zoloft withdrawl

 Hi

 New here but a great site.

I went on Zoloft about 6 years ago threw my GP for depression.

1st mistake.

Go to a Dr. who deals in the world that your problem is in.

GP really don't understand the lasting effect of these kind of drugs or all of us won't be writting our problems down on this site.

If your foot hurts you don't go to an eye DR. 

Started off on 25 for a few months.

Then jump up to 50 for about a half a year and decided to get off of it.

Didn't like the felling so went back up to the 50 for a while.

Then jumped up to a 100. Did it work? Yes. Nothing matter at all anymore. 

Did I have some side effects? Yes. 

I even thought about getting out of my car at a red light and running away along with telling my wife to hide all of the sharp objects becasue I just didn't trust myself for even having these thoughts.

But this is to be excepted with a drug that changes the natural make up of your brain.

It worked so well that my wife statred to call it the Just don't care pill.

 I was totaly fuzzy and lazy and as soon as I went down to 50 again I started to feel more human.

about 6 months ago we decided to go down to 25mg and I felt disconnect right away.

Did that dosage for about 4 months and then down to 12.5. 

In other words I did ween myself off of them per my GP direction but I think it was to quick to soon.

I could tell as soon as I started the 12.5 dose that something was different.

Everything and everybody mad me mad and I yelled at everyone and anyone for no real reason.

I have been off of it all together for about 6 weeks now and let me tell you it's not much better.

Very moody. Cry for no reason at all. Will eat till it's pulled away from me and my sleep stinks.

O yea there are the flashes and twitches too.

I think the post on 2/19/09 from ODO really takes this home.

 My GP said the same thing.

Nope no withdrawls at all.

Yea right.

That's why my wife and kids keep me at bay becasue everything is fine.

I'm not saying it's a bad drug and that it doesn't work but just go talk to someone who completly understands how the mind works if you think that you need help and do some research first before deciding to change your's or a family's member natural chemical balance.

If I knew then what I know and feel now there is no way I would have done this or any other drug to change things.

By the way if any one has had withdrawl issues for 6 weeks or more please right in  and let  me know your story so at least I know I'm not alone.   

I was on Zoloft for several years and also been doing therapy with it. With the help of my naturopath and therapist support I decided to get off my antidepressants. We all felt it was time...I had learned enough skills to regulate my emotions better.

I have been off them for about a month and a half and have experienced the whole gamet of side effects mentioned, getting angry rather quickly, crying for no reason or the emotional response much greater than usual, and very fatigued especially the first couple of weeks also I have had the tingling and some twitching. It is getting better little by little and I am taking nutritional supplements to help support the transition. There are still times I think maybe I should go back on them which I know is okay if needed however right now I feel like I have more days where I am glad that I am off them. I do feel more intensely but for where I am at this point in time I would rather feel the good bad and the ugly rather than experience a feeling of flatness and numbness. I think keeping up with my exercise and mindful meditation will be key to my recovery

One of my biggest frusturations currently is that I have been exercising all summer on a regular basis and have actually gained weight as opposed to losing even a little. The scale simply won't budge I was told after the fact by my psychiatrist that you can gain weight after getting off of Zoloft.

So hang in there and let me know how things are going. This week has been pretty good and I have learned that it is a one day at a time process
Many Blessings

I totally agree that there are alternative therapies other than medications. Another one that I might add to the list is acupuncture. It has really helped me some of my digestive and depression issues. For me the naturopath thing has worked but like many other things you have to find one that you feel comfortable with.

I had never felt very comfortable with my psychiatrist sometimes I think I held back on how I really felt because I didn't wanted to have an increase of dosage or try yet another drug with side effects.

For me antidepressants were a life saver for me at one time couldn't do without them but now that I have been working through issues in therapy alternative therapies and natural supplements have worked the best for me