Weaning From Effexor and on to Zoloft Side Effects

[Aarondawg]

New here...

My doctor is weaning my down from 225mg of Effexor to Zoloft.  The Effexor was just not lifting my mood to allow me to experience once pleasurable things in life.  It had taken Zoloft in the pass and it lifted my mood.  So I have been on Effexor XR 150mg and a starting dosage of 50mg of Zoloft for a week now (1 week yesterday).   I was starting to feel better but it appears that side effects have now started.  I awoke with a big headache this morning and I have been restless, nervy and on edge for most of the day.  I guess the Zoloft is starting to build and I am now experiencing side effects.  Has anyone else started to feel side effects with Zoloft after the first week of taking it?

Thanks,
Aaron

[sparkeler]

Yes, its very common.

[jmille23]

Yes. I used to take Zoloft and it worked, but than i quit. A few years later went on it again. I felt anxious all the time, headaches, gritted my teeth, and made my head feel like it was being squeezed sometimes. I also had direaha from it. I was told the side effects would go away....I had direaha for 9 months....yes...9 months. They said it was not the zoloft for months. I had a colonoscopy that said nothing was wrong. (except rawness from going to the bathroom all the time.) I cut myself off the zoloft even though the doc. said that was not it and not too, and "POOF"...it went away. Silly huh?

[baskets145]

No I didn't have those side effects with Zoloft but coming off Effexor took me 6 months (yes 6) to get it out of my system.  I thought I was going crazy.  Hang in there and keep your doctor posted.  They made me be off Effexor for 3 months before I could go on Zoloft.  If you Google Effexor you will find many sites that are dedicated to telling their stories and withdrawl problems. Good luck.

[Dallas59]

Been on Effexor XR 300 mg. daily for past 5-6 years; now insurance company (Blue Cross/Blue Options) decided one morning it was not part of their formulatory, so they will not pay for it.  So my dr. has decided to put me on Zoloft (50 mg) to start - generic.  Horrible nightmares; only took 150 mg. Effexor with 50 mg Zoloft for 1 week and now on Zoloft only.  WHEW! side affects; can't decide if withdrawals from Effexor (probably, after reading all the post) or the Zoloft; maybe too low dosage.  HELP!

[Renee87048]

So I wonder, is it worth switching, Zoloft has been wonderful for me, but in the last two weeks I seem to have ptsd all over....perhaps it is just the way the world is right now.

[sara621]

effexor is very hard to get off of,have your doctor wean you off they should be trained for that and should only take 2 weeks,the withdrawal is really horrible though i ended up also swtiching meds though i weaned off effexor then started paxil that didnt help so i went to zoloft which has not helped now i am trying to wean off that i feel like im losing my mind half the time i hate it!! i wonder how long these symtoms can last??