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Coming off Zoloft

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Posted 6/14/2013 11:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am so happy to have found this forum that I have tears running down my face.

I have been on psychiatric drugs for what seems like most of my life, but at least 26 years.  I was on sertraline for 11 years, going on them when I was 17 weeks pregnant with my youngest child.  My highest dose of sertraline was 200 gm but last year I did a very slow reduction with my doctor until the November 2012 when I stopped taking them. Within a few weeks I was a wreck, literally walking around with tears running down my face nearly all the time with absolutely no control over it, became very agitated and aggressive and was a danger to myself and others when driving, had brain zaps, felt exhausted but couldnt sleep.  The effects being so extreme I couldnt function as a mother or going to work and was given sedatives and put on prozac and was off work for 3 weeks.3

I hated it but felt that I really had no choice in the state I was in but felt so much anxiety from feeling trapped into a lifetime of taking drugs and now suffering other illness through long term medication (gastric problems and vomitting with blood in it).

Prozac however did not suit me and my thoughts were becoming very morose and I wanted to sleep all the time.....so back to the doctor.  She couldnt put me straight back on sertraline saying I needed two weeks inbetween them and prozac.  With the withdrawl experience Id had I was scared silly but decided to plan for it and actually ended up handing my notice in from my job as they had been the very opposite of supportive and I actually felt discrimated against and not understood that it was part of an illness.

So now I am giving myself the opportunity to try and get through the withdrawal effects as I can be at home...and this is where I have found this forum.... 19 days into no tablets and the effects starting to kick in a couple of days ago....Im not as bad as last time....yet??!! but am crying a lot, pushing partner and children away, getting angry easily and tired but cant sleep.  I have bought my self this morning some nordic oil for omega 369, which I have heard can help....but really need the support of knowing there are others out there and that I am not alone.

Like a lot of people I want to know how long I might feel like this....and if it doesnt stop does it mean that I do need to back of them ....for ever :(

 

 

Posted 6/17/2013 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!

I'm glad I found this site. I have been experiencing the withdrwal symptoms for 5 days now and I wonder if I will ever feel better. I ran out of my Rx on Wednesday and thought i would try and just cut cold turkey. I have tried once before but the symptoms were so bad, I refilled my Rx. I am feeling that disoriented, foggy, dizzy and nauseous feeling that everyone talks about. I have trouble sleeping even when I'm exhausted and then find myself falling asleep when I should be focused. I have been running myself to the ground these past few weeks as I am completing school. Thank God I graduate this week but I am interviewing for jobs as well and I don't want to feel this way. Sometimes I forget what I'm talking about. I am very irritable. The smallest thing will set me off. I get really angry and then feel so guilty. These were all the things I had issues with (anxiety, mild depression and moodiness) before I got on Sertraline minus the withdrawal symptoms. I have my refill waiting for me now. I don't know if I should continue taking it or if I should just suck it up and continue with all this stuff. I hope that by the time I actually get a job most of these feelings subside because it has not been easy to go to school for 8 hours, come home and taking care of a Toddler and not sleeping.

Any advice is greatly appreciated
Posted 7/24/2013 3:04 AM (GMT 0)

Hello All!

I've been heartened to read all of these stories of life with/without Zoloft, so similar to my own.  I won't repeat the oft sung refrain of headaches and brain zaps, but just as some background info I've been on Zoloft for 4 years now, painfully weaning from 100mg to 50mg about two years ago.  Nearing the end of the prescription and wanting to be free of a medication that, from everything I'd gathered, was only making the original problem worse by inhibiting serotonin production instead of supplementing it, I embarked on my own crash course in weaning.  That was nearly a month ago, and while it's not been great, it's not been awful either.  Until now.  For the past handful of days I have felt ENRAGED by the littlest things, and with three small, naughty toddlers there are a LOT of little things throughout the day.  I mean, I am honestly starting to be afraid of how terribly, viciously angry I get with them.  This can not long endure.  Has anyone had any success with supplements to lessen the anxiety?  If I'm a month out and feeling this way is that a sign I need to consider going back on the medication?  I'm a SAHM, so I'm around my kids 24/7 - I can't be a loose cannon with them.  Help!  What can I do to get past this phase of withdrawal!?!

