Horrific adjustment phase, will withdrawal be hard?

August 21, 2026··

I started sertraline in march 26 for severe anxiety, I was never diagnosed but I think it was a little bit like ocd. I’d gotten extremely distressed by a life change, and this triggered a really awful time. I was given 50mg sertraline and the first 6 weeks are a pure and living hell. It slowly settled after that but even now 5 months in I still get a knot in tummy constantly. The anxiety feels very chemical and nothing like it was pre-med. I pushed through it because due to circumstances I could not come off or switch drugs. I had the worst anxiety and panic of my life, constant waves of adrenaline every day, I would fall asleep ok but then toss and turn from 3am, was absolutely exhausted but internally wired at the same time. Horrific morning anxiety and panic. Dizziness. Vivid dreams. Is all this an indicator that coming off sertraline will be tricky? Does it indicate anything at all? And if you had a terrible time going on, what was it like coming off?

Zoloft — 50mg — 5 months — researching taper | Inderal — 20mg — 6 months — actively tapering | without clinician

4 Replies

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CatinaAug 21

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @HarveyClan2, welcome to Taper Community! It sounds like the Sertraline did not agree with you. These drugs affect everyone differently. It doesn't necessarily mean that coming off will be harder. In fact, if you taper safely, then any adverse side effects should decrease. However, that doesn't mean you won't have any withdrawal symptoms at all. Perhaps you can try a conservative reduction first to see how you react and just take it from there. You can read about Hyperbolic tapering in the Resources section. The Symptoms and Self-Care section has lots of information on how to handle anxiety and panic. Have a look around the site and let us know if you have any questions. We're here anytime you need to reach out. Catina 💕

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

HarveyClan2Aug 21

WelcomerZoloft · researching

Would it be doing damage to me the fact I’ve carried on with sertraline? It’s definitely helped the thoughts, but the physical side effects have not completely gone.

Zoloft — 50mg — 5 months — researching taper | Inderal — 20mg — 6 months — actively tapering | without clinician

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CatinaAug 21

Community AnchorEffexor

I think it gave you some unwanted side effects, but I don't think you have done permanent "damage" to yourself. Hope that reassures you somewhat.

WolfAug 22

Community AnchorProzac · researching

with only 5 months of slowly building dependence, withdrawal should be pretty easy, but nothing here can be guaranteed 100%.

Prozac — 40 mg — 6 months — holding | Zyprexa — 20 mg — 6 years — holding | Depakote — 600 mg — 8 months — **tapering** | Buspirone — 20 mg — 8 months — holding | with clinician
"If life is painful, start a rebellion and make it good."

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