How do u feel today? Are u still detoxing
Hi Tammie!
Yes still detoxing, I was changed to yet another psychiatrist and that appointment didn't go down well so I went to my gp and he gave me valium to help with the brain snaps and it has also helped with rapid mood changes thank God.
I've been given a referral to go and see my original psychiatrist so hopefully once I see him it will all be sorted.
I flat out refuse to put anymore zoloft in my body though.
Can't say I'm feeling any better though unfortunately.
I was prescribed 50MG a day sertraline for Social Anxiety Disorder. I took it for 12 days and stopped cold turkey due to bad side effects such as panic attacks, insomnia, nightmare etc. Now into day 64 of withdrawals. Having the same symptoms but 10x worse, amongst more symptoms that change day to day, hour to hour. I am in hell!
How is everyone getting on?
Has anyone gotten better?
Hi, I have been on 50mg sertraline for about 10 weeks and really want to bring myself off against doctors orders. Just wondering how you did it and any tips or things to expect.
I have been taking 200 mg of sertraline for 8 years. I havebeen off it for 4 days and I'm not sure I can continue. This womp womp crap in my head is reallytoo much. Any advice please.
Hi Jodie! I was on 50MG for about 3 to 4 months for anxiety. My doctor said that I could quit anytime as I was on a small dosage. I decided I wasn't getting benefit so I "quit" (I still had about 30 pills left).
I simply stopped taking them and forgot all about it...until day 2 I noticed weird little "zaps" that weren't going away, and by the end of day 3 they were severe and frequent enough that I had a pill to make them stop.
I noticed that the pill did make the zaps stop after about 5-6 hours.
So while *SOME* people can quit cold turkey...others simply CANNOT.
-
For doctors to cut rx intake by 50%, for those that have issues quitting, is absolutely out of order. That's draconian and borderline inhumane.
Here is how I've lessened my dose:
I noticed that I could go 2-3 days without the zaps getting really bad. So that's what I did.
ON, off, off, ON, off, off, off, ON off, off, off, off, ON, off off off off off.
Now I WISH that I had done this even slower than I did. I WISH that I had gone:
ON ON ON ON off.
ON ON ON off.
ON ON off.
ON off.
off off ON.
off off off ON.
off off off off ON.
But the bottom line is, the zaps take longer to come back each time, but when they do, they get really bad after 2-3 days just like when I first tried to quit.
-
Right now...I'm ON, off, off, off, off, off, off, off, off, off, ON
I went 9 days last time, and on day 10 I had 1 pill.
I'm 10 days since that last pill, and tomorrow will be day 11 and I'll need one again.
Zaps came back about 2 days ago, so they're right on queue. But I had a week free and clear of ANYTHING. I completely forgot all about it aside from noting in my journal that I was symptom-free.
I just try to stretch it an extra day each time if I can. So I'll be trying to push through until tomorrow if it doesn't get too bad by tonight. If I can't and I have to go 9 off and 1 ON again, so be it.
It's a lot better than it was...because now I literally go a whole week without a single zap, but then it starts back as strong as ever on day 7-8-9 getting worse and worse, until I have a pill.
Long story short, I'm taking 1 pill every 10 days right now.
-
Be patient with yourself. This is unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. The withdrawal is absolutely absurd, and I've read horror stories of people thinking that they can tough out withdrawal symptoms across spans of over a year. CLEARLY...this is unlike anything else.
I would consider that this drug does brain damage to some people, and some people need to have a whole lot of patience with the process of SLOWLY weening off.
This is why I say, for any doctor to prescribe a 50% decrease is absolutely insane for some people.
With my process, when symptoms get bad, I eat a pill and they disappear for days at a time. So I ALWAYS have that egress at my fingertips any time that I need it! This is GREATLY comforting in my process.
I can't imagine what it's like for someone to take a 50% hit and not get to ever take a full dose again. That's perpetual withdrawal, and like I said, people are YEARS and counting trying to re-normalize like that.
