Zoloft Withdrawal--How Long?

I just weaned myfself off Zoloft after taking over 2 years, beginning at 50mg and ending up at 200mg for the past year.  I decided to stop the treatment because I was exercising daily, socially engaged in these classes, dealing better with my anxieties, in therapy, and generally feeling happy and confident that I could handle anything.  I don't know it may have taken a full month, but today I actually feel back to normal.  It was really hard, and when my husband said to me, "Go back on the meds", I told him if he didn't leave me alone I was going to  pull a Jodi Arias.  Well now I can laugh at that, but I was dead serious.  I felt manic depressive....high on life and then in minutes I could be hell to live with. My mind was negative, I couldn't focus at work (still not back to normal), and would just snap instantly.  I felt out of control completely.  Relatives need to understand that this isn't a life time prescription and the worse thing you can say to someone trying to go off the drug is to go back on it because they liked you better medicated.  But, be warned, it does make you do things that are out of character.  I've gained 5 lbs, but that is ok, I'll lose it.  Just don't do it alone, seriously have your doctor help you - I wish I would have!

 

 

Was on Zoloft for 9 years. Slowly been weening off under my doctors care. This is first week taking no Zoloft .

went from 100 mg. to 25 mg to nothing. Now that I'am on nothing I have horrible headache, nausea, slight fever, and feel very angry. When will this stop????

I was taking Zoloft (generic form) for 12.5 years. I did a stupid thing and quit cold turkey on May 30th. The main reason is the side effects. I've spent 12.5 yrs sweating profusely (no matter the temperature) and it has really impeded my life. The 2nd reason was that I was losing a lot of hair. For the first week after I quit, I felt fine and didn't even sweat. Then everything went to hell. I have all the withdrawal symptoms everyone else mentioned. The extreme irritability, brain zaps and nightmares stopped after 2-3 weeks. I still have dizziness if I am lying down and get up too fast. But the worst is the extreme fatigue and the crying. I am also STILL SWEATING and I've been off these pills for almost three months! Is this normal? I never had a sweating problem before Zoloft. I feel like going back on because the main reason I got off is thre sweating and it has not stopped. It's lessened a bit, but it's still annoying and embarrassing. I'm also over this fatigue and crying. How much longer should I expect this to go on? I feel dead... that is how tired I am. I can only get through my work day with a Red Bull and lotsa caffeine.

I would give it more time before going back on. Try some homeapathia ( hope i spelled that right), before going back on. Its three months for me, and still getting brain zaps! We stopped for a reason dont give up yet!

I came off Zoloft about 3 months ago after taking 50mg a day for 17 years. The physical symptoms weren't too bad as I tapered slowly, but the agression, sadness, crying etc are wearing me down at the moment. I'd love to know there's a light at the end of the tunnel! I understand now why most doctors aren't interested in trying to help you stop taking it - it's a blood nightmare!

Hi everyone, 

I'm reading all your posts because I'm trying to decide if I should try to get through zoloft wd (been on 100 mg for 6 months now) or try giving it more time. The thing is, I don't feel as if it's helping me at all, it's jut making me like numb to most things, but on the other side - what if I stop taking it, withdrawals start and then I have to face all the emotional downs I know are probably going to happen.

My doc is against me stopping, but I just don't know anymore. It isn't working and I'm afraid of withdrawals.

I took zoloft for 17 years. About 12 years ago I attempted to stop cold turkey but I couldn't live with the zaps and dizziness. I started tapering off 50mg three months ago. And I have now been completely off zoloft for about 5 weeks. Currently I'm suffering from severe weepiness, extreme sensitivity to people's comments, almost paralyzing depression. It took me 17 years to figure out the cause of my severe acid reflux and choking in my sleep was zoloft. I know this because both symptoms are now gone and this is the 1st time in years that I have gone without Prilosec and not felt the sensation of acid coming back up. I had 2 sleep studies to diagnose the sleep choking and an egd for the severe reflux. Expensive and unnecessary tests caused by zoloft.

I myself have just stopped taking Zoloft for just over a week now.

 I'd been taking it for about four years and the last 2 years was on a 100mg.  When I first started taking it I put on about 19 Kilos in 6 months.   I started to notice swelling to my neck and face and mentioned this to my doctor. He said it was just that I had put on weight.  

He never mentioned that this could perhaps be a side effect to the medication so I didn't think at the time that it was the Zoloft causing the swelling.  I put up with this for years, had all these blood tests done,  testing for different health problems ect.... but the tests were all clear.

