Why i stopped taking sertraline cold turkey
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- Samaritans website: www.samaritans...
I mentioned a couple of vlogs ago that I stopped taking sertraline, aka my antidepressant medicine and I was suffering from a bad bout of discontinuation syndrome. Here I explain why I stopped taking sertraline cold turkey and what my withdrawal symptoms were.
I'm a special needs mum vlogger in the UK with two daughters, one of whom is severely disabled. Elin is a girl with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, she has a feeding tube, is a wheelchair user and as she can't use the toilet independently she is in a nappy / diaper.
Apart from cerebral palsy, Elin has complex medical needs and seizure disorder. She has tonic clonic, or grand mal seizures, partial focal seizures and absence seizures. She is on multiple medications every day, for her spastic muscles, for her reflux disorder and for her epilepsy. Elin is on a blended diet, which we give her through her feeding tube, and I share tips, how to and recipes.
On this channel I share our day to day life, our morning, feeding, medication and bedtime routines, feeding techniques, how Elin communicates, etc. I also showcase the relationship between Elin and her sister Alice, and how they play and interact with each other.
Elin’s medical procedures playlist: bit.ly/2HhKFsE
Tips and tricks playlist: bit.ly/2ugfoy1
Come and join us on other social media platforms:
Instagram: / parentxp
Twitter: / parentxp
Facebook: / parentxp
Website: www.parentxp.org
parentxp, Why i stopped taking sertraline cold turkey, sertraline withdrawal symptoms, symptoms of stopping sertraline cold turkey, what happens if i stop taking sertraline cold turkey, how long do side effects of stopping sertraline last, is it dangerous to stop taking zoloft cold turkey, zoloft withdrawal symptoms, zoloft withdrawal stories, what happens if I stop taking zoloft cold turkey, how long do side effects of stopping zoloft last, discontinuation syndrome, samaritans
Cold turkeying from 3 year's worth of daily 100mg tablets - 5 days in as we speak. I've got the irritability/anger, the dizziness/vertigo, the constant fatigue and the oversleeping. It's not great but it's not terrible. On the positive side of things, my libido has come back and my anxiety/depression hasn't reemerged!
I have stopped for a week 100mg a day for 8 months brain zaps anxiety not sure where this is going but THINGS ARE WORKING DOWNSTAIRS LOL nothing worse than a half hearted erection 😂
Me too, I've used Kratom and it appears to have minimized any withdrawals. I've since had a good mushroom trip after the ssris cleared out. That was why I quit. I didn't want serotonin syndrome. Worked out great. Still have motivation and organizational problems at times. Saul Goodman
How do you feel now?
Jesus! the worst part is the lack of libido! it is horrible not to feel anything!!!!
I feel fine, I've noticed no re-emergence of anxiety, and withdrawals lasted around a fortnight. I experience excitement, things like listening to music actually gives me that buzz that I didn't realise I'd lost. Libido's back to normal, etc. @@Joe_Moor
Today I’m 10 days off Sertraline 150mg from 20 years. I got this.💪🏽
I thank my new relationship to Jesus Christ. I can’t take any credit 😅
You got this!
I’m still off them meds and I feel like my equilibrium is back to normality. I still need to callous my mind … but damn, I feel like I just shed skin from 2 decades ago. Yoooo…..tha fuck?💪🏽
Any updates? How're you now?
keep going pray daily Jesus is the king of kings AND HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US 😎
When docs prescribe this stuff they need to be ready to write you out of work for 2 months as well
It would be nice, yeah...
I agree!
Amen. I recall when I was put on a different anti-depressant before Zoloft, ( Paxil XR) it made me feel like I was made of wet sand. My mood was never stable(it’d cycle every 3-4 days) and I was a waitress in a pub who’s kitchen/bartender couldn’t sustain the amount of guests we had:p
One of my coworkers that was in NURSING school even scoffed and rolled her eyes when I said i missed work because of the side effects .ugh :p
Right?!??
