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How Long Does Zoloft Stay In Your System After Stopping?

Zoloft (Sertraline) is a popular SSRI (selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor) prescribed primarily for the treatment of major depressive disorder.  It is also utilized medically for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, PTSD, and social phobia.  The drug has been available as a prescription antidepressant since 1991 when it was introduced by Pfizer.

Though a variety of newer antidepressants have been introduced to the market since the inception of Zoloft, it is still considered an extremely common, effective medication for many.  In fact, in the year 2013, it was the single most prescribed antidepressant in the United States.  Though many individuals have attained therapeutic benefit from Zoloft, others may respond poorly or end up feeling worse.

Some users end up experiencing weight gain from Zoloft, along with an array of unwanted adverse effects such as: sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, and nausea.  Furthermore, many believe that administration of this drug over a long-term may yield deleterious iatrogenic effects (e.g. chronic fatigue).  As a result, many former Zoloft users have quit using the drug and hope to clear it from their systems as soon as possible.

How long does Zoloft stay in your system after stopping?

Assuming you’ve worked with a medical professional to gradually titrate your dosage downwards, eventually you’ll have to deal with some Zoloft withdrawal symptoms.  During withdrawal, everyone wonders how long until the drug will be fully cleared from their system.  To determine how long it takes to excrete Zoloft from your system, it is necessary to consider its elimination half-life, or time for 50% of the drug to be eliminated.

Most sources suggest that Zoloft’s average elimination half-life is 24 to 26 hours.  This means that after you’ve taken just one dose of the drug, it takes a full day thereafter for your body to clear half of that dose.  For complete systemic clearance of Zoloft (Sertraline), it will take (on average) between 5.5 and 6 days; slightly less than 1 full week.

However, just because the active ingredient Sertraline will have been eliminated doesn’t mean the chief (pharmacologically active) metabolite “Desmethylsertraline” will have been cleared.  Desmethylsertraline has an average elimination half-life of 66 hours, indicating that it stays in your system for a longer duration than Sertraline.  Complete systemic clearance of Desmethylsertraline takes an average of 15.13 days following your final dose.

  • Source: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/sertraline

Variables that influence how long Zoloft stays in your system

It is necessary to understand that the aforementioned clearance times are estimates based on “average” elimination half-lives of Sertraline and Desmethylsertraline.  As a result, certain individuals will fully excrete the drug at a much quicker pace than average, while others may take considerably longer than average.  When attempting to make an accurate estimation as to how long Zoloft is likely to stay in your system, it is necessary to consider additional variables.

  1. Individual factors

Two individuals could begin taking 10 mg Zoloft at the same time, and discontinue the drug on the exact same date, yet one person may clear it quicker from his/her system than the other.  The difference in clearance speeds among these two Zoloft users is likely due to individual factors.  Examples of individual factors that may influence clearance speeds include: age, sex, genetics, and hepatic function.

Age / Sex: Research shows that a person’s age and sex can influence how quickly Zoloft (and its metabolite “desmethylsertraline”) are excreted from the body.  The elimination half-life of Zoloft in young adult females (ages 18 to 45), elderly females (age 65+), and elderly males (age 65+) is considered similar – ranging from 32.1 to 36.7 hours.  However, in young males (age 18 to 45) the elimination half-life is significantly less at 22.4 hours.

This suggests that elderly individuals eliminate Zoloft at the slowest rate, regardless of sex.  This could be due to numerous factors including: reduced hepatic blood flow, other health conditions, additional medications, poorer physiologic function, etc.  In younger adults (age 18 to 45), males appear to excrete Zoloft faster than females, as well as its metabolite desmethylsertraline.

  • Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9068932
  • Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3031932/

Body height/weight/fat: A person’s body mass (height and weight) may influence how long Zoloft stays in their system after ingestion.  Particularly, the greater a person’s overall size (body mass) relative to the dosage of Zoloft they take, the quicker they are likely to excrete it.  Therefore someone who is of smaller stature taking a large dosage of Zoloft may clear it from their system at a much slower rate than a person 2 feet taller.

That said, it is important to realize that taking Zoloft for an extended period of time results in accumulation of the drug (and its metabolites) in various tissues, including body fat.  The more body fat you have, the more likely it will be to retain remnants of the ingested Zoloft for a longer duration.  Someone with a lower percentage of body fat should clear the drug from their system at a faster pace.

  • Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3031932/

Genetics: There is often significant genetic variation that influences the speed by which Zoloft is metabolized and excreted.  Variations in metabolism are largely a result of genes responsible for producing CYP450 (cytochrome P450) enzymes in the liver.  Zoloft is metabolized primarily by CYP2B6 (via N-demethylation), but is also broken down by CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and CYP2D6.

