HomeAnswersGeneral MedicinesertralineI am a 64-year-old woman dependent on Sertraline drug. Please help me to withdraw it.

How to get over Sertraline dependency?

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Published At May 4, 2022
Reviewed AtMay 4, 2022

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 64-year-old woman with a height of 5’5 and weigh around 140 lbs. I was on 50 mg of Sertraline for more than 30 years. I tried to wean off and lowered the dose to 25 mg for two months, then started reducing to three days on and one day off and finally decreasing to zero in 6 months. I had nausea and weight loss. I lost my appetite, felt anxious, and had fast heartbeats. After about one week, I went to urgent care and got blood tests done. My reports were normal. I also had a CT scan of the abdomen which also showed normal. So continued to stay off the Sertraline. I could not bear how I was feeling after one month off, and then I started on 25 mg last week. My nausea got better, but my appetite is still not great. Even the anxiety and heart beating are not much better. I had two pretty good days over the week. It comes in waves. My question is should I return to the 50 mg original Sertraline? It feels like I would not be able to come off this medication, which is fine. I was prescribed this initially to help me sleep for fibromyalgia pain. My current medicines include 0.125 mg Levothyroxine, as I had parathyroid surgery eight years ago. Please help.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

All these are side effects of Sertraline withdrawal. Your body is dependent on this medicine. You have to take other medication to suppress all these symptoms. Stress and anxiety can further contribute to these withdrawal symptoms.

So please let me know-

1. Do you have any ongoing stress and anxiety?

2. Have you ever consulted a psychiatrist recently?

Please reply to my above-asked questions so that I can guide you better.

I will be happy to help you further. I wish you good health.

Thanks.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I have no other stress or anxiety, and I have never consulted a psychiatrist. This was prescribed by my rheumatologist for fibromyalgia 30-plus years ago. Also, I had a bad night again last night. So I took 50 mg this morning. I had resumed one week ago at 25 mg and felt good on day two. Not good on days three and four. A bit better on day six. Not great yesterday. Can resuming correct this? How long will it take? I think I have tinnitus too. I feel the heartbeat in my ear when I lie down. Social anxiety has increased too. I never had these problems before. Please help.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I suggest you start a newer anxiolytic drug and, meanwhile, taper down your current dose of Sertraline. This is absolutely unusual that Sertraline was prescribed by a rheumatologist. I guess he thought that your pain was psychological.

Were all your reports normal at that time?

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Kaushal Bhavsar
Dr. Kaushal Bhavsar

Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)

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