Yes thats why I decided to stop taking them, im not working right now. The pharmaceutical rich world just wants to get richer. I treated my depression with therapy and prayer, God healed me completely no antidepressants needed
You have a nice attitude towards your neighbors. Great gratitude and calmness you demonstrate and makes me think of how badly I used to think of my neighbors even though they did nothing wrong lmao
Ha, I love my neighbours. They feed me... 😉
Omg I love the relationship you have with your neighbors! That’s so cool!
They are the best
Hi! Sertaline momma here, I've got a wonderful 2 yr old son. I was on 75mg. And kind of had to cut cold turkey before Thanksgiving because there was no prescription ready. I kinda feel okay with not being on them. It's been quite a few days. I've had odds spells of that "underwater" feeling when I turn or lookup, etc. It's kinda dizzying but resides quickly, like it didn't happen. I certainly have been very irritated, that's the only "depressing" part for me. Is that I'm loosing my patience with my loved ones and I see how it affects them and it hurts me. I'm working on myself. Mental health is twice as important as physical!
Also thank you so much for sharing your experience. ❤
How did it go?
Good on you for growing a pair and going cold turkey. Excellent work!
Luca is amazing, particularly the white tip of his black tail. I'm so glad he joined you in this video.
Im weaning off off zoloft now and its terrible, body tremors, headache and nausea. These medications are awful. Glad your feeling good ❤
You made my day with your video. I stopped cold turkey about 2 weeks ago. Still feel light headed , my stomach pain comes and goes. Headache and did felt angry for a couple of days, was not getting hungry but today i feel a lot better. I also did a lot of praying and asked God n Virgin Mary for help. Since it is mental illness, dont want to take them again.
How are you feeling now? I stopped cold turkey about 3 weeks ago, was fine first week but been really physically unwell past 2 weeks. No mood symptoms though and finally able to eat again. Mainly feel really drunk, sleepy, hungover, and like blood sugars are low all the time, and muscle/joint aches/pains but am hypermobile (though my hypermobility has never caused me this much pain).
@@binturong00 hey hey how are you now? Hope life is treating you better❢
i quit taking them about a week ago coke turkey, i was on 25mg for about 2 years and so far i’ve only experienced brain zaps , i’ve seen things about people having seizures after quitting cold turkey and it’s been causing me so much anxiety 🤦🏻♀️
How’re things going?
The brain zaps are horrible. They best way I can describe the feeling of missing a dose 1 or 2 days is like when you go to take a step down the stairs and you miss it but these feelings go in and out all day. I hope to one day gradually decrease from the highest dose. If you’re in a similar situation guys.. we got this. Make each day count. Life is short. We will get there. ❤
Wow I just quit Sertraline cold turkey because I’m trying out Wellbutrin to see if I can lose a bit of weight and to improve my energy and focus. I was taking 100mg. It was working but I felt like I didn’t give two craps about anything and was letting myself and my life go. The falling down the stairs feeling is to the T. I’m confused now because I’m not sure if I’m experiencing withdrawal symptoms or if it’s the dreaded first few weeks of the Wellbutrin
Wow this is perfectly described. I was telling my friend that is also on SSRIs that the feeling I get when I miss my dose is like a watching an old school tv and the satellite goes in and out and the tv flickers and the white lines show. I'm currently in the United States Marine Corps Infantry and currently on my 2nd deployment. Navy medicine is complete garbage. I havent taken my 200mg of Setraline for about 8 days and I also take buPROpion I think 150mg quit alot. So now my shit is all over and I'm taking two of those buPROpions to substitute for being out of my Setraline. It's been a miserable 8 days. They can't even fill my fuckin script that's how shit our "free health care" is being in the military.
@@OhThr33Mafia I hope you feel better John
@@KVC90 Thanks, still waiting until tomorrow. 9 days now
What a bubbly personality you have!
Quit them like 3 days ago.. I feel like a person again lol but the brain zaps are crazy so I’ve been taking omega 3 which helps a lot personally
My family physician has been canceling our appointments left and right and increases dosages without the research so I’m going to group therapy with her constant absence whether it’s vacation or whatever she’s going through
How are you feeling now? I'm on day 3 and stopped.
