quitting zoloft cold turkey

Wow, I'm only on 25mg and I quit cold turkey a few days ago. I have been feeling a little out of control the past couple of days and today I was exhausted, irritable (my poor fiance is a saint) and I kept feeling these mild tremors almost like a chill. My fiance said I looked stoned. I quit because I'm not finished having children and theres a chance that I could become pregnant at any time. I don' want to risk any birth defects. I broke down and took a pill around noon. I feel a good bit better. I was starting to feel hopeless like I'll never be able to quit taking it but luckily, thanks to ya'lls input, it looks like I may be able to wean myself off slowly. Thanks guys.

Thank you guys so, so much for your posts. I literally thought I was going to have to go back to hospitals, therapists, etc. I had to stop taking Zoloft cold turkey about two weeks ago because I turned 21 and had to switch my insurance...So I won't be able to get a refill until my insurance goes through in about 2 more weeks. I have seriously been terrified of my own thoughts during this time period. Example: Yesterday I broke a picture frame and my immediate thought was "I want to see how that feels on my wrist." WHAT? Where did that thought come from? I haven't cut in years. I have also felt like I can't even get out of bed. I would try to think through something and get so upset at the fact that I couldn't that I'd just start yelling (at no one) for absolutely no reason. I felt like my brain was jumping around in my head and I couldn't complete a single thought. I also experienced a few blackouts at work. Does all of this sound like Zoloft withdrawals or am I just seriously disturbed? I'm kind of scared...I don't know if I'll be able to last two weeks with no Zoloft. When I was younger, I had a very serious S attempt...and I am totally afraid that with these thoughts coming back, I might not be able to control myself. I know meds. aren't the entire answer, that hard emotional work needs to be put in...and I know this sounds terrible but, I just want my medicine back. I'm going crazy.

I've quite cold turkey after being on Zoloft for about 5 months. Something just didn't feel right!!
I have been very fortunate that I haven't experienced all these side effects ... I felt slightly emotionally sensitive for a first few days but it has passed (its been about a month now) BUT what I am thinking is highly related is the fact that I have piled on weight (especially around my mid-section) at a rapid rate. I haven't changed my eating or exercise habits at all ... but I just can't seem to get a grip on this. I have read loads on gaining weight whilst ON Zoloft (which never happened to me) but nothing about this sharp sudden rise since taking myself OFF it. Can anyone comment on similar experience?

i like this one. i am experiencing a lot of the same only this is day 13 and i'm still dizzy and my stomach is swollen and i feel nauesa. i still have this weird feeling that i have gone to fast and need to back up and look at what i just done in case i missed something if that makes sense. i have been on this stuff or years. all but the last 3 months only 50 mg a day but 100 mgs the last 3 months. i refuse to give up. did not know i was addicted. they told me i would not be but u can't prove that to me now. there is a part of me that feels so alive now that i forgot all about. the sickness and nervousness and concern over my judgement is worth it because every day is a little better. my pharmacist said it would probably be about a month or so before i would be right and he did not suggest i go cold turkey by no means but this all started because my doctor will not respond to me or the pharmacy about my refill that should have been done. i seen them in june and then my prescription ran out october. and they wont even respond to either of us. o well i must be a sign for me to come off. good luck to all of u i know this is a hard journey but after realizing i am addicted. i want to be off of this stuff.

ok i don't see anyone responding to this as i have went off this recent and its day 13 and i have gained weight in the waist line. i also feel nausea tho. is this swelling or is this true weight gain and why. i am like the above no change in eating or exercise. whats up with this.