Play the long game, have patience, know that you're not alone, and consider yourself LUCKY if you find yourself 100% symptom free in a year's time.
-
From what I hear, after even a month's time, you can tell if someone can come off of it normally or not. Doctors should start prescribing a break after 3-4 weeks to see how the px will react. If wd symptoms persist, they should not be kept on this drug. There is something very wrong about it for some people.
Check out my advice do Jodie in my above post.
For you, you'll want to go back on your 200MG full dose (not sure if 4 days is enough for you to go 150 MG for a week before stepping back up to 200MG?? Check that out...)
But basically you'll want to go back to 200MG until your symptoms are all gone, (about 3-4 weeks.)
Then, you'll need a 150 MG px along with your 200MG.
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Etcetera.
I know, it seems unbelievable.
I know, it seems illogical.
I know, that there is no rational thought-process that would have a normal person thinking that this kind of taper is necessary.
All I can tell you is my own empirical findings on the matter, and the fact of the matter is, I'm symptom free for 7-8-9 days until the come back as strong as ever and I need to take a pill to make them stop.
It's irrational that someone could need 2 pills in 20 days. Why not just QUIT? Because these withdrawals are unlike anything that I've ever seen. I don't think that we can even call it "withdrawal" at this point. "brain damage" is what I would liken it to. This isn't normal. This isn't simple detox. There is something severe going on.
It hasn't escaped my notice that the people that had symptoms for over years don't come back to let us know that the matter is resolved. I'm not saying they went insane and jumped off a bridge...I am saying that there are suspicious few success stories pertaining to people that had months and months and even years of withdrawal symptoms coming back to let us know that everything worked out.
So HAVE PATIENCE. Keep a journal. And plan on this being a long term plan for stopping this medication.
The bottom line is, in my process of quitting, I get to have egress after a few rough days of symptoms. This "cut by 50% nonsense" or "cold turkey" method doesn't allow for those few days of peace.
Any of you people trying to cut by 50% or go cold turkey, you people must be going damned near insane with no end in sight.
Hopefully this alternative process of quitting, helps.
I was on a measly dose of 50MG for a measly 3 to 4 months (for anxiety). My doctor said that I could quit anytime as I was on a small dosage.
I decided I wasn't getting benefit so I "quit" (I still had about 30 pills left).I simply stopped taking them and forgot all about it...until day 2 I noticed weird little "zaps" that weren't going away, and by the end of day 3 they were severe and frequent enough that I had a pill to make them stop.
I noticed that the pill did make the zaps stop, completely, after about 5-6 hours.
So while *SOME* people can quit cold turkey...others simply CANNOT.
-
For doctors to cut rx intake by 50%, for those that have issues quitting, is absolutely out of order. That's draconian and borderline inhumane.
Here is how I've lessened my dose:
I noticed that I could go 2-3 days without the zaps getting really bad. So that's what I did.
ON, off, off, ON, off, off, off, ON off, off, off, off, ON, off off off off off.
Now I WISH that I had done this even slower than I did. I WISH that I had gone:
ON ON ON ON off.
ON ON ON off.
ON ON off.
ON off.
off off ON.
off off off ON.
off off off off ON.
But the bottom line is, the zaps take longer to come back each time, but when they do, they get really bad after 2-3 days just like when I first tried to quit.
-
Right now...I'm ON, off, off, off, off, off, off, off, off, off, ON
I went 9 days last time, and on day 10 I had 1 pill.
I'm 10 days since that last pill, and tomorrow will be day 11 and I'll need one again.
Zaps came back about 2 days ago, so they're right on queue. But I had a week free and clear of ANYTHING. I completely forgot all about it aside from noting in my journal that I was symptom-free for 7 straight days.
I just try to stretch it an extra day each time if I can. So I'll be trying to push through until tomorrow if it doesn't get too bad by tonight. If I can't and I have to go 9 off and 1 ON again, so be it.