I’m on day 7 now and I feel like my brain is drunk I can’t even drive my car
Hey! I'm into week 3 cold turkey off citalopram after 10 years. I had to stop as I needed urgent medication for an infection which could not be taken with citalopram. Initially put my symptoms down to the effects of the medication for the infection. I felt ill anyway so I was already suffering with flu type symptoms, and felt dizzy. I still feel a bit 'spacey' and have had a bit of an upset tummy. I can't say if this is withdrawal, side effects ftom the other medication, or if I am ill due to the infection. Either way, it's not so bad, I can cope. After 10 yrs I felt it was time to stop. I want to experience a full range of emotions as i felt indifferent to everything. I can honestly say I feel more present, I have more motivation, and more energy to power through my day. I have no regretts 🙂
Not to be weird but is everything back including your drive and stuff? I read stuff about and I don't want my life to be screwed.
That sensory disturbance reminds me of a type of seizure I have sometimes. ( not epilepsy) but I'm really glad that your in a better place.
That's interesting. I don't experience them anymore now.
Found this video bc I just stopped cold turkey after almost a decade on them (long time I know). It’s terrible but I’m glad I’m not alone.
Oh wow, cold turkey after nearly ten years. How did that go? And how are you feeling now you're no longer taking them?
@@ParentXPTry klopomin wd lady
I quit sertraline (100mg) the same day I realized it was the cause of my weight gain (thanks Reddit, my doctor didn't tell me about that). It has been a week now. My mood is amazing, but I have really bad dizziness and numbness in my limbs. Thankfully I don't feel nauseous or have a headache, my only symptom is “helicopters” like after cheap alcohol in my teenage years. I hope it goes away soon! And my weight too lol
HI, hope the dizziness and numbness have gone away now.
Thank you! 2 weeks have passed, much better, I don’t regret quitting. the main thing is the mental state and being ready to get off therapy, but physically everything passes quickly 🩷
Hey this is interesting,I'd tried weening of after three years of it really helping all of a sudden it just stopped working I was on 150didnt wanna go higher because I felt this was enough,the thing is when I weaned down I still got withdrawal like electric shocked all over my body,and i came off another antidepressants year back cold turkey didn't get that.
I've now gone on a teeny bit if that exfevor exl and it help I will be using that to come off over time,
Bearing in mind feel it's important to say what works for some doesnt work for other,so if you're talking something and it's helping good for you 👍💚
Keep going 💪
I’m on day 5 of going cold turkey from 25mg of Sertraline. I was only taking them for four days.
I decided to go cold turkey because the side effects I was suffering whilst taking the Sertraline were absolutely insane and completely unbearable. I had around 17/18 different side effects and I thought surely Cold Turkey cannot be worse than this anyway! I’d rather just not have this in my body.
So i went Cold Turkey, five days in and I still feel awful. I didn’t think I would even really get any Withdrawal Symptoms because I was taking a small dose of Sertraline for such a short amount of time! I feel sick, dizzy, I can’t walk properly, my eyes are completely dried out, my throat/neck is completely swollen and it’s hard to swallow, my ears feel blocked, I’m numb and tingly down the left hand side of my body (I had this sensation whilst on the medication as well). And i keep having random panic attacks and bursts of sobbing uncontrollably to the point where I can’t breathe.
I just am so fed up and really regret ever starting the Sertraline. I can’t believe how badly my body reacted to such a small dose of it for such a short amount of time. I just hope that these Withdrawal Symptoms subside within 10 days like yours did. Thank you for sharing your story :)
Hi I've done exactly the same and having the same experience hope you're well it's definitely not for everyone 🙂
@@stephenmorris9722 How long did you feel like that? Are you okay now?
How are you now? How long did it take to feel better? Are you taking anything now?
