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Bye bye Sertraline
Sep. 13th, 2022 09:59 amJust over a week ago we came back from Mike's parents, and Mike unpacked everything, but left my Sertraline in the washbag rather than putting it back in the bathroom. It was 3 days before I noticed, and after another couple of days, and a quick check with my GP, I decided I might as well continue the accidental cold turkey and come off the drugs. (I've been on a 100mg maintenance dose since *last* time I tried to come off them really gradually and then relapsed immediately after completely stopping, after 3 months of tapering! That was maybe 4 years ago?)
Anyway, I thought I'd mention symptoms:
- super sweaty
- heart rate running a big higher, both resting and while exercising
- really really vivid dreams
- relatedly: tired. Fitbit reporting very little deep sleep at all for a few days, now returning to normal
- and now, after a week, I'm getting little brain twitches
I'd heard of "brain zaps" as a Sertraline withdrawal symptom, but I wouldn't call them zaps, they feel a bit like a short version of the feeling in your head when you do a yawn that makes your ears roar (but without the actual yawn). Mildly irritating but not particularly uncomfortable.
I'm also a lot more irritable, and my emotional regulation is a bit shot - but only a bit. Easily teary, but not actually *distressed* - IYSWIM. And I can spot it and take a deep breath and move on.
Anyway, most of the symptoms are already improving, and hopefully the brain twitches won't last long either. I'm pretty happy with the results, but apologies if I'm a bit snappy!
Anyway, I thought I'd mention symptoms:
- super sweaty
- heart rate running a big higher, both resting and while exercising
- really really vivid dreams
- relatedly: tired. Fitbit reporting very little deep sleep at all for a few days, now returning to normal
- and now, after a week, I'm getting little brain twitches
I'd heard of "brain zaps" as a Sertraline withdrawal symptom, but I wouldn't call them zaps, they feel a bit like a short version of the feeling in your head when you do a yawn that makes your ears roar (but without the actual yawn). Mildly irritating but not particularly uncomfortable.
I'm also a lot more irritable, and my emotional regulation is a bit shot - but only a bit. Easily teary, but not actually *distressed* - IYSWIM. And I can spot it and take a deep breath and move on.
Anyway, most of the symptoms are already improving, and hopefully the brain twitches won't last long either. I'm pretty happy with the results, but apologies if I'm a bit snappy!