It's a lot better than it was...because now I literally go a whole week without a single zap, but then it starts back as strong as ever on day 7-8-9 getting worse and worse, until I have a pill.
Long story short, I'm taking 1 pill every 10 days right now.
-
Be patient with yourself. This is unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. The withdrawal is absolutely absurd, and I've read horror stories of people thinking that they can tough out withdrawal symptoms across spans of over a year.
CLEARLY...this is unlike anything else.
I would consider that this drug does brain damage to some people, and some people need to have a whole lot of patience with the process of SLOWLY weening off.
This is why I say, for any doctor to prescribe a 50% decrease is absolutely insane for some people.
With my process, when symptoms get bad, I eat a pill and they disappear for days at a time. So I ALWAYS have that egress at my fingertips any time that I need it! This is GREATLY comforting in my process.
I can't imagine what it's like for someone to take a 50% hit and not get to ever take a full dose again. That's perpetual withdrawal, and like I said, people are YEARS and counting trying to re-normalize like that.
Play the long game, have patience, know that you're not alone, and consider yourself LUCKY if you find yourself 100% symptom free in a year's time.
-
From what I hear, after even a month's time, you can tell if someone can come off of it normally or not. Doctors should start prescribing a break after 3-4 weeks to see how the px will react. If wd symptoms persist, they should not be kept on this drug. There is something very wrong about it for some people.
Thanks Victoria for your post. I’ve been on Zoloft for 18 yrs. I’m 67 yrs old and was put on Zoloft 100mg 18 yrs ago. I am retired with no children, so I decided to go off it cold turkey 3 days ago. I had no idea what to expect so I googled Zoloft withdrawal and saw your post. Seems I’m experiencing the same symptoms. It’s not bad, but it’s easier to deal with if I just relax during the day. Please keep posting and I’ll keep checking in. Thanks for sharing!!
Hi I know the original post is off three year ago.
I have went cold turkey for about 8days. Been on sertraline for about 15yrs I think could even be longer. I hate taking them. One a day 100gms. Sometimes they begin to dissolve before I swallow and my tongue goes numb so god knows what it does to my insides. Any how I’ve been feeling tearful irritable sleep and now flue like symptoms along with weird dreams. Feeling shaky unsteady aswell. So googled it and found this site. Must admit am feeling very anxious and scared so decided to pop a pill and will start back on them then do it properly with help from doctor. Sertraline have saved my life it’s just the thought of what it’s doing to me inside. Hope all is going ok for others doing this. But it’s not worked for me.
Hi stef. I was on Zoloft for over 15 years. When I weaned off (from 50 mg to zero), I did so very gradually, over the course of about 2 years, and I experienced no adverse effects whatsoever. I'm not saying the Zoloft is great; but I think that it's not worse than most antidepressants: the response to most antidepressants varies from person to person.
I have been on 100mg Sertraline a day for 8 months and went cold turkey 3 days ago. I fully understand the "zaps" they are kind of freaking me out but I know that's just me being paranoid, I have been eating ok but sleeping a lot more. I can relate to feeling slow and a bit out of it at the moment does seem like it takes me a bit longer to understand what is going on. Still feel it was the right decision to stop the medication as I personally don't want to be dependent on a pill for my mood, I am feeling emotionally alright and looking forward to that continuing without Sertraline.
I'm beheaded into my 7th month of withdrawals. Things have gotten a little easier.
Over the last few months I've had:
- Awful head pressure (like having your head in a vice)
- Ear, eyes and nose pressure
- Joint and muscle ache
- Blurred vision
- Panic attacks
- The sweats
- The shakes
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Clenching of the jaw
- Grinding teeth
- Burning skin
- Numbness In random body parts
- Fatigue
- Constant headaches
- Cramping/Pinching sensation in the brain and on the scalp
- Muscle twitches
- Tremors
- Blackouts
- Mini seizures
- Bouts of rage
- Suicidal/Homicidal ideation
The list goes on.
