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Zoloft Withdrawal! Please help!

My doctor (psychiatrist) took me off ZOlOFT. I was on Zoloft for about 5 months at a max dosage of 100mg. When he decided to take me off he did the tapering down process in 25mg increments every five days so I thought that was a good tapering process. I even asked my family doctor and he said yeah that is a safe way to get off the med. I took my last 25mg dose this past Monday night. I never had issues when I was coming off the medicne but about three days ago I started having spells of feeling light headed. I have had bouts of flu type feelings and I feel very tired and worn out. Basically I feel like **** and I dont have the flu. My question is, How long does it take to get Zoloft out of your system? I know your never to stop taking SSRI meds abruptly but when you follow a good tapering schedule and you still deal with wwithdrawal symptoms that's enough to tick a person off. My doctor wants me to start Lexapro but he wants me to wait until Zoloft is completely washed from my system. How many days do I have to put up with this ****? Any answers or advise is much appreciated. You know the medical world tells us that you cant become dependant or addicted to these meds but I tend to dissagree the more I read about people having discontinuation syndrome after following doctors orders on a good weening off process.  

Take Care
Jimmy
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Avatar universal
Hi,
I was on Zoloft for about 8 months (200mg) for depression but had to stop because of severe migraine. I tapered during two weeks according to my doctors recommendations and felt ok during this time. One-two days after quitting (after two days on my final dose, 25 mg) I got severe side-effects. Not so much emotional but more physical: brain (and body/limb) zaps, serious dizziness (had to hold on to things to avoid falling), nausea, stomach problems, extreme fatique, generally feeling sick, and was just totally dysfunctional. The worst were the brain zaps and the dizziness, they were intense and scary. Within the first days of withdrawal effects I came across a website with a program for getting off psychiatric drugs (http://www.theroadback.org/trb.htm). I ordered all the supplements that they recommended (vitamin E, omega-3, magnesium, protein suppl, and some other stuff (see their website)), despite the fact that we were struggling financially -- I was sooo desperate, and started taking them all without following their program really (you are supposed to start already before tapering). I am not exactly sure if it help me but I do think so. It took me about two weeks to get out of the worst withdrawal but about three months to completely get rid of the brain zaps. I thought I was going to have to live with them for ever... Like I said, I did not exactly follow the program from the Road Back website but I would now if I was to do it again. I remember reading that the Zoloft (and other drugs) changes the activity and metabolism in the brain (and other places) so that you may "burn" certain chemicals/substances/nutrients more and create a deficiency in your body. Eg brain zaps could occur because of Omega-3 and magnesium deficiency. For some reason it makes sense to me and I would totally try their program out. If it can prevent you from getting some of the withdrawal symptoms it is well worth it!!!

Another side-effect I had during my Zoloft was that one (always the same) pupil was larger that the other. This can still re-occur (although much milder) now almost 6 months after I quit Zoloft, but who knows, maybe that is unrelated. Had a neurological exam back then and all appeared fine.  
Oh, and I also used Benadryl and sometimes Ativan to sleep during the withdrawal.
Good luck everybody on getting that stuff out of your bodies -- it is a great feeling to be free!! Although, I am still struggling to keep my depression under control...
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Avatar universal
I am a newcomer to the Forum and am planning my exit strategy for Zoloft... I have been on 150mg for 14 years and am researching healthy alternatives to lessen the symptoms of withdrawal and improve mental functioning both short-term and long term. My decision is based on a lasik consultation that I had recently, where I was diagnosed with severe dry eye syndrome, most likely from prescription meds. This diagnosis eliminates my ability to have lasik and blepharoplasty, and makes me wonder what other negative, longterm effects I have suffered...

What I found so far in my research for healthy alternatives include a high level of anti-oxidants, Omega 3 (fish oils), B-6 L'Tryptophan, 5 HTP, Gingo Bilobo, Siberian Ginseng, SAM-e and St. John's Wart as potential products. If you have tried any of these or a combination of these, please let me know how they have worked for you or if you have other healthy supplement recommendations... Thanks!


