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Cold Turkey from Setraline


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Old 02-01-2017, 18:14
Sopheena
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Was on citaloptam since April then around August I went onto setraline. Seemed to be doing ok so early December I decided that after Christmas I wanted to be off the tablets altogether. So from about 20th I took one tablet every other day. From about November I has been forgetting to take them every day so missed out maybe 4 days across the month where I didn't take one.

Anyway I stupidly just wanted to finish the pack and not get any more so I took the final tablet on 27th and now I feel awful. Cold turkey hit around the end of December and I feel dizzy and tired all the time. I really regret not coming off them gradually so am going to get some more tablets tomorrow. If I start back on them again will these horrible symptoms go away? And can I take one a day immediately or do I have to do it gradually?
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Old 02-01-2017, 18:39
lola_skye
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You need to EE the doctor or go back on them at original dose before weening down slowly
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Old 02-01-2017, 18:43
mumbles26
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Hi OP.

I think I must have got lucky. I stopped taking 150mg of Sertraline completely, cold turkey etc. I didn't suffer any withdrawals at all. I found the tablets useless as an anti depressant and they kept me awake to the point of torture. I was glad to be rid of them.

You did the right thing but taking one every other day and I imagine that probably lessened your side effects of withdrawing.

If you start taking them again, after a day or two I think you will start to feel better. But do you want to start taking them again. You sound as though you were quite keen to stop them altogether, so perhaps try and stick this out.

Best of luck
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Old 02-01-2017, 18:59
Sopheena
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Hi OP.

I think I must have got lucky. I stopped taking 150mg of Sertraline completely, cold turkey etc. I didn't suffer any withdrawals at all. I found the tablets useless as an anti depressant and they kept me awake to the point of torture. I was glad to be rid of them.

You did the right thing but taking one every other day and I imagine that probably lessened your side effects of withdrawing.

If you start taking them again, after a day or two I think you will start to feel better. But do you want to start taking them again. You sound as though you were quite keen to stop them altogether, so perhaps try and stick this out.

Best of luck
I only want to go back on them in order to then reduce them gradually. I can't stand the thought of suffering these withdrawal symptoms for weeks to come.
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Old 02-01-2017, 19:47
Jewels501
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I only want to go back on them in order to then reduce them gradually. I can't stand the thought of suffering these withdrawal symptoms for weeks to come.
Sopheena, you really should try to talk to your GP or whoever prescribed the sertraline before you immediately start taking your previous dose.

It may have been that you built up to your current dose over a few weeks? I don't know but really I think you need medical advice as to the best way to re-start and then hopefully reduce so as to avoid these 'cold-turkey' symptoms.

Can you perhaps ask for a telephone consultation at your GP surgery or through your CPN if you have one? Everyone's experience is different in terms of coming off and re-starting any medication and really you should do this under medical supervision - not just for the physical symptoms that you are experiencing but also any any impact that the tablets or lack of them may be having on your mood.

Take care and please phone your GP tomorrow.
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Old 02-01-2017, 19:47
ChristmasCake
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You should never withdraw from a drug without the advice from a doctor. I suggest you make a doctor your first point of call.
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Old 03-01-2017, 10:41
Sopheena
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I have spoken with my doctor and he suggested another 56 tablets be prescribed and he talked me through how to get back on them (take half a tablet starting today for a week, then ssses the situation and maybe ho up to a full tablet for two weeks then taper off reducing the dose on a fortnightly basis, even going down to quarter tablets if necessary). The plan is to be off them completely in a month or so but this time do it gradually. He also said if the tapering off sertraline doesn't work and I get the symptoms back to try Prozac on liquid form as it's easier to administer smaller doses.

One thing he said was hat only 1 in 50 people experience withdrawals from sertraline? I didn't totally stop cold turkey I reduced for a week so maybe he meant only 1 in 50 experience withdrawals after some form of tapering because I can't believe it's only 2% of people feeling like hell after cold turkey on an SSRI.
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Old 03-01-2017, 11:52
mumbles26
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You've done the right thing. How are you feeling today?
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Old 03-01-2017, 12:51
charlie1
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I'm on Sertraline. I stupidly don't take them daily, and then end up feeling like shit like I do at the moment.

Then again, I (very stupidly) don't regularly take my heart medication. But that's another story.

Glad you're back on them again, you should start feeling better fairly quickly.
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Old 03-01-2017, 13:15
John_Adam1
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Sertraline... horrible stuff in my experience. Good luck getting off of it eventually.
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Old 03-01-2017, 14:11
Sopheena
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You've done the right thing. How are you feeling today?
A tiny bit better still dizzy. The doctor said after 2 days I should be feeling fine..
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Old 03-01-2017, 15:30
mumbles26
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A tiny bit better still dizzy. The doctor said after 2 days I should be feeling fine..
Aww hope you feel even better tomorrow
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