Unique genetic variants that influence CYP450 isoenzymes (most notably CYP2B6) will likely affect the clearance rate of Zoloft.  As a result, certain individuals may be classified as “rapid” metabolizers (from highly active CYP2B6 enzymes), whereas others may be considered “poor” metabolizers (from inefficient CYP2B6 functionality).  While many people will fall within the “norm,” others will excrete the drug quicker as a result of certain genes that regulate enzymes.

  • Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11452243

Food intake / Hydration: Zoloft can be taken with or without food, but whether it is taken on an empty stomach or after a big meal could affect its absorption.  Taking Zoloft tablets with a meal has been shown to significantly decrease the time it takes to reach peak concentrations in plasma.  As a result, it could be speculated that faster absorption contributes to expedited metabolism – thereby resulting in quicker clearance.

Since a significant percentage of Zoloft is eliminated from the body through the urine, your hydration could impact clearance speed.  Individuals that stay hydrated tend to have increased urinary flow, resulting in greater excretion (and less reabsorption prior to excretion).  Therefore someone who stays hydrated may clear the drug (and metabolites) faster than someone who’s dehydrated.

Liver function: It is well-documented that individuals with hepatic impairment (i.e. liver disease) aren’t able to efficiently metabolize nor excrete Zoloft.  As a result, the half-life of Zoloft (as well as its metabolites) are significantly increased among those with compromised liver functionality.  One study found that among individuals with cirrhosis, the half-life of sertraline was increased by 2.5-fold compared to those with healthy liver function.

Manufacturers of Zoloft have documented that those with mild forms of hepatic impairment retain approximately 3-fold the amount of Sertraline and 2-fold the amount of desmethylsertraline metabolites compared to healthy individuals.  Unless a person with hepatic impairment is already taking an extremely low dose (or using the drug less frequently), they will experience a prolonged clearance period.  Based on the 2.5-fold increase in half-life, estimations would suggest that it takes at least 12 days to fully excrete sertraline among those with cirrhosis (and over 30 days to excrete the metabolite desmethylsertraline).

  • Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2042671/

Metabolic rate: A person’s basal metabolic rate (BMR) can impact the speed by which drugs are metabolized and excreted.  Individuals with a faster basal metabolic rate are thought to process (metabolize) drugs like Zoloft faster than those with slower basal metabolic rates.  In part, basal metabolic rate may contribute to a person’s body fat percentage (which is known to affect Zoloft clearance).

Though metabolic rate is primarily influenced by genetics, it can be modified by exercise, diet, and even sleep.  For this reason, it is thought that engaging in some sort of exercise and eating healthy foods may speed up the clearance of Zoloft from your body.  On the other hand, eating unhealthy and remaining sedentary may slow your BMR – possibly prolonging clearance.

Urinary pH: A person’s urinary pH (acidic vs. alkaline) is known to influence how quickly drugs are excreted via the kidneys.  Someone with a highly alkaline urinary pH will reabsorb more of the “sertraline” and its metabolites (desmethylsertraline) prior to excretion, and thus clear the drug at a slower rate.  An individual with highly acidic urine (low pH) will excrete more of the drug at a faster pace because acidification inhibits reabsorption.

  • Source: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/04/briefing/4006b1_06_zoloft-label.pdf
  1. Dosage (25 mg to 200 mg)

The dosage of Zoloft administered on a daily basis can affect how quickly it is eliminated from a person’s system.  A general rule of thumb is that the greater the dosage of Zoloft ingested, the longer it will take to get eliminated from the body.  Though most users start out taking the minimal effective dose, eventually they titrate the dosage upwards when the initial dose loses efficacy (or stops working due to tolerance).

This increase in dosage has a greater degree of influence over an individual’s physiologic function.  Higher doses could theoretically: slow metabolism to a greater extent than lower doses, alter the microbiome more significantly, and affect hormone levels more substantially.  As a result of the widespread physiologic effects associated with higher Zoloft doses – clearance times of the drug itself could be prolonged.

Furthermore, higher doses of the drug means that there’s more of the active ingredient (Sertraline) that necessitates metabolism via the liver.  If a person is taking 200 mg, it will take much longer to metabolize and excrete than if that same individual was only taking 100 mg.  For this reason, it is important to consider that the dosage you were taking (and discontinued) could influence how long it takes to fully excrete the drug.

  1. Taking Other Drugs (CYP2B6)

Those taking drugs that affect cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in the liver, especially CYP2B6, may expedite or prolong the clearance time of Zoloft from their system.  Since CYP2B6 facilitates a majority of Zoloft’s metabolism in the liver, any drug affecting its functionality will alter clearance.  There are two primary categories of drugs that alter CYP2B6 function including: “inducers” and “inhibitors.”

CYP2B6 inducers are considered drugs that enhance activity of CYP2B6 enzymes.  These drugs expedite the metabolism of Sertraline, and may significantly reduce its half-life.  In other words, those taking CYP2B6 inducers should excrete Zoloft at a quicker rate than others.  Examples of such “inducers” include: Rifampicin, Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, and Phenytoin.

