Positive Experience Quitting Zoloft Part 2 of 2

  Posted Today 9:12 AM (GMT -7)   by mrs. mommy

 

Hi! I am new to this forum, but glad to find support. I am a 42 year old woman. I have been on Sertraline (generic for Zoloft) for almost 5 years. I never thought I'd be one to take an anti-depressant, but because of several life changes (first marriage at 35, baby at 36, stopped career to be a stay-at-home mom, moved away from my "home" of 16 years to be with family after 18 years......pretty much everything changed!), I needed help dealing. I was overwhelmed with everyday activities, and when I would lose my temper over something trivial, I couldn't reel myself back in and calm down. I felt very alone, although I wasn't really, and extremely sad even though all of those changes are things I had prayed for for years and should have felt happy about! When I started taking the drug, I didn't feel on edge anymore and felt more like "my old self". That being said, I have always been "high-strung", but I could get over stuff and adapt to changes easily. So the effects of the drug have been positive until now.......

Which is why I am on this forum - to have support while I wean from this drug! I have a list of symptoms that have crept in over the years, and at what point I am not certain, but they are:
- weight gain
- inability to concentrate
- feeling dumb
- not remembering things
- shaky hands
- rapid heartbeat
- a different kind of nervous anxiety that I didn't have before
- headaches (never had those before)
- loss of sex drive

So, I am going to notify my doctor today about beginning to wean, and I am going to record my progress here so I will have a written record, hopefully be able to help someone, and so I'll remember when I began this process!

I have been on 100mg daily, and I will begin taking 75mg daily today.

Welcome Mrs mommy. I wish you well on your journey. Keep us posted as to your progress. I've been totally Z free for two weeks now. I still feel agitated, and fatigued at times. I feel more like myself than I have in a year! I don't know why I endured a year of misery! I knew how I felt, but the Drs. wouldn't listen! I had all the symptoms you speak of throughout. I was just "afraid" to come off.

wow, I cannot wake up today! it's already 4pm and I feel like I do before my first cup of coffee! dealing with anything today is dreadful and I'm moving in slow motion. I'm sure the dreary weather and the fact that I was up most of the night with a vomiting 2 year old doesn't help. I also don't have an appetite today, which is a miracle in and of itself! lol I've also noticed that my heart has not been racing as much.

alexandra12, I read all of your posts and you certainly can empathize with me here. thanks for posting. I hope to hear more from you!

just a side note that occurred to me earlier.....I remember telling my doc that I was experiencing anxiety because we had put our house up for sale. I had been on Zoloft for about 2 years at the time and she prescribed me Buspirone. I couldn't tell much of a difference in how I felt, so I only took it about 2 months, then stopped. In the process of doing the math, I realized I've been on Zoloft for almost 4 years, not 5. I just wonder if the anxiety I had begun to feel was a side effect of the Zoloft?

I don't know if this question belongs in another topic or not, but the thing I fear the most about coming off of Zoloft is how I'm going to deal with my temper. More accurately described (in my opinion) would be "fits of rage". When something just persists to irritate me, I sometimes (not always) just fly off the handle and yell and literally start salivating I get so mad. I have to isolate myself and talk myself down. Being on Zoloft has helped me be a calmer person in general, but it still happens occasionally. I don't want to be on any amount of anything anymore. Is there something else I can do/read/practice to help me get control of myself? I always hate myself after this happens b/c it's usually directed at my kids, whom certainly don't deserve all of my ranting and raving. I have never been physically violent to myself or anyone else, and I don't ever have an inkling of an urge to be, so I'm not concerned about doing physical harm. But words are powerful and can certainly do their harm too. Is there anyone out there that can relate? It's not something I talk about to anyone because I feel ashamed of it, and quite frankly embarrassed and immature that I can't control it.

The book is called the anxiety and phobia work book.

Mrs.mommy,

Meditation and mindfullness are also two peace and calm inducing activities that can help with temperament issues. (see our Resources, as well as an article on Mindfullness of the homepage of HW)

We also have Therapy Worksheets here that have some anger management activities that could help.

They key is to practice these techniques so that when things come up, and you feel aggrivated, you will have your coping skills in place and ready to save the day.:)

Here is a link to the worksheets.http://www.get.gg/freedownloads2.htm

S.C.

thanks, scaredy cat. I will have to look through and see which worksheets I think will be beneficial, and i'll also read the article. all of this, of course, when I get a minute. the kids keep me busy! but they'll be back to school tomorrow :).

sickofitall21, I am so sorry you're dealing with all of these things. I can certainly empathize. have you tried any of these techniques mentioned by the moderator? just curious if they have worked for you. as far as trying the meds, it sounds like you must be sensitive or allergic....what a nightmare! i don't blame you for not wanting to try anything else! i remember when i started Zoloft, i was sooo sleepy and i had dizzy spells for about 2 weeks, then i started feeling "normal". as i said in my original post, these other symptoms crept in over time. I'm sure my weight gain is part of the culprit for trouble sleeping and fatigue/loss of energy, so if the drug is to blame for that, then it is certainly worth coming off! i hope you'll keep in touch and maybe we can help each other nip this rage in the bud! i am planning on getting back in the gym, and hopefully that will help, too. maybe i'll do that RIGHT NOW! later.....

Alone workout time...great idea!!

We must nurture ourselves before we can effectively take care of others! :)

S.C.

Hi belenbee and welcome!

I am sorry that you are having discontinuation issues presently. I hope that these symptoms will phase out soon.

Here is a website that may offer some helpful information:

http://theroadback.org/

 

Check out our Resources here (main page, 1st post) for great self-help anxiety management tips to help get you through this adujustment.

 

Keep checking back as you will likely be hearing from someone with similar experiences...and feel free to post with us anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat

It's been a rough couple days with insomnia, indigestion and upset tummy! I'm hoping this ends soon. I tired Benadryl for sleeping last night. It seemed to work, but feel " down" today! It could be the benadryl or just lack of rest. I tend to miss sleep then become anxious about it,thus creating a cycle.

Ideas anyone on how to break this anyone?

Alexandra,

I am sorry that it has been a rough couple of days for you. I hope that you can get some good sleep soon, and that your stomach feels better as well.

Keep using all of your go-to coping skills as much as you can. Things will keep improving with time.

Mrs.mommy,

Great steps! It sounds like you are making good progress. Keep up the good work.:)

Have a great day all!

S.C.

Alexandra,

It is great that you are exercising...that is a good help for insomnia...and not easy to do when you short on sleep...good motivation!!  What else have you tried for relief of the insomnia?  Here are some ideas. (I am sure you have done many of these, but maybe there is a new one that could help?)

*Of course, cutting out stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, processed foods...

*turning off devices such as tablets, phone, computer and t.v. The backlight on these disrupt our natural circadian rhythm.

*Melatonin is a natural suppliment that helps a lot of people get to sleep. This is something that our bodies produce anyway, so this is just like a boost of natural relaxation. (still consult your doctor to be safe before starting any suppliments)

*sound wave therapy/binaural beats. This works to bring about a deeply relaxed state, and helps to put your brain into a sleep (theta/delta) wave pattern. These can be downloaded as an app, or off of youtube.:)

Hope this gives you some options to consider! Have a great workout, day...and sleep tonight!

S.C.