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Positive Experience Quitting Zoloft Part 2 of 2

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Posted 6/19/2014 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I just want to know if anyone has experienced itching when they are off of zoloft ?
Posted 6/20/2014 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi therebynoon,

I've got the itches on day 5 after stopping. Actually more sort of tingling under the skin. More distracting than anything. I've been watching these boards for awhile because I've been on Sertraline for about 20 months and tried to come off a year ago but became very irritable so went back on. Initially I went on it for work stress/anxiety and it really helped me a lot. After awhile I got the same things everyone else has complained about - huge weight gain (12 kg), blurry vision, lack of motivation, emotionally flat, lack of sex drive, etc. I'm so sick of the weight gain especially. Last week I decided that I was in a good place (on a year's study leave from work) and so it was time to stop. I was only taking 25mg a day the whole time so just stopped cold turkey last Sunday. So far, I've just had the itching/tingles today and a bit of upset tummy since yesterday. Otherwise I feel fine. Wondering if things will get worse over the weekend (Today is Friday).

Anyhow, are you just getting the tingling?

Cheers!
Posted 6/20/2014 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
I came across this site searching for more advice on weaning off 100mg of Zoloft. Ive been on it for almost 10years and feel its time to wean myself off of it. I am under the care of a physician. I have read the book Antidepressant Solution and and have searched all over the internet reading peoples stories positive and negative.
I'm hoping to get my medicine compounded so I can take it in 10 percent increments to lessen any withdrawals.
I sometimes wonder if its still working because a Dr. told me once that it stops working after about 5-7 years after being on it. Well its great to be on a blog where people share the same circumstances i'm going through. Any advice is welcome!
God bless.
Posted 6/20/2014 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CwO and welcome!

Here is a great site that has directions for water titration and other weaning methods (in the event that you can't get your Rx custom compounded.) http://theroadback.org/

I wish you well in your wean, and invite you to visit our Resources (main page, 1st post) for great self-help and anxiety managment ideas during this time of transition...

...and also encourage you to post with us anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 6/21/2014 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Day 6 and itching has stopped but now a bit teary. Otherwise feeling pretty good. Hope all of you who are also on the road to stopping meds are doing okay today. My daughter weaned off 200mg Zoloft a few years back under the advice of her psychiatrist, but probably did it too quickly because she still ended up with the wobbly whooshing brain thing. Her doc have her 7 Prozac pills, which she took over a week and that fixed it.

smilewinkgrin
Posted 6/21/2014 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Scaredy Cat. Iv'e read the roadback program and love the approach. I just cant afford all of there supplements. I did buy some ultra omega from the company NOW though.
My physician prescribed me some 50mg and 25 mg to start my ween since I was out of my 100 mg but we both agreed to wait until we find out if I can get it compounded or not before I start. Whats funny is it felt weird taking two 50 mg instead of just a single 100 mg. Because it was different my mind was wondering if it had a different affect. Also I noticed that since I've made the decision to start weening soon, its like I feel some anxiety that I haven't felt in a while. Im just nervous I think but believe Ill be fine once it gets going. Thankyou so much!!!

Also I dont remember reading anything on water titration on roadback but do remember reading something on surviving antidepressants.
Posted 6/21/2014 10:03 AM (GMT 0)
Feeling a bit invisible here. Guess I'll go find another support forum.

Best wishes all
Posted 7/6/2014 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
I called my doctor and she is on vacation until after the 13th. I've decided to start the process on my own. I'm hoping that was ok. I started yesterday. I cut a 100 mg in half and the cut a half in half to give myself a 75 mg dose. I'll do this for a week and see how it goes and then try going down to 50 mg. and so on. I think when I get to the 25 mg I may go to where I do a full week then either every other day or skip a day. Each week until I'm down to once a week and then just stop all together. I didn't even want to start taking this but I have PTSD and I was getting pretty bad. I've decided to just stop going out rather then be drugged. All I do is sleep now while I'm on the Zoloft. What's the difference?
Posted 7/6/2014 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
KLK.,

Welcome to the A/P forum, we are glad that you have joined us.:)

While we can't recommend ever going about this alone, without your doctor's guidance...if you are set on continuing your wean, I will recommend reading through this site for safe guidlines on a variety of weaning processes.

http://theroadback.org/

Have you looked into therapy for treatment of your PTSD? If you are looking to be med free for your condition, this is, in my opinion a must for feeling your best and moving beyond your trauma.

Wishing you the best, and inviting you to post with us anytime for anxiety support.

S.C.

Posted 7/6/2014 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I will and I have been in therapy for about 2.5 years. I have a wonderful therapist who has been great.
Posted 7/6/2014 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Good...that is great news that you have a therapist who is helping you!

Again best wishes on your wean...call your doctor when you can...

...and post with us anytime.:)

S.C.
Posted 7/7/2014 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
I will and thank you.
Posted 7/15/2014 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi...I'm a newby here so bear with me please... I was diagnosed six years ago with PTSD..post traumatic stress disorder...I go through some really tough bouts of depression...usually about once a month...yep during that time...and it lasts for about 4-7 days...I can't make myself even get out of bed during that time..I avoid people..you all know what I'm saying...
Anyway, name the antidepressant or antianxiety medication and I've probably been on it.. I found out that the bouts of depression STILL come on with or without the drugs...I remember going off cymbalta cold turkey... OMG!! I literally felt like I had been hit and ran over by a train for weeks! I vowed to never touch that stuff again...

