My Positive Experience Quitting Zoloft

Upon my own personal decision to discontinue taking my Zoloft, I was curious as to what I'd be in for. I had gone a few days without taking the medicine in years past, so I was familiar with the "brain zap" feeling, but never to a significant degree. I am in my second week of being completely off Zoloft, and the last 10 days I've experienced just about every emotion in the book.

It was hard for me to find the information and support I needed, aside from this thread, to get through much of the initial effects from quitting my Zoloft. I told myself when I started feeling somewhat normal again (ie able to look at a computer screen without feeling dizzy and sick), I was going to make my own thread to share my experiences (in a rational, logical manner) to help everyone out there who might be going through what I was. Essentially, I decided this specific thread would be the best place because it was the first result upon my google search "quitting Zoloft" when I initially made my decision to quit and this thread already has over 80,000 views (:O).

With that said, I am a 24 year old male, and I have been on Zoloft since the age of 17. I started on 50mg and slowly progressed up to 200mg, of which I've been at for the last few years. I started the medication as the recommendation of my therapist and doctor for mild anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and slight depression. While 50mg was quite sufficient for my diagnosis, at the time I think part of my depression was not liking the person I was (or not "knowing" who I was) and I thought the more medicine I took, the more it could turn me into someone I might actually like. I realize this is a somewhat juvenile assumption, but as I mentioned, I was finishing highschool so my mind hadn't fully matured.

Fast forward 7 years later, and here we are. My plan of action was to half my dose every two weeks, and after 4 weeks, completely stop. So my first two weeks I was at 100mg, and then 50mg, and then stopped all together on Oct. 5th. I tried to keep a journal but only managed one entry (yea I'm not the best at writing thoughts lol!). Regardless, I'm posting that entry from the first week I cut down to 100mg to kind of give some insight of my reasoning and choice of quitting Zoloft.

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Sept 15, 2013  - Day 8 (100mg):

It's 8:17 pm in the evening. It's been a week now since I cut my zoloft dosage in half. This week has been a very crazy one, too! Last Sunday I got back from Kansas City. While I had a good time, I had my reoccuring thoughts of "what's wrong with me?" "Why can't I connect or get close to anyone?" That's been my mental state for the last few years or so.

 

I had always been really into my work that I didn't notice, but now that it's been about a year and a half since leaving my job, I realize I've never been in a relationship. And I think the zoloft has everything to do with this. Nothing is wrong with me, it's that it has turned me into a zombie. My mind has become so numb that even when I try to feel, it feels so meaningless. So that's why I decided I'm making a life changing decision and breaking free of this contraint that's been on myself since highschool, literally 6 years now. I haven't spent any of my adulthood free of this medication, I don't know who I am because I've been a zombie and not able to figure it out.

 

So here we are Day 8. I've been taking 100mg of the zoloft instead of my normal 200g. Within the first few days, I had sudden mood changes. Things that were sentimental meant more to me and I found myself somewhat weepy over them (lyrics in a song, etc). I wouldn't say it was truly feeling yet, as I think I'm still pretty dependant on the drug. But maybe just glimpses of how I might be able to feel eventually (albeit controlled and not so random). I experienced minor irritability but nothing major.

 

Today is the first day I've had the brain zaps. I remember these very eerily all the times I missed doses on Zoloft. It's one of the worst types of headaches, your mind just literally has this dizzyness zap that comes and goes with intensity. It hasn't been very dramatic yet thankfully, but definately noticeable. I also feel kind of glazy. My eyes are looking at things but I'm only noticing the very immediate section my eyes are focussed on. Maybe this is part of the distracting aspect of taking the medicine and that perhaps I'm now actually re-learning how to focus again.

 

From the little bit of reading I've done about discontinuation syndrome, I am starting to realize more and more what I am up against. The fact that I've been on such a high dosage (200mg when the normal recomended max is 150mg I think), and for so long, it's scary and overwhelming for me. I don't really feel like dealing with the physical side effects (especially the brain zaps), but I'm nervous about the mental ones as well. So far I haven't really felt anything intense. I mean, I do have this image in my head of my brain becoming slowly decompressed from the hold that zoloft has had on it for such a long time, and the numbing feeling you get after releasing pressure from something.

