Sertraline/Prozac Withdrawal Symptoms

Hello,
From the age of 12 until 24, I took sertraline every day to help with social anxiety. At age 24, I felt as though I had overcome my anxiety and wanted to see how I functioned without medication. I decided I didn't want to have to rely on medication for the rest of my life. In addition, I felt like the sertraline (@200 mg) wasn't having an effect on the depression I was experiencing at the time. When I went to see my psychiatrist, he convinced me that I should try Prozac for the depression. Under the guidance and instructions of my psychiatrist, I tapered off the sertraline and began taking Prozac beginning July 2012. I didn’t have much luck with the Prozac and was angered that my psychiatrist convinced me to get on more medicine in the first place. I decided to taper myself off of all antidepressants in November 2012.

During the first month or so of being off medicine, I felt decent. I didn't seem to be having any of the usual withdrawal effects that are typically associated with stopping antidepressants. However, after Christmas, I began noticing painful, throbbing headaches around the temples. The headaches would occur almost every morning upon waking up as well as various times throughout the day. During these headaches, it would become very difficult to concentrate or focus. I tried to rule out what had been causing the headaches. My blood work and CT scan came back normal. I was no longer taking any other medication except for fish oil.

In addition to the headaches, I began to experience some other problems. Short-term memory issues, foggy and confused thinking, low energy, and sporadoic episodes of depression. I also noticed brain fog/blurred thinking after exercise. After ruling out a thyroid issue, brain tumor, and anemia, I was beginning to grow a little uneasy at this point. I was afraid that the symptoms were associated with coming off sertraline and I had significantly altered my brain chemistry. I began to monitor my diet very closely as well but couldn't make any real connections.

After approximately five months of being off the sertraline and feeling poorly, I decided to go see a natural/organic medical doctor and seek his advice. I wanted to avoid getting back on antidepressants at all costs. He believed that some of my symptoms were from seretonin no longer bring produced/recycling in my brain and that I would benefit greatly from 150 mg of 5-htp, 2 b-complex twice a day, 5000 IU of vit d3, 100 mg of COQ10, and fish oil. In addition, for my other symptoms, he ordered some blood work to be done. My testosterone levels were found to be low.

I am currently trying to raise my T levels via HCG and following the supplement regimen prescribed to me by the doctor. I have noticed slight improvement in my symptoms but still suffer many days. I have been on the supplement regimen for almost four months now. The headaches are less frequent but I still feel like my brain does not work the same way that it used to and still get very depressed some days. It's hard to think clearly about certain things and feel like I am thinking in slow motion oftentimes. It’s hard to experience joy even when I’m around friends and family and doing things I have always loved doing.

I'm remaining hopeful that things will continue to improve. I honestly feel like getting off sertraline threw my whole system off. If there is anyone that has experienced anything similar to my story or has any input/feedback, I would love to hear it and appreciate it very much.

I just wanted to let you know that I read your post. I really hope that those headaches improve as well as the depression and cognition issues. I have not experienced what you have described, but I hope that in time you will find an answer.