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Coming off Zoloft

This website is wonderfully informative!  Thanks to everyone.

BACKGROUND: I took 75mg of EffexorRX fr May 1997 to June 2000.  Stopped it (I may have tapered down to 37.5mg for a while)w/out even a remote problem; in fact I did not know there could be a problem.  It was diagnosed primarily for feeling overwhelmed and anxiety (I was a had it ALL TOGETHER single mom, no support, successful career but VERY STRESSFUL (CPA/financial planner) who entered perimenopause at age 41!!! and also had a 15 yr old teen-age daughter --- I feel sure the constant stress triggered the early perimenopause.  I entered menopause July 2000...age 46.5.  Anyway, I think my poor little system gave out and that caused the overwhelmed, anxiety issues.

Did fine from June 2000 until April 2001 when contract work dried up and I couldn't find work....I became extremely anxious.  My doctor put me back on EffexorRX 75mg (which I was quite happy to do), but switched to 100mg Zoloft 6 mnths later due to weight gain.  So since Nov 2001 to date --- Aug 2005 I have been taking mostly 50mg Zoloft(I don't seem to need more than this.)

QUESTION:  About 2 wks ago I ran out of Zoloft and have not been able to go to store to pick up.  At the same time I had to work a lot...until 3am in morn twice and 1am in morn one other time and still get up about 6:30am or 7:00.  I have been very tired, very tired and a little bit anxious...which I guess is going off the Zoloft "cold turkey"???  What am I to do now?  I hat to start taking the Zoloft again. How long will this w/drawal last before I feel normal again?  I am planning to start walking w/ my neighbor daily to help get the serotonin levels back up.  I am not eating sugar.  

What is your advise?  I sure wish I did not have to take the Zoloft anymore.  I just hear if I can get through this time I will feel better, but I don't know how long "this time" is?I will do whatever the doctor says, ...just hang in there and I will get better soon, OR start back w/ Zoloft.
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Avatar universal
Hello everyone. I'm all to happy to have found this website. Im a physically fit 43 yr. old female who has been taking 100mg of zoloft for...11 years <gasp>. I was opposed to "pill taking" and always tried the natural approach first. I will admit it did help during a very tough time in my life. Initially, I experienced a small weight loss. In the past few years, minimal weight gain. More importantly, I have decided it's time to get off of it since I been have working hard on myself... therapy, self-help books, regular exercise, etc. After reading all these entries, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I find the task ahead quite daunting. It's been two weeks and I'm currently taking 25mg every other day. I wanted to go cold turkey. I was aware that there would be some withdrawal, but HELLO? There are times that my husband <along with myself> looks at me as if I've lost my mind and replaced my being with an angry, snippy, witchy, insomniac. The totally displaced short fused anger I often feel is insane. Yay. I think to myself, perhaps if I jog 53 miles instead of 3, I'd be too exhausted to be angry?  And to add insult to injury, I feel like I could eat everything and the kitchen sink as of late. To help me out, my Doctor has prescribed ambien, 10 mg. From the fire into the frying pan.  Any comments/thoughts would be welcome.  Thanks for letting me share/vent... ramble.

Oh, and I do agree fish oil <omega 3s> are smidge helpful.
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Avatar universal
Hello everyone. I'm all to happy to have found this website. Im a physically fit 43 yr. old female who has been taking 100mg of zoloft for...11 years <gasp>. I was opposed to "pill taking" and always tried the natural approach first. I will admit it did help during a very tough time in my life. Initially, I experienced a small weight loss. In the past few years, minimal weight gain. More importantly, I have decided it's time to get off of it since I been have working hard on myself... therapy, self-help books, regular exercise, etc. After reading all these entries, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I find the task ahead quite daunting. It's been two weeks and I'm currently taking 25mg every other day. I wanted to go cold turkey. I was aware that there would be some withdrawal, but HELLO? There are times that my husband <along with myself> looks at me as if I've lost my mind and replaced my being with an angry, snippy, witchy, insomniac. The totally displaced short fused anger I often feel is insane. Yay. I think to myself, perhaps if I jog 53 miles instead of 3, I'd be too exhausted to be angry?  And to add insult to injury, I feel like I could eat everything and the kitchen sink as of late. To help me out, my Doctor has prescribed ambien, 10 mg. From the fire into the frying pan.  Any comments/thoughts would be welcome.  Thanks for letting me share/vent... ramble.