I've also realized that I'm in this alone (and I'm not meaning that in a negative way). But honestly, how many people can I talk to face-to-face that are going through exaxtly this same thing. I'll probably look at some of the discussion groups or forums online because I'm sure it's pretty common. But as far as in reality, I think it's best to keep it to myself because people aren't going to understand and will think I'm kinda weird.
I've also lost 9.0lbs so far. I started loosing a little before I started waning down, so it's more like ~4 lbs probably since last week.

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So fast forward from that point to Oct. 5th; the first day without taking any medicine. The discontinuation symptoms didn't kick in until the next day, primarily in the evening. The brain zaps were slowly creeping in. I ended up going to sleep really early because by around 7pm I just didn't feel like being awake. I actually slept pretty decently (no different than normal). I awoke for work the next morning, nothing out of the blue. I started the day feeling fine, but by afternoon, the brain zaps started hitting again in full force. (For anyone not familiar, these brain zaps are a very weird dis-pleasure / sensation. It's not the same thing as a headache necessarily, but almost feels like a vibration that pulses in your head.)

By that evening (day 2 of no zoloft), I was starting to feel pretty miserable. Between the intense brain-zaps, irritability, and emotional turbulence, I called it an early night again and went straight to bed. (As mentioned above, through the whole process, my sleep hasn't been affected much. Albeit, I'm going to sleep earlier, I fall asleep in the same time in took before, and I'm able to sleep the full duration of the night.) If anything changed with my sleep, it would be that I'm dreaming a lot more (or maybe just remembering them better?)

The effects mentioned above lasted up until Day 9 (yesterday). Initially I remember having a breakdown on Thurs. evening trying to figure out how much longer I was going to be going through said effects, and reading cases of people talking about it taking them months before they started feeling normal. It wasn't that I wanted to feel "normal" again, it was that I wanted to not feel the brain-zaps, dizziness, irritability, achy, drained feeling, etc that I had been experiencing over the last 9 days.

Fortunately, I am in Day 10 as of today of no Zoloft, and the discontinuation effects have been minimized greatly. A few brain pulse zaps occur infrequently especially if I make fast movements, but for the large part, I'm already feeling a lot better (physically). Mentally and emotionally, I'm not a wreck as I have been, although a little irritable still.

As far as a conclusion, I think it will still take a while before I start finding myself and who I am (and all that good stuff as to why I decided to stop taking Zoloft in the first place). But I atleast wanted to share my immediate experience with quitting the Zoloft so that others who are in the same position or thinking of quitting will have some gauge of what to expect perhaps. As far as my anxiety / ocd / depression creeping back since being off the pill, I have not noticed any difference at this time. That's not to say I was cured, but perhaps just learned of ways to deal with it better while I was on the medication that I hadn't realized until I stopped taking it.

I hope I didn't ramble on too much and hope my post will at the very least help someone who is on the same journey as I am or about to make that jump. I'll try to continue to post my status as time continues and will definitely check back now and again to read how others are doing!

Post Edited (Newme24) : 10/15/2013 5:27:04 PM (GMT-6)

Hi everyone
I found this forum and wept......with relief. I had a nervous breakdown 2 years ago. I was in a pretty bad way and was given Sertraline. I believe that it helped me through a tough time. I was on 200mg for 18 months. It eventually gave relief from the horrendous anxiety attacks that I was having. On my GP's advice I have been lowering my dose......by 25mg every 6 weeks or so. The first week of every reduction I felt that I just wanted to be on my own. I didn't want to engage in conversation...I just couldn't be bothered..but after that period I felt great. 2 weeks ago it was time to reduce from 50mg to 25mg. My Doctor suggested that initially I should take 50mg one day and 25mg the next and so on for 2 weeks and then 25mg one day and none the next day for 2 weeks......job done! Well I am really struggling. I have been so agitated and actually quite nasty with my Husband and Son. I feel so angry and just want to hurt them verbally. I don't have a good word to say about anyone. This is a vast behavioral difference as I feel that although the high dosage that I was on was indeed warranted at the time - it desensitized me. I was very passive and suddenly I am this monster. I have had thoughts of going back to 50mg a day but I truly want to banish this drug from my system......and the last 2 weeks will have been for nothing. Maybe I should have done a reduction of equal amounts each day. I guess my question is am I exhibiting these horrible traits in personality because that is me or is it the side effects? Am I ready and strong enough to continue as it would be so easy to return to 50mg where I felt good although Zombie like..where nothing really mattered? I feel that I owe it to myself and my family to eliminate this substance. It must be hard for them as up to 2 weeks ago everything was good and now it feels like I have turned the clock back 2 years. As well as the fact that mentally I felt ready to come off Sertraline I also desperately wanted to shed the 20 pounds that I have gained. Reading the comments in this forum on this matter has alleviated concerns that I had on this problem. My Doctor would not accept that the medication was responsible for my weight gain and no matter what I did the pounds kept creeping on. As yet I have not lost anything but I am determined to beat this thing.

