Upon taking zoloft, i experienced moments of electric zaps, very uncomfortable. I found that, and im NOT recommending it, cigarettes worked good to cancel out that side effect. I am not recommending this to anyone, just saying it worked.
Good Luck. Sure glad you didn't take arsenic with that! Wake Up! And get educated before taking anything internally.
I have been on zoloft for about 6 months...started at 25mgs and ended up on 200mgs. I recently decided that i didnt want to take it anymore and quit it cold turkey. I know I shouldve talked with my doctor about it first but I didnt. Now that I am reading about everyone else's experience with coming off of it I am kinda happy I just doing it all at once. Sounds like people experience awful withdrawl no matter how you do it. And winging yourself off just sounds like a way for the drug company to get more money out of you before you quit.
I have had terrible nausea whether I eat or dont eat, constant dizziness, "zaps" as others have referred to it in both my arms. I feel like my doctor should have told me about the side affect of getting off the drug and how much worse it is than the side affects of getting on it. I feel like a total mess and working is getting harder and harder. My concentration level is almost completely gone. I am only getting an hour or two of sleep at night. I really hope this goes away. Today I have also had urges to cry without reason...and at work this is just not acceptable. But no matter how bad it gets...I will not get back on zoloft. Its just not worth it to me.
I really thought in the beginning it helped me but i have only recently realized it just allowed me to not feel what i was going though. It also seemed to cause alot of dreaming that made any sleep i was getting to feel like a waste of time.
I hope everyone on this site is doing well and if you know of anything that will ease some of these withdrawls symptoms please let me know.
I have had terrible nausea whether I eat or dont eat, constant dizziness, "zaps" as others have referred to it in both my arms. I feel like my doctor should have told me about the side affect of getting off the drug and how much worse it is than the side affects of getting on it. I feel like a total mess and working is getting harder and harder. My concentration level is almost completely gone. I am only getting an hour or two of sleep at night. I really hope this goes away. Today I have also had urges to cry without reason...and at work this is just not acceptable. But no matter how bad it gets...I will not get back on zoloft. Its just not worth it to me.
I really thought in the beginning it helped me but i have only recently realized it just allowed me to not feel what i was going though. It also seemed to cause alot of dreaming that made any sleep i was getting to feel like a waste of time.
I hope everyone on this site is doing well and if you know of anything that will ease some of these withdrawls symptoms please let me know.
No, you should be fine if you only took 25mg once.
I have been taking zoloft for 7 years and started tapering about 2 months ago. Last week was my first time without any Zoloft. I am SO tired and definitely get the brain zaps. I am irritable and have trouble controlling my emotions. I keep thinking of going back on it but I don't want to be held captive by the drug any more. Especially at $45 per month for it. I have been having extremely vivid dreams when I sleep and wake up tired. But over all the biggest thing is the extreme fatigue that has me falling asleep at my desk.
Hello,
I have been tapering off from a 100 mg dosage for about two years. I did 50 mg for two weeks, then 25 mg every day for about two weeks, then 25 mg every other day for three weeks. I stopped taking the medicine altogether 8 days ago. I am feeling horrible!
I seriously feel like I'm a junkie who needs her fix, it's the most terrible feeling. I can't stop gritting my teeth, and am SO tired that all I can do is sleep. I'm at work today and am slumped over, trying not to fall asleep, and trying not to cry.
My spine hurts-is this part of these symptoms? Is there any hope for me? How long does this normally last given the weaning schedule that I've been on?
I am very angry at the pharmaceutical company that makes Zoloft and also at my Doctor. When I asked him about getting off of the drug he was very cavalier and told me that it would be 'very unusual' to get withdrawl symptoms...he suggested that I take 50 mg for a week then 25 mg for a week, and said that this should be fine. Nice try, pill pusher. It's been about two months of ups and downs and not feeling like myself.
Help!
I have been tapering off from a 100 mg dosage for about two years. I did 50 mg for two weeks, then 25 mg every day for about two weeks, then 25 mg every other day for three weeks. I stopped taking the medicine altogether 8 days ago. I am feeling horrible!
I seriously feel like I'm a junkie who needs her fix, it's the most terrible feeling. I can't stop gritting my teeth, and am SO tired that all I can do is sleep. I'm at work today and am slumped over, trying not to fall asleep, and trying not to cry.
