Sertraline: This is my first time... - Anxiety and Depre...

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Sertraline

Pinkyandthebrain profile image
9 Replies

This is my first time posting and I was wondering if anyone here has experience in reducing a sertraline dose?

My GP has recommended I go from 100mg to 50mg, just wondered if there may be any side effects that I should expect?

Hope everyone is having a good day 🙏🏻

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Pinkyandthebrain
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9 Replies
_Alex_ profile image
_Alex_

I have come off sertraline from 200mg. Actually the clear withdrawal symptom (wasn't that bad) was the first drop from 200mg to 150mg.

It's possible you may get something. Just be prepared (if it's bad) to go back up in dose, and then go down slower. Break pills in half if you need to. Get a prescription for 25mg tablets maybe. Or get to the point of only taking it every other day. Come off it over a few months or even longer. But that stuff may not be necessary. It can be fairly easy--sometimes--to withdraw from antidepressants. Sertraline isn't known for being especially bad for withdrawals, so there is a good chance you will be OK.

Pinkyandthebrain profile image
Pinkyandthebrain in reply to _Alex_

This is really helpful, thank you!

VeggieLover21 profile image
VeggieLover21

I had a bad withdrawal experience. My doctor had me go from 75 to 25 over a 4 week period. I was fine at 50... maybe a slight increase in stomach upset but the first week at 25 was awful! It was like the heavy anxiety I'd experienced before being on medicine plus I started having major depression symptoms. I went back up to 50 but it's still not leveled out completely.

Someone on here suggested to take smaller steps down. Like the first reply breaking the dosage in half or taking smaller doses periodically. I hope your experience goes better than mine. It's exciting to lower the dosage but crazy how a small dosage change can have completely different effects on our minds and bodies! I would love to hear how it goes for you.

Pinkyandthebrain profile image
Pinkyandthebrain in reply to VeggieLover21

Thanks for replying :)

I think it’s been just over a week on the lower dose now and so far so good!

I’ve had a bit of an upset stomach but I can’t be sure if that’s anything to do with the sertraline or due to being in the early stages of pregnancy (which is why I’m cutting the dose).

Just taking it as it comes for now and keeping my fingers crossed that things continue to go smoothly in both areas!

VeggieLover21 profile image
VeggieLover21 in reply to Pinkyandthebrain

That's wonderful. I just talked to my friend who's now in her second trimester. She was able to come off of it completely now and hasn't had any problems.

Pinkyandthebrain profile image
Pinkyandthebrain in reply to VeggieLover21

Wow thank you so much for letting me know, that gives me real hope! 🥰

VeggieLover21 profile image
VeggieLover21 in reply to Pinkyandthebrain

How have you been doing?

Pinkyandthebrain profile image
Pinkyandthebrain in reply to VeggieLover21

I sadly had a miscarriage so have been feeling pretty awful, but I have stayed at 50mg as I’m trying to see if things settle in my head once I’m fully last the grief stage. For the most part I feel ok now so I think 50 is going to be fine for me, and hopefully in a few months I can go down to 25mg - not in any rush though!

Thank you for remembering this post and asking how I am; I hope you’re friend (and you) are doing well x

VeggieLover21 profile image
VeggieLover21 in reply to Pinkyandthebrain

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your little one. Grief is a difficult thing to go through. I hope your meds help with it all and you have supportive people in your life!

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