At a crossroads with Zoloft

Hey, all. This is my first post here on HealingWell. I'm on the Asperger's spectrum and have grappled with anxiety and social ineptitude most of my life (I'm 35 now). I've been on SSRIs for most of the last nine years. A few months of Lexapro, a few years of Paxil, six very high-tension months of nothing, and then Zoloft for the last few years.

Every one of these meds does balance out my moods and make it easier to talk to people, connect with people, and not freak out over every little thing. They also totally kill my sleep--if I don't take a god-awful pill called Trazodone before bed, I won't stay asleep for more than one hour. And other things, too: I gain weight, suffer impaired sexual functioning, and I suspect the meds might be making some existing joint pains of mine worse.

I'm working with a psychologist and have been making every natural life change I can to help manage anxiety: exercising more, drinking less, meditating and journaling daily, picking up some good new hobbies, adding some Omega 3 and Gotu Kola to my daily pill regimen, etc.

And over the last few months, I've been trying to taper off the Zoloft. I was at 200 mg last summer and incrementally wound down to 100. This month, I'm on 75. And the rebound anxiety is setting in hard-core. And talking to people is starting to overwhelm me. Could this be a temporary withdrawal thing? Or is this just how I am when not medicated--and proof that I have to live on these darn pills and all their annoying side effects forever if I want to be a functioning member of society?

Has anyone else had a spike in anxiety coming down off these meds but managed to work through it? What do you think?

Hello and welcome!

I am glad you have found us...though sorry it is due to some challenges that you are facing currently.

I sounds like you have done a fantastic job on working your management program, including the changes in regimen that you put into place for preparation of your discontinuation.

It very well could be that this is simply a matter of weaning efffects...and that you will feel better with time, and be able to use your other tools for a successful regimen.

Or it could be that you may just continue to use your Rx, but at a lower dosage. In this event, you have still succeeded, since you have made a change that allows for less med s/e's.

In either outcome, it is your own individual experience that will remain to be seen...and the end result...good management is what really counts.

I wish you the best in finding your best plan! Feel free to check out our Resources at the top of the main forum page here for great self help material to add to your tool box...

...and keep posting with us if you find it helpful. We understand, care and support is key!

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat

when I quit sodas I felt better overall

Hi

Welcome to the forum I am pleased you have found us as you can see you will find good support here from others who can relate to what you are going through.

I have an Aspergers diagnosis and have found that I need to stay on medication otherwise my anxiety gets out of control even when I am using all my coping strategies.

When reducing a dosage of a medication it is best to do so very slowly to reduce the chance of getting withdrawal effects.

Keep us posted.

Hibee