Hey folks,
I just joined b/c I am off my 25 mg of Zoloft (was on for a mth or less) and I'm feeling withdrawal symptoms.
I'm 28 and I was previously on this drug in h.s. when I first was diagnosed with GAD. When I was 15, it saved my life. I was unable to leave my house and it helped me more than I could have ever imagined.
I stopped taking it this round b/c it wasn't helping that much and it made my insomnia worse. I've been off for a few days and have the dizziness, extreme fatigue, stomach issues, mild headaches, and a weird feeling in my head. I can't really explain that part but I experienced it when I went off Cymbalta as well.
Anyway, my symptoms are mild I guess- in comparison to what others have experienced. However, I am definitely more emotional. I understand that the drug numbs you but I feel like I'm more emotional than I was *before* taking Zoloft. So my question is, will this go away?
The stomach problems and weird feeling in my head is really bad but I sort of think they will eventually subside. The crying though, kinda scares me. I don't wanna look like a crazy person in public. I did that throughout my childhood lol. I have SAD and agoraphobia so its hard for me to go outside as it is, I really don't need any other obstacles/excuses.
Any thoughts? Anyone have a positive experience dealing with the increased emotions? Any recs for natural alternatives to SSRIs?
Thanks guys and I wish u all luck in this. Hang in there, I think it will eventually get better :-)
I just joined b/c I am off my 25 mg of Zoloft (was on for a mth or less) and I'm feeling withdrawal symptoms.
I'm 28 and I was previously on this drug in h.s. when I first was diagnosed with GAD. When I was 15, it saved my life. I was unable to leave my house and it helped me more than I could have ever imagined.
I stopped taking it this round b/c it wasn't helping that much and it made my insomnia worse. I've been off for a few days and have the dizziness, extreme fatigue, stomach issues, mild headaches, and a weird feeling in my head. I can't really explain that part but I experienced it when I went off Cymbalta as well.
Anyway, my symptoms are mild I guess- in comparison to what others have experienced. However, I am definitely more emotional. I understand that the drug numbs you but I feel like I'm more emotional than I was *before* taking Zoloft. So my question is, will this go away?
The stomach problems and weird feeling in my head is really bad but I sort of think they will eventually subside. The crying though, kinda scares me. I don't wanna look like a crazy person in public. I did that throughout my childhood lol. I have SAD and agoraphobia so its hard for me to go outside as it is, I really don't need any other obstacles/excuses.
Any thoughts? Anyone have a positive experience dealing with the increased emotions? Any recs for natural alternatives to SSRIs?
Thanks guys and I wish u all luck in this. Hang in there, I think it will eventually get better :-)
after, I think like 4 or 5 weeks of going off zoloft, the "brain zaps" have decreased in intensity alot. They still happen, but they don't paralyze me like they were.
The problem, i think, with going off of zoloft is that the withdrawal symptoms actually get worse and worse around the 2 or 3 week mark. Then they start decreasing. Another problem is that I would go through 2 or 3 days of "wow, I think I'm almost over it", then the next day BLAM! Full force withdrawal symptoms. This happened 3 or 4 times.
Its a bumpy withdrawal, and, like Obama likes to say "it'll get worse before it gets better". I think this is what causes alot of people to think they *can't* go off zoloft, because the withdrawal symptoms just get worse and worse.
They do get worse and worse, at least in my experience, but think of it as a "hump" you're gonna have to ride up before you can come down on the other side. Don't give up, it will get better. Its just gonna suck for a while. Really suck --- BAD.
After about 5 weeks I'm back on my feet, able to do my work normally. No more of the incredibly powerful fatigue, and no more debilitating brain zaps. I'm also finding that I am sleeping very well the past couple weeks, and I've also almost completely lost my desire for coffee first thing in the morning. I still drink coffee usually, but its because I like the taste with vanilla creamer. I no longer need it just to elevate my energy level from "nothing" to "just enough to stand up and go to work". My energy levels are returning back to how they used to be before I went on antidepressants.
The problem, i think, with going off of zoloft is that the withdrawal symptoms actually get worse and worse around the 2 or 3 week mark. Then they start decreasing. Another problem is that I would go through 2 or 3 days of "wow, I think I'm almost over it", then the next day BLAM! Full force withdrawal symptoms. This happened 3 or 4 times.
