I start taking 150 mg Sertraline in 2019 together with oxazepam . It was working for me until 2022. Then I had a little depressing but it was ok. In 2025 I had to stop Because the symptoms were hard for me so the doctor recommended to do that in one moth. I had no idea so I did. After that he told me to also quit the oxazepam in December. I did. In April I had a brain zap and electric shocks in my feet. I started 25 mg Sertraline and my doctor told me to go higher after one week and I started to get reaal depressed. I stopped because my doctor told me. The took me to the hospital and give me 10 mg 3 days and 2 days 5 mg. After they stopped I had several symptoms and it was bad. Now I deal with intense depression and anhedonia. I want to know I I can take another type of AD. Life is not ok like this and I can’t take care of my daughter who is not with me right now. I have to find a solution. Please help. Anything.

I started taking Zoloft begin 2019 and because of the sleep they give me oxazepam. And I took 150 mg. In 2025 I wanted to quit become of the symptoms and my doctor suggested to stop within a month. I did. So far so good. He also suggested I could quit oxazepam in December. Nothing happens so far. In April in the middle of the night I HD brain zaps and I work me up with electric shocks in my feet. Next day I went to the dokter and he told me to begin again. I did . Started with 25 mg. After one week took it to 50 mg. Then I became depressed . I stooped immediately. In the hospital the give me 10 mg for 3 days and 5 for 2 days because they didn’t believe in WD. They said my symptoms are back. I never felt like this before and my depression and anhedonia is started. I never had this kind of symptoms in my life. 5th of August I have a new appointment with a psychiatrist. I don’t know if he will understand my symptoms are real WD or he will give me another medication. I really can’t live like this every day . I can’t stand up and do the things I used to. I can’t enjoy anything and laugh. My life just start being fun. I don’t know if I have to reinstate or use something new. Please any kind of idea will help.

Kind regards

Welcome to the forum!

 

This is a volunteer-run, community forum aimed at helping those who are tapering and/or experiencing difficulties with psychiatric medications and withdrawl syndrome. We are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. We simply offer support and opinions which you could use as talking points with a medical provider knowledgeable in withdrawing off psychiatric medications.

 

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I'm so sorry to read about the tough time you've had recently you will find plenty of support here for sure.

 

In the mean time this is what I would do if I were you:

 

-Stay Hydrated 

 

-Eat a good clean whole food diet, avoiding processed foods and sugars.

 

-Stay away from caffeine, alcohol and antihistamines and any other psychoactive substances.

 

Supplements are to be avoided initially, as they often irritate our nervous systems. Try to get your nutrition through food.

 

Down the line, you may wish to introduce Fish Oil and Magnesium. Those who can tolerate them have found them calming to the nervous system. Be careful try one at a time and start low and see how you get on should you choose to try them.

 

A daily walk is very important as much as you can manage, if you can manage it. Gets you your fresh air and Vitamin D does wonders for your mind!

As for your question, I would be very cautious at this point. Cycling on and off of multiple drugs recently after initially having withdrawal symptoms from stopping sertraline quickly has likely left you quite unstable and in a very sensitive state.

I would say that you have two main choices, but others might weigh in with alternatives that I haven't considered:

1. Do nothing, stay off of drugs and hope to improve in time. Nobody can say how long this might take, and the risk is it might be a long time of suffering before eventually getting better.

2. Reinstate a small dose of sertraline. However, it is unclear how much would be appropriate.

I would not recommend introducing yet another drug, this has only gone badly so far and our observation through helping lots of people through similar situations is that continuing to add more new drugs just makes things even worse.

We need some more information from you to be able to give you better suggestions, so if you could answer these questions that would be helpful:

• How did you react to being given 10mg and 5mg sertraline in the hospital?

• What symptoms are you experiencing right now?

• How have your symptoms changed, if at all, this year and how were you between December and starting sertraline again in April?

• Why did you go from 25mg to 50mg?

• If you got depressed at 50mg, how were you on 25mg, and 0mg?

 

You are very welcome here and I hope you find the site supportive.

