View Full Version : Coming off Sertraline
Hello everyone,
I am new on here and have a question that my wife has asked me to post (she doesnt like the Internet much!).
She has been on 100mg Sertraline since just after the birth of our second child (over 7 years ago). She was originally put on seroxat after the birth of our first child 11 years ago as she was diagnosed with post natal depression although having been with her for over 17 years we would both agree that she has probably always suffered to a greater or lesser degree.
In general life is good and we dont get the black times which is great as the kids have never had to see her in these times. The major downside for both of us is that her sex drive is non existant and whilst she accepts this she would like it to be better if at all possible. That said neither of us want her to have to go through the black times again as this would not be good for her or for the kids to have to see this.
She has tried all sorts of herbal "enhancers" with no luck and to be honest we have even see specialists (consultants) to try and help but always to no avail.
She is now considering trying to reduce the dose (with GP help) or even trying to come off them but we really would both like to hear any feedback and possible ways to do this. We have read the forum but it appears that most people have only been on the tablets for a much shorter periods and we were wondering what people who have been on them for many years as she has have done to reduce / come off them.
Alternatively if anyone has some ideas how to improve the sex drive whilst staying on the Sertraline we would also love to hear from.
Thanks in advance to everyone.
N and A
Jill-Louise
06-12-09, 15:40
Over the years i have been on so many different kinds of medication i can't remember what side effects they did have. I do know that the last one was seroxat and in the end i had to go cold turkey. My GP said i couldn't get addicted to them but i know that i did and it was a really difficult time for me :weep: Now i am on sertraline 150mg and i think it's going to go up. I'm also on lustral (cant spell the other name...apiprazole 25mg..i think) but have only recently started that so the GP has to wait and see which tablet they want to increase. I have to admit that my libido has been very low but i guess having a new partner has helped in that i make the effort but the other one thing that is really important is that he understands how i am feeling ! Why don't you try romancing her, maybe once a week making time for just you two, candles, massage, dinner whatever....being relaxed and not having the children on your mind 24/7 for that one day/night. Sorry if it sounds silly but i'm just an old softie at heart. I do hope you can manage to sort something out. If you need a babysitter.......lol :yesyes:
gypsygirl30
06-12-09, 15:48
I was on 50-100 mg of sertraline for 5 years before I decided to stop taking it. I tapered off very slowly, slower than my doctor thought necessary. I'm glad I did, though because I still had withdrawal symptoms that were pretty unpleasant and I can't imagine how I would have felt if I had tried to come off faster. Everyone is different and some people may have an easier time with withdrawal....the best thing is pay attention to how you are responding when starting to taper off and go as slow as you need to to feel ok. I reduced my dose (from 100 mg) by 12.5 mg every week. It takes patience, it is a long process. But I think it is worth it if it minimizes the withdrawal symptoms. If she only wants to reduce the dose, maybe she could work her way down to 50 mg and see how that works for her.
I'm to see my GP tomorrow to come off 100mg - hoping he tells how too as I'm not sure best way go about it or what to expect as I have awful side effects for the first 6weeks when started them.
Any advice would be great and if side effects do occur, how soon after lowing dose should I expect them?
best to get in touch with CITA.......i came off sertraline by using their methods ...........just do it very slowly and you will be fine ....im off them completely for 5 months now .......good luck x
I'm to see my GP tomorrow to come off 100mg - hoping he tells how too as I'm not sure best way go about it or what to expect as I have awful side effects for the first 6weeks when started them.
Any advice would be great and if side effects do occur, how soon after lowing dose should I expect them?
Hope it goes well for you Panic. As you know I had a bad time coming off it but I'm sure your GP will be helpful.
Let us know how you get on.
thank you for the replies. did you mean:
http://www.citawithdrawal.org.uk/
never heard of that before.
Seen GP today - reduced me to 50mg, then asked me to reduce to 25mg when I feel right to do so. Keep you posted how it goes.
thank you for the replies. did you mean:
http://www.citawithdrawal.org.uk/
never heard of that before.
yes they are the people to trust ........good luck xx:hugs:
i notice you are in the UK ( like me) if you call CITA they will call you back .............its a liverpool number........they are VERY supportive and its free !!
