Aa
discontinued zoloft after 15 years. When do all these withdrawal symptoms end? Do I have to take antidepressants forever?
I'm a 55 year old woman and been taking zoloft for 15 years. Once or twice I reduced from 200 to 50mg and started feeling depressed. My doctor then told me I would be on zoloft forever, that my brain needed it. Recently, my 31 year old daughter asked me to stop the zoloft, she didn't like the person I was, and wanted to old one back. I guess I'd like to find her again. I switched from zoloft to bupropion 100mg. I'm suppose to be taking 200mg and maybe more, but can't manage the side effects, which seem very similar to zoloft withdrawal symptoms.
A lot of other "stuff" has been happening too. If anyone had told me about all the withdrawal symptoms and side effects I would have choosen a better time to change meds. To name some of the other "stuff" my alcoholic son, after being childless for 12 years of marriage, had a son. He stopped drinking (wonderful), but I am not allowed to see the baby because it upsets his wife, and that upsets him, and he can't manage that right now. So, I have to stay back, and not communicate with his wife. I have emailed my son a few times, but he doesn't return any emails and he doesn't call. He has taken the baby to see my mother and mother in law, but ignores me. When this all happened, over a month ago, I found out that my mother in law sides with my daughter in law, who thinks I am a critical and bossy person. I find out that mother in law has been talking about me unkindly, behind my back for the 40 years I have known her. As I read this, it sounds like I must really must be a terrible person, but If anything, I am the one who has sacrificed, and seen to it that family members are remembered and cared for. Truely, I am the good one. Life isn't fair...
Some of the other "stuff" consists of my daughter losing her job, and is losing her house. My husband broke his thumb Christmas day, had to have surgery and I've had to take care of him, since he only has one hand to do anything with. He is a very critical and demanding person and the major reason I have stayed on zoloft all these years. It was easier to live in a fog and say to myself, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, than to stand me ground. I'm also in menopause, and going off of zoloft has magnified all of its symptoms which had thought had disipated mostly. I have lots of aches and pains, anxiety, crying binges, sleeplessness, hot flashes/sweating, and chills. I also seem lose concentration. I can't remember what I was doing, or saying. I asked my Psych. Dr. if I needed to come in sooner, or hang in there till my next appointment - about 3 weeks from initial change. She wants me to increase the bupropion. I went to my MD since I have had a lot of the aches and pains previous to the med changes. She wasn't helpful. She didn't really want to hear any of my symptoms. She had an x-ray taken of my back (she says arthritus) and signed me up for a colonoscopy. She wrote a prescription for a nasil spray and told me to take motrin full strength for 3 days for my pain. Her report will look good on paper.
I am very frustrated. I have written about 25 pages in a journal which has helped, but it also makes me depressed when I write. Between my sadness and aches and pains I try to get things done, but I have been less productive than ever before in my life. I am retired and want to be happy. I have wonderful friends, but I haven't felt well enough to do the things that will help me not be depressed.
Can I stop taking antidepressants ever? Do I need to take more, change prescriptions again, or what? I am really not a crazy person. I won't hurt anyone, not even myself. And when, if ever will I not have these emotional swings and hot flashes? There seem to be a lot of things that I can not control, but I wish I could at least feel well.
A lot of other "stuff" has been happening too. If anyone had told me about all the withdrawal symptoms and side effects I would have choosen a better time to change meds. To name some of the other "stuff" my alcoholic son, after being childless for 12 years of marriage, had a son. He stopped drinking (wonderful), but I am not allowed to see the baby because it upsets his wife, and that upsets him, and he can't manage that right now. So, I have to stay back, and not communicate with his wife. I have emailed my son a few times, but he doesn't return any emails and he doesn't call. He has taken the baby to see my mother and mother in law, but ignores me. When this all happened, over a month ago, I found out that my mother in law sides with my daughter in law, who thinks I am a critical and bossy person. I find out that mother in law has been talking about me unkindly, behind my back for the 40 years I have known her. As I read this, it sounds like I must really must be a terrible person, but If anything, I am the one who has sacrificed, and seen to it that family members are remembered and cared for. Truely, I am the good one. Life isn't fair...
