quitting zoloft cold turkey

Like a dummy, I left my medication and toiletries at a friend's house out of town. Thought I'd just go without and quit. I've been on Zoloft for 3 years - 50mg a day. Initially, I started the meds to control anxiety and anger in a high stress job. Totally mellowed me out. I haven't had a true meltdown since I started the meds-until yesterday that is. It's been a week and a half since I stopped. I had no symptoms until 2 days ago, when I started having flashes of vertigo/lightheadedness. These flashes have increased in frequency, as well as shakes, nausea, and a lack of concentration. I feel like headaches are coming on, and after my total loss of emotional control the past 2 days, and the jitters, I've decided to start the Zoloft again. I feel like I could take a couple of days off work, power through the symptoms, and eventually be fine. But really, if the Zoloft has helped mellow out my temper, and the low dose really doesn't have any detrimental effects, I'm thinking "why should I quit?" I haven't had any feelings of suicide, it's just the physical issues that are unpleasant. If anyone does decide to quit, do yourself a favor and wean yourself slowly, 'cause this sucks!

Just curious about why some of you guys want to quit taking Zoloft. Sounds like there are legitimate reasons for some and then for others you say you quit, but for no apparent reason other than to quit. I've been on Zoloft for almost a year now and it has changed my life. I experienced three major depressive episode in my life (I'm 30 years old now) and was diagnosed with a number of different things over the past few years: PTSD, bipolar, ADD. I've taken a few different medications and nothing ever helped. I finally started seeing a therapist last year and after seeing me for about 6 months, the therapist was convinced I was experiencing depression pure and simple. So I started taking Zoloft (or rather the generic brand of Zoloft) last December. And this year has been the happiest year of my life. I feel confident and happy in a calm nice way. I don't cry at the drop of a hat and I don't loathe myself.

Unfortunately, last week there was a snafu with my insurance company and I was off of the Zoloft for about a week. I was hit with major head spins/dizziness after a couple of days, which is the result of temporary seratonin deficiency. I just got my new prescription filled, finally, today so I'm hoping the dizziness stops in a couple of days.

Anyway, I just would like to say in general that there is nothing wrong with being on a mental health medication long term. We've all been ingrained with this idea that it's better not to take too many drugs. But would you tell a diabetic to stop taking insulin shots? For some of us, the help that Zoloft and other such medications is life saving. I hate to think that there are people out there who are depressed and suicidal simply because society tells them taking medication long term is not right. The reason these medications work is because there is an imbalance in our brain. Please don't try to merely cope with depression for the sake of being "natural." You deserve to be happy! :-)

I have read most of the topic letters on coming off of zoloft cold turkey. Seems to be the norm to ween yourself off of it. My nurse
friend said that is the way to do it. However, I did it the "cold turkey" way. I was taking 50mg for about 10 years. I had to have
a colonoscopy and therefore took no medications the day before. It has been about 2 1/2 weeks that I have stopped taking the
zoloft. I have had some "weepiness" and a little dizziness, but my energy level seems to be back and my appetite slowed down !!
I am trying to lose weight so that helps. I also sleep better ! My sister is also coming off it the best way. She is weening herself
off of it.
I had started taking it when I was "going thru the change" and feel I no longer need it.

I have read through most of these responses, and figured I woul put in my own experience from this past week. I was on 100mg of zoloft for close to a year. I had switched over from Lexapro, Wellbutrin, and Cimbalta (tried them all individually). Initially, Zoloft was great. Didn't have too many side effects, but then I started to notice that "dull" feeling that everyone talks about. Felt like a zombie. The biggest side effect was the lack of libido. My wife is understanding, and knows how these drugs work. It has always made this particular side effect not as big a deal as it could be. This past month, though, we decided to start trying to get pregnant. Putting the baby making activity on a structured schedule around ovulation, etc. became really tough. Things didn't always work when I wanted them to. I decided to just quit cold turkey. This was the straw that broke the camel's back. Following is what happened the week after I quit.

Day 1 - Sunday - Stopped taking the meds. Absolutely no side effects or withdraw symptoms. Actually felt better now that I made the decision to move on. No dizziness, not anything.

Day 2 - Monday - Second day of not taking meds. Still felt fine. Was anxious after reading all of the horror stories of withdraw side effects. Was warned by brother (doctor) and sister (psychology phd) that this was a terrible idea. Couldn't really explain to them why I made the decision. Still no dizziness, no noticable changes.

Day 3 - Tuesday - Third day of taking no meds. Absolute misery. Woke up with a very high fever, nausea, and diarhea. Felt like I was trying to wean myself off of heroin or something. Was literally in the shower shaking. Didn't know what to do, so I took a half dose, 50mg, some benedryl, and only worked a half day. Was dizzy when I stood up and felt "out of body".

Day 4 - Wednesday - Felt a little better. Decided to take a quarter dose, 25mg. Continued with the benedryl and some imodium for the stomach. Had a small fever, but not terrible. Already felt the libido coming back. That was a good thing and made some of the pain worth it. Figured since I was better than the day before, I was turning the corner.

Day 5 - Thursday - Felt much better. Stomach still hurt, but was manageable. Still had a little fever, and felt pretty tired. Mentally felt great because I figured I was getting over things.

Day 6 - Friday - Felt even better. Was not back to normal, but was on my way. No fever, but felt very weak. Went for a walk with the dog, and was noticably tired (i run marathons every year, so to be tired in a 3 mile walk is a big deal).

Day 7 - Saturday - Felt nearly normal. Libido was completely back to normal after what seemed like 10 years. Still weak, didn't try to work out, but felt normal doing normal things (getting up, walking around, etc.)

Day 8 - Sunday - Felt good, but started to get headaches. Similar to when I started zoloft in the beginning. Some advil and sleep seemed to help.