Its a bumpy withdrawal, and, like Obama likes to say "it'll get worse before it gets better". I think this is what causes alot of people to think they *can't* go off zoloft, because the withdrawal symptoms just get worse and worse.
They do get worse and worse, at least in my experience, but think of it as a "hump" you're gonna have to ride up before you can come down on the other side. Don't give up, it will get better. Its just gonna suck for a while. Really suck --- BAD.
After about 5 weeks I'm back on my feet, able to do my work normally. No more of the incredibly powerful fatigue, and no more debilitating brain zaps. I'm also finding that I am sleeping very well the past couple weeks, and I've also almost completely lost my desire for coffee first thing in the morning. I still drink coffee usually, but its because I like the taste with vanilla creamer. I no longer need it just to elevate my energy level from "nothing" to "just enough to stand up and go to work". My energy levels are returning back to how they used to be before I went on antidepressants.
so happy to have stumbled across this site. i thought maybe i was suffering from salmonilla but have not had any peanut butter crackers latetly so...
it's withdrawl. i've been through it before but after only 2-3 days of accidentally not taking my medicine, my symptoms are so severe (nausia, fatigue, crankiness, diariah) that i rush back to takng them and feel better in a day or 2. this last time though i did not feel so bad after 2-3 days so decided to go off of them for just a week or so. for awhile i've wanted to give my body a break from the drug. i wanted a break from feeling the chemical in my body and my head, do a sort of detox. i had also been feeling like the drug was making me too even keel. i wanted to feel my emotions again, even though my very negative emotions are the reason i am on the drug in the first place, i do miss the intensity and joy of the positive side of my personality. i just want to feel clear headed for a little while.
i thought that i would be able to do this, at least for a little while, it's been almost 2 weeks and my withdrawl symptoms are just now getting pretty bad. i feel like i have a hangover but worse becasue nothing is making me feel better. and unfortunatley i am feeling sad so i will be going back on something but after reading that somany others are having these symptoms i am going to see if there is anything else i can take that wont have these kinds of side effects.
questions/comments
1. all of you who were in the midst of withdrawl...how are you feeling? how long did it take for you to start feeling better?
2. "houston" gave some good advise for coping with the side effects (THANK YOU)...anyone else have any further input (please before i go barf)
3. has anyone found any other antidepressents that dont make them feel this way or have such severe withdrawl symptoms?
4. for all of you (us) who seem to be going on and off the drug at your own descretion, i urge you to consult with your doctor no matter what. please tell your doctor what you are experienceing. i say this becasue my doctor actually told me that zoloft did not have withdrawl symptoms. obviously he is wrong. the more of us that tell our doctor's of these issue the more attention it will get maybe leading to the doctors to better advise patients and better yet...maybe the drug company will change the drug or their warnings.
Finally...there is a reason that we are all on these drugs in the first place....PLEASE be sure that you are careful...i'm sure that we can all agree that diareah is better than thoughts of suicide.
it's withdrawl. i've been through it before but after only 2-3 days of accidentally not taking my medicine, my symptoms are so severe (nausia, fatigue, crankiness, diariah) that i rush back to takng them and feel better in a day or 2. this last time though i did not feel so bad after 2-3 days so decided to go off of them for just a week or so. for awhile i've wanted to give my body a break from the drug. i wanted a break from feeling the chemical in my body and my head, do a sort of detox. i had also been feeling like the drug was making me too even keel. i wanted to feel my emotions again, even though my very negative emotions are the reason i am on the drug in the first place, i do miss the intensity and joy of the positive side of my personality. i just want to feel clear headed for a little while.
i thought that i would be able to do this, at least for a little while, it's been almost 2 weeks and my withdrawl symptoms are just now getting pretty bad. i feel like i have a hangover but worse becasue nothing is making me feel better. and unfortunatley i am feeling sad so i will be going back on something but after reading that somany others are having these symptoms i am going to see if there is anything else i can take that wont have these kinds of side effects.
questions/comments
1. all of you who were in the midst of withdrawl...how are you feeling? how long did it take for you to start feeling better?
2. "houston" gave some good advise for coping with the side effects (THANK YOU)...anyone else have any further input (please before i go barf)
3. has anyone found any other antidepressents that dont make them feel this way or have such severe withdrawl symptoms?
4. for all of you (us) who seem to be going on and off the drug at your own descretion, i urge you to consult with your doctor no matter what. please tell your doctor what you are experienceing. i say this becasue my doctor actually told me that zoloft did not have withdrawl symptoms. obviously he is wrong. the more of us that tell our doctor's of these issue the more attention it will get maybe leading to the doctors to better advise patients and better yet...maybe the drug company will change the drug or their warnings.
