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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Abbi on February 16, 2001, at 8:22:22
My name is Abbi,
I have been taking Sertraline 50mg which is an SSRI for approximately 2 years. I have not been depressed/anxious for a good 6 months now. Every time I try to come off my tablets (which incidently is the lowest dose available for sertraline) I get dizziness, insomnia but worst of all terrible headrushes. This can anly be described as "Electric Head" and is triggered by sudden head or eye movements. It feels like someone is putting smelling salts under my nose fifty times a day.The problem is that Doctors don't seem to understand or believe in withdrawal symptoms and just say, come off them slowly but how can I when I am on the lowest dose? I am again in cold turkey, since Tuesday, but the head rushes are getting worse by the minute! How long will they last? What can help alleviate these symptoms? Has anyone else experienced this in the group apart from DAVE who I have been messaging? I have no tablets left. If I am still suffering on Monday I will have no choice but to go back to the doctor for more tablets. I DON'T WANT THIS. WILL I BE ON THESE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE? !
Help/Advice would be much appreciated.
Abbi.
Posted by Lorraine on February 16, 2001, at 9:22:14
In reply to WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS of stopping SSRI medication, posted by Abbi on February 16, 2001, at 8:22:22
Cam had a theory about coming off of Effexor. That the reason it is so hard is because it's short life is so short. He suggested adding 10 mg of Prozac (which has a long life) to the mix; continuing to wean off the Effexor and then wean off the Prozac slowly. Might work--check with your pdoc. I'm also a big one for cutting tablets and counting grains when it comes to weaning off a med. Good luck.
Posted by Abbi on February 16, 2001, at 9:59:00
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS of stopping SSRI medication, posted by Lorraine on February 16, 2001, at 9:22:14
Thanks for the advice Lorraine. It's appreciated. However, I don't want to take anything new, and I've run out of tablets. My options are going cold turkey with these headrushes, or going back to the doctor for more tablets, then snapping them in half etc. Do you have any idea how long the head rushes will last if I just go cold turkey? And what causes them? Will certain substances like caffeine, alcohol, certain foods make them better/worse? Is there anything I can do to ease my cold turkey other than going to get yet MORE pills to pop? (which I am reluctant to do as I have not had depression for a good six months.)
Regards, Abbi.
Posted by Lorraine on February 16, 2001, at 12:54:52
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS of stopping SSRI medication, posted by Abbi on February 16, 2001, at 9:59:00
Sorry, no experience with Sertraline. With Effexor, counting grains it took me about 6 months to get off. (no, I'm not kidding and no, it wasn't fun)
> Thanks for the advice Lorraine. It's appreciated. However, I don't want to take anything new, and I've run out of tablets. My options are going cold turkey with these headrushes, or going back to the doctor for more tablets, then snapping them in half etc. Do you have any idea how long the head rushes will last if I just go cold turkey? And what causes them? Will certain substances like caffeine, alcohol, certain foods make them better/worse? Is there anything I can do to ease my cold turkey other than going to get yet MORE pills to pop? (which I am reluctant to do as I have not had depression for a good six months.)
>
> Regards, Abbi.
Posted by dalukens on February 17, 2001, at 3:55:25
In reply to WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS of stopping SSRI medication, posted by Abbi on February 16, 2001, at 8:22:22
Dear Abbi (couldn't resist),
--Your description, "electric head," sounds exactly like what I went through coming off Zoloft/sertraline(except I didn't have such a good name for it!). In my case, I had to keep taking it for several months, gradually weaning, cutting pills, spacing doses farther apart, etc., like Lorraine said. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, however: although I still keep a few around just in case, I haven't had to take a Zoloft for months. This appears to be another case, like Effexor, where we just weren't warned about the withdrawl. I wonder how common this is; until now I'd thought I might be the only one.
--DaL
> My name is Abbi,
> I have been taking Sertraline 50mg which is an SSRI for approximately 2 years. I have not been depressed/anxious for a good 6 months now. Every time I try to come off my tablets (which incidently is the lowest dose available for sertraline) I get dizziness, insomnia but worst of all terrible headrushes. This can anly be described as "Electric Head" and is triggered by sudden head or eye movements. It feels like someone is putting smelling salts under my nose fifty times a day.
>
> The problem is that Doctors don't seem to understand or believe in withdrawal symptoms and just say, come off them slowly but how can I when I am on the lowest dose? I am again in cold turkey, since Tuesday, but the head rushes are getting worse by the minute! How long will they last? What can help alleviate these symptoms? Has anyone else experienced this in the group apart from DAVE who I have been messaging? I have no tablets left. If I am still suffering on Monday I will have no choice but to go back to the doctor for more tablets. I DON'T WANT THIS. WILL I BE ON THESE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE? !
>
> Help/Advice would be much appreciated.
> Abbi.
This is the end of the thread.
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