Plantaholic1 Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 Plantaholic1 here. Was on Sertraline. Tapered only as far as 25mg from 150mg over a year. GP then recommended yo-yoing between 50 and 25mg for a while (yes, honestly) then to go to 25mg for a few weeks before stopping. Didn't yo-yo. Just went to 25mg but having now stopped, am struggling. Physically, aches and pains all over especially hands hips and feet. No energy. Easily tired and overwhelmed. No motivation. Can't sleep either. Periods of itching and profuse sweating not related to exertion. Tinnitus too. Mentally, feeling irritable and sometimes full of rage. Tearful and negative too. Sometimes like an unexploded bomb. Sometimes just don't want to be here. Wondering if I should go back to 25mg and stabilise before then insisting on more help to taper off? Any tips or experiences much appreciated. Sertraline 50mg Jan 2019 Diazepam PRN Jan 2019 to present (occasional use for anxiety and sleep) Sertraline 100mg March 2019 Sertraline 150mg July 2019 Sertraline 100mg September 2019 Co codamol for joint pain Sertraline 75 mg March 2020 Sertraline 50 mg October 2020 Sertraline 25mg March 2021 Off completely July 2021 Link to comment
Plantaholic1 Posted August 25, 2021 Author Share Posted August 25, 2021 Plantaholic1 here. New to the site. Sorry for posting in the wrong place initially. Finding the site quite complicated and confusing. Was on Sertraline. Tapered only as far as 25mg from 150mg over a year. GP then recommended yo-yoing between 50 and 25mg for a while (yes, honestly) then to go to 25mg for a few weeks before stopping. Didn't yo-yo. Just went to 25mg but having now stopped, am struggling. Physically, aches and pains all over especially hands hips and feet. No energy. Easily tired and overwhelmed. No motivation. Can't sleep either. Periods of itching and profuse sweating not related to exertion. Tinnitus too. Mentally, feeling irritable and sometimes full of rage. Tearful and negative too. Sometimes like an unexploded bomb. Sometimes just don't want to be here. Wondering if I should go back to 25mg and stabilise before then insisting on more help to taper off? Any tips or experiences much appreciated. Hope this is OK? Sertraline 50mg Jan 2019 Diazepam PRN Jan 2019 to present (occasional use for anxiety and sleep) Sertraline 100mg March 2019 Sertraline 150mg July 2019 Sertraline 100mg September 2019 Co codamol for joint pain Sertraline 75 mg March 2020 Sertraline 50 mg October 2020 Sertraline 25mg March 2021 Off completely July 2021 Link to comment
Moderator Go2zero Posted August 25, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 25, 2021 Hi Plantaholic1, Welcome to this support site. Before we can answer your questions, please give us more information first. Good that you came here. There is a lot of knowledge to be found and shared here. Also the members can support each other here. Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months? It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase. Please read the link below for instructions. This will allow us to give you the best guidance. https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/18343-please-summarize-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/ Sorry to read what you are experiencing right now. All symptoms you describe are known as withdrawal symptoms! Please describe in more detail how and when you stopped (also in signature). The "when" and at which dosage (25mg?) are very important to know, before giving any information how to continue. Please understand that going up and down in dosage is really asking for trouble.... It seems that you already found out that the advice of your doctor to "yo-yo" between 50 and 25 mg was not so clever probably.... Here is already some useful information: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/ https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/22958-never-skip-doses-to-taper/ https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/82-the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-stabilization/ https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/6632-the-rule-of-3kis-keep-it-simple-keep-it-slow-keep-it-stable/?tab=comments#comment-525233 https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1441-tips-for-tapering-zoloft-sertraline/ 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 5, 2021 Administrator Share Posted October 5, 2021 Hello, @Plantaholic1. How are you? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Plantaholic1 Posted October 6, 2021 Author Share Posted October 6, 2021 14 hours ago, Altostrata said: Hello, @Plantaholic1. How are you? Hi, @Altostrata . I'm OK but back on 50mg of Sertraline. Taper didn't go well and increasing joint pain along with yo yoing moods and anger drove me back to 25mg then up to 50mg. Pain in feet and hips virtually gone. Mood stabilised. Will need to be better supported by GP next time. They don't accept withdrawal symptoms at all and wouldn't give anything less than 25mg for tapering. Also, self isolating on Western Isles with partner and 3 dogs in little cottage as tested positive through PCR for COVID whilst on a week's break. Being supported well now but costs were eyewatering until financial help offered. Went into full panic mode but calmer now. Thanks for being in touch. Found the site too difficult to access and protocols for posting a bit confusing. Sertraline 50mg Jan 2019 Diazepam PRN Jan 2019 to present (occasional use for anxiety and sleep) Sertraline 100mg March 2019 Sertraline 150mg July 2019 Sertraline 100mg September 2019 Co codamol for joint pain Sertraline 75 mg March 2020 Sertraline 50 mg October 2020 Sertraline 25mg March 2021 Off completely July 2021 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted October 9, 2021 Administrator Share Posted October 9, 2021 I'm sorry, @Plantaholic1. You can post your questions here in this one topic. You can make your own sertraline liquid for tapering by mixing a tablet with water. Instructions here Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft) Please let us know if you want any help. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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