It’s been a week since I started lowering my Sertraline dose and it’s been a little rocky. The three days in which I took 150 mg were easy. I had no noticeable side effects from the decrease and I felt like my normal self. The first couple of days of 100 mg dosages were fine, as well. This is likely due to the buildup of Sertraline in my system over the last seven years. Things are now starting to get a little trickier, though. I feel apathetic and exhausted and sad for no reason. Don’t get me wrong, its only a fraction of what I used to feel before medication, but I still hate the feeling. Thankfully, for the moment, I feel in control of my emotions, but that could change as the buildup of Sertraline in my system decreases.
I think tapering from 200 mg to 150 mg was a good first step, but I think only having me on 150 mg for THREE days was a mistake. I think my psychiatrist made a bad judgement call. Compared to seven years, three days is nothing. He essentially had me cut my dose in half almost immediately. I assumed I’d be on 150 mg for about two weeks or so (at a minimum) before dropping to 100 mg. These next couple of weeks will be tough, but after that, I should hopefully be used to the lower dose.
On the plus side, I’ve only had one mystery bruise and one bloody nose in the last week! Either this is all psychological or the lower dose of Sertraline is making a difference!
I’ll know more once I talk to my hematologist about it. My appointment was supposed to be today, but his receptionist called about an hour before my appointment to say he went home sick. She rescheduled me for tomorrow at noon. Fingers crossed that all goes well!