Oh, and I do agree fish oil <omega 3s> are smidge helpful.
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Avatar universal
i am now haveing alot of depression an panic an the sides of my head an front have a lot of pressure an still having the shocking in face area seems like i am thinking alot about the passed when i was young.i am hoping this well go away soon an i dont have to get back on anthere depression pill reall feel bad any feed back well be greatly appreat
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Avatar universal
so does anyone know how lond these feeling like the shocking in the face an the sexual an dizzyness well go away or well it every
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Avatar universal
hello i have been on zolft for around 3 years an started haveing sex problems nevery had it before.so doc said do i want to try anthere one or come off an see if i still need it so i desided to com off.i weined off it in 2 weeks like doc said .i was only on 75 mg. well i have been off for at least 1 month an i am still haveing sex problems an i am haveing an shocking sensation in my face when i move my eyes. i feel like **** to plus no one has every heard of the shocking in the face i have ask 10 drug stores an 4 docs they say nevery heard of it.it well make u feel like u are going loony but i have been looking on the net an i found this place an seems like there is a shocking problem. can anyone tell me how long to this well go on the shocking an the sex problem. i would gladly appreicate an info .
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Avatar universal
I found this site by searching for information on coming off Zoloft.  I was at 75mg but now am at 25mg (until Sunday).  

First I want to support the brain zap issue.  I have forgotten to add my pills into my weekly pill box and after 2-3 days I get all that zapping.

Right now I'm feeling okay.  My head has hurt a little for the last few days and I have some involuntary body spasms.  I have felt pretty out of it.  I'm normally not that spacey, but the last few days I have been.  I also have been low for normal me -- hard to get out of bed, hard time making light conversation, etc.  I am worried that the pysical side effects are psychosomatic and am worrying myself.  However, I think coming of Z hasn't been as easy as I had hoped.
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Avatar universal
For anyone in help of educated and well founded internet forum support, please check out the two sites below. SSRIs are extremely difficult to wean from, their post-withdrawal effects can sometimes last up to 5 years, though it steadily improves over time.

