sertraline Withdrawal

[LJB98]

Hi all,

I’ve recently stopped taking sertraline after a gradual reduction under medical advice.

side effects have been okay and usually only last a couple of days, however, since I’ve stopped taking it completely I keep getting little surges of energy almost like electric shocks every now and then. It seems to get worse when I’m walking around! It’s annoying because my anxiety is very much triggered by bodily sensations so I’m really worried I’ll end up having a panic attack or something!

Wondered if anyone has experienced anything similar and if so when do the zaps start to subside?

[Groundhog123]

I have the zaps but I was taking buspirone and hydroxine. I am currently 2 days free of buspirone.

[designguy]

Yes those zaps are typical with withdrawal. One way to minimize them is by doing a very slow taper off the med, i'm talking months not days or weeks. The other thing is knowing they are a normal part of the withdrawal process try to just accept them and get on with your day. They will diminish over time and eventually dissipate. By worrying about them you are just feeding the anxiety.

[Agora1]

LJB98 Ditto to every word designguy stated.

I went through it myself years ago. I thought of the

zaps as a normal part of the healing process. The less

I worried, the less frequently they came until it stopped

completely. Give it time to reestablish it's own time table. xx

[-Charlie]

Hi LJB98, I had zaps when I stopped antidepressants. Feels like you’re short circuiting out. The first couple I had were a bit freaky but my doctor assured me they were a normal process of my brain chemicals getting back to normal. Mine lasted a couple of weeks then gradually went away. Best of luck to you.