@@oppsendless38140
I stopped 50 mg cold turkey like 1 and a half weeks back and recently im having brain zaps and really vivid dreams ?? How long will it last ?? Pls help . (I will not go back and do the gradual reduction)
It lasted only ten days, which felt like an absolute eternity while I was in it, but afterwards, I could see it wasn't that long. I'm sorry you're struggling with bad effects right now, please know it will get better. It baffles me doctors are so keen on prescribing this one as the side effects both coming on AND going off are so bad.
Hi Tova. I’m glad your feeling better from your sertraline withdrawal. I take 15 of escitalopram. If I forget to take it, even though my dose is quite low I go down straight away. I feel very low and panicky. I get electric head too. It also feels like partially set cold jelly is dripping down between my brain and my skull. Pretty weird eh? This low dose keeps me going, I get very ill if I forget to take them or try to cut down. Your uncles gift was very thoughtful.
Partially set cold jelly, what a wonderful and yucky description! 😂
Hi Brenda I’m taking escitalopram 15 mg as well I started again one month ago because had very bad anxiety 😥 but I took them one year ago for 8 months and stopped them cold turkey and nothing happened for 10 months but strarted again unfortunately 😢
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
75 mg sertraline Zoloft, been taking for about 2 years doing cold turkey. Pill was making me gain weight and I hated it.
Vomiting, brain zaps, dizziness, forgetfulness, insomnia (already happend before I cold turkey), vivid dreams, headaches like crazy, irritability and sensory disturbance.
It’s only been a few days! Don’t like the symptoms but I could careless I don’t want to go back to that medication ever again.
How’re you feeling now?
How did it go?
Took mine for 2 days and had severe symptoms that i felt like standing in front of moving traffic. Went cold turkey. Its been 18 days so far and im still feeling the symptoms. Feeling numb and tad bit anxious. Hoping these symptoms will go and that the medication leaves my system on the upcoming week.
You know, I am increasingly frightened by how many people are prescribed sertraline with only minimal information about the side effects. "You may feel a little worse the first couple of weeks" is what I was told. A little worse? I felt like my life was over. And no information about the side effects of coming off the stuff.
@@ParentXP how are you feeling now? I think the worst feeling is that itching irritation- maybe it's just me not wholely believing that I won't be able to recover.
And I have to agree, it was prescribed like candy to me and I was just getting better too back then.
@@ParentXP if the symptoms are severer does that indicate a longer recovery time since the person has a higher dependence to the drug? I was doing some researching.
@@anaro9132 honestly, I don’t know.
It’s my 2nd day of cold turkey withdrawal from Zoloft after I told my doctor I wanted to get off. Tiny he never mentioned there are withdrawal symptoms to this drug. I have headaches, I’m ver sensitive to a lot of things like sound, light, etc. I feel like I have the flu right now. Exercise like jump rope helps a little and caffeine keeps me going but then that’s another drug to withdrawal from later. Thanks for video.
Thank you for sharing, I hope it isn't too long and difficult for you. You can, if you want, go back on a smaller dose and try the reduction technique of stopping instead. Or, if you decide to continue cold turkey then use the tools at your disposal, including caffeine.
Caffeine would send me straight into panic attacks while withdrawing from Zoloft.
Terrible for me.
Currently experiencing sertraline withdrawal. I'm not having a good time
I'm sorry Natalie, it is rough. Did you cut down first or go cold turkey? How long has it been? How are you feeling now?
@@ParentXP came off at 50mg. Its been a week and a half
@@nataliebartlett3457 how long were u on them for and how is it going
@@endofdayzfitnessu.k2126 just under 2 years. Physical symptoms took about a fortnight. I'm now super sensitive to everything and cry a lot happy, sad, cute, I bawl 😂
@@nataliebartlett3457did you end up being ok Natalie, I hope so:( I’m currently dealing with them pretty bad right now
Hi, appreciate the video. I am looking to get off 25mg sertraline currently. I will be talking to my doctor tomorrow. What has helped you the most with coming off sertraline? My main issue is anxiety
Hmmm, oh, it's difficult to answer this one but let me see. When I came off sertraline it was because I no longer needed it to function. And it helped me gain a lot of clarity around my thoughts and feelings not to be on it. I still really struggled with anxiety, but as it turned out, I am perimenopausal and my anxiety was a symptom of that. Now I treat my perimenopause and feel amazing. For nom-hormone related anxiety disorder, there are other treatments. medicines other than sertraline, different forms of therapy or coaching. So if you find the anxiety coming back and being troubling, talk to your doctor about other options available.
