Sertraline + Benzos

[pally pete]

My doc put me on 20mg per day cialopram for 5-6 weeks (during which time i wasnt using any benzos) anyway the citalopram wasnt helping one bit so she put me on Sertraline 100mg per day,after a couple of weeks of that i felt that they were not working so i starting using benzos without her knowledge,she says she needs for me to be clean of the benzos for a longer period of time to see if the sertraline is going to actually work.

I agree because the last thing i want is a benzo habit (ive takn benzos pretty much everyday since 30th july) so im hoping to knock them on the head now to avoid severe withdrawals and continue with the daily sertraline as i have been doing since i was prescribed them 5 weeks ago.

Im just worried they may not work as i was hoping to start beginning to feel like myself again after this past 2 1/2 months

I just dont want to go back to being a benzo abuser.

Also how much bearing would the benzos have on the effects/progression of the sertraline?

Thanks.

 

[effie]

The benzos won't interact with the sertraline at all, it's more that through a benzo haze it'd be pretty tricky to gauge how much effect the sertraline has had.. and as you know using benzos to get by isn't sustainable, so far better to stick with the sertraline and try it benzo-free to see if it does help you. Hopefully it will

My view of antideps is they don't make you happy and back to your normal self on their own. They allow you to do the things that used to make you happy without being weighed down with the fog of depression or the pressure of anxiety. That's why they work so well with CBT..

I'd talk to your doctor about your fears about sertraline. I understand not wanting to come off the benzos incase it hasn't worked, but if you don't give it a chance you will never know.. and it's not the final thing that can be offered either, even if it doesn't do what you want it to..

Good luck!

edit: blimey i'm all over the weather metaphors today.. seriously though, I really do understand how you feel about being scared to try in case it fails, but it is definitely worth giving it a go. Do you need to taper? Make sure you come off them safely..

 

[Allein]

My experience may be rare but I had internal bleeding on Sertraline so feel duty bound to warn you of the symptoms.

If you start throwing up what look like coffee grounds of you stools become pitch black, get yourself to A&E and don't take Ibuprofen when your on it either as that can bring further risk.

My problem was likely a combination of the Sertraline and the heavy drinking I was doing at the time.

I've posted this link before but it really helped me plan my own Benzo taper, fek I'm so anal I did an excel spreadsheet :D

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

Don't hesitate to PM me if you think I can help out in any way ADs haven't worked out for me but I'm due CBT

 

[pally pete]

Thanks for both your replies.

I think i'l just try staying clear of the benzos until my next docs appointment (7th sept) sayin that ive already consumed 300mg temazepam tonight and over the course of the next week - ten days i plan to lower my benzo doseage and begin to introduce diazepam into my system in the hope of a slightly smoother withdrawal ride.

Although i have cold turkey'd a few times but only from short term (1 - 4 weeks) extremely sporadic high doses (worst time being a 1 week very very heavy Alprazolam (Xanax) binge. well over 100mgs consumed!!! i Cold turkey'd from that which was awful! besides the obvious withdrawals,sweats,nausea,diarrhea,super anxiety,complete insomnia,no appetite,paranoia but to top it off auditory hallucinations and closed eye visuals.

During this withdrawal period i was also working everyday in a manual labour factory enviroment

 

[effie]

Eep that sounds horrid! Just be careful, benzo cold turkey can actually be damgerous, risk of seizures, especially if you are coming off high doses or very long term use... benzo WDs do sound generally nasty, I'd taper if there is any risk of seizing at all...