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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Zoloft Withdrawls
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Zoloft Withdrawls
by c1arity, Sep 16, 2004 12:00AM
A little history about me. I'm 21 years old and started getting some serious depression around the age of 14. For almost 7 years I tried to deal with it and figured it would just go away if I became more socially active and tried to lead a normal life. The only problem was, the depression often got in the way of me leading a normal life. Finally, after 7 years of being stubborn, I gave in and sought help. My depression got to the point where even when I stepped outside of my house, I broke down and just cried. A couple of summers ago, I had an anxiety attack and passed out on the floor before leaving on a cruise to Alaska with my family.
I took Zoloft for depression/anxiety for about 6 months and am now experiencing some pretty nasty withdrawl symptoms, mainly, dizziness. It's to the point where I can't stand for prolonged amounts of time nor can I concentrate when I really need to. It's been about 2 weeks since I stopped taking it. I started at 25mg then slowly, over the course of 6 months, ended up at 200mg and then dropped off to 50mg before discontinuing use. The main reason I stopped taking it was because I lost my health insurance and was experiencing sexual side effects that I got sick of. I'm getting really sick of feeling dizzy all day but I don't want to become extremely dependent on this drug. Would trying to take another SSRI help, or am I stuck with Zoloft? Also, does anyone know how long these withdrawl symptoms usually last for? What was the point in taking an anti-depressant when all it's going to do is ruin my life and take me back down to square one?
What should I do? I don't want to go see my doctor because it will cost me an arm and a leg to see him and not only that, but it seems he was somewhat reckless in prescribing to me this drug that seems to still be in it's 'testing phase'.
I took Zoloft for depression/anxiety for about 6 months and am now experiencing some pretty nasty withdrawl symptoms, mainly, dizziness. It's to the point where I can't stand for prolonged amounts of time nor can I concentrate when I really need to. It's been about 2 weeks since I stopped taking it. I started at 25mg then slowly, over the course of 6 months, ended up at 200mg and then dropped off to 50mg before discontinuing use. The main reason I stopped taking it was because I lost my health insurance and was experiencing sexual side effects that I got sick of. I'm getting really sick of feeling dizzy all day but I don't want to become extremely dependent on this drug. Would trying to take another SSRI help, or am I stuck with Zoloft? Also, does anyone know how long these withdrawl symptoms usually last for? What was the point in taking an anti-depressant when all it's going to do is ruin my life and take me back down to square one?
What should I do? I don't want to go see my doctor because it will cost me an arm and a leg to see him and not only that, but it seems he was somewhat reckless in prescribing to me this drug that seems to still be in it's 'testing phase'.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Sep 16, 2004 12:00AM
, Sep 16, 2004 12:00AM
You will have to see some doctor for supervision but here is someinformation that might help. Going from 50 mg to 0 is not the way to stop...if you still have some you might start with 25 mg and then gradually stop over a 3 week period by spacing out the doses and cutting them down further if you can so by the time you stop altogether in 3 weeks you will have not taken a dose for at least 3 days before. You can substitute another ssri but that won't get you anywhere...have you been in psychotherapy..that's what you need.
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I went of paxil after 5 years of use like this:
Did a lot of exercise during withdrawal (aerobics, swim, bike, run). I prefer to run my bike in the park for 2 hours every night.
max dose was 20 mg
3 weeks 10 mg
4 weeks 5 mg
6 weeks 2.5 mg
off
I cut the pills in 4 or 8 pieces with a sharp knife.
200 mg of Zoloft
If i were you:
3 weeks 100 mg
4 weeks 50 mg
5 weeks 25 mg
6 weeks 10 mg
off
You may buy Zoloft or other SSRI online from abroad pharmacy (cheaper). The doctor may advise you to take some other SSRI (with fewer side effects) during withdrawal.
Read all the posts here related to “withdrawal” symptoms.
It worked for me but it may not work for you!
Also, I was seeing a therapist for a while but, stopped going because I felt I was doing much better. However, I have recently thought about going back to see her but it gets back to the whole insurance thing. I do not have the money to spend $100 on one visit. I'm a college student with a part-time job. $100 on a visit to a therapist and $100+ on drugs is just not an option right now.
I guess now my question is, being that I stopped at 50mg, will my brain not adjust at all or will it just take longer than had I gone off at 25mg? Also, when I was taking 200mg, I stopped taking it cold turkey because I started feeling like a zombie. Could that have caused some long-term damage? I stopped taking it for about 4 days before I was finally able to get a doctors appointment and drop down to 150mg.
At this point, my suggestion to all of you before starting to take a SSRI is to do your research ahead of time. These things are not vitamins and seem to actually require a level of responsibility and care to take them without negative side-effects.
I have tried exercise from time to time, but when you are dizzy to the point of passing out at times, it makes it extremely hard. Either I have NO energy at all or I have a ton, both times, however, I'm dizzy and 'out of it'.
A good example was when I was out playing basketball with my dad. After about 20 minutes of just shooting around and stuff, I became very dizzy and needed to sit down before I fell over. I'm not overweight...about 5'7" 153lbs. Usually when I play basketball I can run around a LOT more.
the phone number for the free prescription program is 1-800-775-7649. Call to see if you qualify so that you may taper properly.