Zoloft withdrawal, some odd side effects...

[Jessica]

I recently began experiencing some really crazy symptoms and this was within the same week that I went off Zoloft, kind of weaning myself off. I came on here and discovered someone else who had posted exactly what I was going through. I am going to quote it here word for word because I want input, I want to know how long it took Amy F. to feel better:

"What are the withdrawal symptoms of ZOloft? I'm a 27-year old female and have been taking Zoloft for chronic depression for a year and a half and decided not to take it anymore....

"I abruptly stopped 10 days ago and am starting to feel crazy. I'm light-headed, dizzy, disoriented, sleepy, irritable, and more emotional than usual. I'm having difficutly concentrating. Today I didn't feel "together" enough to drive my car. My nightmares have worsened in terms of intensity and violence (I have them every time I sleep) The strangest symptom withdrawal I've noticed is that I'm losing my taste for cigarettes."

"....I haven't discussed stopping with my psych... b) she gives me **** for being a daily pot smoker."

This is almost exactly a description of me, except I've only been on it for about six months, I took a week to wean myself off, and I am supposed to start a new presciption for Prozac, but these synptoms are terrible, (it's also starting to affect my breathing) and I wondered if anyone else has experienced this.

Thanks

[jen]

I noticed a post from someone who had no difficulty getting off Prozac but when later put on Zoloft had problems getting off.  Zoloft leaves your system much faster than Prozac.  After two weeks of terrible withdrawal symptoms I couldn't stand it any more.  My doctor put me on Prozac.  Within a day my withdrawal symptoms disappeared.  The theory is that Prozac stays in your system for a while even after you stop taking it.  So it usually causes little or no withdrawal effects.  Aside from my own doctor recommending this I have also read elsewhere of this method being used to get people off of other SSRI's that cause withdrawal.
I've only been on the Prozac a couple of weeks, don't think it's even working yet, except that it helped with the zoloft withdrawal.  My plan is to stay on until the spring, which is when I normally get happier anyway.  Then I'll try to get off it.

This is the same Jen that's posted previously.
I have a new email address now if anyone would like to talk to me:
***@****

[steeny]

Hi all you ssri fans!  Zoloft is a wonderful drug in times of need. Like the severe depression I went through 6 years ago. In 6 weeks time I was able to tolerate problems and frustrations like never before. I felt like I was the person that I always wanted to be.

Yes, I have had a weight gain of around 40 pounds in 6 years. I am an R.N. and have analyzed this to be do from a decreased tolerance of exercise the higher the dose. Also to a kind of numbing to the sensation of being full and a general lack of will power.  My energy and will power return during the times when I quit Zoloft. ...but I never quit for very long...

I have been on "Vitamin Z" for going on 6 years. I can't get off. The most I've been off is about 3 weeks. The depression is gone. How do I get off?  

I have tried tapering and cold turkey. I have not experienced any of the withdrawel effects that were described in this forum except for  I feel good. I perceive myself as OK and relating to people OK. . .but I have been told that I am not OK...I turn into a B----!  I have no tolerance for anything or anyone. I get very negative. My temper has a short fuse. My husband says that I am rude to people. My perception is that I am being friendly. He says I am lashing out at people. Stirring up trouble. He can always tell when I go off my Vitamin Z.  So why do I try to go off?

I forgot what its like to have a sex drive. ON Zoloft I could take it of leave it. I don't miss it. I am content. Not too good for my hubby though.  

I also grind my teeth a lot on Z.  I have gained weight. . . and have a sort of chronic mild diarrhea.

. My Dr. has offered to switch me to Wellbutrin, which does not effect libido. Has anyone had any experience with going off Z. and starting on W.?  Do you still go through Withdrawel from Zoloft even though you are starting Wellbutrin?

Just how long does it take before all the Zoloft withdrawel effects go away?

