Reducing My Sertraline Dose

Before I get into this post, I think it goes without saying – I am not a medical expert. Everything below is from my experience and my point of view on Sertraline. If you are feeling depressed or having panic attacks, please seek help from trained health professionals.

If you have been following my blog for a while now, you’ll know that I tend to struggle when the seasons change. As the dark nights start creeping in earlier and earlier, it causes my anxiety to start flaring up.

However, so far this year, I seem to be doing alright. Actually, my anxiety has been doing alright for the last couple of months. And that is why I have decided to reduce my sertraline dose. This is not a decision that I have taken lightly. I have put thought into this, but obviously not too much otherwise, I’ll talk myself out of it! I always end up overthinking things, so I’ve decided to just go for this!

What Is Sertraline?

Sertraline is an antidepressant, and it’s known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Yeah, whatever that means! Basically, it increases serotonin (the chemical or hormone that makes you happy!) With this increased, it helps improve mood and reduce panic attacks. It can also help with OCD.

I have tried other antidepressants before, but I found this one to be the best for me. Everyone is different, so what works for one person will not necessarily work for you.

The First Time On Sertraline

Just a brief overview, I first went on sertraline around 2014/2015. With the help of therapy and my husband, I managed to come off them in May 2017, and I fell pregnant in the October. Everything was fine with regards to my mental health until September 2018 (2 months after Little J was born), when my panic attacks came back with full force.

So, I went back on Sertraline shortly after and I kind of just assumed that I would stay on them forever then. I would much rather be a good mum on antidepressants than a mum struggling with her mental health, not on antidepressants. It’s not fair on you, and it’s not fair on your child. And I was happy with that decision.

So Why Now?

I think since starting my blog, I feel like I have direction. I have always lacked a direction in life. I’ve always felt quite drifty, if that makes sense? Anyway, since I started blogging and being open and honest with my experiences, my anxiety hasn’t been as bad. Like, I’m not giving it the power over me anymore? And it feels good to know that I have been helping people too.

And I just feel ready now. So I called the doctor the other week and explained what I wanted to do, and he agreed. I was on Sertraline 50mg, and now I’m on 25mg. I’m going to see how I get on for a few months and re-evaluate in the new year.

Any Side-effects?

Getting a bit technical now, Sertraline has a short half-life of 22-36 hours. According to Mind – ‘The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for the amount of it in your body to be reduced by half.‘ A short half-life means that there could be more withdrawal issues. That is why I spoke to the doctor before doing anything.

I had a couple of headaches in the first few days, but other than that, I haven’t noticed anything dramatic happening. I suppose because I still do have Sertraline in my system, perhaps?

Conclusion

So I realise that this is not the best time of year to be reducing my dosage as Daylight Savings is ending. But, if not now, when? I need to believe in myself and my abilities. Plus, I know that if I do start struggling again, I can just up my dosage again. I’ll update you all again if/when I decide to come off Sertraline completely.

I just want to let you know that there is absolutely no shame in being on antidepressants. If you need them, take them! Don’t try and struggle on without them; what are you achieving by doing that? You take painkillers when you have a headache or cold and flu tablets when you are ill, so why not antidepressants?

We need to eliminate this stigma that taking medication for mental health issues makes you weak. You wouldn’t try and ‘positively think’ a broken leg better, would you? You don’t have to struggle.

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