Day 9 - Monday - Don't want to jinx myself, but feel back to 100%. Worked out this morning. No headaches. Stomach is fine. Energy level is good.

So that is my story. I was able to quit the other meds without much incident, but this time around was pretty scary. It is hard to say I will never take any of this stuff again, because when I needed to go on it a year ago, I really needed it. Right now I wouldn't take another pill if you paid me some serious money. Just hate that "not alive" feeling.

Good luck to anyone stopping.

I've been on Zoloft for three years... 200mg a day. Throw in 150mg of Welbutrin and 150mg of LExapro. I stopped cold turkey on all three meds about five days ago. I couldn't stand feeling like a robot. I feel out of it... definitely. But more like myself. I feel strange as sh*t though. But I'm hoping it'll go away soon.

I am beyond relieved to have found this forum.
I am 19 years old. I've been on Zoloft for 3 years at the max dose of 200mg.
I was also given Wellbutrin 300mg for about a year.
Then this new doctor prescribed me some other sh*t that I can't even remember what it is.
Basically I stopped every one of those damn pills last Sunday... so about 1 1/2 weeks now. These withdrawals are HORRIBLE. I have never felt so sick in my life. I had (still having) every withdrawal symptom: horrendous headaches, dizzininess, vertigo, nausea, crying spells, EXTREME anger, body tremors, "jolts", extreme fatigue, insomnia is kickin in again, anxiety, bosy aches, random pains, and the scariest of all... trouble breathing. I probably even missed a few other sh*t that I've been going through.
All I can say is this is a horrible experience. I work about 60 hours a week, and it has been making me worst. It's putting a strain on my reltionship with my boyfriend because I'm constantly feeling like absolute c**p. I don't know what to do anymore. I'll be honest, I'm terrified to go on another drug like this because of all these withdrawals. It scares me to think that I have to endure this even longer, possible up to a few months. I told my psychiatrist everything and what does she do?... She tells me how stupid that was and writes me off another prescription for another f*cking drug! I am completely lost as to what to do. I don't want to be dependent on these drugs to feel. But I'm feeling so horrible I'm tempted to go back on them for a quicker relief.
Can anybody help out and give me some advice or encouraging words or just something? Otherwise I might just blow my brains out if this sh*t keeps continuing. I'd appreciate it if someone would just talk to me.

YES. Yes. And yes. I've been feeling a but both. The withdrawals make me want to shoot myself But the anger I have is going ape sh*t. I have no clue waht to do.

I think its cool. Some of you want off of the drugs and to live and try to solve the problems with other, better, ways than medicine.
Ive been taking 25mg for over 3 weeks now. I hate the side effects. Especially the murder of sex drive. So ive decided tomorrow im gonna take halfs for a few days then 1/4's for a few days then im carryin on with my life.

"Theres no such thing as normal life, Theres just life, and you get on with it"

I hope everyone finds there peace of mind, Depression, Anxiety, and OCD are a real pain in the ass!
I hope this works for me, Im gonna start Excersise, and better dietry habbits, and see what happens
Good Luck!!

I thought I was going crazy. Probably not smart to quit cold turkey around the holidays...looking forward to feeling better soon! I am so dizzy, numb, near blind, tired, and cranky!!

i started to quit this christmas day since i think that im gaining a lot of weight and my BF kinda noticed that i changed i lost my libido im only 28 im still young to lose it i quit "cold turkey" i feel a bit of dizziness and fatigue but i guess its tolerable. hopefully i wont relapse.

I have been taking Zoloft for about four years now for my PMDD. I stopped taking it cold turkey this past saturday. I bought myself some st. johns wort to relieve any cruddy moods that I might exp. I am dizzy as a bee in a gord, but getting better with each day. I am tired of being bound by this pill. It has not helped with the PMDD as much as I had hoped and I am taking 150 milli headed for 200 if I go back to my dr. and re-up my script. I am going to wait it out. On by the way PMDD is a curse from HELL. I think when I get home to heaven I am going to find Eve and put her in the head lock and give her a good ol dry shave on the head!!!!!!! dizzy

I was on zoloft for three years and Lexapro for two years before that. I'm on day 12 of quitting "cold turkey". Hang in there, it does get better - getting your libido back is worth every second of withdrawal, which is getting less harsh as each day goes by. Worst days were day 5 through 7 for me.

OMG I have been taking 75 mg of zoloft daily an i havent told my doctor that i all the sudden didnt take them an today she just prescribed me 100mg an after that happened i began to realize wy im so weak,waking up angry wanting to kill ppl crying all day an bwing very emotinal was coming from so i spoke to a friend an he said tht its frm stopping cold turkey but ive been off of it for a motn already an i dotn know what to do cuz im still angry an having bad symtoms from being off of it what should i do?should i get back on it an slowly ween off or should i stay of of it cuz its been aready 3 or 4 weeks...

I quit Zoloft because of a 40 lbs weight gain from it. Did it cold turkey, it's been a month and I'm not getting any better. The constant "zaps" and vertigo make it impossible to concentrate on anything and I'm so insanely angry all the time I don't know what to do. Everyone and everything pisses me off.

Is it possible the withdrawal symptoms like the zaps never go away? I'm scared the drug permanently damaged my brain somehow.

I'm so glad all this dizziness and vertigo type symptoms are normal. I quit last week (do to a mis-communication w/ my pharmacy and not being able to renew...yada yada yada) and feel as though I'm a nut case.

I've been on Zoloft for 3 years, gradually increasing up to 250 mg (which 200 is the limit) so planned on talking w/ the Dr. to switch to something different. I'm going back on something asap. No thoughts of suicide but I definitely need it for the depression like symptoms. I was also wondering what all the sweats were! Hmmm, question answered. Thanks for the posts.