I have been on Zoloft for about 15 years, started in my late 20's for depression, dyptheria, I think is the clinical term, basically, I was sad all the time.
I was on 125mg a day and was starting to become angry and uncaring for no reason. I have been seeing a LCSW, once a week for years, now as needed. In May, I started to ween off the Zoloft. I was prescribed it by a psych. and she gave me a schedule to follow. When I tried before I would get so far and then the crying spells would start and I would go back on it. After researching and reading the blogs on this forum, I am glad to see I am not the only one experiencing horrible withdrawl. Anyway, I have to go really slow. Meaning that for 2 weeks I was taking 125 mgs. one day, the next 100mgs, then every other day for two weeks going back and forth between the two doses. The third week was 100mg. for a whole week, I did that for two weeks, then the next week was 100mg. one day, the next day, 50 mgs. and so on. I am at the point where I am on 25 mgs for two weeks. I have had the withdrawl symptoms people describe: aches and pain, irrational thinking, irritability, moodiness, apathy, sweats, vivid dreams, waking up in the middle of the night, and the brain zaps, I don't have those anymore, only when I was on a steady dose of Zoloft. I do have suicidal thoughts, but nothing I would ever act on, I am too rational to know that these are just thoughts, but I have never had them like this. I know it is the ZOloft.
Anyway, my questions are:
When I am completely off Zoloft, how long does it take for me to feel like myself and that the drug is out of my system? Am I always going to feel this way even off the Zoloft? How can I tell what is withdrawl and what is my mental illness?
As I ween to a lower dose, does that mean that they withdrawl symptoms will increase since my body is getting lower doses?
I am so tired of taking this drug. And I should say, another reason I want off of it is the terrible rage, road rage, lack of patience, which is normal for me, but not with this extreme desire to punch someone in the face!!!!
Had I known then what I know now, I would have never taken it. While it did get me over the "hump" and helped me be able to learn techniques to deal with depression and anxiety, I don't want to be on this anymore!!!! I want to be in control of my emotions, even if it means I cry at the drop of a hat. Zoloft made me an emotionless being and I am tired of it, except for the rage. THat is the one thing that drives me crazy, even if I was on my regular dose, the rage was unbearable. It is subsiding, this week I am not as irritable, but I keep being told from others to just stick with it, it is withdrawl. It is comforting to see others are going through it too and to see they come out on the other side gives me hope. I wish Dr.'s didn't prescibe these pills so easily. YOu never hear about the side effects. Thanks for listening!!!