My current doctor started me on Zoloft a year ago...she started me at 50mg. I started noticing side effects right away... I would find myself clenching my fists and rubbing my bare feet together as if I was trying to start a fire...lol..funny but not really... these new "habits" were not only driving me crazy but they were also becoming painful. .. I told my doctor...she said there was no way it could be the zoloft but that maybe my dose wasn't hugh enough...hmmm ok...as of yesterday I was on 200mg per day...the side effects have increased along with their friends...increased appetite and weight gain, increased depression, energy zapped, etc....
Since my doctor...oh yeah; I think I'm gonna start looking for a new one of those too....won't wean me off, I've decided to do it myself..gradually this time though.. toniggt I'm taking only 150mg...wish me luck! I will post again soon with hopefully good results
Posted 7/15/2014 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi OZ and welcome.

I am sorry to hear about the rough time you have been having currently.:(

Do you work with a psychiatrist? Or is this your GP prescribing for you?

If you do not have a P-doc that you work with, I would suggest that it might be worth the time, effort and means to find one...as one could really help you with your Rx concerns...as well as truly understanding your PTSD.

Here is a link to our Resources. Inside you will find tons of self-help material that you may find useful during this time.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Here also is a good site for information of weaning off anxiety and A/D meds. It is not a substitute for your doctor's advice, but meant to be used alongside it.

http://www.theroadback.org/



Wishing you the best. Do keep us posted....and please consider starting your own new thread of introduction, so we can all welcome you. It is easy to go unnoticed at the end of these longer threads.

Talk to you soon,

S.C.

Posted 10/28/2014 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on 100mg for about six months topping out at 150mg for a short period.

Under my doctors advise I am starting to wean of this drugs. Like most on this thread I put weight on and lost motivation which was completely out of the norm for someone who spends his life snowboarding.

I cut from 150 to 125 mg for a week before staying on 100mg for 4 weeks. I have then done five days at 75 and now currently a week into 50mg. Every decrease I have felt a part of my old self return and looking at getting off totally this year.

I have been using a device called the alpha stim throughout the tapering process and have so far not had a single withdrawal effect. Might be connected might be that I was slow and steady with the tapering. I will update with my process as it might be helpful to others
Posted 10/28/2014 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Velvet and welcome.

Well done on your discontinuation efforts so far. I think you have done a great job on slowly, and consistently lowering your levels...and I am sure that your successful wean will soon be complete.

Wishing you the best...and post with us anytime for anxiety support!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 10/30/2014 8:04 AM (GMT 0)
I am seeing my doctor again in 3 weeks time. In this period I will have been on 50mg for 4 weeks. If I still feel as good as I do now, would the advice be to then quit or go down to even further increments?

I really want of this drug and feel mentally ready to come off but I don't want to rush through it.
Posted 10/30/2014 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
V.,

Here is a good Resource to check out as far as your question goes.:)

On-line drug weaning information: (to be used in conjunction with, not substitution for your doctor's instructions)

http://www.theroadback.org/

 

Continued success!

S.C.

Posted 10/30/2014 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm about to start the process of weaning off. Got on Zoloft because I never successfully weaned off of cymbalta. after six months things have calmed down enough for me to give it another try.
Posted 11/3/2014 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
My experience so far coming down from 150 to 50 is that on each taper (1 week of 25mg drop - then 4 weeks at another 25mg) So each five weeks I have been coming down 50mg. I seem if anything much better for the first 2 weeks then the 3rd week the anxiety pops back - Is this spike due to coming off the tablets?

I have upped my use of my alpha stim and everything right now is bearable - I am just noticing peaks in anxiety and assume this is due to the tapering process???
Posted 11/3/2014 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi kalgieri and welcome!

Best wishes on your discontinuation! Check out our Resources here at the top of the main page if you need some good coping skills ideas to get you through the transition. Post anytime for support!

Velvet,

Yes, some increased anxiety would be expected...keep up those coping skills, and continued success be yours! :)

Keep up the good work guys!

S.C.
Posted 11/12/2014 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thought I would share my quitting program as so far so good.

At 150mg I then reduced to 125mg for 5 days. I then went down to 100mg for five weeks. The reason for the large gap was due to the length of time to get back into the doctors.

I then went down to 75mg for 5 days to 50mg.
I then did 12 days on 50mg.

I am currently on day 6 of 25mg (which is half the minimum dosage) and have yet not experienced any side effects/withdrawal symptoms apart from a few days of increased anxiety. I am seeing the doctor on Monday when I will have been on 25mg for 11days. I am hoping at this appointment we decide to stop altogether.

I am awaiting a harder run when I finish the tablets but the reduction has been very straight forward. My only difference is that I use the alpha stim every day for 1.5 hours - has this helped me steer away from the WS I don't know!
Posted 11/12/2014 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing Velvet, and keep up the good work!

I hope that your appointment helps you to take the final step of your wean...and that it is successful! :)

I am now going to close down this thread as it is getting long...and I would like to encourage members to start their own posts, so you can be welcomed by the whole group!

Please join us with your own new thread anytime you feel comfortable doing so!

S.C.
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