Thanks!
Amanda

Posted 7/26/2013 3:20 AM (GMT 0)

Hello everyone, I am new to the site. I am reaching out because I am in my second week of tapering off my Zoloft. I have only been taking 25mg for about 10 months. I have been taking half my regular dosage for about a week and a half. I have noticed a lack of patience, increased irritability, and most recently, crying A LOT. Things that wouldn't normally bother me are throwing me over the edge! I guess I am wondering for all you that have successfully weaned off this medicine, how long this lasted and did you ever return to normal? I am exercising, doing yoga, eating well, and trying to BREATHE. I am very tight on money at the moment so it is nearly impossible to buy supplements to help me out. Any other natural/free suggestions to help?

Posted 8/20/2013 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
WOW!! I just stumbled onto this Forum, and it's been an incredible eye opener! I'm now on 200mg of Zoloft, have been on Zoloft for almost 10 years, starting at 50mg! I've been sailing along, wondering why I feel so crappy, why I lose my balance, have these weird muscle pains and cramping!

I've been thinking for about 4 months, and based on what I'm reading here, that I REALLY NEED to get off Zoloft! It was a useful tool when I was having some problems, but, now it's become a liability! Sounds like getting off of it won't be a picnic, but, I think that if I go really slow, maybe it won't be too bad. I'm thinking to drop by 25 or 50mg at the beginning of every month, that will give my body a month to get used to the new dose.

I just can't believe I've had all these health problems and never attributed them to the meds I'm taking!

I just want to say THANKS to all of you who have shared your experiences with this drug, and getting off of it!

Warmest Regards,
langeloro.
Posted 8/21/2013 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
All these posts reinforce my decision to never go on anti-depressants!
Posted 8/29/2013 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hey peeps,

 

New to this forum. Hoping some people will help me out. Doc prescribed me 25mg of Zoloft today to take at bedtime. Im a little apprehensive to go on antidepressants again (was on Cipralex before and it stopped working and I relapsed hard). Really suffering a lot from GAD, stress, etc. Crying everyday....very irritable. Cyclic moods. I go up and down probably a hundred times in a day. Cant stop worrying it's aweful! I hope to start feeling a bit better so I can go to therapy and really work on my issues. Also on 300mg Wellbutrin and Topirimate.

 

Wondering : does it suck to come off of? Is it really hard?

 

Worried because I don't want to be on this forever....

 

Thanks!

Posted 9/12/2013 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I am new to the forum. I have been on zoloft for 10 years . Started on 50 and then went up to 100mg. The problem is that I really never took it everyday. I was perfectly fine for 10 years. This June, I had a panic attack and started taking the 100 mg everyday. I felt weird and was getting horrible side effects. I went down to 75 and then 50 but with no relief. I was in a fog and got really depressed and lost it. Would not get out of bed and cried all day. My doctor moved me back to 100 mg. I have been out of work since August because I feel horrible. I am not as depressed but I have burning sensations in my arms and I have no feelings at all in my brain. My memory is bad too. I do things like a robot and I feel weird. He told me to start weening off and he would start me on something else. I am afraid to do this because I do not want to get withdrawal symptoms and be back to square one. Any advise from anyone. Did anyone ever get any side effects like the ones I am experiencing.

Thank you!
Posted 11/13/2013 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
I"M OFF ! Last Thursday, Nov 7 2013 was my first day of freedom !
The first thing I noticed as I was weaning was the increased laughter...... sitcoms were actually FUNNY again. I feel things more. Some of it is confusing as I've been on it for 8 yrs and just remember the condition I was in when I started taking it. Things such as taking personally everything everyone says..... until I talked to a friend helping me through this and she assured me that women do this . HA, who knew ! It was good to know I was feeling normal feelings.
The second thing I noticed was my mind was clearer and I could concentrate better. I have actually read 2 novels since last week! I haven't been able to concentrate on reading in wayyyyyyy too long !
Third thing...... I've lost 4 lbs in the last month since I began weaning off zoloft and changing my diet to aid my med free desire ! LOSE the SUGAR ! I'ved added vitamin D, fish oil to my daily vitamins also. Books by William Dufty " Sugar Blues" and Ann Louise Gittleman "Get the Sugar Out" have talked me through/into getting the sugar out of my diet and controling my live with the aid of diet control instead of medications.

The physical symptoms. yeah.. They are there and acting up, but mostly they are very brief. A touch of nausea, what I call dizz-i-vision (not really dizzy, not really blurred vision....I dunno), light headed as if I haven't eaten (I'm a snacker), weepiness... doesn't last long and is usually cleared up by a cup of peppermint tea or a light snack of fruit, nuts, etc. The only one that seemed persistent day 2-4 is the headache. One day it was all day, another it would just keep coming back.