 Last weekend the side of my neck blew up like a balloon, I thought oh my god!!!! so I got online and searched so many different websites about zoloft side effects and finally I found one that mentioned face swelling!!!! It is a very uncommon side effect apparently. 

Anyway I stopped taking Zoloft from that day. The swelling has completely stopped, but yes I am getting head spins a lot, really bad nightmares and feeling really moody, but it is all starting to stabilize. 

I hope this may help others who have had face swelling, as a lot of Doctors are totally unaware of this Zoloft side effect.

I've been on zoloft for 20 years and have been trying to stop.  I've tried several times and each time my doctor would put me back on medication and would up the dosage.  I tried again with the help of my doctor and counselor.  I was on 150mg and I am now on 75m.  At 100mg I felt horrible, crying, anxious but I hung on.  After 2 weeks of intense emotional pain I felt better.  I felt terrible for 3 days and I kept talking to my counselor.  I got better and my doctor recommended I stay on this dosage until I felt better which I did.  My doctor and counselor were not sure what type of withdrawal would follow at 75mg.  During my 4th week on 75 mg, withdrawals started again.  This time it is not as severe as the first time.  I'm crying, anxious and hard time sleeping.  I was talking to my doctor about this and I told him that I thought zoloft was non-addictive.  He said that the pharmatical companies don't know how to deal with it the withdrawal symtoms.  I have several friends who have been on several psychiatric drugs who have experienced withdrawals symptoms.  They are my inspiration because they have been drug free for several years.

Well, I am on day 8 of not taking any Zoloft and I feel terrible. My brain is zapping all over the place . I was not able to get my refill. I went from 75 mg to nothing almost immediately. I thought it was a only a small dose but alas I am pretty miserable and I have not improved . I hope this ends soon

I have been taking Zoloft 200 mg everyday for approximately 6 years.  I have just stopped last week and feel icky. How long will I feel this way?

I am currently 3 days off my Zoloft. Yeah it's been a rough two days but in excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've been taking 100 mg for 3 years. Have you considered therapy for your problem rather than drugs? I am doing that now and my therapist helps a LOT. I hope it gets better for you <3

i was taking 200mg of zoloft for about 8 months and finally decided i didnt want any chemicals in my body so i stopped cold turkey. by the time i realized that was a bad idea i was already four days in and decided to tough it out, for me things were rough for about 2 weeks (headaches, dizziness, you kno the deal) around 3 weeks things got pretty manageable for those of you that want a rule of thumb. my tips for helping you through WD 1. WORKOUT every morning (i kno you dont want to but thats why theres these forums.. it aint easy) 2.dont nap (you wont be sleeping well at night so its going to be easy to justify naps, your body is trying to figure out natural sleep cycles, naps only muddy up and prolong the poccess) 3. take notes on your daily WD symptoms (this allows you to see your progress easier and helps keep you optimistic).. im just over 4 weeks off zoloft now and i do get a headache every now and then and sleeps good everyother night and i still get spells of feeling down in the dumps, but im a recovering opiate addict (five months clean) so that contributes to some of these problems. just remember all of us were prescribed this medication for a reason, dont forget the inner pain you once felt, realize some of us are going to have to continue to take it and there is nothing wrong with that... if after a month or two things arnt getting better dont keep trying to tough it out, talk to your dr and consider going back on...best of luck to you all

I have the same issue. I was on Zoloft for about a year at 200mg day. I tapered to 100mg for two days then started wellbutrin. So I have been off of Zoloft and on Wellbutrin 150mg. four days. Today the Zoloft withdrawals (brain zaps) are the worst. My dr said I won't have any withdrawal symptoms. How long will these last?

Hi there,

I started taking sertraline at 18 or 19 I think. I'm 23 now and after a few days of accidentally forgetting to take it, I decided to try my hand at quitting. I'm in a much different place now and I have considered weaning off before, but now I find myself in a situation where I have quit cold turkey. It is day 6 I believe. I haven't had any feelings of nausea, but definitely a brain fog and fatigue. I get dizzy really easily and have been experiencing hot flashes. I excercise pretty regularly and eat a healthy diet (for the most part). I bought a multivitamin and fish oil tablets after reading in one forum that these help with the symptoms. I have also been adding CALM magnesium powder to my water. I do think that this has helped the symptoms (into day 3 of the vitamins, etc.) but I still get that dizziness and brain fog but to a somewhat lesser degree. I was wondering how long this should last and, is it okay to feel this way? I do not want to inadvertently harm myself in trying to make this lifestyle change. Thanks!!