Can I take sertraline for life?

Speak to your doctor if you are worried. Taking sertraline for more than a year has also been linked to a small increased risk of getting diabetes. You'll be regularly checked for this. Otherwise there do not seem to be any lasting harmful effects from taking sertraline for many months and years.


How long can you stay on sertraline?

Your doctor will advise you how long to take sertraline for, as it depends on why you are taking it. For depression it might be six months, for OCD it might be 12 months and for other anxiety related conditions such as PTSD and panic disorder it might be up to 18 months.

Can you stay on antidepressants for life?

For people with chronic or severe depression, medication may be needed on a long-term basis. In these cases, antidepressants are often taken indefinitely. That is, in part, because depression is not an illness that can be cured.


Can you take sertraline your entire life?

However, research suggests staying on antidepressants for life or even using them long-term, can be harmful to your mind and body. In many instances, extended use can leave you worse off than before. Like all SSRIs, the FDA requires a suicide warning on the package label.

Is it okay to be on antidepressants for years?

Long-term—even indefinite—use of antidepressants may be the best treatment for someone with multiple past episodes of depression, especially if they have a history of suicide attempts or have residual symptoms, like sleep problems, says Dr. Potash. Dr.


My Positive Zoloft Experience: How 1.5 Years on Zoloft Changed My Life



Will I have to take anxiety meds forever?

7) Do I have to take my anxiety medication for life? Not always. It depends on your symptoms and how controlled they become over time. As mentioned, if you're taking an antidepressant, it may take a few weeks before your symptoms improve.

Does your brain go back to normal after antidepressants?

If the symptoms develop later or gradually, they may constitute a relapse of the depression. Ultimately, these withdrawal symptoms will improve with time, but they can be unpleasant for days and possibly even weeks. In time, the brain readjusts and people should experience a return to their normal state.

Is it hard to stop taking sertraline?

Common discontinuation symptoms of stopping sertraline may include nausea, headaches, and tingling skin. For this reason, when a person decides to discontinue sertraline, they should discuss this with their doctor. The doctor may recommend gradually lowering the dose to reduce or avoid symptoms.


How long is too long for antidepressants?

Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants. If you've had three or more recurrences of depression, make that at least two years.

Does sertraline cause permanent change?

There is no evidence, and little reason to believe, that the commonly prescribed antidepressant medications cause any permanent changes to the brain or have any persistent side effects.

What happens to your brain when you stop taking sertraline?

You get sick.

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, also called antidepressant withdrawal, occurs when a person abruptly stops taking antidepressant medication. Many people who experience antidepressant withdrawal feel like they have the flu or a stomach bug. They may also experience disturbing thoughts or images.


How slowly should you come off sertraline?

It's important that you do not stop taking antidepressants suddenly. A dose of antidepressants should be slowly reduced, normally over 4 weeks, but sometimes longer. This is to prevent any withdrawal symptoms you might get as a reaction to coming off antidepressants suddenly.

How long after stopping sertraline Will I feel better?

Withdrawal symptoms may occur a few days after a person begins to taper their dose and may last for 1–3 weeks. The severity of symptoms will depend on how long a person has been taking sertraline. Common symptoms associated with reducing sertraline dose may include: nausea.

How long does the average person use antidepressants?

The length of treatment varies.

Even once you do start to feel better, you should expect to remain on your antidepressant for at least 4 to 6 additional months. Those experiencing depression for the first time may require even longer, from 6 to 12 months.


How long should a person stay on an antidepressant?

It's usually recommended that a course of antidepressants continues for at least 6 months after you feel better, to prevent your condition recurring when you stop. Some people with recurrent illness are advised to carry on taking medicine indefinitely.

What foods to avoid when taking sertraline?

Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? Do not drink grapefruit juice while you're taking this medicine. Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of sertraline in your body and increase the risk of side effects.

How do you come off sertraline safely?

To further reduce the dose 25mg (half a 50mg tablet) every other day; 25mg every 3 days is not advisable as after 3 days the sertraline will have dropped to low levels risking discontinuation and initiation symptoms.


What are the benefits of coming off antidepressants?

If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants. On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping antidepressants, you may also lose weight.

Are all antidepressants hard to get off at?

The few studies of antidepressant withdrawal that have been published suggest that it is harder to get off some medications than others. This is due to differences in the drugs' half-life — the time it takes the body to clear the medication once the pills are stopped.

How do I stop taking sertraline 50mg?

Usually, sertraline's dose is gradually reduced over around four weeks. A sample taper schedule is reducing the dose by 50 mg every 5–7 days to a final dose of 25–50 mg before the drug is stopped.


How to live without antidepressants?

Several treatments can be used instead of antidepressants for treating depression and other mental health conditions.
  1. Talking therapies. Cognitive behavioural therapy. ...
  2. Exercise. ...
  3. Self-help groups. ...
  4. Lithium. ...
  5. Electric shock treatment.


What anxiety medication can be taken long term?

SSRIs can be taken on a long-term basis but, as with all antidepressants, they can take several weeks to start working. You'll usually be started on a low dose, which may be gradually increased as your body adjusts to the medication. Common side effects of SSRIs include: feeling agitated.

What can be taken long term for anxiety?

Examples of SSRIs that are commonly used to treat chronic anxiety include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).


Will I gain weight on sertraline?

What medications cause weight gain? Antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants , and mood stabilizers are common drugs that have the most potential to increase weight gain. All 12 of the leading antidepressants, including fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro), make gaining weight more likely.

Can sertraline cause long term damage?

To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of sertraline. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.