How long before Zoloft withdrawal is over - 6 months and waiting

[katie-mom]

I've been on 200 mg Zoloft since 1997. I've taken Trazodone 50 mg every night because Zoloft caused insomnia. Trazodone has allowed me very good sleep. I've been off Zoloft for 6 months but have stayed on Trazodone because insomnia side affect of Zoloft has not gone away. I did not have any sleep problems before I ever started Zoloft. Since quitting Zoloft, I've had some minor mood changes, but no major withdrawal problems. However, the sexual side affects from Zoloft (lack of sex drive, orgasms gone) seem to be lingering. I can orgasm now, but it's still not as good as it was before I started Zoloft, and the drive for sex is very low.

In the past week, Trazodone seems to be not working for me anymore. I've started waking up at night and not being able to get back to sleep. I'm exhausted, but when I try to take a nap, I can't fall asleep. My anxiety level is low during the day, but around 9 pm, I start to feel like the sky is going to fall. My doctor insists that Zoloft disappeared from my body at least 5 1/2 months ago, but between the insomnia, sexual side affects and now the evening anxiety attacks, I can't believe her. I've read on some other web sites of people experiencing a one-year waiting period before they are back to normal, and I've also heard there's a chance that Zoloft permanently changes some people's workings of the brain in such a way that some things will never be the same.

My doctor says that the reason my orgasms aren't the same and I still have insomnia and am now feeling very anxious at night is because of my depression and anxiety. But if it's true that Zoloft left my body 5 1/2 months ago, how come my depression and anxiety haven't bothered me until now? No, there's been no major events to trigger a spike in anxiety or depression. Is this Zoloft withdrawal, or am I losing my mind?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I agree with your doctor...the Zoloft,and its effect, are long gone.  Your depression, anxiety, and insomnia are not "things" they are you bodies response to internal distress of some kind, and you don't need a dramatic event or string of bad luck to bring it on.  The medications help even out your mood, but the underlying cause is within you.  Think of psychotherapy. If you want some inexpensive quick start help, go to www.masteringstress.com.

[josh123]

Unfortunately there is no emperical data that backs that statement up. In fact a reasonable percentage of those who quit zoloft have substantial withdrawal issues, and I haven't heard of any survey or study following those people. I think this medicine needs to be seroiusly re-evaluated TODAY!!! by the FDA.

[papaiz]

Yeah, as I go along and read these stories I'm reminded of my own nightmare on paxil. I have had almost all of the side-effects listed by all of us here. Doctors are not educated by the drug companies, period. Unfortunately, this creates a wedge between patients and doctors. While the basic functioning, areas, and way receptors work are pretty universal some people have more receptors of one kind then another, some receptors stay off-line longer from the use of these drugs, and the replication of receptors and production and use of co-modulators are unique to everybody and then these interact once again with available neurotransmitters and on and on like an ongoing feed back loop.(When these drugs are used more serotonin is available for use in the brain, but, the brain has intelligence and down regulates or shuts down how many receptors can use the serotonin as the brain has registered the glut of serotonin available. This is different for different people. Also, while these drugs "target" specific receptors, people's "specific receptors" are different which is why some antidepressants work for some people and others don't. There are whole areas where research is just starting to be thought of in practical terms (use for folks). Candace Pert was one of the scientists who originally did work on these receptors and she herself stated that it's crazy to think that we can manipulate the brain without it affecting us from the head down. I used progesterone cream (you can get it over the counter) for help with libido and anxiety. It works! But do the research because it can have side effets. Once again not a one size fits all substance. Dr.John R.Lee has books out on it. And take him seriously when he says often just a tiny bit is all you need. As hormone receptors can also down regulate, and hormones can create a wild ride. But, I reserve the right to experiment with my own body so I do. Progestoerone really ramps up my desire and thus ramps up orgasm intensity. Progesterone stopped my anxiety cold. Be aware that if you have a tendancy toward diabetes progesterone raises your blood sugar level, but on the other hand that helps reduce appetite. Well, good luck. Six months isn't a long time to be off of these drugs as, even though it has been metabolised, the brain will continue to make adjustments.