Sertraline Detox, Side Effects, Dependence, Withdrawal, Timeline & Overdose

Sertraline is one of the most popular antidepressants in the United States. Its brand name is Zoloft, a drug that alleviates depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. In addition, doctors sometimes prescribe Sertraline off-label to treat eating disorders and insomnia as well. Sertraline detox treatment will be able to help you in case you have developed a sertraline dependency.

This drug is known for making people develop a dependency on it, for this reason when the person tries to stop using it may experience withdrawal effects. According to the scientific piece ‘Orthostatic hypotension induced by sertraline withdrawal, this medicine may also lead to hypertension problems as an effect of withdrawal.

This research showed that “A patient receiving sertraline for depression developed dizziness and orthostatic hypotension on repeated attempts to discontinue the drug. All other organic factors were ruled out. The hypotension was proved to be secondary to sertraline by repeated rechallenges. After a variety of attempted treatments, the agent was discontinued successfully through an extended titration period.”

• Nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and indigestion
• Change in sleep habits, including increased sleepiness and insomnia
• Increased sweating

• Sexual problems, including decreased sex drive and ejaculation failure
• Tremor or shaking
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Agitation

• Severe allergic reactions. Symptoms can include:
  • trouble breathing
  • swelling of your face, tongue, eyes, or mouth
  • rash, itchy welts (hives) or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain

• Low sodium levels: Seniors may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms can include:
  • headache
  • weakness or unsteadiness
  • confusion, problems concentrating or thinking, or memory problems
• Changes in appetite or weight: You should check the weight and height of children and adolescents often while they take this drug.
• Suicide attempts
• Acting on dangerous impulses
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Thoughts about suicide or dying
• New or worse depression
• New or worse anxiety or panic attacks
• Agitation, restlessness, anger, or irritability
• Trouble sleeping
• An increase in activity or talking more than normal
• Abnormal bleeding
• Seizures or convulsions

• Serotonin syndrome: This condition can be life-threatening. Symptoms can include:
  • hallucinations and delusions
  • agitation
  • loss of consciousness
  • seizures
  • coma
  • fast heart rate
  • changes in blood pressure
  • muscle tremor or stiff muscles
  • dizziness
  • shakiness
  • sweating
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • muscle rigidity
• Manic episodes. Symptoms can include:greatly increased energy
  • severe trouble sleeping
  • racing thoughts
  • reckless behavior
  • unusually grand ideas
  • excessive happiness or irritability
  • talking more or faster than usual
• Eye pain
• Changes in vision, including blurred and double vision
• Swelling or redness in or around your eyes

Since Sertraline is a long-term medication, there is no inherent danger in taking it for months or even years. However, since it’s a mind-altering drug, it can cause dependence. When a person becomes unable to feel normal or get through the day without taking Sertraline, they’ve become dependent on the medication. There is a debate about whether Sertraline is addictive because there is no evidence that people who take Sertraline ever have cravings for it. Nevertheless, people who stop taking Sertraline can experience withdrawal.

To avoid withdrawal, some people may continue to use Zoloft even though they believe they no longer need it. In some cases, they might “doctor shop” for more Zoloft prescriptions or buy the medication illegally, all to keep away withdrawal symptoms. This cycle of withdrawal and relapse is characteristic of an addiction disorder. Fortunately, addiction to this prescription drug can be cured with medically supervised Sertraline detox and therapy at a rehab facility.

Sertraline Withdrawal is a form of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome. This condition will affect about 20% of people who use an SSRI. Since Zoloft has a short half-life (the length of time a drug stays in the bloodstream before it leaves the body), when someone decides to stop taking Sertraline, its effects quickly wear off. 

For this reason, if a person suddenly stops taking this drug without going through Sertraline detox, their serotonin levels will abruptly decline. That’s why health care professionals often wean their clients off the medication by gradually reducing the amount they take until they completely stop, a method sometimes called a “tapering strategy.”

The brain will adjust to post-sertraline serotonin levels, but the body may react adversely to lower amounts of serotonin in the nervous system until it does. The symptoms of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome (Zoloft Withdrawal) usually last for one to three weeks. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms will vary depending on how long a person has taken Zoloft. In many cases, people will experience rebound depression or anxiety when they stop taking the medication. 

• Lack of Concentration
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Chills
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

• Headaches
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Suicidal Thoughts
• Tingling Sensations in the skin
• Vertigo

A gradual reduction in dosage during Sertraline detox will be most effective for managing and controlling withdrawal symptoms. Reducing the sertraline dosage slowly allows your brain to gradually adjust to lower amounts of medication, finally adapting to no medication at all.

Understanding what to expect in terms of symptoms will also help in managing sertraline Withdrawal. Many symptoms are normal, and knowing what they are will reduce anxiety about those symptoms, making them easier to deal with mentally. Talk therapy and other non-medication treatments should be continued normally to treat the psychological withdrawal symptoms of sertraline.

Exercise may also be helpful. Exercise is widely known to improve both mental and physical wellness. Eating a healthy diet may also help. Avoid foods known to increase jitteriness, like caffeine and sweets, and consume healthy, whole foods. Eating a nutrient-rich, well-balanced diet may help with both physiological and psychological issues associated with withdrawal.

• Agitation
• Dizziness
• Fever
• Tiredness

• Increased Heart Rate
• Nausea And Vomiting
• Shaking And Tremors