My apologies for the long story...and even if I don't receive any replies...it has been so beneficial to just "let rip" to people who are going through this and much worse. My thoughts are with you all and we will break this cycle by talking to each other and by knowing that we are not alone.....because even with loving partners and children...who try to understand and give support...it can become a very isolated time.

Thank you - SC. I will look at the site. Kind regards

It's been 2.5 weeks now since I've been off Zoloft. I definitely understand the mood swings, irritability, and overall on edge feeling (I work in retail and I thank God I haven't snapped at a customer yet lol).

I would suggest you be really open to your husband and explain to him that this is just going to be your mental state while you come off the drug. And that you're not being nasty with him through any fault of his own, it's just one of the discontinuation side effects.

I don't know how long it will last as I'm still in that phase, as well, it seems. Despite these periods of irritation and agitation, I am finding that I'll have moments of intense positivity and forward-looking optimism. 

If I were you, I would keep on track with discontinuing the medicine, but just make sure you're communicating with him so he's aware of what you're going through.

I have been on and off Zoloft for 27 years.  When I was off it, it was only because I was trying other meds because I do not like Zoloft's side effects.  I see where a lot of you are weaning yourselves off, and I applaud you.  However, I would like to know if any of you has Major Depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia?  When I first started on this "journey"  I went from a totally functional person to one with panic attacks off the chart.  Many days I was homebound.  I also had the type of depression where I could not get out of bed for many days.  Zoloft is the only thing that has ever really helped me.

However, at this point, I refuse to take more than 75 mg's of it.  I do not like the sexual side effects.  For many years when I took Zoloft I also took lithium as a potentiater.   Now, I do not know if it was the Zoloft or the lithium, or both, but I gained about 80 pounds in about 10 years.  Prior to going on meds, I was a very skinny person who could not gain weight if I tried, which I did.  BTW, I went gluten free, junk free, fast food free, sugar free last June and have so far lost 40 pounds.  Easiest thing I ever did.  Could be because i'm on such a low dose of Zoloft? 

I'm still at 75 mg have zero energy, or is it lack of motivation, I'm not sure.  I felt like I needed more Zoloft so I went back to 100 mg for about a week, but I refuse to tolerate the sexual side effects anymore, so I am back down to 75. I however am bone tired and fairly depressed, however, I feel like if I wasn't bone tired, I would not be depressed.

I would love to go off of Zoloft and all my other meds (wellbutrin150.  Geodon 20 mg for anxiety and sleep.  Neurontin 200 mg for sleep.  Xanax 2 mg for sleep and anxiety PRN.  Buspar for anxiety.  Adderall 10 mg xr for energy.  Zoloft 75 mg for anxiety and depression.)  the reason I take so many is that I can not tolerate large doses of anything.

I have also just been diagnosed with chronic Epstein barr virus.  My doctor says that is causing some of the fatigue, depression, anxiety, headaches, nasea, and the feeling of just not feeling well.  My insurance has denied my request for the medication, valcyne, so I have to dispute that with them.  I don't know if they will end up covering it or not.  I called the pharmacy today and figured what the hell, if it's $300 a month for 6 months, I can do that.  Its over $8,000 per month!  WHAT!

SO I would like to hear if anyone with major depression and panic disorder has successfully come off their Zoloft and if so, are you taking any other meds.  Thanks.

Hi 44inTN,

It is good to hear that you feel good about sharing here...as you can see you are far from alone!

I am really glad to hear that you are doing some good work in therapy! I hope that it continues to go well for you, and that you gain much recovery as a result.

Please check out our Resources for great self-help ideas to add to your toolbelt and help you along your journey.