God Bless

http://paxilprogress.org/forums/

http://www.ssri-uksupport.com/
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Avatar universal
I am a registered nurse on SSRI's for about 2 years now. My 6 year old son has severe behavioral issues and it is a constant anxiety for me. I started on Zoloft 50 mg and went up to 100 mg.
     I experienced weight loss for the first 6 months on Zoloft but due to a side effect I switched to Effexor 150 mg. I gained 30 pounds in 6 months. Went back to the Zoloft due to weight gain and gained another 10 pounds. In between changes of meds I tried to discontinued taking SSRI's. Always with the same effects. I am now trying again to go off of the SSRI's for good.
     I have currently been off of Zoloft completely for 3 weeks now after tapering the doseage for 2 months. It is a serious chemical trip being on these types of medications as evidenced by an awful withdrawl. I have terrible dizziness, brain zaps or shocks ( looks like the room is moving ), and feelings of nausea. I have trouble relaxing and feel very restless at times. It is really alarming that you have to go through these symptoms to discontinue usage. People need to know about this. They need to know what kind of trip they are in for. It is a trip that they may not return from for quite a while once they begin taking these medications. I believe, in my experience, that SSRI's are very addicting and are extremely difficult to discontinue. I feel like starting back up on the Zoloft just to stop the withdrawl syptoms, but I will not go through this again. I want it over with once and for all. A slow withdrawl or abrupt withdrawl makes no difference in my case. The effects are awful either way and no different.
     I have lost 5 pounds in the past 3 weeks but, the symptoms of withdrawl remain and are not lessening yet. I think health professionals need to realize that these medications can be extremely hard to come off of when prescribing and to tell their patients that. My experience: The benefits are less anxiety and relief from depression, and you "dont sweat the small stuff". Sounds perfect until you gain weight, have an uncontrollable craving for sugar and carbs, are very desensitized to things happening around you and try to stop taking the medication.
     One thing I want to add is that I noticed when I took the pain medication for a broken foot that I had prescribed to me last month the brain shocks and dizziness went away for a short time. Kind of weird.  There was definitely a connection there. However, I dont think that is a rational way of discontinuing SSRI's as an addiction for pain medication may form.
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Avatar universal
Been tapering off Zoloft since my insurance ran out 6 months ago. I am at about 50mg every 4th day. It's working fine but I can't seem to come off completely without those unpleasant brain zaps. The discomfort is intense enough to keep me on the meds. Would like to come off altogether. Read in an earlier posting about the fish oil. Will try that, appreciate the support. Have worked hard in talk therapy to develop more effective coping strategies. Can't stress enough how important the therapy has been. It's tough, frustrating and draining at times but after 3 years of solid treatment and 1 yr on the meds I'm coping effectively. Good luck to all and don't give up.
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Avatar universal
I made the decision to go off Zoloft while on vacation.  I figured it would be a non stressful time and probably the best time.  This was even though I swore I would never try it again. I felt like "myself" on it and it alleviated many problems.  Sensitivity to smells, noises, light.  Pain from Fibromiailga. Feeling on edge. In 1990 I had a major breakdown, {only 30yrs old} thought I was dying, had lots of tests done.  Even had an operation for endimitriosis that they couldn't find.  I was first diagnosed with Anxiety and put on Prozac.  I felt zombie like for 9 months and then became suicidal.  I had a workable plan.  This scared me enough to get back to the Dr.  And after my suggesting maybe I had manic depression (had read "A Brilliant Madness"} and looking at family history was diagnosed with manic depression and given Lithium.  I was on this for 5 years added 10lbs a year and felt managable but never normal. Somehow I managed to build a successful business during this time.  Finally I felt I could afford to get some psycho-therapy.  Some extroadinary reactions came through this. One was uncontrollable crying.  I felt the therapist was pushing her ideas on me.  The more I dismissed the idea of being sexually abused as a child the more sure she was it was true. Several of my friends who went to her experienced the same thing. However they believed her.  Also I wanted help in dealing more kindly with my husband who always seemed to get the worst of my frustration and anger.  She felt he was a lot of the problem.  I didn't like this answer and quit my therapy.  It took a while to go to a therapist again put I needed help to overcome this unrelenting crying.  I finally started back with someone who was a specialist in meds.  After one session she let me know I was not Manic but had major depression. She also knew I was upset about being 60lbs over weight so she prescribed Zoloft.  It seems like I worked up to 150mg over the course of a few months but over the last 10 years I have felt great on 50mgs.  Dropped the extra weight in just a few months.  My worst side effects have been morning bowel problems and desensitization.  Along with it helping with pain I don't feel much of anything.  And seldom do I cry.  I even found myself going off my medication a few days so I could cry when my dear freind was dying of cancer and I wasn't able to cry with her.  This forum interests me because I too have experienced Brain zaps, dizziness, sleeplessness, and heightned anxiety.  In fact today I felt like I had a life sucker on my head.  I really want to get off this.  I decreased to 25mgs for a week and then took them every other day for about 2 weeks. I have been completely off them for 10 days or so.  I hope I can stick this out.  The sleeplessness and anxiety are the most bothersome. Sorry for the use of I so much.  Maybe this will help someone else.
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Avatar universal
Hi All!
I have been on zoloft for 5 years for depression & anxiety.  I started at 50mg and gradually went up to 100mg.  Over the past several weeks I decided to go back to 50mg.  I read up on the best way to do it and followed all the instructions.  I am presently at 50mg, my depression has increased.  I am experiencing numbness on the left side of my face, which is a sign of stress for me.  I really want to find an alternative to the zoloft, something more natural, but the fear of the withdrawl symptoms getting worse has got me in a stronghold.  

It is good to know that this is normal but, I am so angry that this is happening.  We are prescribed these meds because they are "not addictive", yet we go through severe withdrawl.  People should be made aware of this before they start taking it.

Sorry, just frustrated.  Good news, I am reading God's word with a greater hunger.  I will pray for all of you.  Be strong!

