Weaning Off Zoloft after 3.5 Weeks

I'm new to this forum. I have Lyme related anxiety and my MD put me on Zoloft (50 mg). I started at 25 mg, and over the course of a week moved up to 50 mg. I've been on 50 mg for the last 2 weeks and am having horrible dizziness and GI upset.

I've had gastritis in the past, and I think the SSRI is exacerbating that. So, I would like to stop Zoloft. I'm waiting to hear from my MD, but what is the common practice in weaning from SSRI's after less than a month? Is there always a tapering that has to occur.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Thanks, Scaredy, for your response.

I've never had anxiety before contracting Lyme Disease. It's a whole new world for me. And, having to manage Lyme and anxiety at the same time is in-and-of-itself anxiety causing.

I appreciate your support.

Hibee -- thanks for your reassurance and support. My MD just got back to me and did indeed recommended 25 mg for a week to 10 days to wean off.

I haven't had to manage anxiety in the past, but can say that it's the hardest thing I've done. I had cancer 6 years ago, and as dire a diagnosis as that was initially, the path to a cure was clear cut. With this, there are so many variables.

I don't know a lot about anxiety. But, when it's induced by Lyme (I also have a co-infection, Bartonella, that causes anxiety, and treated a third infection as the tick carried 3 diseases.) it's caused by the disease itself (disrupting the CNS), the treatment (killing the bacteria releases a toxic die-off that makes symptoms worse) and the situation (how long before I get better?).

I will look the resources you have cited, and I am seeing a counselor next week. When anxiety is biologically induced, however, can it be treated without medication? I know I need to heal from these infections, but figuring out how to manage symptoms in the meantime is a challenge.

Thanks again, very much.

Thanks, SC. Therapy feels indulgent, but I think I've kept a lot bottled up over the last year in not wanting to burden friends with concerns about this protracted health battle.

I know I need to talk this out regularly, and my husband has been bearing the brunt of that (and probably doesn't know what else to say at this point).

You're great, and I appreciate being able to come here to ask questions and seek guidance.