Feel free to start a post of introduction for yourself if you feel comfortable doing so...and keep us updated as to your progress.

Scaredy Cat

I was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease about 4 weeks ago. Since my diagnosis I have noticed that my anxiety had been increasingly getting worse. As I read into Lyme and everything that goes along with it, I believe reading all of those things only made my anxiety worse. As my joint pain increased, so did my anxiety which then turned into panic attacks. My family dr put my on 50 mg of zoloft, which I started 5 days ago. Since starting the medication, I have been worse then I have ever been. I ended up going to the ER yesterday because I just couldn't come down from an attack. He upped my Lorazapam form .5mg to 1mg. Took an EKG and Chest xray to show me that my heart is fine and that my neurological system is fine. So, now I know that it is all in my head. I do not like the way I am feeling at all on the zoloft and am going to start weaning myself off tonight with starting with half a dose for a few days. Then a quarter of a dose a few days until I am completely off of it. I don't like the idea of being on something that has made me feel worse, instead of better. Anyone else have that experience?

I know this is a pits about coming off Zoloft but those of you who have taken it , let me ask you something for the last year and the half I have suffered through the pain and won't take anything and it's been worst days to bad days , to ok days , it left my chest area to my head , pressure , headaches , head pains , and much much more , my question is my doc really wants me to start the Zoloft , I try but I'm sooooooooo scared , it's been a year and 3 months , should I just beat this out since I got this far or start the Zoloft , as I read you guys story of coming off , I don't want to be on a drug where I gain weight and might can't come off , ....

Compared to other postings on quitting zoloft this has given me hope! I'm 56 and started zoloft over 10 years ago due to a combination of menopause, death of my parents and a very bad marriage. I have always battled depression and suicidal thoughts, but the panic attacks accompanied by hot flashes were too much. My dosage has fluctuated, but now 50mg. I have thought my extreme fatigue, headaches, sleepiness, loss of interest in everything was post menopause life, but now I'm wondering if it is the zoloft! I feel so awful that it's worth a try, but i am very afraid. I feel like it probably will end my 38 year marriage, but that may not be a bad thing.

I have made a dr appointment for advice, but am starting today by reducing to half a pill, and full dose every other day. Thanks for all the sharing, it truly is inspiring.

Like everybody else here, I am beyond ecstatic that I have found this forum. It is so nice to know that there are other people going through what I am. I have been on Zoloft for 18 years...since I was in 3rd grade. I was diagnosed with high anxiety, agoraphobia, and the weirdest-emetophobia (the fear of vomiting). I have been on this drug my whole life. The highest dose was 200 and I am currently on 75. I just got married in July, and moved cross country (away from my mom and family-which have been my security blanket my whole life) and am living with my sailor in California. We are madly in love and live right by the ocean. But I never have energy. All I do is sleep/nap and I can out eat him. I am so attracted to my husband but intimacy just seems like so much work. Not to mention I have gained so much weight over the years.

I have 3 months off of work and felt (after talking about it with my husband) that it's finally time to wean myself off of it. My new doctor couldn't believe how long I've been on it and is eagerly on board with me getting off of it. It is currently my 3rd day being on 50 (cutting it down from 75) and I've just started getting horrible headaches and mild nausea. Reading everyone's journeys is really helping me and giving me hope!

I guess I was just wondering if anyone has been on it for a very long period of time and started at such a young age? Thank you guys for sharing and sorry my little story is so long!

I am now on my second week of doing 25 mg every other day. Some days are tougher than others. I still have fatigue, headaches and nausea occasionally. On the whole I'm feeling so much better. I have more energy, and feel more like myself, than I have since starting Zoloft a year ago. I was at 150 mg when I started tapering down in Sept. I never really felt well on it. I had every side effect going. I went to my Dr. in Sept as I wasn't sleeping. She wanted to increase the dosage again. I said NO. I wanted to taper down to see if I felt better. She agreed. I did, and I must say I'm so glad I did. I've had many miserable, on edge days,but this can be expected as the drug leaves our bodies.

Good luck to everyone on this journey. How are you all doing?

Becca,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  Remember to discuss weaning off your medication with your Dr. as you should go very slowly.

Please feel comfortable starting a thread of your own as you will meet the other members and can interact with the whole group.