My spine hurts-is this part of these symptoms? Is there any hope for me? How long does this normally last given the weaning schedule that I've been on?
I am very angry at the pharmaceutical company that makes Zoloft and also at my Doctor. When I asked him about getting off of the drug he was very cavalier and told me that it would be 'very unusual' to get withdrawl symptoms...he suggested that I take 50 mg for a week then 25 mg for a week, and said that this should be fine. Nice try, pill pusher. It's been about two months of ups and downs and not feeling like myself.
Help!
I just stopped taking a low dose of Zoloft last week (been on it for over 7 years) and my withdrawal symptom is a little different than others in one way... I seem to have the incurable giggles. I know, what you're thinking... "that's new." That's what I say too.
So far, I have experienced the following:
1. Feeling emotional - more than usual (not sure whether I'm gonna laugh or cry)
2. Exhausted
3. Brain zap - It was nice to see that I'm not alone with these. Glad I now know what to call them.
4. Brain fog
5. Warm and sweaty, yet cold
6. SUPER giggly, especially around bed-time. I have to start my night out on the couch, so my husband can sleep.
I agree with others being upset with the makers of Zoloft (and other anti-depressants). If I would have known about feeling cracked out, I would have tried my best to find a homeopathic/natural solution to my chemical imbalance.
Best of luck to all of us coming off this crazy trip. o.O One bit of consolation... at least we're not coming off Paxil! My friend is trying to transition off it and solely onto Prozac and it has not been kind so far. Makes you wonder what is worse, how you feel on it or off of it.
So far, I have experienced the following:
1. Feeling emotional - more than usual (not sure whether I'm gonna laugh or cry)
2. Exhausted
3. Brain zap - It was nice to see that I'm not alone with these. Glad I now know what to call them.
4. Brain fog
5. Warm and sweaty, yet cold
6. SUPER giggly, especially around bed-time. I have to start my night out on the couch, so my husband can sleep.
I agree with others being upset with the makers of Zoloft (and other anti-depressants). If I would have known about feeling cracked out, I would have tried my best to find a homeopathic/natural solution to my chemical imbalance.
Best of luck to all of us coming off this crazy trip. o.O One bit of consolation... at least we're not coming off Paxil! My friend is trying to transition off it and solely onto Prozac and it has not been kind so far. Makes you wonder what is worse, how you feel on it or off of it.
So, here's my Zoloft story. I started taking 50mg of Zoloft two months ago. At first, I was excessively happy, never felt better in my life. Two weeks later, I felt like I was just existing in the world, with no emotion. I couldn't cry, never got angry, didn't care about anything or anyone. I got a counselor to help me figure it out, but I couldn't even talk to her because I didn't even feel like myself. So I went back to my doctor, who told me to start taking 25mg...which I did. I felt better a few days later, cried for the first time in months, and felt human again. I decided that I could finally handle things on my own and stopped taking it. It's been a week and I've been miserable. I'm not depressed...but im dizzy, nauseous, my face feels numb, I'm constantly tired, and I always have a headache. I'm in college and feeling this miserable makes it difficult to sit through hours of classes. I know the easy thing would be to just start taking it but I don't want to go through trying to get off of it ever again, so I feel like it's now or never.
I still have my counselor and I'm going back to my doctor in a week. I don't think that Zoloft is a horrible drug, it really did help me get through some of the hardest times in my life. But I think that if you a prescribed a drug like Zoloft, you need to decide whether or not its really going to be worth it. Take it from me and the billion other people that had similar reactions to the drug...and getting off the drug. It's not fun.
I was also prescribed ambien, which is a drug for insomnia. It's also highly addictive so I'm trying to get off both at the same time...I wouldn't recommend that either.
I still have my counselor and I'm going back to my doctor in a week. I don't think that Zoloft is a horrible drug, it really did help me get through some of the hardest times in my life. But I think that if you a prescribed a drug like Zoloft, you need to decide whether or not its really going to be worth it. Take it from me and the billion other people that had similar reactions to the drug...and getting off the drug. It's not fun.
I was also prescribed ambien, which is a drug for insomnia. It's also highly addictive so I'm trying to get off both at the same time...I wouldn't recommend that either.
Guest wrote:
Since when are "brain zaps" normal ! ......
I have the "brain zaps" and rapid eye movement, glad to hear that is "normal", hope it goes away soon.
