ISO Experiences with Zoloft Withdrawal

DrMary
DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
in Caregivers #1
So I decided it was time to go off Zoloft - I'd been on it since August for PTSD/Anxiety/Menopause (not sure what was causing the panic attacks, but the cure was the same for all, according to my doctor). I'd been thinking about doing it over the holiday break anyway, and then I ran out and couldn't refill for more than a day. At which point, I figured I'd just continue cold turkey and see what happened.

I don't recommend that approach - I did indeed have the predicted "flu-like" symptoms complete with body aches that felt like gout. All of my tendons were stiff and my bones ached - walking, in particular, really hurt. I also had the dizzy spells and the "brain zings." It was very tough for the first 2 weeks - yesterday was the first day I woke up feeling "good" - that lasted about 4 hours. Today the "good" feeling lasted longer. By the end of the day, it's bad again, and I'm pretty tired of hurting and spinning and zinging.

Anyone else quit Zoloft (or other SSRI's) with success? What were your symptoms like? How long did they last?

Comments

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #2
    So sorry
    So sorry Miss Mary. I am on Zoloft for No child left behind, no teacher left standing. Teen children at the time ADHD, refused meds and depressed and daughter early teen was having issues with her adoption. It probably helped me get through my mom's dx with cancer when my husband had his neck fused a week after her emergency surgery. When I was going through treatment for cancer in the fall of 2010, I didn't take my meds. When I fell asleep, where ever I was, I did not want to be wakened to take pills (that didn't want to go down anyway!) I have no idea if I had withdrawal symptoms because of the symptoms of the radiation treatment. One thing that was noticable after all treatment ended and 'cooking' time was over--not many ackes and pains. I usually (pre cancer) popped Motrin in the a.m. and p.m. Iced and applied heat often, alot of that has passed, don't know why. I only take Tylenol for infrequent headache. Hopefully you will be feeling well soon. I can't imagine trying to keep up with Goalie's schedule.
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #3
    KTeacher said:

    So sorry
    So sorry Miss Mary. I am on Zoloft for No child left behind, no teacher left standing. Teen children at the time ADHD, refused meds and depressed and daughter early teen was having issues with her adoption. It probably helped me get through my mom's dx with cancer when my husband had his neck fused a week after her emergency surgery. When I was going through treatment for cancer in the fall of 2010, I didn't take my meds. When I fell asleep, where ever I was, I did not want to be wakened to take pills (that didn't want to go down anyway!) I have no idea if I had withdrawal symptoms because of the symptoms of the radiation treatment. One thing that was noticable after all treatment ended and 'cooking' time was over--not many ackes and pains. I usually (pre cancer) popped Motrin in the a.m. and p.m. Iced and applied heat often, alot of that has passed, don't know why. I only take Tylenol for infrequent headache. Hopefully you will be feeling well soon. I can't imagine trying to keep up with Goalie's schedule.

    Update - 2 steps forward and 1 step back
    After 2.5 weeks, I feel almost fine. This was certainly worth it - tryptophan supplements helped when I couldn't take the side effects anymore and then I gradually stopped taking those. I did find out the hard way early on that I really, really can't drink any more. However, I found that some non-alcoholic beers/wines are actually drinkable (Buckler beer and Carl Jung Riesling, for example).

    Life is good. Happy New Year!

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