HELP 12.50 mg zoloft for three weeks, how long till it gets out of my system?

[tami1221]

12.5mg of Zoloft for 20 days (3 weeks) bad reaction, worsen anxiety, panic etc... Going cold turkey, how long will it take for it to get out of my system completely?"

[tami1221]

Hi Greenlydia,

Thank you for your motivating words!

[RubyWitch]

The half-life of Zoloft is 26 hours, so that means every 26 hours your body will eliminate 1/2 of the dose you were taking. If you did not take any today, 26 hours from your last dose, you will only have 6.25mg in your body. 26 hours later, 1/2 of that and so on until it is completely eliminated.
I can understand why you would want to give up on antidepressants, but it's very possible that it's only the SSRIs that are problematic for you. They are for a great many people. Zoloft and Prozac are both SSRIs but the lorazepam (Ativan) is actually a benzodiazepine, (antianxiety) with very little, if any, affinity for depression.
There are other classes of antidepressants that may be more tolerable for you and you should discuss these with your doctor.
Some people do well with therapy alone depending on the severity of their depression.

Don't give up and think you're going to have to spend your entire life feeling depressed. There are many options out there so just continue to work closely with your doctor and you'll find something that works for you.
Peace
Greenlydia

[tami1221]

Thank you for your response redheadaussie,
My family doctor says 12.5 is the lowest dose for zoloft and i've been on it for only 3 weeks, so he says it should be fine to go cold turkey. I seemed normal after taking it for 15 days, but after the 2nd week, i  picked fights with my bf and i get angry, agitated, lethargic, sleepy, constipated, diarrhea, musle twitches, extreme dryness (mouth throat). I decided i cannot take it anymore. I wonder how can such low dose for a short period of time can cause those symptoms. Just wondering how long it will take for the drug to get out of my system considering the amount and time i was on it.

:( Today is my 1st day off, don't think i will try another anti depressant anytime soon. I tried Prosac  for 5 days and  lorazepam last year but it also made me feel that way. :(

[redheadaussie]

It is never wise to go cold turkey with any of the anti-depressant/anxiety medications.It takes around 6 weeks to kick in as such and to wean off takes just as long. In your case, Zoloft may not have been the drug for you, and as such, you will find it will take at least a month before it is out of your system. DO NOT take any other anti-depressant/anxiety medication untill that time. The drugs have different chemical compounds and react differently in your brain. Taking something sooner can result in a dangerous result.
  Give it at least a month before you try something else. I have had lots of experience in this field.
Good luck!