9 hours ago, Saar8srl said:

reinstate or use something new

Welcome @Saar8srl Glad you found this forum.

Reinstatement would be better than trying something new.

It looks like going from 25 mg to 50 mg in May was too much for your CNS.

In May with 10 mg and 5 mg it sounds like you were doing better. Is that correct.

Reinstatement is usually started at a very low dose because you don't want to have a reaction/kindling. Your CNS is now very sensitive. You have not been taking anything for at least 2 months.

A low starting dose of 1 mg of sertraline would be reasonable. If within an hour of taking it, you have a bad reaction, do not take more. This is a long process and being patient and consistent is important.

Oxazepam is a benzodiazepine. You may be experiencing withdrawal from it as well but it is best to stay away from it and see if the sertraline reinstatement can help.

Please feel free to ask any questions here. Treat yourself kindly...your body will heal from this in time. ❤️🙏

Edited July 28Jul 28 by LostinCanada

Hi Luke ,

Thank you for your answer. I responded good to the 10 mg after 5 days but because they didn’t believe my WD there stopped it. So I became sick again. And I went from 25 to 50 because my doctor recommended it . I was ok between December and April. Little mood swings but nothing like eight now.

My symptoms since I April were very bad in the beginning mostly physical and of course I was depressed. Now the sleep is good and the physical part is also ok. Only the andehonia and depression that comes and goes even in a day.

Is my signature ok? Because I think I put in on my profile.

I already take the fish oil and the magnesium. I drink a lot en eat ok. I only started to smoke because of the situation.

Thank you.

Because I also have a lot unsolved trauma and I have being taking the Sertraline for a long time I don’t know who is the real me now. But then again I feel myself better some days and I start to hesitate . Are the good days mean that I feel myself again or is it the the serotonine that just lost his way and making me feel better for a day or couple of hours. I feel different every day these month. Sometimes down sometimes I don’t feel nothing at all and sometimes I am feeling good but weird .

Why did you go back on Sertraline if you were ok until then?

1 hour ago, Saar8srl said:

Because I also have a lot unsolved trauma and I have being taking the Sertraline for a long time I don’t know who is the real me now. But then again I feel myself better some days and I start to hesitate . Are the good days mean that I feel myself again or is it the the serotonine that just lost his way and making me feel better for a day or couple of hours. I feel different every day these month. Sometimes down sometimes I don’t feel nothing at all and sometimes I am feeling good but weird .

My personal view is that because your symptoms are only depression and anhedonia, you sleep well, you don't have major physical symptoms, you didn't experience significant withdrawal initially after December and judging by the post quoted above you're experiencing improvements is that you are likely better off staying off of it and waiting to see if you improve further. It can take a considerable amount of time though.

If you absolutely cannot cope in this state then you could consider reinstatement as @LostinCanada suggested. You may find this guide useful:

Reinstating an Antidepressant  - Tapering - The Antidepressant Harm and Recovery Forum

I’m sorry I didn’t mention that I had a major brain zap and electric shock in my had and feet in April. That’s why I started without knowing what this was. I had major symptoms after starting in april and in mei.

I really am depressed and not myself and I don’t know what to do with the mood swings I have through the day. I don’t feel myself at all and each day I feel different.

I really don’t know if I can keep up with this mood wings I have.

I’m sorry that my English is not quite good. I’m from the Netherlands and I do my best and I hope you understand my messages. I’m happy that I can talk with someone about this because until now no psychologist understands my symptoms and they all say it’s just depression. I don’t believe this because depression doesn’t being this kind of symptoms.

Also another question. Is it ok to reinstate 1 mg fluoxetine?

16 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

Also another question. Is it ok to reinstate 1 mg fluoxetine?

Welcome to the forum.

You say RI 1mg of Fluoxetine but it isn't in your signature. Can you confirm your drug history is complete?

"02-2019 started Sertraline 150 mg with oxazepam for sleep

01-August 2025 in one moth stopped Sertraline

12-2025 stopped oxazepam

04-2026 started 25 mg one week after the next week started 50 mg and get depressed and stopped

17-Mei 2026 started 10 mg 3 days and 5 mg 2 days and stopped"

It was my question. Should I RI 1 mg of fluoxetine?

