antidepressant side effects and withdrawal

[Bella2123]

Started back on sertraline in feb 2024, I don’t know why I did because my anxiety was nowhere near as bad as it is now. Bad side effects from them including dizziness. Came off them after a few weeks. The dizziness was still there for about a week or 2, assuming they were withdrawal symptoms. Then went on fluoxetine in march 2024 and the dizziness came back. Was on those until June/July then stopped because I felt ok. The dizziness was on and off by then. When I came off the dizziness stopped for about 5/6 weeks then came back. Possibly that the dizziness coming back was withdrawal symptoms because fluoxetine takes longer to leave your body? But because the dizziness came back I thought it was my anxiety so went back on them. The side effects were horrific and dizziness was worse than ever. Came off after 10 days and it’s now day 3 since taking nothing and I’m still dizzy. I’m wondering if it’s because of withdrawal then going back on it and withdrawing again. Or is it still side effects because I’ve only been stopped for 3 days?

[Jamesh77]

I think it will be the withdrawals usually takes me a few weeks maybe months once I’ve stopped the anti depressants to feel anything like normal again , I’m currently on Sertraline and wonder most days why I started up on them again 🤷‍♂️

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

It seems like it’s never ending doesn’t it. Going on them and having side effects, coming off and having withdrawals. It’s awful

[Jamesh77 in reply to Bella2123]

Yes definitely I wish I’d never really started any as I always have in the back of mind I need them to function better always hoping I’d find myself again !

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

I always think this. I’ve been on and off them for about 5 years and wish I never started. I thought I needed them to function but looking back, I think my life was better before I ever started. I definitely feel worse since being on them

[Jamesh77]

Yes that’s pretty much how I have felt for the last 10 years I think keeping busy and positive things keep the mind occupied from negative thoughts/feelings

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

I do have good days, I had a year and a half where I didn’t take anything and I felt good. But then ended up back on them when it got bad again, I’m determined to stay off them this time though. I wish I hadn’t started in the first place tbh

[Jamesh77]

I d just try keep busy and hopefully the withdrawals will pass soon

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

Thank you. I hope so too, and I hope you get some relief with the sertraline

[Jamesh77 in reply to Bella2123]

Thanks i hope so I’m struggling with my vision and focus at the min I do believe that has to with the Sertraline

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

How long have you been back on it?

[Jamesh77]

I’d say around 12 weeks now I don’t really feel any better struggle sleep poor vision am hoping it’s just a blip as the last 2/3 weeks I’ve not really felt great

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

The side effects are horrible aren’t they. Have you tried anything other than sertraline? I know they say it can take 6-8 weeks but it’s definitely longer than that in my experience. I’ve had the vision changes as well it’s not nice

[Jamesh77 in reply to Bella2123]

I was on escitalopram for over a year I think they was helping but ended up coming of them thinking I didn’t really need them are you not taking anything at present?

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

No im not taking anything at the moment. I’m on day 5 of stopping and so far I still have the side effects from fluoxetine as I don’t think its out of my system yet, I think I’m in for a rough ride but I really want to try and get myself back to how I was before the antidepressants. I originally went on them after losing my father, and I’ve been stuck in the cycle ever since. I think for me, citalopram gave me the least side effects but didn’t seem to do anything for anxiety for me. Sertraline the first time for me was good but I stopped because I felt I didn’t need them anymore. The second time on them was horrific. Fluoxetine has just been horrible for me from the start. I do still have propranolol though which I take as needed and I think I’ll stay on those

[Jamesh77 in reply to Bella2123]

What does propplanol do do you find that helps you ?

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

It doesn’t do anything mentally but it eases the physical symptoms of panic attacks, so they don’t feel as bad. I seem to have more panic attacks when I’m on antidepressants than when I’m off them

[Jamesh77]

I think I may have tried them a while back have you tapered if your medication or just completely stopped ? I know I tapered of them the last time helped with the side affects I think !

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

I didn’t taper this time as I was only back on them for 9 days. So hopefully I won’t get bad withdrawals, I’ve read fluoxetine takes a while to leave the system due to the longer half life so time will tell. I’m expecting the worst so anything less will be a bonus. I came off sertraline without tapering as well and went through about a week or 2 of withdrawals, but then I went on fluoxetine so the side effects of those kind of mixed in. It was dreadful

[Jamesh77 in reply to Bella2123]

Hopefully you start to improve and you can try to function more without the medication 🙏

[Bella2123 in reply to Jamesh77]

Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 hope you start feeling better soon as well

[FightingTheDark]

Just an idea...Maybe see if your doctor will let you take the med in his office and then examine you when the dizziness hits. They may switch your meds if they see it happening.

[Bella2123 in reply to FightingTheDark]

Thankfully it seems to be getting better. I’m 1 week med free today and didn’t have any dizziness today, I’m hoping things will improve from now 🤞🏼