HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

newbie just off sertraline feeling anxious

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/8/2013 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Im hoping someone here may be able to answer some questions for me. I have been off sertraline for 4 weeks now so I would have thought most of the withdrawal effects would be over but I seem to be getting worse. Im extremely tearful and irritable which I can handle but its the anxiety that worries me I know how debilitating that can be and so dont want to go back down that rd. Is this now me for good or could it still be withdrawal ? Does anybody have any experience of quitting this drug ? I would love to hear from you.
Posted 7/8/2013 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't quit that particular drug, but when I quit Celexa years back withdrawal lasted 6-8 weeks, though it only lasts a few weeks for most people.

The reason that I say that is to point out that the time frame can vary from person to person, because our minds and bodies are so different.

There will also be a period of adjustment, while you get accustomed to not having the medication.

If it is too overwhelming, I would give your pharmacist or doctor a call and ask them to advise.

Sorry to hear you're going through this, but welcome to healing well. There are some people here who are much more intelligent than myself, so hopefully they'll come along with better advice. :)
Posted 7/8/2013 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for your quick reply sometimes it helps just hearing an understanding voice. Maybe im being impatient im going away at the weekend and I don't want these feelings to ruin it.
Posted 7/8/2013 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
It's difficult to allow the time for adjustment - you're not impatient, you're normal.

In the first post in this forum, our moderators have collected some pretty useful resources for members. You might try checking out some of those breathing exercises and coping skills. You can practice & then implement them this weekend to help make your trip more enjoyable. Plus, you've still got several days before weekend.

Peace to you!
Posted 7/8/2013 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry posted that twice but thanks for your suggestions I will check those out xx
Posted 7/8/2013 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome!

Here is a sight that might answer some of your questions regarding your weaning.

http://www.theroadback.org/



If you don't mind me asking, what is your plan in regards to how you cope and move forward without any meds?

Do you have any therapy or self-help skills that you can put to work now? BR mentioned those, and for good reason...they are great!:)

I do encourage you to go after and use new tools! I believe that if you take away one coping/helping treatment option, such as a med...then you are wise to replace it with another, and if therapy is a possibility...I really encourage looking into it.

Keep posting here with us as well. It is great to talk with others who undertand!

Scaredy Cat

Posted 7/9/2013 8:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks sc I must be honest therapy is something ive had a few times and never felt much helped. But you are right I should have a plan I guess, I am trying 5htp and fish oils as heard they may help also trying the breathing exercises. Feel a lot better today think for talking to you lot who I know understands x
Posted 7/9/2013 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
Well keep posting with us.:) You may pick up some good coping strategies from reading other's suggestions here.

Keep us updated as to how you are doing, and we will support you along the journey!

S.C.
Posted 7/9/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Marie, If you don't mind me asking, what dose were you on, and how long did you take to taper yourself off? Please don't tell me you stopped cold turkey... I have weaned myself off of sertraline 4 times, but it would help if I knew these things before I can try and give you advice.

Fox
Posted 7/9/2013 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Just out of curiosity Fox 7 - each time you weaned off of Sertraline, were you able to go back on and have it work. Mine quit and there is no way we could get it to work again. Thanks.
Posted 7/9/2013 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
hmmm.... didn't know fish oil was useful for anxiety. I got my hubby to start taking it about a year ago, for cholesterol issues. Good to know it may serve a dual purpose. :)
Posted 7/9/2013 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Fox7 thank you for your reply, I was on 50mg for around 3 years. I did taper them off by halfing them then doing alternative days (which I since read u shouldn't really do) did it over 2-3 weeks. Felt quite good today but then ive had a day off work and done some nice things tomorrow may be more trying. I know when first getting on the drug my anxiety got worse so am thinking maybe this is the case getting off it too
Any advice would be much appreciated
Posted 7/10/2013 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
Wayupnorth, The first three times I took it, it worked, and I was fine on just 50 mgs. That's what always worked for me. But this past go around with it was a lot different. I was maxed out at 200 mgs, PLUS I had to take .5 mgs of xanax three times a day with it. So all in all, I guess it just quit working for me. My body must have built up a tolerance to it or something. The only thing that I got from it was weight gain from being on such a high dose for a year. *blah* Anyway, I had to switch meds, so now I just started taking Lexapro last Wednesday.


Marie, The reason I asked is because all 4 times I weaned myself off of it, I would cut the dose down every 10 days to 2 weeks. So 2-3 weeks seems awfully quick to wean totally off of it after taking it for 3 years. That's probably why you're not feeling real good right now. But hey, you're off of it now, so the only suggestion I can make, and this is from experience only, is if you can take Benadryl, it really helps with the dizzies that you get from withdrawing, plus it helps calm your anxiety a little.

Hope this helps both of you a bit.

((hugs)) Fox
Posted 7/10/2013 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
Not getting the dizziness or anything like when I was reducing the dose and it will be 5 weeks fri since I took my last tablet. That's what is worrying me I think if all the other symptoms of withdrawal have gone but ive got tjis background feeling of anxiety perhaps thats the real me now, I can cope like that for a while but day after day it gets me down thats how I ended up on the tablets in the first place.
Posted 7/11/2013 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hope is this a charitable organization or a free service?

Larry
Posted 7/11/2013 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
No it's not. As a matter of fact, it's quite expensive. I looked into it myself before....

If you look it up, on Amazon they have it for like $168 smhair

AND I might add, that the website to buy it directly from them has it for $197
Posted 7/12/2013 6:17 AM (GMT 0)
Dear hoperules thanks for the information will definitely look into it . Feeling very anxious this morning im going away amd so don't want it ruined. Im going with my friend and our families, she is terminally ill and that's the reason we are going to make some good memories, I feel so guilty feeling like this when she has so many things to be anxious about and yet she is coping admirably.l must be stromg for her sake .
Posted 7/12/2013 6:31 AM (GMT 0)
Marie...

I am really sorry to report that hoperules was not a legitimate member, but turned out to be SPAMMER. He/she was making a profit from suggesting that program.

We caught on, they were banned by the Admin here (yeah!) but I guess we missed removing that link...until now.;p (they made so many, it was hard to get them all deleted...but we will)

I am not saying that this program mentioned is not a good one, but it is expensive, and you might do well to seriously consider it, do your research, ect...

I am sorry that this person was not sincere in trying to help.:(

However...the rest of us are!!! We care, and hope that you will ultimately find something that works for you.

I am sorry to hear about your friend's illness. I do hope that you have a wonderful time together! I know that you must be a blessing to each other.:)

Talk to you soon,

S.C.
Posted 7/12/2013 7:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you sc I didn't realise that but I didn't click the link yet anyway so won't bother now. May god bless people like yourself x
Posted 7/31/2013 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Just a quick update as im now just back from my second holiday and they both went amazingly well. The intense anxiety has gone now and im just left with some small infrequent jitters that are manageable. So I would say about 6 weeks its taken me to feel like the sertraline is completely out of my system. The holidays have definitely helped as going back to work today I had the morning butterflies which I was free from over my holidays and some obsessive thoughts been a bit sticky today but on the whole I feel I can handle it. Just wanted to let people know there's light at the end of the tunnel x
the
Posted 8/1/2013 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Great news! I am really happy to hear that you are doing well. I hope that it continues so for you.:)

Keep us posted, and know that we are always here for your support!

S.C.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply