Experience with Zoloft withdrawal

I have been using Zoloft for over 3 months. Now I am trying to get off all anti-depressants and to go on with my life. But from day to day I am feeling worse. I don’t want to give up but I am constantly nervous, have headaches, insomnia, night sweats and extreme tiredness. My doctor suspects that I have developed withdrawal syndrome?

If you stopped using Zoloft abruptly and are experiencing the symptoms you do, you probably developed withdrawal syndrome. All of your symptoms including mental confusion, joint pain, dizziness, stomachaches, nausea, tremors etc. are signs of withdrawal. The withdrawal symptoms usually last for 1-2 weeks but in some cases they decrease over a period of one month. It is recommended that the usage of Zoloft is gradually decreased. What happens is that Zoloft has a half life for about one day. That means that every day that passes without you taking Zoloft, the level in the blood falls about 50%. After two days the level of Zoloft is reduced to 25%, after three days to 12, 5% and so on until it wears out completely. And because of its half-life, it can cause many problems. There is one particular, very unpleasant withdrawal symptom called REM Behavior Disorder. When moving your eyes too quickly, you dream in sequences- you are awake but you have hallucinations like you are actually dreaming. If something like this happens contact your physician.

It has been about three months that I am off the zoloft now and the withdrawal effects are still as strong as they were at the beginning. I am beginning to wonder if they ever go away. I did not just stop taking it. Actually, I tapered it off under my doctor supervision. I feel this electric zaps every once in a while. It's really annoying. I feel my eyes are moving very fast. Most of the times when I move my eyes, I get the electric shocks. I feel very moody too.

If only I knew about this before taking this terrible drug. I will never take it again though even if the effects do not go away. It's funny how something harmless like marijuana is criminalized and you have to take weird drugs with lots of serious side effect and withdrawal effects that they prescribe for you!

If I could I would really sue the drug company.

what dose did you start with and what is your dr.'s recommendation as to weening it off? over how long of a period was it until u were through with zoloft? i'm on 50mg and thinking i may not need it anymore but i am really afraid of that electric zap headaches.

Wow I was on the drug following a car accident for 4 months and I have those electric zaps very badly. I have been tappering off for 3 weeks like advised but its not helping. The zaps wont go away and they are very disorienting. Alot of people are sueing over this.... If its so bad, whats it doing on the market?? It has also sparked some very violent aggressive symptoms on a random basis as well as moodyness that is borderline suicidal. Stay away from this drug.

Today was my first time trying zoloft. I got it from a friend and I did 350 mg.
I really hope I don't get withdrawal.

After being on 100mg zoloft for 3 yrs I decided to stop. Under a doctors supervision, I weened down to 25mg. Then tried to stop entirely. I thought if I did it the "right" way would ease, if not alleviate any withdrawl. I WAS WRONG! It has now been at least three months since I've been down to 25mg and I really don't feel better. Without 25mg my brain feels as though it shakes in my head.(brain zap) I have even fallen down the stairs if I try not to take it. Without it I sometimes feel as though my nervous system would shut down. On top of everything else, I'm pretty depressed. When I started this drug I thought it was a wonder drug and that it changed my life, now I wish I just went to therapy. I have what I'm told is a good life I just wish I could enjoy it.

For the guest who says they started on 350 mg. I must warn you, that is a lot. You most certainly will go thru withdrawal symptoms if you take such a high dosage for any length of time. Even 150-200 mg. is considered a lot. I have been on it for the past 10 years at 25-100 mg. and am just now starting my own taper down schedule to ween myself off. After having been on 25 mg. for a couple of months, and a 12.5 pill once a week, I am cutting my pills down so they're 6.25 mg. I currently have the foggy head and am not looking forward to the disorientation and vertigo as I have tried to ween myself off this nasty drug before with no success. This time I am absolutely confident I can do it. Do your research because this is one of the hardest drugs to get off of.

To Ctt, i feel for you. When i first started I too, thought it was a wonder drug. I suffered from moderate to severe depression and social anxiety disorder but in retrospect, 10 years ago, I didn't have it so bad. I wish I could've gotten therapy too but my family at the time insisted I didn't. I want to start that now and live drug-free. You have support here. It's going to be a long, hard road but I have faith in both you and I that we can kick this crap out of our systems for good. Good luck to you.

Thank you so much!! I hope nothing but the best for you too. It seems to be bittersweet that you really understand. As I'm sure you know it's not everyday someone's words really "hit home". Trying to think positive only gets you seems to get me so far. Then I read a post like yours and it gives me a little boost. I hope I can do the same for you. One day at a time!!

i have taken zoloft for 1 day,25 mg, if i on't take ay more am i likey to have any side effects?