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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
stopping zoloft
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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stopping zoloft
by bluestdog, Mar 25, 2003 12:00AM
I was on zoloft (75 mg/day) for 31/2 years. To start the weaning process, I have reduced my dose to every other day. It has been about 10 days. Now I have what feels like hunger pangs almost all the time, even after I have recently eaten. I'm also having night sweats. Is this all part of the withdrawal process? I can handle anything as long as I know it's normal and will eventually end.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 26, 2003 12:00AM
, Mar 26, 2003 12:00AM
Yes, this is a very common set of withdrawal symptoms...so cut down slowly over a longer period of time...at least another two to three weeks.
I am writing today in connection with zoloft withdrawal. It is horrible. I was put on zoloft, 200 mgs, and Klonopin, .15 mgs., 9 years ago. At the time I guess there was nothing else they could do. And I understand that. But.......to keep a person on them that long? And not explain what could happen? I finally decided to get off. It took me eight full months to get off of Klonopin. It was a nightnare. As soon as I was finished with that I started cutting back on the Zoloft. Common sense always told me to do it very very slowly. I have been at the zoloft withdrawal now for 10 months. I am down to 50 mgs. At this point it is really getting hard or I should say harder. It feels like little bugs crawling all over me sometimes. The fatigue is so bad that I am worried I won't be able to take it anymore. You know? Lack of motivation. Lack of caring. Lack of ablility to cope with life's little problems let alone the big ones. I am not familiar with this end of it. I mean the last 50 mgs. Will I ever feel good again? Will I have energy? Will I really want to live and enjoy life again? Anyway, I thought that if someone could reply to this, it would help. Someone to talk to you know? To understand. Thank you for listening. Marsha
Now I feel like I should just take more klonopin and forget it. The initial Prozac withdrawal was really bad. I went to 3 ER's. They told me it was the klonopin that was causing the problem. I tthis is crazy. I quit librium 30 years ago cold turkey. It took me 3 years to regain good health. I ended up with a headache but Iwas very healthy. Now I don't know either. But I will pray for you. If you can stay off the klonopin and maybe take busbar it might help. I have also tried valerian root and gaba and flexeril for some symptom relief. I have been going to a chiropractor. That seems to be the best thing. Massage, hypnosis, singing a lot and eating!!!!!I think we might as well make the best of it and enjoy something!!!
Chrismary
Good Luck PEEPS
Mcarter