What I will say is sleep & nutrition are key in recovery. Try to exercise as often as possible. Even if it's just walking - it helps. Drink plenty of water.
If you have Facebook, join the group "Zoloft (sertraline) should be illegal"
They have been my life savers and main support system these last few months.
DO NOT QUIT COLD TURKEY. JUST DON'T. DON'T RISK IT. IT COULD KILL YOU OR DO SOME SERIOUS PERMANENT DAMAGE.
Hi Terri
I have also been on 200mg of sertraline for 8 years and want off but I’m down to 150mg and on day 7 of these and feel awful at times just with 50mg drop in dosage. The brain zaps are the worst for me. Dreading going down another 50mg and even thinking of going back up to 200 mg. badly want off of them
Thank you for clearing so many things for me. I have been on sertraline 150 mg for 18 months now and quit cold turkey 3 days ago. I'm hot flashing, tired all the time, scatter brained, anxious, no sex drive and no appetite. I am stubborn and will not go back on it but the fiance is not making it easy. How long should i expect to be like this is my big question.
Hello victoria and everyone!
I’m a 19 year old girl who has been on zoloft for 10 months now. I started by 25mg for two weeks then 50mg. My gp decidied to increase my dosage to 100mg but I didn’t want to so I told him that the dose was too much for me and caused me heartburn. He was OK with it.
Today I’m on day 7 off 50mg (cold turkey). I’m not going to lie it is not easy at all. Since day 4 I developed unpleasant sensation I really do not know how to describe it but the best word for my feeling is “strange”.
My withdrawal symptoms varies between blurry vision, dizziness and sleeping a lot. I’m not at my best health status but I can control the symptoms by relaxing and eating well.
I’m afraid that the upcoming days will be harder and harder but I will do anything to detoxify my blood.
I didn’t want to be on antidepressants from the start but ny gp insisted that I need it for my social anxiety and I trusted him.
I have read a lot of articles related to this subject and many of them suggest that after 3 months the symptoms will gradually disappear and I hope so.
Excuse me guys for my English but English is not my first language. I just wanted to make anyone out there feel slightly better and know that they are not alone.
Thanks.
Thank you Victoria and all the others who shared their experience. I have been on sertraline One a day 100gms for about 20yrs. I am taking it to help with my depression that usually set in when im not working ( I have been doing IT consulting for the past 4 years). As i am not working in the past 8 months, i came across an article in the NY times talking abut how difficult it is to get off the medication and the fact that you are not to take it forever.
I have consider getting off the medication especially now that i don't feel its effective.
I am aware of the side affects once you stop taking the medication as i try it in the past, but wonder how people feel once all the symptoms are gone
Wow, thank you everyone for taking time to share your experiences. It"s really helped me to be able to work out what is 'normal' and/or usual, when stopping sertraline.
I wasn't sure about taking it in the first place but as I'd recently found it difficult to get back to my usual smiley, energetic self following major surgery, my gp, occupational health doctor and another gp advised me to give sertraline a go.
I took it for 3 months but the side effects of joint pain and a distended, painful stomach seemed to be getting worse daily.
Two weeks ago I decided that I just didn't want this drug in my body any longer and stopped taking it. (I was on 50mg per day).
The first few days I didn't really notice any difference. After a few days I began having what people are describing as brain zaps. Quite a number of these in a day.
They haven't really eased off yet but I have started to get used to them.
It's been a couple of weeks now and I have started experiencing extreme tiredness and could sleep for England!
On the plus side, I have started dreaming again and my libido seems to be improving.
Also my stomach is loads more comfortable and no longer distended.
Can anyone tell me how long the brain zaps and joint pain might take to stop?
Also the sleepiness as at the moment I feel "drugged' when trying to wake up in the morning.
Thanks everyone, look after yourselves and good luck.