withdrawal symptoms

[Jessi63]

I am a 29 year old married female with 3 wonderful little boys.   I have taken Zoloft for 7 years 100mg for about 5. Due to some weird symptoms after having my third child in June and being diagnosised with Hypothyroidism.  My doctor recommended that I taper my dose.  I did that and have not taken any for 2 days and feel absolutely horrible.  Symptoms include emotional instability,   dizzyness, decrease in concentration, poor memory, can't always get out what I am trying to say. l loose my train of thought very easily and the worst is this sensation I get in my face and mouth when I move my eyes.  Its kind of like numbness or some sort of electrical shock. Could this be coming from going off the Zoloft?  Are these symptoms of withdrawal.

[Jessi63]

Thanks for all your help.  I will keep you posted.  Hope your x-mas went well.

[Venora Moonwind]

yeah I think your high tsh is at the root of your troubles. get it checked . and if you dont have an endo get one that specializes in thyroids.keep me posted.
Love Venora

[Jessi63]

Where is the thyroid board?  I am on Synthyroid not levothryoxine.  I don't like generic drugs.  From my understanding a high tsh means your thyroid doesn't work.  So you think my problems are coming from my thyroid?  I am beginning to get desperate and even thinking about commiting myself.  Hopefully to get some relief??????

[Venora Moonwind]

your TSH is too high It should be at least unerder 3. the med wont cause the anxiety but your high tsh surely will. that is probably what is going on.. the only time the med woulld cause anxiety is if you were on too high a dose and you arent on enough with the high tsh you have.maybe switching brands of med would help you better like going to levthyroxine instead of synthroid. when I first went on thryoid I went totally manic and I couldnt tolerate it but I am switched to levothryoxine and I do very well on it even though I am on 200mcg for cancer supression.I am at tsh of.1 and I feel pretty good now. come over to the thryoid board . there are some great folks there and they are soooo helpful
Love Venora

[Jessi63]

The last TSH was done on 11/19 it was 6.4.  T4 was alittle abnormal.  Can the thyroid medication cause anxiety attacks?

[Venora Moonwind]

it is probably your thyroid .I am glad everything else turned out ok I am also glad you are doing well on the celexa. get your thyroid tested and post your labs when you get them. then we shall know for sure.Happy yule my friend.
love Venora

[Jessi63]

So far I have been on Celexa 10mg since12/20  I feel pretty good.  I don't really notice any side effects.  All my problems started when I was diagnosised with post-partum thyroiditis.  I still have the dizzy, lightheaded feeling, like my brain is swimming and can't concentrate.  But I have a feeling it has to do with my thyroid?  What do ya think.  I take 25mcg of Synthyroid every other day, if I take it everyday then I get anxiety attacks like crazy. I have a stupid women for a doctor.  I have an appt with another one Jan 7th thank God.  My MRI was negative back in Sept.  The Neurologist said that everything looked good there.

[Venora Moonwind]

I take 20 mg of celexa and I love it .It has been a great med for meI am bi polar so I also take zyprexa. and I do pretty well I am looseing weight and I sexlife is good too. No side effects that I can report.Let me know how you progress on the celexa.
Love Venora

[Jessi63]

I am now off the Zoloft completely and on Celexa 10mg.  Anyone know anything about that?

[ki_chris]

I took Zoloft @ 200mg for almost a year for PTSD.  When I took myself off I got those withdrawal feelings too, couldn't concentrate on anything, felt groggy headed in a kind of daze, was dizzy and clumbsy and would get those zaps down my left arm and into my fingers.  Freaked me out at first, but it got better.  You'll be ok, they are more annoying than anything else.

[Venora Moonwind]

carolina is right.Yopou should get your labs tested and see where your tsh is at. you might need to get your levothyroxine dose adjusted.I just had mine upped and I am feeoing much better.
Love venora

[Carolina2806]

After my second child, I developed thyroid problems--up and then down.  Now, I am hypo.  Your symptoms can be related to your thyroid condition.  It took a while for my Levothyroxine to get my levels back up--up enough to feel somewhat normal.

Hope this helps.

[Jessi63]

I started back on the Zoloft and see my shrink tomorrow

[maxxie567]

I stopped taking Zoloft once and had those exact symptoms.  Can you start taking them again and decrease more slowly?

[crzychick]

Instead of not taking any pills at all, can they be spilt?  If they can, try that and take half every day for a week.  Then on week 2 take a half every other day.  Then on the 3rd week every third day. and so on?  Just a suggestion. (makes sense to me, they step us up in our doses why not down?)   Of course call Dr. and ask if this is ok and if it will help with the "jolts" and others problems.

[creston1966]

Hi,

I'm sorry you are having these symptoms.  They are most likely (more than probable) from coming off the Zoloft.  These are very expected symptoms from coming off this type of antidepressant (especially one you've take for a long time).  You should taper off the Zoloft very, very slowly.  The electrical shock or zaps are very common and expected as well.  They are harmless but terribly annoying and a little scary.  I had been taking Cymbalta for some time and went off cold turkey, having no knowledge at the time of the withdrawal possibilities.  I had a lot of the same symptoms you had, but didnt figure out the cause until a week into them, so I decided to stick it out.  I was about 3 weeks of these symptoms, albeit, they got better each day until they were gone.  

If possible, it also helps to do all you can to minimize stress and take care of yourself during this time.  Sleep when you can, relax, take walks, eat healthy, stay away from caffeine and alcohol, etc.  Sounds obvious, but this helps your body and brain chemistry to adjust to life without Zoloft.  

Good luck to you.  You will survive this, even though it may not feel that way at first.  


Creston