@@ParentXP Thanks for sharing I appreciate it :)
Going through something similar at the moment, every joint is sore and feel as if there is a budgie flying about inside my head chirping very loudly, my doctor told me to take half of a 20mg tablet for two weeks and then stop, why do doctors know so little about coming off this drug?
Doctors are a bunch of imbeciles. How are you doing now? I’m thinking about stopping cold turkey. My brain feels more free without taking them. I’m on day 5. Do the withdrawal side effects last long? I am not experiencing anything severe. Feeling fine. Much more turbulent and aggressive if someone triggers me but mentally more clear and no longer tired (yay!).
Month off escitalopram, cold turkey. Physically, easy-peasy after coming off venlafaxine a few years ago. Brain zaps have gone, werent that bad to be fair. Mentally and emotionally though, I'm not in a good place. I get the anger thing, the world just looks so awful. Humanity makes me sick. No hard feelings of suicide, but passive ideation, not wanting to wake up etc. Hope it gets better because at this stage, historically, I've gone back to the docs and back on the SSRI merry-go-round.
That sort of negative perspective towards the world is literal serotonin withdrawal. How are you feeling now? I am thinking about coming off them. I’m on day 5. Feeling fine. I also take ADHD meds, Vyvanse specifically, which is likely reducing the withdrawal symptoms quite a lot.
Im on day 5 of cold turkey off 100mg and woof the flu like symptoms are hitting. Good to hear it should hopefully be gone by day 10.
I hope you are feeling better by now. How long did your withdrawal symptoms last?
@ParentXP I think this is something like day 8 and I'm 90%. Brain still feeling a little bit weird but it's all been uphill from here thankfully.
How many mg of Zoloft was she taking before going cold turkey?
Zoloft was the most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the USA in 2018 with over 38 million prescriptions.
You don't get tired of saying this?
How long did the withdrawal symptoms last for? I took this for 2 days and it is not for me. I will not be taking it again. Experiencing emotional and physical numbness.
For me it lasted 10 days but I'd been taking them for 8 months. How are you feeling now?
@@ParentXP Thanks for getting back I appreciate it. I stopped taking it on Monday and still experiencing brain fog, nausea, I zone out at times and my anxiety has become more generalised. I still feel slightly outside of my self to be honest and less enthusiastic about things. But I am more responsive than I was at day 2 which is why I stopped. I can't explain it. It's as though I laugh but don't feel the euphoria of laughing if that makes sense and stopped being able to cry. Oh and my labido and sensation also went by day 2.
Tapering was out of the question for me. I went cold turkey and will never touch those things again.
I don't know how you managed cold turkey after taking them for months. I can only imagine how harsh the symptoms can be the longer you are on them.
Have you spoken to your doctor?
@@ParentXP
Hi, Thanks for asking. I managed to get a call back from my doctor today who said that they should be out of my system and put my symptoms down to stress. I have been in extremely stressful situations before and never experienced these symptoms. I broke out in a sudden sweat whilst catching a cab and my face was pouring with sweat. At the moment im still numb down there and lost sexual interest, my brain still feels foggy. I also haven't regained my appetite properly, feel nauseas at times and haven't slept properly for a week. I just feel tired all the time. I only took 2 pills of 25mg but by day 2 I was living inside my head an becoming unresponsive in conversations. I started to interact more the day after I stopped but my emotions feel less enthused. The left side of my head feels fuzzy so I know it's still in my system.
Also haven't been able to cry properly. And my cycle stopped by the 2nd day I took the pill. The doc said to give it another week and see how it goes. Today is the 8th day since I took the 1st pill.