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Avatar universal
Hello to all of you, I am not from USA so my english it is not so good, but I will do my best. I used Zoloft for 2-years. I stoped 4 months ago. I can say that 2-3 days ago I had very storng panic atack. And I was very worry. But let me tell you this: doctors will never ever said that you can get used on Zoloft or Paxil. That is not true. Also when I stop using Zoloft after 2-4 weeks, I had some electic shoks in my had and in my body. When I ask my docto about that she said that is not from zoloft. So How she can now, she never used Zoloft. We, we are using zoloft an we can see that all of us have the same problem. I think that now I have problems with panic atack becouse after two years of Zoloft, my body feel the change. We should ask people who used drugs, how they feel when they stop it? I say similar. I decide to continue without zoloft, becouse if I start again, I will do nothing, Why, after some time I will need to stop again, and then I will have the same problem. And doctor can tell you that you can't live without antidepresiv. Now I use just ansilan, wich helps me to deal with panoc attack, just for short time to stop reaction of Zoloft. Ansilan is good for relexing.
Have nice time
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Avatar universal
You will be fine if you come back to your medication that is Zoloft and yes this happenend to me too, I had stopped taking my medicines(SSRIs) for a year almost and then my condition got worst , I had never experience such anxiety attacks and my mind was not working at all, Doctor started my medicine again and this time I was prescribed Zoloft 50mg(once in the morning) with Xanax 0.50 mg twice a day, This drug helps alot but must take that anti-anxiety with it coz if you dont you ll get more sick (anti-anxiety could be any benzodiazepine whichever the doc prescribes) and yes before this Zoloft i was on other anti-depressants, anyhow zoloft has the best results(must be taken with anti-anxiety)
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Avatar universal
Hello everyone,I started taking zoloft about 3 yrs ago for panic and anxiety after a week it started to work maybe two weeks but once it kicked in it helped. After taking it for more then a yr i starting taken less dosage little at a time till i was off it completly and i was fine for about 6 months then one day picking my son up from school i relapsed i had a bad panic attack that my husband had to pick me up and drive us home so i went back to the doctor and he gave me lexapro it started to work real quick but it never worked as good as zoloft so last wed i just stop taking it. omg big mistake the withdraw is the worse i feel like **** and i have a short temper and the worse is i'm dizzy all the time my doctor said this will last for two weeks no way its terrible i just started seeing a psycologist and she is great i think i should have been seeing her and taking the meds that is what she thinks to because it's in my family so i may need meds forever andway the doc gave me wellbutrin xl and the psycologist said no dont take that your not depressed u have panic and anxiety zoloft is the best thing for that.so i got a script from the doc today for zoloft and i will start that tomorrow i hope my withdraw symptoms go away does anyone know if they will once i start back up.
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Avatar universal
Don't know even where to start. I guess at the very start. I think I started with anxiety, tied into hypocondriac (not sure how to spell that one) and after months of seeing every doctor on earth they put me on paxil. Gain tons of weight and they swtiched me to zoloft, 50mg. I took it for about 6 months (with paxil about a year) and got slowly off of it. I was ok but we had a major change in our life so I started with my panick attacks again. I just dont know how to control that fear of dying. I mean the smallest problem throws me into thinking that it is something deadly. I didn't used to be like that. I am only 30 and I hate being on this medication. I mean, I can live life normal again but I am up to 190 lbs from a size 6 and this is causing other problems. Anyways, I got back on zoloft in January 2004, this time 100mg. I would like to stop taking it alltogether. But I am so scared that my panick and anxiety will overtake my life again! What should I do? I have three kids and I want to be happy with them, not always worried about every little thing. Do you think that seeing a phsycologist would help? How do I go about this? I want to get on a weight loss program as well but things that worked for me before my Zoloft era dont work anymore. I just cant lose any significant amount of weight. I feel so alone in this, I dont think my husband can understand. He just thinks I should get off and that's it. Help somebody....Please...
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Avatar universal
Hi there!  I was on Zoloft for about 5 years and have been gradually coming off it for about 3 months. I reached my stopping point about two weeks ago (Friday, Oct 7 to be exact) and I have to say it has been MISERABLE!!  I experience the brain shivers all the time (and honestly, I'm used to those), but the constant anger is what drives me crazy. I was a calm person and I find myself losing my temper at a drop of the hat and have to hold my breath or I turn in to a raging lunatic! I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to pickup the prescription bottle and start back up. I've even been getting massages on a weekly basis to reduce some of the stress and my therapist commented on how tight my back was recently and she had a really hard time working through the knots.  My last massage which was this past Tuesday brought me to tears.  I sat on the table and cried uncontrollably for about 10 minutes. (I am an emotional person, but it was weird to not be able to stop crying). I really feel for my fianc
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Avatar universal
What's also interesting is my appetite hasn't really changed sing coming off the Zoloft, but I've managed to lose five pounds!!  I always had a hard time with my weight gain since going on Zoloft (about 15 pounds).  Did anyone else notice this when coming off?  Thanks again!
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Avatar universal
i HATED zoloft i took it for a few months and had constant insomnia so i stopped taking it.  after i suddenly stopped i did feel a little lightheaded for a week or so but thats it.
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Avatar universal
HI,

Just found an article in the bmj (british medical journal) that mentions the shock sensations and dizziness after discontinuing SSRIs:

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/316/7138/1105

Also, http://depression.about.com/ has info on withdrawal reactions, discontinuation syndrome and the classic "brain shivers".