Since when are "brain zaps" normal ! ......
I'm so glad I found this board. Its been very relieving to know that I'm not the only one going through this - the symptoms of Zoloft withdrawal are no joke, but I'm finding that connecting with other people going through the same thing has given me the courage to keep going and to even have a sense of humor about all this. Here's my story:
I went on Zoloft 5 years ago, 50mg, when I was in my second year of college because I was having panic attacks and felt generally depressed. Since then I've had a love/hate relationship with this drug. While I'm grateful for its ability to keep me level headed in crisis situations, I've always wondered why I couldn't learn normal coping mechanisms that would allow me to deal with life situations without the help of a drug. I've gone off it twice - the first time I was really discouraged by the symptoms so went back on. The second time I tried to take myself off the medication I didn't experience any of the physical side-effects, but one day just found myself screaming at a very close friend of mine, completely out of the blue, over something incredibly trivial. I blamed it on withdrawal and went back on.
And here I am again - I've gotten to the bottom of the bottle and have resolved that come hell or high water that I'm finished with Zoloft for ever. I know it's not going to be easy, but I really want to move forward with my life. Zoloft is a brilliantly constructed drug because, like any drug, it keeps you hooked through FEAR. "How can I possibly function with out it? What if I can't handle it?" If you look closely at your fears and the things you tell yourself I think you'll find its the same thing that people hooked on opiates or heroin or whatever tell themselves.
Since this is my third time trying to get off the drug I feel prepared because I know exactly what to expect, and I'm certainly feeling the symptoms in spades:
- the brain zap: feels like my skull is charged with an odd electrical energy that flares up whenever I move my eyes quickly.
- the sweats: I'll be reading or watching TV, completely sedentary, and realize that I'm sweating.
- irritability: every sensation is magnified, even good ones. I was at the gym the other day (btw, I find that exercise or any strenuous activity keeps my mind off the symptoms) and my ipod starting playing some random song, and I felt like weeping. Also The Polar Bear Express was on TV last night (the Tom Hanks version), and I just started crying. If you think about it, it's pretty funny! :-)
I'm happy to report that my sex drive has actually increased!
Anyway, I just had to share all this. To all of you going through the same thing, keep your chin up and realize that there is nothing WRONG with you - you are fighting a very powerful drug agent that has flooded your system for quite a long time. It's like breaking any addiction, and a healthy outlook, a sense of humor, and a good support network can help you move forward and find ways to deal with your demons through therapy or means other than drugging yourself.
Good luck to us all!
I went on Zoloft 5 years ago, 50mg, when I was in my second year of college because I was having panic attacks and felt generally depressed. Since then I've had a love/hate relationship with this drug. While I'm grateful for its ability to keep me level headed in crisis situations, I've always wondered why I couldn't learn normal coping mechanisms that would allow me to deal with life situations without the help of a drug. I've gone off it twice - the first time I was really discouraged by the symptoms so went back on. The second time I tried to take myself off the medication I didn't experience any of the physical side-effects, but one day just found myself screaming at a very close friend of mine, completely out of the blue, over something incredibly trivial. I blamed it on withdrawal and went back on.
And here I am again - I've gotten to the bottom of the bottle and have resolved that come hell or high water that I'm finished with Zoloft for ever. I know it's not going to be easy, but I really want to move forward with my life. Zoloft is a brilliantly constructed drug because, like any drug, it keeps you hooked through FEAR. "How can I possibly function with out it? What if I can't handle it?" If you look closely at your fears and the things you tell yourself I think you'll find its the same thing that people hooked on opiates or heroin or whatever tell themselves.
Since this is my third time trying to get off the drug I feel prepared because I know exactly what to expect, and I'm certainly feeling the symptoms in spades:
- the brain zap: feels like my skull is charged with an odd electrical energy that flares up whenever I move my eyes quickly.
- the sweats: I'll be reading or watching TV, completely sedentary, and realize that I'm sweating.
- irritability: every sensation is magnified, even good ones. I was at the gym the other day (btw, I find that exercise or any strenuous activity keeps my mind off the symptoms) and my ipod starting playing some random song, and I felt like weeping. Also The Polar Bear Express was on TV last night (the Tom Hanks version), and I just started crying. If you think about it, it's pretty funny! :-)
I'm happy to report that my sex drive has actually increased!
