[Closed] Sertraline - coming off it

Depends on the amount being taken, but it was 6 weeks of stepping down for me and so had no side effects taking it it just didn’t work. This involves getting different sized tablets as you can’t measure the doses by chopping the tabs up!

I know they don’t want to go back to the Dr but I can’t stress enough how much I would encourage them to do so can they not ask to see a different Dr at the practice?

Need to taper off slowly. I would do it via the Doctor as they can prescribe slightly less strong tablets as you go.  I'm coming off Duloxetine, a similar SSRI used for both mood and pain relief.  Worked well on my back pain, but hasn't helped with mood. The side effects are many.

I've had to take a few days off as I've come off - left very dizzy.  My tablets are only available in 60mg and 30mg.  Dropping from 60 to 30 wasn't too bad, but the stopping has been horrible. I'm still suffering a load of side effects and the dizzyness isn't funny - not ridden the bike outside for a few weeks as my balance isn't great.

My tablets can't be cut as they are plastic capsules with beads in. I've heard of people cracking open the tablet and removing one bead at a time.  My doc has taken my off mine over three weeks, hence feeling like crap.  Not going to give any others a try - hoping to tackle mood with counselling sessions lined up.

My Dr. happily let me do a week half dose daily, then a week half dose every other day, then a week of nothing before starting something else....I read it was ok somewhere online and he agreed, I didn't experience any particular side effects. He said the most important thing was the not stopping suddenly and also leaving a gap before starting something else.

But yeah speak to your doc, even over the phone?

I am on Sertraline, but I have never fully come off it.

I have read that tapering is advised when coming off it.

The smallest tablets I have are 50mg, but they do have a convenient little split in the middle so it is quite easy to chop them in half and then cutting them in half again would not be too difficult.

I would advise speaking to a doctor though in the first instance.

The smallest tablets I have are 50mg, but they do have a convenient little split in the middle so it is quite easy to chop them in half and then cutting them in half again would not be too difficult.

That's what they plan on doing. 2 weeks on 3/4, 2 weeks on 1/2 and 2 weeks on 1/4.

Another Sertralineist here.

150mg a day prescribed, but I've cut myself down to 100mg. Tried to go lower but found it difficult.

Now and again if I forget to take them for a day or so I get quite bad dizziness, or just a general feeling of being out of it, but not in a good way.

I'd echo what the others say about seeing the doc, or a different doc, but yes, tapering slowly is the key.

With GP’s advice, I went from 150 to 100. Then, spoke with her about going 100 to 50 with a view to reducing to zero eventually. The GP gave me advice on the intervals to stick to, but left to my discretion as to how long I actually took. That was 6 weeks ago, and I am still on 50.

in light of my crash, I will stick to 50 for a while, but intend on getting to zero as I feel more stable upon my return home from hospital. No one houghys of rushing, though.

the weening process has, in itself, made me feel like there has been some progress.

yes..I weened myself off with no problems. just chopped the tablets up ..no real accuracy and did it over a few weeks by gradual reduction.

I'd echo the go see doctor message. I was on it for few months decided the side effects were not worth it and stopped taking them. I asked doctor if I should ramp down but apparently i was on a low dose already so just stopped. Just tried to time it that life was likely in a good place at the time.

Basically did the same as @walla24, under medical supervision. No ill-effects from this. Then I moved to another product for as long as I needed it. But discuss with the doc first. He didn't want me to initially, as they did work really well for my depression. But at the next appointment I had to insist as they gave me chronic urgent diarrhoea. It was really interfering with my life. It was either come off them, or get a job as a novelty fountain.

go cold turkey and enjoy the massive dizyness, headaches, mood swings and violent tendencys.

Having massive dizzy spells and complete brain fog with the 'duloxetine' - also suffering memory loss quite bad.  I'm now 'off' the drug, but I believe it's one of the nastier ones.

I'm currently doing a Pain Management CBT course, and have lined up some counselling sessions once that finishes. I don't think I'll bother with any more SSRI's as the side effects are worse than the pain/depression.