Antidressants

I have been on 50 mg of Zoloft for a little over a year. I was on efector (sp) before that. When I was discontinuing it I had sever withdrawal--dizzy, weird like electric currents in my arms. Well I was switched to Zoloft. I have had no problems. But I felt it was time to stop taking it. Talked to a dr (psych) he said I could stop taking it. I did and felt similiar symptoms. Dizzy, very tired. I have been looking on the web and I have read that many people have similiar effects. So I was wondering how do I start wheening it from my system? Will I have long term problems? Thankks for the help.
Diane

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The best way to wean yourself to avoid withdrawal effects is to do it over a three week period, continuously lowering the dose so that in the third week you are taking the lowest possible dose every third day, then stop.

[Tamiliz]

Diane........I have weaned myself off effexor, with my doctors help, and it took way longer than three weeks.  I have been completely off the drug for two months now and I am still experiencing the electric shocking feelings in my face chest and arms.  They are easinging up somewhat but they are still there.  I have really had a hard time coming off this anti depressant.  I have been having a lot of severe stomach pain.  I had a ct scan done and it come back clear, but I am still in pain.  Effexor??? I don't know, but from reading blogs on the withdraw symptoms, it would not surprise me.  I refuse to give in and take the drug again, or any antidepressant for that matter.  I just pray that in time, it will go away.  I read on the blogs where a lot of people absolutely can't quit and have give in and said they guessed they would be on it the rest of their life.  I could not believe how severe the withdraw from these drugs were but having experienced it and still living through it, that the doctor didn't go over the possibility of not ever being able to go off the drug.  There is a petition out there somewhere to have the drug Effexor taken off the market.  I went from 75 mgs to 37.5 for a couple weeks, then I went to 37.5 every other day for about a month, then every three days for a couple weeks and took about half the pearls out of a 37.5 a couple times when the side effects were more than I could handle, then just quit and refused to take anymore.  I wish you luck in coming off this nasty drug.