zoloft withdrawl

[losingmymind09]

hi, i recently found out i was pregnant and my ob nurse told ME to wean myself off of zoloft.  I thought that was weird because i have NO clue how to do that correctly, was i misguided medically?  anyway, i was at 150 mg and tapered myself off to nothing in about 3 weeks tops.  Aside from all the lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, brain "zaps", nauseousness, tiredness and bouts of hot and cold, I also am experiencing extreme depression and anger.  Is this also a withdrawl symptom? or could it be in combo with early pregnancy symptoms.  I am having a hard time distinguishing what is "hormones" and what is "withdrawl".  I am not an angry person normally...but lately have bouts of utter uncontrolable anger explosions...help!

[ladybugbob1029]

Hi!  All of those symptoms are withdrawal symptoms (from what I've read and what my dr has told me).  How far along are you?  I am 23 weeks and have been completely off of Zoloft for two weeks now, but I weanied myself over a two and half month process.  My Dr. told me that it was important to be off my the third trimester if possible, but that if my anxiety got out of control that it was not the end of the world to have to go back on it.  I really don't want to of course, but he says that he delivered plenty of babies whose moms were on it the entire pregnancy and they had no problems, but he of course wanted me to be aware of the risks that are there and to encourage me to wean off if possible.  I was taking 50mg for the last 3 years.  The depression and anger though came for me in my first trimester while I was still on my full dose though - I contributed it mostly to hormones (and the fact that I had severe morning sickness that lasted 24 hours a day 7 days a week until my second trimester).  It did pass though - and all is well now, except my main withdrawal symptom is the strange feeling in my head - kinda like dizziness but not and esp. when I turn my head.  Its really getting to me, but hopefully it will pass in  a couple of weeks.  Hang in there girl!  Let me know how things go!

[Paxiled]

It's classic withdrawal.  Some people get angry from taking ssris, too, not just from going off them.  You sound like you quit too quickly, too, you should do this with a psychiatrist's help (but not a quack; most of them are clueless or liars when it comes to withdrawal).  But now that you've done it, hopefully you'll be okay soon, but since some people have extended withdrawals, I'd still try and find a very understanding psychiatrist who accepts withdrawal as being real and can help guide you.  I've heard fish oil can help with the brain zaps, and sometimes temporary doses of tranqs for the withdrawal anxiety.  Go as slowly as you need to, though being preggers makes that more difficult to do.  When I went off Paxil I got severely depressed and angry, and still am, three years later, but I don't think Zoloft is as problematic, and most people do get over it fairly soon.  But it is classic withdrawal symptoms.  Good luck, and remember, you're doing this for a positive reason, that should help.

[jhguy011]

When I was weaning from Lexapro (which is not the same as Zoloft, but both are SSRIs), I had a lot of angry moments as well.  I would recommend that you do stress-relieving activities.  For me, I had to listen to music periodically to calm down.  And, yes, I also experienced all those other symptoms like the brain "zaps" and the lightheaded feelings.