so I will  not post all the links, just these 2 in case you didn't see them. 

 

 

[Littlebluetemple]

Thanks MamaP. It's been a little while! 

I'm finding that 10% is too big of a cut for me so am working on 5% cuts which means the withdrawal process is taking FOREVER. But no matter, I am keeping on keeping on! 150mg > back to 175 > several small cuts > now at 145mg/day.

 

I've found the windows and waves model a great comfort - it's okay, it's just a wave and it will pass is something I tell myself often.

 

[nz11]

How are you doing Littlebluetemple?

[Littlebluetemple]

Oh you're so kind to check on me! Some little bumps but am now down to 90mg/day! My lowest dose in years and years. Have made some lifestyle changes, namely dropping work back to 30 hours a week, which I recommend to everyone. Feeling pretty good

[nz11]

3 minutes ago, Littlebluetemple said:

Oh you're so kind to check on me!

Thankyou for those kind words.

 

wow that was a fast reply.

sounds like you have this tapering sorted.

Great to hear from you.

nz11

 

[Littlebluetemple]

Oh joy!

 

I'm now down to 12.5mg of sertraline/day from 200 - the end is in sight! I accidentally cut my dose by 50 mg in one hit a couple of months ago, but remarkably I seemed to tolerate it and have been able to make much smaller, regular cuts ever since.

 

Interestingly as I've hit smaller doses, I seem to tolerate the cuts much better which is the opposite of what you'd think would happen? But I'm not complaining!

 

Anyway thank you ALL for your support, information and just being there. It's been hard but so worth it xx

[ChessieCat]

Hi Littlebluetemple,

 

I've merged your new Intro topic with your original Intro topic.  Each member has only 1 Intro topic where they can ask questions about their own situation and journal their progress.  This keeps your history in one place.  Please do not create any more Intro topics.  Thank you.

 

That's good news that things are going well.

 

It would be helpful if you would create a drug signature.  It seems that this request was missed previously.

 

We ask all members to create a drug signature.  Please update it whenever you make a change.  Please keep it nice and simple.  We only need details for the last 2 years.  Date, drug and dose only, no symptoms or diagnoses.  The other years can just be an overview.  

 

This is the preferred format which is helpful for the mods.  Thank you.

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 2 years particularly?

• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 

• Any drugs prior to 2 years ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
• Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.Before you begin tapering what you need to know

[Madeleine]

Hi Little Blue Temple!

Glad to read you are feeling well and your taper is progressing smoothy.   Excellent news.  
Hopefully everything will continue to go well. It seems you have been tapering a bit quickly due to the 50 mg drop, so make sure to monitor yourself and slow down a little if you feel you need to; often at the lower doses people slow down a bit. 
With best wishes,
M.