***@****

[Karen]

I have been reading the numerous emails on Zoloft withdrawal and have experienced most of the symptoms mentioned.  I am 27 years old was on Prozac for two years for panic attacks.  I then came off because I always felt like everything was a dream and I still had anxiety.  I had absolutely no problem coming off of Prozac and to my amazement, I was panic free for one year.  The symptoms started to resurface so I got on Zoloft.  After about a year on Zoloft, I decided that I would come off because my husband and I would like to start a family.  I did not hesitate because of the good experience that I had coming off Prozac.  I called my OB/GYN and she told me to taper off over a two week period.  Boy was she wrong!  I was off of it completely about three days when the withdrawal symtpoms set in.  The one that frigtened me most was was that crazy eye delay (feeling like your eyes have to catch up when you look at something).  I also felt like a was extremely hung over even though I had not had anything to drink.  My husband is very supportive, but he thought that my anxiety was probably coming back.  I knew that this was different.  After feeling horrible for 3 days, I got on my computer and found these postings about Zoloft withdrawal.  I immdediately went downstairs and took my regular dose (50 mg/day).  Within a couple of hours, I was fine.  Monday morning I called my internist to get her advice.  She wrote me a prescription for 25 mg.  She suggested alternating between 50 mg and 25 mg every day and then EVENTUALLY alternating between 25 mg and 12.5 mg and so on.  She said that Zoloft withdrawal can be severe if stopped abruptly and that I should take it as slow as possible.

I haven't actually tried it yet--I guess that I am still afraid of experiencing those symptoms!  I know that I tend to get long-winded, but maybe this way may work for some of you.  If I find that something works for me, I will let you all know!

[Laura Hargrove Schneilin]

I had been on Zoloft for about a year, with side-effects of nausea, mild elation & dizziness.  About a month and a half ago, I was having to write 200 pages of my PhD and teaching at the same time, so I was getting very little sleep.  I made a suicide attempt by swallowing about 300 assorted pills, including 100 zolofts.  I was in a coma for 3 days.  My psychiatrist immediately took me off the zoloft, saying the manic feelings were symptoms of an overdose -- the anti-depressant basically acted as a powerful, amphetamine-like substance.  According to her, this is not an unusual consequence of zoloft-taking.  Having already tried prozac, paxil, wellbutrin and anafranil,I am now on Laraxyl (Elavil), and experiencing mood changes, chronic mouth dryness, mild facial twitching, some feelings of vertigo, but at least the sleeping has improved.  I would like to hear from anyone who has had similar experiences and/or who is currently using Elavil or a similar substance.

[REED]

I cannot believe all these stories I am reading!  All the side effects that everybody says they have had.  I want to let you all know that Zoloft has been a life saver for 3 of my family members, and they were all on it for more than 3 years and never complained of any side effects.  But each one of them was started on either Prozac, or Paxil, and had to stop them because they didn't work, or the side effects were to bad.  They would fight tooth and nail to tell anyone that Zoloft has been the best thing they could have ever taken for their depression and anxiety!  I also have a friend who started taking Celexa, and he says he is now impotent.  He had a perfectly healthy sex life with his wife before he started taking it for his depression.  Just thought I would let you know that you all are few and far between with people who experience bad side effects with Zoloft.

[Amy Wayman]

A couple of weeks ago I took the last of my Depakote, Zoloft and Klonopin and was unable to get a refill because I have temporarily lost Medicaid.  Right about that same time I started getting really bad dizziness/vertigo.  I had also started on Augmentin for a UTI which I have taken before with no problems but this time was unable to keep it down.  Just made me really sick to my stomach.  Well my UTI is still there and the dizziness has shown no sign of letting up and has been so bad that it makes it hard to function and so I finally got concerned and went to the ER tonight.  The doctors answer was that it was probably from not being on those pills and so he had the social worker come in and talk to me and she helped me with getting the scripts I needed.  I guess they paid for them.  Anyways, I am going to start back on the pills because I can't take this dizziness anymore but I am concerned because my husband and I had started talking about the idea of maybe getting pregnant since I was already off the medication.  Other than the dizziness as a possible side effect, I have been doing fine mentally, being off my medication and so we were wanting me to stay off and get pregnant.  Well, now I don't know what to do.  I won't get pregnant while on these pills (especially the Depakote) but can't handle the withdrawals.  What do I do?  I am thinking of maybe taking them again until the dizziness goes away and then over the next couple of weeks maybe slowly weaning off of them but don't know if that will make a difference with the vertigo.  I can't handle going through this dizziness anymore.  I have taken Depakote and Zoloft before and then stopped taking it real quick and was off it for a few years and never went through the dizziness before so I don't understand why it would affect me this time around.  The only thing I can think of is that I was not on Klonopin also then and maybe somehow that is making a difference this time around.  I am concerned about this.  I would like to get off these meds so that I can get pregnant but don't know how to avoid the side effects.  Any advice would be appreciated.  You can email me at angel_eyes10101***@**** .  

Thanks,
Amy