Anyway, I just had to share all this. To all of you going through the same thing, keep your chin up and realize that there is nothing WRONG with you - you are fighting a very powerful drug agent that has flooded your system for quite a long time. It's like breaking any addiction, and a healthy outlook, a sense of humor, and a good support network can help you move forward and find ways to deal with your demons through therapy or means other than drugging yourself.
Good luck to us all!
I was pregnant and my doctor put me on Zoloft due to postpartum during the pregnancy from a previous miscarriage. Zoloft was the safest depression medication during pregnancy and nursing(per my therapist). I would possibly talk to a different doctor because you don't want to have postpartum after your child is born.
I have been tapering off for the last 4 months, since my daughter turned 8 months. I was on 100 mg, tapered down to 75mg on my 9th month, and after she was born back up to 100 mg. When she was 8 months, I went down to 75 mg for a month and then down to 50 mg for 3 months. I have been coming off of the 50 mg "cold turkey" for 3 weeks.
I had constant headaches for the 1st week, and have the electric zaps and vertigo very often throughout the day, still. Especially, in the afternoon. I keep waiting for this all to end. I do not want to be on medication anymore, especially Zoloft. I sometimes have insomnia, still no sexual desire (which the husband hates), and continuous anxiety. The worst part is also the irritability. I know I went on the medication for the right reasons, but I wish I knew how hard it would be to come off.
I have been tapering off for the last 4 months, since my daughter turned 8 months. I was on 100 mg, tapered down to 75mg on my 9th month, and after she was born back up to 100 mg. When she was 8 months, I went down to 75 mg for a month and then down to 50 mg for 3 months. I have been coming off of the 50 mg "cold turkey" for 3 weeks.
I had constant headaches for the 1st week, and have the electric zaps and vertigo very often throughout the day, still. Especially, in the afternoon. I keep waiting for this all to end. I do not want to be on medication anymore, especially Zoloft. I sometimes have insomnia, still no sexual desire (which the husband hates), and continuous anxiety. The worst part is also the irritability. I know I went on the medication for the right reasons, but I wish I knew how hard it would be to come off.
I, too, am glad I found this board. I've been taking Zoloft for at least 5 years due to uncontrollable PMDD. I was taking 100mg for most of those 5 years. I got married 5 months ago, and recently we decided to start a family.
I thought it would be best to be off Zoloft by the time I conceived (whenever that may be). So, I started weaning myself (with my Dr's blessing). 2 weeks of 75 mg, 2 weeks of 50mg and 2 weeks of 25 mg. Then nothing.
Each time I dropped the dose, I had 2 days of dizziness with a splash of headaches. It normally was gone by day 3 or 4 of the week.
I'm now on day 6 of being on no Zoloft. And this week started out normal- slight dizziness with that splash of headache and a bit of nausea. I expected to be back to "normal" by Wednesday or Thursday, the latest.
Its Friday, and I am miserable. Absolutely miserable. I wake up fine, but as soon as I'm standing upright, the dizziness kicks in. If I turn my head too fast, or even just normally, stand up normally, whatever, I get dizzy. I'm weirdly hoping I pass out so I can get out of work. I stare at a computer screen all day long, and this is torture- dizzy for no reason, just sitting here.
I am hoping, praying, that this goes away on its own by the end of the weekend. If not, I promised my husband that I'd make an appointment to see my doctor.
That was before I realized this joy is just withdrawal symptoms. Does anyone have any ideas on how to reduce them? I have the "brain zaps" occasionally, but this dizziness is getting to be out of control.
Please, please tell me this will end soon. I don't want to take Zoloft forever.
I thought it would be best to be off Zoloft by the time I conceived (whenever that may be). So, I started weaning myself (with my Dr's blessing). 2 weeks of 75 mg, 2 weeks of 50mg and 2 weeks of 25 mg. Then nothing.
Each time I dropped the dose, I had 2 days of dizziness with a splash of headaches. It normally was gone by day 3 or 4 of the week.
I'm now on day 6 of being on no Zoloft. And this week started out normal- slight dizziness with that splash of headache and a bit of nausea. I expected to be back to "normal" by Wednesday or Thursday, the latest.