I just quit Cold Turkey off of Sertraline ( a generic brand version of Zoloft), It's been about a week and the only thing I'm having problems with are cold-like symptoms: running nose, congestion, light headed, the sound of metal sliding against metal in my ear, and headaches. I can't confirm it's the absence of the medication or just a common cold/allergy/virus that I've picked up. I haven't had any episodes of depression or thoughts of suicide (a peaceful death maybe) and I have had little spurts of rage that lasted a couple seconds and only happen once every 3 or 4 days. Anybody know if it's harmful to take cold medicine or know of cold medicines that I can take whilst going cold turkey?

i'm so glad i found this forum! after being on 50mg of zoloft daily for 6 months i decided to quit cold turkey about 3 days ago. since being on zoloft i've put on 7kgs which has really got to me considering i've never had a weight problem. my doctor and family/friends urged me to gradually wean myself off the zoloft but i really do not want this drug in my system for a day longer. i've been feeling really average..the main symptoms i'm experiencing are nausea, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, extreme irritability, crying for no reason and this feeling that my brain is shaking inside my skull. it's been awful! i'm really hoping that things start to improve over the coming days as i don't want to have to resort back to taking zoloft. i have a few questions and would appreciate any kind of advice..

are there any serious risks involved in quiting zoloft cold turkey? as in can it do some kind of permanent damage to your brain or organs?

for those who gained weight on zoloft, did you find it hard to lose once quiting? did it just drop off or did you really have to work to shift it?

for those who have quit, once the withdrawal symptoms ease did you feel okay or did you immediately spiral into depression again? (i am very worried about this)

i thought zoloft was amazing when i first went on it as it really pulled me out of a dark place, however i now want to be drug free and in control of my own feelings/ body/ life with the help of CBT. i feel like the weight gain appeared out of nowhere..for the first 4 months i had no noticable increases in weight and then within two months i seemed to balloon. i don't feel as though i was eating anymore than usual so i don't understand how i've gained the weight unless it's fluid retention or something.

for those thinking of taking zoloft please consider this carefully..i never thought i would have any of these issues coming off it.

i posted here yesterday (above). the last 24 hours have been intense and resulted in a major panic attack this afternoon. my boyfriend had to to take me to the emergency room as i couldn't breathe, was experiencing chronic anxiety and shaking like crazy. i was givenmy normal 50mg dose and things calmed down, but now i feel like the withdrawals i've been through the last few days have been a waste of time because i'm now back to square one! i hate this :-(

I have been taking Zoloft for about 9 months now and I have gained approx. 25 - 30lbs. It was and is very noticable, rumor around work was that I was pregnant. Although Zoloft has helped my mood I would say that the weight gain has not been worth it. I was not severely depressed but I was at a constantly mild depression for years and finally after a breakup with my childrens dad I went to the Dr. to get on something to help me through it. I was crying and extremly sad all day. The Dr. said that Zoloft was not supposed to make me gain weight... Ya right!!!!! My dillema is that like others i am afraid of the after effects of quiting so I am trying to wean myself off. Like others I dont want to take any more of this but I feel that quitting cold turkey would be unbearable. I once went 4 days without taking it and on the 4th day I was near a nervous breakdown at work because I felt like I was going insane. I was irritable and shaky and my brain felt giggly. I couldnt concentrate and I was sick to my stomach and dizzy. It was scary and I had to go tell my boss that I had to leave work and get to pharmacy as soon as it opened. I felt like a drug addict for the first time in my life. I have never been dependent on any kind of a drug EVER!!! I am considering going back to the Dr. to get on something else but its like will the cycle ever end that I started? i have extremely mixed feelings about anti-depressants. If it wasnt for the weight gain I would stay on the stuff forever but always be in the fear of the day when I would run out and couldnt get more. If I was in a cmmited loving relatiionship I may choose to stay on the meds but since I am a single mom with 2 young childern I cant afford to turn into a big fat cow. Its embarrasing and I dont want to have my kids go thru life being embarrased of me when they get older. I was taking 100mg and today I broke it in half, my plan is to take 50mg every other day for 2 weeks then break it into 4 pieces and take 25mg every other 2 days for 2 weeks. After that I will go down to every 3 days and so on. I will keep you all posted to any side effects. I sure hope that i can lose this weight and I hope that I dont go into a severe depression...wish me luck :-)