Some of the other "stuff" consists of my daughter losing her job, and is losing her house. My husband broke his thumb Christmas day, had to have surgery and I've had to take care of him, since he only has one hand to do anything with. He is a very critical and demanding person and the major reason I have stayed on zoloft all these years. It was easier to live in a fog and say to myself, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, than to stand me ground. I'm also in menopause, and going off of zoloft has magnified all of its symptoms which had thought had disipated mostly. I have lots of aches and pains, anxiety, crying binges, sleeplessness, hot flashes/sweating, and chills. I also seem lose concentration. I can't remember what I was doing, or saying. I asked my Psych. Dr. if I needed to come in sooner, or hang in there till my next appointment - about 3 weeks from initial change. She wants me to increase the bupropion. I went to my MD since I have had a lot of the aches and pains previous to the med changes. She wasn't helpful. She didn't really want to hear any of my symptoms. She had an x-ray taken of my back (she says arthritus) and signed me up for a colonoscopy. She wrote a prescription for a nasil spray and told me to take motrin full strength for 3 days for my pain. Her report will look good on paper.
I am very frustrated. I have written about 25 pages in a journal which has helped, but it also makes me depressed when I write. Between my sadness and aches and pains I try to get things done, but I have been less productive than ever before in my life. I am retired and want to be happy. I have wonderful friends, but I haven't felt well enough to do the things that will help me not be depressed.
Can I stop taking antidepressants ever? Do I need to take more, change prescriptions again, or what? I am really not a crazy person. I won't hurt anyone, not even myself. And when, if ever will I not have these emotional swings and hot flashes? There seem to be a lot of things that I can not control, but I wish I could at least feel well.
Maybe your son really is having a rough go of it being dry, if he truly is not drinking. Alcoholism doesn't go away, so he may be extra vigilant about his emotions during this initial dry-out period. Otherwise he is extremely insensitive to your feelings, not letting you see his grandchild.
Perhaps you will get back on meds that help your emotions, and he may change his mind. If not, remember it is his decision, and try to let go, as best you can. I hope things turn around for you instead though.
Perhaps you will get back on meds that help your emotions, and he may change his mind. If not, remember it is his decision, and try to let go, as best you can. I hope things turn around for you instead though.
Being diagnosed with clinical depression is a ongoing and lifelong issue, like diabetes or epilepsy, meds make it manageable.. Many folks live decent and productive lives with meds. It sounds like there are a multitude of issues going on. It sounds like your family doctor is investigating some medical issues which is appropriate. Having chronic depression doesn't mean you are crazy or you will harm yourself or someone else, it means you have low moods due to an imbalance of neuro-chemicals. Going through menopause sure doesn't help either. I would highly recommend you get into some talk therapy so you can vent. Writing in a journal can be very cathartic, but I think chatting with someone really wouldn't hurt and s/he might teach you new coping mechanisms and/or enlighten you on your own behaviours, which happened to me when I went through talk therapy. You need to take care of you, not satisfy your children, they aren't living your life are they? I wouldn't think it's fair to ask someone else to stop their meds.
I had a GP who guided me in the right direction and I wouldn't be as emotionally aware as I today without the time I spent in therapy.
I hope this helps,
LCC
I had a GP who guided me in the right direction and I wouldn't be as emotionally aware as I today without the time I spent in therapy.
I hope this helps,
LCC
You are in pain, physically and mentally, so it is natural to be unhappy. I hope things improve.
If your doc said your brain needs medication the rest of your life, and you felt depression coming back after the 2 times you tried to wean down on Zoloft, it seems likely that you do always need some med. That is nothing to be ashamed of; it is just the way it is.
I don't understand why you switched from Zoloft though. Prior to your daughter asking you to switch, did you have any complaints with the drug?
When you say, "I guess I'd like to find her again." do you mean you want to find your old self again?
If your doc said your brain needs medication the rest of your life, and you felt depression coming back after the 2 times you tried to wean down on Zoloft, it seems likely that you do always need some med. That is nothing to be ashamed of; it is just the way it is.
I don't understand why you switched from Zoloft though. Prior to your daughter asking you to switch, did you have any complaints with the drug?
When you say, "I guess I'd like to find her again." do you mean you want to find your old self again?
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