Its Friday, and I am miserable. Absolutely miserable. I wake up fine, but as soon as I'm standing upright, the dizziness kicks in. If I turn my head too fast, or even just normally, stand up normally, whatever, I get dizzy. I'm weirdly hoping I pass out so I can get out of work. I stare at a computer screen all day long, and this is torture- dizzy for no reason, just sitting here.
I am hoping, praying, that this goes away on its own by the end of the weekend. If not, I promised my husband that I'd make an appointment to see my doctor.
That was before I realized this joy is just withdrawal symptoms. Does anyone have any ideas on how to reduce them? I have the "brain zaps" occasionally, but this dizziness is getting to be out of control.
Please, please tell me this will end soon. I don't want to take Zoloft forever.
Hi ~
My boyfriend was on Zoloft. Things were going very well.
About 2 weeks ago, he cut his dosage in half. He didn't do this under a doctor's supervision as far as I know. I also don't know the amount that he was originally taking. All I know is that he was taking 2 pills a day, and cut it down to one.
We were planning on getting married, and even were talking about when we wanted to conceive children.
We had a couple arguments. They certainly weren't good, but I wouldn't describe them as horrific either.
2 days ago, he left a "break up" note on my doorstep. I was SHOCKED. The previous night he told me I was the love of his life.
I love him so deeply and have no judgement about the fact that he takes Zoloft, because I know it helps him.
But I am trying to make sense of the breakup. The note was clear that our relationship was over. Yet he had been expressing his love for me just days before, telling me that I was the one he wanted to spend his life with.
Could this extreme mood swing/change in feelings for me/ be related to the fact that he had cut his Zoloft in half? (from the time he cut in in half, until the time he broke up with me was about 2 weeks)
Could it be enough to actually cause someone to leave a good relationship? (it wasn't a perfect relationship, as we were certainly working on certain issues. However, he knew I loved him, and I know he loved me.)
I can not call him because I said I would respect his decision of no contact.
If he decides to get back to his original dose, is it likely he will reflect on the fact that he suddenly ended the relationship, and reach out to communicate again?
Please help with any insights.
Thank you
My boyfriend was on Zoloft. Things were going very well.
About 2 weeks ago, he cut his dosage in half. He didn't do this under a doctor's supervision as far as I know. I also don't know the amount that he was originally taking. All I know is that he was taking 2 pills a day, and cut it down to one.
We were planning on getting married, and even were talking about when we wanted to conceive children.
We had a couple arguments. They certainly weren't good, but I wouldn't describe them as horrific either.
2 days ago, he left a "break up" note on my doorstep. I was SHOCKED. The previous night he told me I was the love of his life.
I love him so deeply and have no judgement about the fact that he takes Zoloft, because I know it helps him.
But I am trying to make sense of the breakup. The note was clear that our relationship was over. Yet he had been expressing his love for me just days before, telling me that I was the one he wanted to spend his life with.
Could this extreme mood swing/change in feelings for me/ be related to the fact that he had cut his Zoloft in half? (from the time he cut in in half, until the time he broke up with me was about 2 weeks)
Could it be enough to actually cause someone to leave a good relationship? (it wasn't a perfect relationship, as we were certainly working on certain issues. However, he knew I loved him, and I know he loved me.)
I can not call him because I said I would respect his decision of no contact.
If he decides to get back to his original dose, is it likely he will reflect on the fact that he suddenly ended the relationship, and reach out to communicate again?
Please help with any insights.
Thank you
I have been on zoloft for 6 months on 50 mg for postpartum depression. It worked wonders and I felt great. My doctor wanted me to stay on it for at least 6 months. I tried to go off by taking 50 mg every other day, but each day I didn't take it, I was incredibly dizzy, so I took 25 mg every day and that was fine. I then started taking 25 mg every other day and the same side effects began. So, after a few days of 25 mg every other day I just stopped. I have now been off for a few days and it is so hard to even do day-to-day tasks without getting extremely dizzy and VERY tired. I find myself having to lay down every hour or so in order to keep going. I have a friend who is a pharmacist and he said that within another day or two the medicine should be totally out of my system, which should mean the side effects should be going away. I REALLY HOPE SO!!!!! If not, I will be calling my doctor back. Can anyone tell me how long the withdrawal symptoms lasted for you once you were totally off?
Try Xanax, it's exactly what you are looking for. You can take one before the concert/mall/plane flight and not take it any other time.