Yeah I'm not far from Liverpool. Thank you for the advice Pammy :)
Yeah I'm not far from Liverpool. Thank you for the advice Pammy :)
How's it going Panic? Have you reduced it yet?
Yeah m8, just taking 50mg now - feel better for it at the mo.
U ok pal?
Yes thanks - not too bad. My GP thinks I should switch to prozac because it's easier to come off - you don't have to taper as long. I have loads of prozac left over so might just switch over from 25mg sert. Nightmare getting on them and nightmare coming off!
Hope you don't have the problems I had...
I think the sertraline mustn't have agreed with me, I was in hell for first 6weeks taking and even at best only ever felt 95% myself - since I've cut them down I feel absolutely fine, I'm now just taking bout 35mg. Let me know how you get on with the switch m8
I think going down from 100 to 35mg would have killed me! I've just about coped with halving the dose. Well done though - perhaps you'll be one of the lucky ones that gets off lightly.
Haven't switched to Prozac - I've got too much going on at the moment.
I think the sert was causing the anxiety I had left m8 - think it just didnt agree with me but I was sooo desp i stuck it out. I've stop taking all gether now and fine back to how i was before the anxeity started. U Ok m8?
I'm OK thanks. Haven't got any side effects on 25mg, whereas I had every side effect possible on 50mg - the worst being ZERO libido. But now back to my old rampant self! How long you been completely off now?
ha ha - nice1 m8. only 2 days, see how it goes - so far all fine.
Quick update:
Been totally off a week now (went from 100mg to zero in less than a week and haven't had any for a another week since) and feel totally back to my old self.
Quick update:
Been totally off a week now (went from 100mg to zero in less than a week and haven't had any for a another week since) and feel totally back to my old self.
Wow - you lucky bugger! That would have literally killed me. I'm going to up my dose tomorrow, back to 50mg - depression is creeping back. But I'm glad you're feeling well. Keep me posted matey.....
Wow - you lucky bugger! That would have literally killed me. I'm going to up my dose tomorrow, back to 50mg - depression is creeping back. But I'm glad you're feeling well. Keep me posted matey.....
Im sorry hear that m8. I'm doing Ok, had a few brain zap l8 at night when tired last couple of days. Not sure if withdrawal from the meds - its been weeks or just i'm absolutely shattered (got new baby and had the odd half hr sleep for last few days). Keep me posted m8 - if you wanna chat PM me :)
Im sorry hear that m8. I'm doing Ok, had a few brain zap l8 at night when tired last couple of days. Not sure if withdrawal from the meds - its been weeks or just i'm absolutely shattered (got new baby and had the odd half hr sleep for last few days). Keep me posted m8 - if you wanna chat PM me :)
Congratulations on having a new baby mate. Withdrawal symptoms were the last thing you needed - good job you seem to have got off so lightly!
So far upping back to 50mg has made me feel tired, spaced out and a bit moody. My moods are very up and down but it does feel like the depression is easing somewhat. Also been getting the brain zaps which I never had before.
Anyway, let me know how you're getting on - although it looks like you've nearly turned the corner....
MoonlightFire
18-07-10, 15:17
Hiya. I've been on Sertraline for 7 years. Started on 50mg in 2003 and have been on between 50-100mg eversince.. About 6 months ago I reduced back down to 50mg and recently consulted with my Doctor about coming off completely...she agreed that it would be a good idea and I have now been off sertraline completely for about 5 weeks :)
Over the last 5 weeks I've been very up and down and have had a hard time with irritability, sleep, drowsiness and anxiety but have been feeling a little better this weekend. It's not been easy especially as I am under a lot of stress at work on top of going through withdrawal! I'm getting there though and I do have my ups aswell as the downs :)
Does anyone know how long it takes for sertraline to leave your body completely? I feel like I'm still being 'protected' by the remnants of the drug in my system. Previously I've noticed I suddenly get a lot worse after 2 months without the drug but I don't know if that's because all of the chemicals are out of your system at that point or if it's just me going through an unrelated bad patch.
Natty, I hope your wife is doing ok with reducing her dose. Let us know how it goes :)
Moonlight x
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