Kathy, I am guessing here so if this doesn't resonate then please ignore it. It sounds like you are having a strong central nervous system response to something, like all of your defense systems have been activated and you are experiencing both an activation of your fight/flight responses as well as some freeze/shut-down responses. If this resonates I would invite you to try and find some security within your body.
On my other UA-cam channel, ua-cam.com/users/tovaredmolifecoach I have some exercises designed to calm down an overloaded central nervous system fast, and a vlog on the more detailed work on nervous system regulation. I would advice you to do things to help you regulate, either self-regulate or co-regulate. Self regulation would be finding a sentence you can believe to tell yourself, like I am safe here, this situation isn't dangerous, or I've got my own back. Other self regulation is stuff like the breathing exercises I share on the other channel, or following a guided meditation, walking in nature or even stroking your own arms. Co-regulation is to physically and emotionally connect to someone else (who feels safe). Hug a friend, cuddle a lover, stroke a pet, have a good natter with someone (not necessarily about what bothers you). This is a practice, so try it out for a few days and see if it starts to down-regulate your nervous system responses. This is also the kind of stuff I work with my clients on.
Hey! It's so interesting and nice to hear an honest discussion about it. Not sure about your meds but sertraline interacts with levothyroxine, suppresses it's action actually. So it can't be ruled out. Will be interested to hear the result. I'm so glad you're better! I reduced mine to 50mg under GP guidance and after a month of that, I weaned off. I experienced none of the symptoms you describe except some interesting dreams. I'll get my thyroid levels checked in a couple of months and hopefully will be able to reduce my dose of levothyroxine since I had to up it when I went on the meds. Already feeling like I'm on too much to be honest but will see.
If anyone watching has stopped cold turkey, intentionally or not and are feeling awful physically or having serious depressive thoughts, speak to the doctor straight away. They will support your withdrawal in a safe way/change meds or manage symptoms and it doesn't have to be a long process, only 3/4 weeks not months or anything awful. In most cases there isn't usually an urgent need to come off quickly but once off slowly we can feel great ☺️
I'm glad you managed to get off it. I will discuss the connection of sertraline and thyroid meds with my endocrinologist when we next have an appointment.
how long have you had your beautiful cat
A few weeks. She's a very new addition to my family but she fit right in.
Did this save your libido?
How long did they last?
I've been on 150mg per day
Cut that in half 10 to 14 days ago
Then cold turkey 3 days ago.
I had to break off a small piece today. I started feeling like I was withdrawing from opiates. I even have methadone and Klonopin. I still can't go CT but I'm almost through this crap hopefully
For 2 years BTW
How are you now?
Can I ask how many mg you were on please?
I was on 100mg
Cute cat, Tova.😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
She is so adorable ♥
Hope all is well
All good thank you
YOUR FUNNY TOVA GOOD VIDEO THANKYOU 😊
Glad you enjoy it!
Do the cold turkey feel like heroin? Like drug addict?
@@theblackflagsymptoms 'can' be hella severe. Took mine for 2 days and that's when it hit me like a load of trucks. Cold turkey day 21 so far. Not wholely sure if it can be considered cold turkey since I only took it for 2 days.
How long were you on Zoloft before you stopped taking them?
Eight months
Just kove the cat.
Me too
I used be on them
How did you feel when stopping taking them?
I'm coming off after only 10 days on. Today is my 5th day and the withdrawal symptoms hit me today. 50 mg is all I was taking
I’m on day 7 after being on 50mg for three years how long did your symptoms last
@@damaintyler4059 Cold turkey?
ooh tacos scrummy
Hiya luv I’ve been on sertraline since 1/7/22 so nearly 5 months now I’ve upped the dose on the 30/10/22 from 25 mg to 50mg and now I want out.
Should I just go back to 25mg or cold turkey as 50mg isn’t that much
Nice video full support
New UA-camrs my sports
stay connected 😌💕full watching
Thank you