my daughter is weaning off of Zoloft after taking 100mg for 3 years. She is having terrible side effects, nausea, headaches numbness, slurring words. So bad she ended up in the ER where they told her it was all in her head. Saw a psychiatrist who couldn't figure it out either. She is back on the 100 mg for now, but still suffering from withdrawals. Any ideas on getting relief?
She was suffering the classic well-known effects of coming off anti-depressants, especially cold-turkey.
I find it hard to believe the ER doctor's and her doctor of this well-documented side effect.
I had to take my daughter to the ER under similar circumstances. And I have had the same thing happen to me.
It is a horrible thing to go through.
She should change doctors.
I read about a lady weaning off 100mg zoloft , worked for her and goes as follow:
75mg 3 weeks , 50mg 3-4weeks, 25mg3-4weeks, 12.5mg 3-4weeks , 6mg 3-4weeks, then 6mg every other day for 3-4weeks. Then stop.
I also have read about people using Benadryl at night and helps a lot with symptoms for some reason.
Nancy , what exactly led her to the ER? And what has been her weaning process?
It will take a while to stabilize. I have also been through a terrible withdrawal process after weaning off sertraline 50 mg (which i had taken for 4 years ) over 4 months. So much so my doc put me back on 50 mg daily and its been 10 days now and i am only starting to feel a positive effect.
The tapering regime suggested by julie95nicole sounds like the right way to taper off.
She was hallucinating as well as acting very strange. They had to give her some Ativan to get her to calm down. Of course they ran every test in the book to make sure physically nothing was wrong. When she was discharged she was told it was all in her head.
She had gone back to the 100mg and it's been 7 days. Still having the withdrawal symptoms.
Great schedule. Thank you for the tips. Wish everyone could read this.
They of course were doubting me when I told them this was side effects of withdrawal. The minute I mentioned that I had googled this they all rolled their eyes. It might help them to google a few things to be up-to-date on medicine! I am just trying to figure out now how to treat the symptoms as we get her regulated. We have a pretty good plan of action for a new weaning schedule when the time is right, but her symptoms are still pretty severe.
She had been on 100, 50, 100, 15 and so on for two weeks then went down to 50 mg only that's when this serious side effects started. After speaking to the psychiatrist I think he will take it much slower. As well as longer times on each dose. But for now she is back to 100 mg until The symptoms subside. Just don't know how to treat the symptoms……
If after going back to 100 mg a day for week and she still has symptoms, go back to the doctor.
What symptoms is she currently experiencing?
Yes i had the same reaction from the doctor. They have never taken these drugs so how will they know about withdrawal symptoms. So at least by listening to those who have gone through it they wilk be able to help us.
Severe nausea, headache and numbness all over
Hi,
Could I ask why your daughter is coming off the Sertraline, did she not find if effective?
I just wondered why she would go through the withdrawals symptoms if she had found it beneficial?
I have just started on Sertraline 50mg for 4 weeks and just been increased to 100mg so I have come across your post as I just wanted to research if it was safe to take it and if any other people had any problems with this medication as I have never taken antidepressants before.
Thanks,
David
At some point, she should start feeling better.
I know that's not much help.
But, unfortunately (or fortunately) everyone's system is different.
If she is taking her meds as directed, she should eventually get better.
Keep in contact with her doctor letting him/her know her symptoms.
They have to learn not to take people off these drugs cold turkey.
It's dangerous.
Dear David,
If/when you ever stop taking ANY Ssri anti-depressant, do it very gradually, because:
"After some people stop taking a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), they experience a variety of symptoms. According to Dr. Ross J. Baldessarini, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and director of the psychopharmacology program at McLean Hospital, these symptoms may include “a flu-like reaction, as well as a variety of physical symptoms, that may include headache, gastrointestinal distress, faintness and strange sensations of vision or touch.”
This common phenomenon is known as SSRI discontinuation syndrome. (It may also be known as SSRI withdrawal syndrome.)"
If you experience depression/anxiety or other mental health disorders, chances are you will need some kind of medication to function normally.
If you decide to go off for some reason, do so slowly.
Please see julie85nicole post for reasonable titration schedule
Thank you for your advice, could I ask if there are any side effects of taking this medication long term that I should be aware of?
Thank you