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Avatar universal
just an update.



i had a therapy session today and my therapist felt that i should remain on the 75mg dose not 50mg because i'm back to my original state of wanting to die 24/7. i'm disappointed, but she realizes that i really want to find other ways to help me feel better so maybe this will be motivation or something.
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Avatar universal
Thanks to all who've offered encouragement.  This is my 5th day, cutting dose from 100mg to 50mg, and....I'm still here!  The brainzaps are more pronounced each day and I'm extremely fatigued (I've fallen asleep in mid-email several times).  My energy level has dropped like a rock, and I've had a ringing in my ears for 2 days now.  (similar to the frequency of the zaps, only not quite as loud/)

The insomnia has also become more severe (it's now 4:11am) and yes, I feel like I'm in a fog most of the time.  I'm going to try changing my sleep environment (different room/bed) for a few days to see if this can aid in the transition.  Already, I long to just feel *normal* again, but I have not upped the dosage and pray that I never do!

Some of the reasons I picked *now* to try this weaning are:

1.  Recently laid off from job, so I'd rather try now than to risk alienating folks that I work with.
2.  Can use relaxation techniques more easily since I'm home all day.
3.  My First grandbaby is due in November and I would like to be free of this **** by the time he/she arrives!
4. No one around to **** off except the husband, and....he'll be away next week on business.  This is a good time to juggle the emotional **** that accompanies Zoloft withdrawl.
5. Hubby admitted that my weight gain was a deterrent to our love life...so...I need to get OFF THIS DAMNED DRUG!!!
6.  Ok, just fell asleep as I was typing this....heeeeeeelp me!


Don't we all sound like a bunch of ungrateful children...who ONLY  want this major thing to be resolved overnight...  I realize it cannot be, but
I MISS MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  

I PRAY that this will all be worth the effort someday soon.
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Avatar universal
I have been off zoloft for over 4 months now and I was doing very well until about 2 weeks ago.  I never had any symptoms when I stopped but now all the anxiety is coming back. Has anyone else had this long delay in symptoms?
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Avatar universal
Hi to you all.
Scarlette all the withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing are all to do with getting of the Zoloft. I went through all the symptoms. Crying all the time. Bad tempered,  Slow motion feeling. The zaps in my body and feeling awfully sick as though I just wanted to throw up all the time. I felt like I had a really awful disease or something before I found this site. I actually thought I was dying. It has been three and a bit weeks for me now and I am still experiencing symptoms. I can say they are not quite as bad as they were. So keep doing what you are doing because you are doing a great job. If you feel as though you dont need them then listen to your body. I am not a doctor of course. But I feel we should listen to our body's.

Cptvpete STAY STRONG, you can do it. Believe me if I can do it anyone can. I am such a weak person usually. But because of what I have experienced with these Zoloft I never ever want to take another one ever again. And I never will. I do not ever want to go through anything like this again. So please stay strong. I think its great that you are going to record what you are going through here on this comment site. I think it is great to share with everyone what we all go through and hopefully help someone else that may be thinking of going on the Zoloft. I also think its good to record because it will make you feel a lot better as well.

Amalee the reason why our doctors put us on a higher dosage is because they take it apon themselves to tell us that we are not coping. So they prescribe more tablets. I remember 5 years ago when I was leaving my husband I went to the doctors and I was upset and told her what was going on in my life. She said to me that I should go on the zoloft and so I did. I trusted her to know what was best for me. Then after 3 years of being on them I had horrible news. My dad died, he had a heart attack. After the funeral and a couple of weeks I went to see my doctor again because I wanted to be checked that my heart and all was well because my dad died young. I was in talking to my doctor when I told her that my dad had died and I started crying. I told her that I was there to have a physical. Which I did get but she also upped my dose of Zoloft because she thought I wasnt coping with the loss of my dad. I mean I was devistated by my dad but I was grieving and that is normal. That was two years ago. So all I can say is that life brings us lots of challenges and we can either deal with them or we can take a pill and not let it hurt as much. Well whatever life deals me next I am going to deal with it and not take a pill to suppress the way I feel. We are supposed to feel and have emotion. Thats life. And I choose now to live my life with out tablets.
GoodLuck Everyone and Stay Strong.  
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