Finally...there is a reason that we are all on these drugs in the first place....PLEASE be sure that you are careful...i'm sure that we can all agree that diareah is better than thoughts of suicide.
Incredible. I only briefly read over the first post as im watching Baracks Inauguration :-) But I have felt exactly the same. I've been on Zoloft for years now. at its height i was on 400MG per day. Only recently i decided to cut that in half, and in more recent times, cut it out completely. Im now down to 50MG every 2 days and i feel like c**p at times! This disgusting feeling of fatigue emanating from my chest accompanied by nausea was what scared me the most. i thought my heart was giving up on me. Actually trying to fall asleep didnt make me feel any better either. Eventually i just became so tired i semi-passed out for a few minutes. well i didnt pass out i just fell asleep sort of unwillingly. when i woke from this short sleep i felt alot better. That feeling of bubbling soda in my stomach... almost as though i'd neglected to eat in days... yet sometimes came not long after a meal. occasional slight headaches also accompanied the issues i've had. I've always beeen sceptical about zolofts benefits and have decided that after somthing like 6-8 years on it, its gotta go. I also thought i had food poisoning one night when it got bad by the way. That brain jolt feeling(almost as though ur mind is resetting every time u move ur head/eyes is great isnt it? thats the most common experience i've had with zoloft over the many years. only thing i can suggest is cutting back from the stuff VERY SLOWLY. even cut up the tablets to a quarter then eighth of a whole before taking. but i cant be sure and i have no qualifications. Most of all i just wanted to empathize with those feeling the same withdrawal symptoms in a hope to make u feel less concerned that what ur feeling might be caused by something more serious. You've made me feel alot better. thanks
Hello,
About 10 years ago I started to have severe anxiety. My doctor put me on zoloft with xanax for emergencies. I didn't like the effects of the xanax so I hardly took it, but I was on zoloft for approx 2 years. I weaned myself off and don't remember having any side effects at all.
About 4 years ago, I started having panic attacks again. I was afraid to be alone or go out and do things. Back to the doctor. This time it was lexapro and xanax. Same deal, I took the xanax as needed, mostly to get through the inital side effects of the lexapro and then it was just the lexapro for approx a year. When I went off I again didn't suffer any withdrawal.
The panic attacks have returned with a vengance and yesterday my doctor prescribed zoloft 25 mg and ativan as needed .5 mg.
After reading here I feel like I don't want to start zoloft, but I also want my life back and to be able to go out and do things without fear. Right now I feel like anything is worth not being so scared all the time.
I don't want to be on medication but I also want to feel like a normal person. I feel like this is my only option to do that :-(
About 10 years ago I started to have severe anxiety. My doctor put me on zoloft with xanax for emergencies. I didn't like the effects of the xanax so I hardly took it, but I was on zoloft for approx 2 years. I weaned myself off and don't remember having any side effects at all.
About 4 years ago, I started having panic attacks again. I was afraid to be alone or go out and do things. Back to the doctor. This time it was lexapro and xanax. Same deal, I took the xanax as needed, mostly to get through the inital side effects of the lexapro and then it was just the lexapro for approx a year. When I went off I again didn't suffer any withdrawal.
The panic attacks have returned with a vengance and yesterday my doctor prescribed zoloft 25 mg and ativan as needed .5 mg.
After reading here I feel like I don't want to start zoloft, but I also want my life back and to be able to go out and do things without fear. Right now I feel like anything is worth not being so scared all the time.
I don't want to be on medication but I also want to feel like a normal person. I feel like this is my only option to do that :-(
okay my crazy doctor put me on 150 mg of zoloft about a year ago now ,and just recently ive decided to go down. i went 100 for two days and now am on my second day of 50mg. should i have done this a lot slower? also i have most of the withdrawl effects minus the dreaming/ alternate reality one. Nevertheless im becoming very anxious again. Oh and one more thing, i feel that zoloft may have increased/ given me ocd and some crazy thoughts that ive been living with for a year now. so which is worse, this horrible anxiety or weird ocd and masked anxiousness?
I've used xanax in the past for anxiety and it can be helpful... I'd see your doctor or try another doctor. Good Luck
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Share Your Experience with Zoloft Withdrawals
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