Overall..... the symptoms of quitting zoloft are interesting and not out of control. I have a wonderfully supportive husband, sons 16, 20 and 23 and very good friends to help me through this.

Now all I have to do is have a hysterectomy and I can stop taking birth control pills (endometriosis) and I WILL be 'medfree' !
Posted 11/13/2013 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Medfree.;)

You sound like you are doing great!! I am very happy for you and to hear of your progress. Well done on reaching your goal, and feeling pretty well.:)

I don't know if you have checked out our Resources here for the A/P...but I encourage you to do so. You'll find them on our main page, 1st post.

The breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation instructions/links are really great, and could help you through the rest of this transition. Being off of meds, you may find that you rely on your coping skills to help you through any rough spots.:)

Keep posting with us anytime, and keep us updated!

S.C.
Posted 11/13/2013 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've missed welcoming all the  new members in this thread  so i thought I would do a big shout out welcome to all new comers: flyeaglesfly rainx langeloro happinesshunter Amanda Reifsnyder Gstyle Eli9902 ashnic Professional Squirrel grinningandbaring        
Posted 12/26/2013 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Stopping in to say hello........ It's been 7 weeks off of zoloft . Overall, it's been good. The dizziness and headaches are gone. With the holidays the diet has been a struggle to adhere to and has resulted in more moodiness and weepiness. But all the holiday stuff is winding down so I'll be back on the no-sugar wagon right quick ! It really DOES make a difference. The nausea is still persistant. as soon as my stomach is empty, nausea pops in to say hello.

In the meantime, there have been further disfunctional incidents in my highly disfunctional family (bro n his wife in a marital mess while she has cancer, my father being a jerk ) I've cut them out of my life before for self preservation. Honestly, I've just about had it with them again. They just add to the mess in my head.
Posted 12/26/2013 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
All in all sounds good medfree...

...good job on all of the things that you have done/are doing to manage your anxiety.

Keep up the good work, and hope that your family dynamic improves for you.

Take care,

S.C.
Posted 12/26/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
wish I could get a hold of flyeaglesfly, he/she has/had the exact same symptoms and outcome I have had with Zoloft.

every thing that person wrote was me. But they posted once and there is no other posts. so wondering does anyone else have this experience?

especially with the burning skin etc.

I have not been able to get stable on Zoloft and not getting off of it will take me forever because I can only drop 10% at a time or I really go bonkers...if that's at all possible since I am so bonkers now.

UGHHHHHHHHH
Posted 12/26/2013 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Keep checking back for responses here...or start a new thread specifically with your experiences Lainey. :)

I am sorry that you are feeling so unwell and frustrated. :( Try to stay the course and hopefully things will level out for you soon!

S.C.
Posted 2/17/2014 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Been on zoloft for 20 years and tried times to quit and I would go into a relapse. With the help of my counselor and doctor, I tried again. I also did some research on the side effects of zoloft. Anyway, I was on 150 mg. I was fine on 125 mg then my doctor lowered my dosage to 100 mg. Over the years, when I got down to 100 mg I would get panicky and call my doc and he would up my dosage back to 150 mg. When I got to 100 mg, the side effects kicked in (crying, sad, anxious, etc). This time, I didn't panic. After 2 weeks, I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Made it through. My counselor and doctor thought it would be wise for me to stay on 100 mg until I felt strong enough to go down to 75 mg. After 4 weeks at 75 mg, the second level of withdrawals have kicked in. This time it is not as extreme as before but it is still uncomfortable. The withdrawal symptoms will feel like you are depressed but it is not. So far, I've been feeling down for one week. I will keep you all up to date.
Posted 2/17/2014 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Female Roady,

Welcome aboard to HealingWell. This is a great forum to post on and share our stories and coping strategies for anxiety.

I just wanted to point out that you posted on a somewhat older thread that hasn't had activity. As a new member, if you start a brand new thread, -- click on "post new topic" -- and introduce yourself and share with us your story, more people will get to meet you and join in on the conversation!

Happy to have you join us!



M.
Posted 2/17/2014 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't know how to do it. Should I repost it?
Posted 2/18/2014 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Female Roady,

It would be nice if you would like to just start a new thread and copy your post into the new thread. 

Also we love hearing from newbies as getting to know one another helps everyone feel comfortable in the forum.

Welcome to HealingWell. 

Kindly,

Kitt 

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