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Avatar universal
This is for grojb:

I think that what you are describing are called "brain zaps" or "brain shivers" by many SSRI users who have withdrawn from these medications.  I have also heard of the dizziness you have described being associated with this.

I am currently on 200 mg of Zoloft.  If I forget to take my morning dose of 100 mg for say a week (it has happened!) so that my dose is effectively halved, I get a symptom that sounds like the one you have described.  It is like an electric shock through the back, arms and head for me.  I get it at any time, but particularly when I turn my head.  Tiny noises can also set it off for me.  If I go back on my regular dose, they soon recede and I'm back to "normal".

I don't know how long you were on 100 mg for, but reducing it to nothing in 4 weeks only may have been too quick.  I have read that if you have been on these drugs for many years, it is best to actually take an entire year to come off them.   It sounds excessive, I know, but it's what I plan to do myself eventually.

Sadly, it's not uncommon for doctors to not know about these sorts of withdrawal symptoms.  It's the users who find out
:((((  

If I'm right that it's the SSRI brain zaps, I do not know how long this will last for you.  I have heard online that taking fish oil capsules helps - say three a day, but not huge amounts.  If I find out anything more, I will let you know, but the fish oil is all I have heard for now.
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Avatar universal
Hi. Question: I have just recently gone off Zoloft (100 mg.). Tapered off from 100 to 50 mg for two weeks, then 25 mg. for a week/week and a half then off completely a week ago. Felt fine while tapering, but after going off the Zoloft completely a week ago I have these strange symptoms that my doc seems to think are not related to ending my Zoloft treatment. For example, when a turn my head or body I get a zinger of a feeling--like a little electric bolt suddenly. It is from the waist up, in the chest and head. I feel off-balance too which certainly concerns me when driving. I just can't believe this isn't related to stopping the Zoloft. They coincided perfectly. Any thoughts? How long will this last? I feel really well otherwise--emotionally and physically. What's up here? Thanks for any help you can provide.
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Avatar universal
I read all your posts and can relate. I, too, was on Zoloft and battling depression, mine was mostly pain related, but depression nonetheless. I found it very interesting that you are doing a candida detox. Candida is linked to chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, which could explain your extreme fatigue. Antidepressants are also a common treatment for CFS. You are correct in staying the course on your candida detox. Which detox are you doing? My favorite is Garden of Life Fungal Defense. It's a 2 week program, follow directions on the bottle, drink LOTS of water and you may want to do a series of colonics during and after to help move the yeast out of your system. Yeast is a lifelong problem, but you don't have to suffer with it once the initial detox is done. You will need to stay on a really good probiotic for maintenance for several months. I no longer take an antidepressant. I know you will persevere and start feeling better. Life can and will get better for you! Best of luck.
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Avatar universal
You have both been most helpful.

I decided that to try to de-tox from Candida, at a time when I was totally exhausted, AND to also come off Zoloft (50mgs) b/c I didn't have time to pick up my prescription was not a wise thing to do....SO my plan is....

1. I started back the Zoloft, but will do 50 mgs every otherday and see how that goes. and then spread it out further AFTER my body has healed from the detox, and my execising is producting good results.

2. Finish this de-tox (wow...killing Candida is not fun!)

3. Get in some group therapy to get to root issues and/or change behavior.

4. Get the Lord Jesus back in the proper place in my life.

5.  This last year of work with so much catch-up has taken a greater toll than I thought.

Bless you both so much....I truly hope this helps others.
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242532 tn?1269550379
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There are several options to consider. The first is to stay off Zoloft now, you are already through the worst of withdrawals, in fact, with a little sleep, you might find you are over the withdrawals.  Stay off for a month or two in order to decide if you need them again or not...probably not.  The second option is to go back to Zoloft, but at a lower dose or frequency in order to stop the withdrawals, and then wean your self slowly over three weeks, ending with one half dose every third day for a week before you stop altogether.
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