I have been taking Zoloft for about 8 years with a two year break in between. When I quit taking it the first time cold turkey it was because my father passed away, my husband was in Iraq and I just thought....I don't want to deal with it anymore....I was crying so much all the time anyways....what made the difference. But this time.....7 years or so later...quitting cold turkey, WOW.....I was a psycho!! I have had MANY crying episodes for no reason....extreme anger issues...like I'm mad at the world, fits of rage....I ransacked our kitchen, living room.....throwing things, knocking things over, slamming anything and everything I touched, tearing the cushions off of the the couch and love seat.....just going literally wacko.....all while yelling at my husband telling him he is an as****e.....and any other bad thing I could say to him, anxiety attacks....totally couldn't breathe, uncontrollable shaking! I thought I had been possessed!!! I haven't felt any dizziness or nausea though!

The good things that have started to happen is that I feel like a real person....Zoloft made me feel like a zombie and I was only taking 50 mg. a day. I never yelled or got upset over anything.....so...I just feel like a person again...saying what I feel when I feel it! I've been sleeping like a baby....have had more energy.

I don't like how I have been acting as far as the uncontrollable fits of rage as described above, but with time, I think that will subside! I was taking it for OCD issues, not depression....maybe my OCD issues will return, which I'm kind of seeing already, but I'm gonna kick this!

It took away your sex drive? huh mine is better than ever lol but I quit about two weeks ago but not by choice ive been so messed up my whole life so I started on 50 mlg and went 100mlg and when I get back to the doctor Iam going to try to gon 200mlg cause it makes me feel like a good normal person like without it I feel exactly like everyone here says and I feel like I could explode and take the world with me ya know?

I have been taking Zoloft mainly for depression but more recently for anxiety ( 100mg) daily since May of 2010. Two days ago I felt as though I had a flu coming on-- the room was literally spinning, I was stricken with nausea, and yesterday literally slept the day away ( I never do that). Today, I feel lethargic, extermely dizzy to the point of passing out, and extremely weak. I didn't realize what might be going on until it struck me that I had been out of my Zoloft for about 5 days. Something told me to google the side effects of withdrawal symptoms, and here I am. I didn't think that NOT taking it for a few days would have such an adverse effect on me. Unlike the others, I am not irritable or suicidal-- just extremely dizzy and weak, along with body aches. Strange! I hadn't missed a dose before this-- I guess it's important not to.

I've been on Zoloft (generic version) for years. A couple weeks ago my doctor refused to renew my prescription so I have gone cold turkey. The last couple of days I thought I was dying. I'm having extreme dizziness, nausea, vertigo, bloody noses, trouble breathing (started this morning) along with suicidal thoughts and also alternating between extreme anger and crying jags (and I never cry). I am grateful for this forum and all of you that shared your similar experiences - it made me see I'm not alone here and that this too shall pass. I just hope it passes quickly - I'm seeing my doctor again Friday and the way I'm feeling I may resort to violence...

Ive been on zoloft for 11 years now. I always thought it to be a miracle drug as it has suppressed my anxieties in life. When my doctor put me on this stuff there were no warninings discussed only that it corrects a chemical imbalance in your brain. Ive tried to wean myself off many times over the years. The side effects I would have include: zaps in my head like a bug zapper, paranoia, confusion, not able to focus or retain things ive read, fear etc. These effect made me think that its somethink my body needs and that I couldnt live without it. Hear lately Im feeling some of these effects,moderately, even though im taking my 200mg dose daily. It scares me that Im addicted and my brain is telling me to increase your dose. I dont know what to do but it has been comforting reading about other that are in my shoes. Ive always felt alone when it comes to this stuff....

I have been on it for over a year. This last few weeks I tried to quit cold turkey. I was unsuccessful. I was dizzy felt like I was in a funk that I couldnt shake. I will try a step down method next time.