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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome?
by tc, Jan 27, 2001 12:00AM
I have been taking Zoloft for the last 10 months and I am trying to get off of ssris completely due to a lack of "feelings." I didn't care about anything. Nothing made me happy and nothing made me sad.I think I was an android.
I have been tapering down for about 3 months now and I get VERY unpleasant side-effects when I don't have any "z" in me. My dosage schedule is something like 12 mg every 3 or 4 days. After that, I feel like I am going to pass out when I stand up, and my vision kind of spaces out. I feel dizzy and all around strange. I have resorted to small amounts of alcohol to try and mask this feeling (in the evening of course) so that I can rid myself of this medication but all to no avail.
Are there any other methods for tapering off of a ssri dose? Are there any other medications that may help me rid myself of these side effects and get back to a normal life - with feelings?
I have been tapering down for about 3 months now and I get VERY unpleasant side-effects when I don't have any "z" in me. My dosage schedule is something like 12 mg every 3 or 4 days. After that, I feel like I am going to pass out when I stand up, and my vision kind of spaces out. I feel dizzy and all around strange. I have resorted to small amounts of alcohol to try and mask this feeling (in the evening of course) so that I can rid myself of this medication but all to no avail.
Are there any other methods for tapering off of a ssri dose? Are there any other medications that may help me rid myself of these side effects and get back to a normal life - with feelings?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 31, 2001 12:00AM
, Jan 31, 2001 12:00AM
There definitely is a cessation syndrome, and it is quite like you describe. One suggestion is to temporarily switch to Prozac because it stays in the body longer, and then taper off of that.
The weaning process will then be more gradual.
The cessation syndrome is more common with the shorter acting antidepressants, and not very common with Zoloft because it is in the medium range.
The weaning process will then be more gradual.
The cessation syndrome is more common with the shorter acting antidepressants, and not very common with Zoloft because it is in the medium range.