Just now, Saar8srl said:

It was my question. Should I RI 1 mg of fluoxetine?

Yes I realise. But have you taken fluoxetine before?

I took it way before I started with Sertraline. Only for a week but all I did was sleep. I don’t know what to do and I just want some relieve form this waves and the fact that I lay in bed when I don’t feel the energie to even do something simpel. I never had this. I hope my psychiatrist understands my symptoms and doesn’t give me a whole new medication.

I’m curious, are there people here who felt better after a small amount of RI? Please do share your story. I really need to know if I have to risk it.

3 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

I took it way before I started with Sertraline. Only for a week but all I did was sleep. I don’t know what to do and I just want some relieve form this waves and the fact that I lay in bed when I don’t feel the energie to even do something simpel. I never had this. I hope my psychiatrist understands my symptoms and doesn’t give me a whole new medication.

Ok, you should add this to your signature so we know. Please include your whole history.

Based on that I don't think RI Fluoxetine is a good idea at all.

Have you read the RI document Luke has linked you too?

RI is there to just answer the brains dependance on a drug not to treat symptoms. You took Sertraline for a long time and would have built up significant dependence to it. Stopping it quickly makes the brain miss the drug and causes WD symptoms. RI a small dose can help cushion these symptoms. Please read the whole document carefully and ask any questions you have on the subject,

I would be careful with your psychiatrist, they may not understand WD and want to 'try' you on another drug to treat your WD symptoms. This is common and leads to further harm.

Sorry you are suffering so much, we all understand x

Just now, Saar8srl said:

I’m curious, are there people here who felt better after a small amount of RI? Please do share your story. I really need to know if I have to risk it.

Yes many people have done well RI their orginal drug that they have become dependent on. I want to be clear we are not using the drugs to treat the symptoms. The RI document covers this.

Thank you for your kindness and support. I know I am very afraid and I hope he will be able to proscribe me the Zoloft so at least I can RI and try what 1 mg would do. Only thing I want is some relieve form the mood swings I have to deal with every day. ❤️

I know but RI can make the moods wings lighter en better right in time? Why else would I RI?

Hi there,

Please read my story. I’m curious did anyone felt some relief after RI Zoloft or other medication that helped them out with their moods wings and depression they had from WD?

hey @Saar8srl, please post your questions on your thread and don't make new topics, this is your introduction thread. You also have to take into account people have jobs and lives and also a lot of us are dealing with our health and healing so we can not respond instantly.

3 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

I’m curious did anyone felt some relief after RI Zoloft or other medication that helped them out with their moods wings and depression they had from WD?

There is a chance reinstating a tiny dose (probably starting with 1mg and going up as needed slowly) could help out with the withdrawal, but it's not a guarantee, there is also the chance it could make you worse.

We do not recommend adding more drugs to the mix, they can add fuel to the fire with our nervous system already being pretty sensitive.

Reinstating an Antidepressant

Edited July 29Jul 29 by Lighty

I’m sorry lighty, I didn’t accept an answer right away off-course and I’m not familiar with this site yet so I was just trying something. Off course I understand that you cannot answer immediately. Thanks for your time and answer.

I just heard from my doctor that I can also be in the menopause. Is it an idea to start hormone therapie when I’m in WD?

I just post this to write about my situation. It’s hard not to feel your emotions and feel depressed without no reason. It has being like this since April . Crying for no reason and anhedonia. Every day I wake up checking how I feel. Scared to wake up and happy to go to sleep. Nothing gives me the joy I felt before. I did a test and found out Zoloft is in the red and the dosis was to high al the years that I took it. And now after two times in the last couple months I’m afraid to RI again what will happen. I just want to feel normal and make plans and be able to take care of my child and let her live by me again.

15 hours ago, Saar8srl said:

I just heard from my doctor that I can also be in the menopause. Is it an idea to start hormone therapie when I’m in WD?

Personally I would not suggest messing with hrt whilst in WD I think you have enough to deal without making further changes. @LostinCanada any thoughts on this?