ShinyLollipop: 10 years of sertraline 150 mgs. Need a new plan due to dizziness.

[ShinyLollipop]

12 years ago I started on antidepressants due to uncontrollable crying, passive suicidal thoughts, and obsessive thought patterns. I think I started on Prozac, and after a couple of years when it didn't seem to be effective, my doctor switched me to sertraline. It has been working beautifully, and I feel like mentally I'm in a good place. So I thought, why keep taking it? Let's find out what I'm really like. My doctor (a psychiatrist) was agreeable, and recommended a taper of reducing my dosage by 50 mgs for 10 days at a time. When I got to 50 mgs, it seemed to be making me sick in the mornings, so I stopped taking it at all. The first few days were fine. That was 2 weeks ago. Since then I have had increasing dizziness which makes me nauseous, increased tinnitus, and a huge crying screaming fit during an argument with my husband of 20 years (who is my rock in life). 

 

Now the stupid part - I forgot he switched my last prescription from 100 mg pills to 50 mg. So the new math is I went from 150 mgs to 75 right off the bat. 10 days later, down to 50. 10 days after that when I should have been at 50 I was at 25. It is crystal clear why I am feeling the way I do. 

 

This morning I took 1 pill (50 mg) to try to alleviate the dizziness.

 

I need advise on what to do tomorrow, and in the days to come. 

[ShinyLollipop]

After 10 years of sertraline, I feel good. I don't 'identify' as depressed anymore. I want to stop taking it. My doctor recommended reducing from 150 mg by 50 mg for 10 days at a time. He changed my prescription from 100 mg pills to 50 mg pills to make it easier. I forgot he did that, so I totally screwed up. After an accelerated taper, I stopped completely 2 weeks ago. Since then the dizziness has been making me nauseous, so this morning I took a 50 mg pill and it helped. Besides that, I have worsened tinnitus, and a heightened emotional response, neither of which bothers me too much. But the dizziness is unbearable.

 

So where do I go from here? Do I stay on 50 mg for a while and then follow a taper plan?

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Good for you for wanting to get off the antidepressants. I'm sorry that you are struggling with tapering.  Many of us do.  

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on?  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Your doctor recommended a very fast tapering plan.  This is probably part of why you are having symptoms, in addition to making the mistake with the tablet strength.  We at SA suggest tapering extremely slowly, and we taper by 10% of the current dose, so that the taper becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Also, as we are tapering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Finally, going back on the medication, which we call reinstatement, is best done very carefully.  There is some risk involved, and we need more specifics about your drug history before we can suggest a good dose at which to reinstate.  Here is some information about reinstatement.  

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

 

[ShinyLollipop]

I took a 50 mg pill this morning also, and feel okay. No dizziness. AND got my first covid vaccine shot. So I'll stay on 50 for some days, and then taper from there I guess.

[Altostrata]

Hello, @ShinyLollipop

 

Yes, you got withdrawal from going off too fast. Reinstating often works to eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Even 10mg or 25mg might have been enough.

 

You'll probably want to taper sertraline with a combination of tablets and liquid, see Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)