I am on sertraline and it makes me feel worse now then I ever did what would happen if I stoppped cold turkey
What would happen if I stopped taking sertraline cold turkey?
Question posted by bradstreet on 29 June 2010
Last updated on 6 December 2017
6 Answers
TuckerWills
5 Sep 2016
I've been taking Zoloft (Sertraline) for 3 years. I'm currently 19 years old, I am about 6'2 and weigh 170. The past 3 years I've only taken 50 mg a day. Recently I felt like the 50 mg wasn't doing it for me my anxiety was getting worse if anything. About a week and a half ago I ran out of my pills and switched doctors so in order to get my prescription filled my doctor wanted to see me. My anxiety has gotten so bad that I won't allow myself to leave my home to go sit in the doctors office. Anyways I 100% DO NOT RECCOMEND ABRUPTLY STOPPING THIS MEDICINE! The first few days I was fine, I could tell I was getting a little irritable and emotional. Then I started getting flu like symptoms like random waves of naseau and dizziness all throughout the day. I felt those for about 3-4 days and thought it would just end and I'd be fine.
Its gotten worse, I'm getting insomnia and when I lay in bed I have this unreal like feeling it's hard to explain, I feel like I'm out of it. It's kind of scaring me. I've never talked about my symptoms to anyone being 19 and starting college I'm still not that comfortable telling people about it. I'm writing this to see if any of you have had or are having these same symptoms and what's the quickest and safest treatment to get me feeling myself again. Thank you.
glenntreckler
5 Feb 2017
Here's what you do. You get yourself to the closet immediate-care facility and take you prescription bottle with you. If you don't have it, take some type of documentation you have been taking this medicine. Tell the Doctor,or Physician Assistant there what happened and why you abruptly stopped this medicine and get the script filled by having them call it in to your pharmacy or the closest pharmacy.
I've been taking this medicine (100mg daily) for well over 15-20 years and ran into this problem more than once. You don't want this to go on any longer. Yes, you will be irritable and the waves of dizziness,flu-like nausea and insomnia will continue and it won't get better until it gets worse.
I've had everything happen from lost shipping orders, to forgetting to order the medicine in time and the same circumstance which happened to you. The bottom line is don't mess around with this, get the script filled and if you feel you don't want to take it anymore then ween yourself off of it. The doctor or the pharmacist will tell you the same thing. I would expect you to check out what I'm saying with a health care professional anyway . Good luck.
dajambirch
7 Dec 2017
This reply is almost 8 years to late but I am going though exactly these symptoms right now. It's strange feeling. Like i'm not really here just watching myself.
My new prescription will hopefully be ready tomorrow this is the longest i've gone with out the meds since I started and I DO NOT like the withdrawal one bit.
It keeps knocking my mind out of function and It's like time is skipping by like on a damaged CD not being read properly by the laser.
It's effecting my balance and sleep.
I afraid of going back to sleep because the dreams are intensely real, scary and I keep having panic attacks while i'm asleep which i've had before years ago and they are not pleasant.
AGGGGGHHHHHH!!! :S
nan595
17 June 2012
Hi I was on sertraline for a year and my gp told me to just stop taking it, 6 months later I was on holiday and my panics came back. He then told me perhaps it was to early to come off them. They have suited me and have had not problems being on them, if you go to see your gp he will make you come off them gradually so you don't get with drawel . Apparently sertraline is one of the new tablets that are not habit forming. Good luck with comeing of your pills.
Inactive
9 March 2012
Hello bradstreet. All great answers. I'll add this. Whats going to happen? The possibility of some fairly nasty side effects. Anxiety levels might/will be very high, you might become hostile, possible changes in the rhythm of your heart, panic attacks and insomnia. Its recommened that you taper, gradually so to avoid or keep the side effects to a minimum. Best regards,pledge
Inactive
30 June 2010
What I found was
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Sertraline, you will need to wait for several weeks before beginning to take certain other medicines. Ask your doctor when you should start to take your new medicines after you have stopped taking Sertraline
sabbi
30 June 2010
hi i have tried stopping cold turkey and its not pleasant please dont try it ask your doct how to do it safely take care sabbi
Inactive
29 June 2010
fFRST OF ALL YOU NEVER EVER SHOULD JUST STOP TAKING YOUR MEDICATION FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT IT CAN CAUSE SERIUOS EFFECTS ON YOUR ORGANISM.
SECOND CONTACT YOUR DCOTOR AND UNDER HIS/HER SUPERVISON START LOWERING YOUR DOSE BIT BY BIT... NEVER COLD TURKEY... OK... THAT WOIULD BE A VERY BIG MISTAKE.
What Is Sertraline?
Sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft) is a prescription medication used to treat a number of conditions within the brain.
Depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Social anxiety disorder (social phbia)
Related topics
Further information
- Sertraline uses and safety info
- Sertraline prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Sertraline (detailed)
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