Sertraline Withdrawal - Dangers of Discontinuation Syndrome (Zoloft)

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 21:49:51 +0000

If you decide to stop taking sertraline there is a risk of your body experiencing something known as discontinuation syndrome - the negative effects of sertraline withdrawal.

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Usually discontinuation syndrome happens when your course of medication is stopped too quickly, such as quitting cold-turkey after taking an antidepressant for a period of time. The advice is that if you wish to stop taking antidepressants you should consult your Dr and taper your dose lower and lower over a period of weeks. There are ways that you can regulate mood using different SSRIs with longer a half-life to manage the chemical changes aswell, your GP will be happy to advise.

What are the Symptoms of Discontinuation Syndrome?

Sertraline Withdrawal can induce the symptoms of discontinuation syndrome; this can involve physical and emotional side effects that can be difficult to deal with. Common experiences involve:

Nausea
Vomitting & Diarrhea
Headaches
Sweating
Disturbed Sleep
Brain Zaps
Dizziness

As well as familiar signs of heightened anxiety and mood swings. In some cases a return of thoughts regarding harming oneself can occur. Again, careful management with your Dr is key to avoiding these experiences.

How long does Discontinuation Syndrome last?

Most people who suffer these side effects find that the withdrawal symptoms of discontinuation syndrome alleviate after about 3 weeks but can perputate for longer in rarer cases. This time period can be quite challenging and is one of the key reasons that Drs aim for a gradual decrease in medication over a longer time period. This gives your body time to get used to the withdrawal without the shock of going cold turkey.

What can I do to prevent Discontinuation Syndrome?

The most important thing is to seek medical advice prior to stopping your antidepressants. Your Dr should be part of the conversation regarding tapering your dose at a steady rate in order to minimise the risk of discontinuation syndrome affecting you. Drugs such as SSRIs have a profound effect on the chemical balance in the brain and time must be spent recalibrating slowly over a period of time.
I advise that you have also invested time in some form of talking therapy in order to unpick your mental illness and provide some tools for self-management. This will not only help in the long-term but also if there are any side effects of antidepressant withdrawal.

If you are certain you want to stop antidepressants, good luck with your journey and remember to take it slow, under guidance from a medical professional.

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

00:00 - What happens when you stop taking antidepressants
00:24 - Who is this video for?
00:37 - What causes discontinuation syndrome? (Zoloft withdrawal)
01:15 - What are the symptoms of discontinuation syndrome?
02:12 - How long will discontinuation syndrome last for?
02:46 - How can we withdraw from antidepressants safely?