On the other hand, someone taking a CYP2B6 inhibitor will take much longer to clear Sertraline from their system.  CYP2B6 inhibitors interfere with the metabolism of Sertraline, thus significantly increasing its elimination half-life.  Examples of CYP2B6 inhibitors include: Orphenadrine, Curcumin, and Ticlopidine.

It is also necessary to understand that drugs affecting CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and CYP2D6 – could also have a very subtle (nearly undetectable) effect on clearance rates.  Since these isoenzymes all contribute to metabolism of Sertraline, drugs that “inhibit” or “induce” their capacity will affect excretion time.  Keep in mind that certain enzymes matter more than others (in regards to clearance), and certain drugs are more potent than others (as inducers and inhibitors).

  1. Frequency of administration

Most Zoloft users take the drug once per day, which is recommended by medical professionals.  However, some users may fail to follow medical instruction and end up taking it “as needed” or intermittently.  Though most would argue that intermittent administration of Zoloft is problematic in that therapeutic effects are unlikely and likelihood of adverse effects is increased, if administered on an intermittent basis, it would likely reduce overall systemic clearance time.

This is due to the fact that with frequent (daily) administration, Zoloft accumulates throughout various bodily tissues.  If administered intermittently, it would be unlikely to accumulate to the same extent as if administered on a daily basis.  This is because the “gap” between administrations would allow for some clearance time, thus potentially never reaching a “peak” or maximal tissue concentration.

If there’s less overall accumulation of Sertraline and metabolites (e.g. desmethylsertraline), clearance time should be reduced.  For this reason, if you happen to be an infrequent user of the drug (or are experimenting with a weird tapering strategy involving intermittent administration), you may clear your last dose sooner than someone who was taking it on a daily basis.

How Zoloft is Absorbed, Metabolized, and Excreted (Details)

Following ingestion of a (50 mg to 200 mg) Zoloft tablet, it is absorbed slowly by the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.  After absorption, the drug undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism within the liver, significantly reducing Sertraline’s concentration prior to systemic circulation.  Various cytochrome P450 enzymes such as: CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and CYP2D6 contribute to its metabolism.

CYP2B6 is responsible for a the greatest percentage of Sertraline’s metabolism, catalyzing a majority via N-demethylation to form the “desmethylsertraline” metabolite.  Deamination of Sertraline is facilitated by CYP3A4 and CYP2C19.  Monoamine oxidase B and monoamine oxidase A (at a slower rate) also catalyze deamination of Sertraline.

Both sertraline and desmethylsertraline also undergo reduction, hydroxylation, and glucuronidation (via UGT2B7) prior to excretion.  After the initial first-pass metabolism, Sertraline is dispersed throughout the bloodstream where it reaches maximum concentrations within 4.5 to 8.4 hours. An estimated 98% of Sertraline binds to proteins and is distributed throughout bodily tissues along with major metabolite desmethylsertraline.

It can accumulate within these tissues when administered repeatedly for at least 1 week.  Sertraline is slowly eliminated from the body starting 12 to 16 hours post-ingestion.  The elimination half-life of sertraline is ~25 hours, whereas its primary metabolite desmethylsertraline has a ~66 hour elimination half-life.  This means that it’ll take a person up to 6 days to fully excrete sertraline, and up to 16 days to fully excrete the desmethylsertraline metabolite.

Studies have estimated that 44% of the administered Zoloft dose is recovered in urine within 9 days post-ingestion, none of which was unchanged sertraline (solely metabolites).  Additionally, in the same period of 9 days post-ingestion, an estimated 44% was recovered within feces – including up to 14% unchanged sertraline.

  • Source: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/sertraline
  • Source: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/04/briefing/4006b1_06_zoloft-label.pdf

Tricks to clear Zoloft from your system

If you’re struggling to clear Zoloft from your system, there are various tricks that could be used to expedite the process.  Understand that these tricks should never be implemented without consulting a medical professional.  Also realize that while certain suggestions may be effective for some people, they may be ineffective for others.

  1. Complete discontinuation: If you want Zoloft fully out of your system, you’ll need to completely stop taking it. Stopping your medication should only be done with the help of a medical professional. For most people, it is generally best to employ a tapering strategy, gradually titrating the dosage downward in small increments over a long period prior to complete cessation.
  2. Increase urinary flow rate: Though 50% of a Zoloft dose is excreted within , urinary excretion still accounts for a large percentage of clearance. Individuals that are dehydrated often lack urinary flow to maximize Zoloft metabolite excretion. To increase your urinary flow rate, one strategy is to increase water intake.  Obviously too much water can be dangerous, so stay hydrated without going overboard.
  3. Aerobic exercise: Cardio exercise is known to improve blood flow/circulation, increase metabolism, and burn fat. Since some Zoloft (and metabolites) will be stored in body fat, exercise can help burn the fat, thus expediting their release into the bloodstream. Further, the enhanced blood flow/circulation can help ensure optimal liver/kidney function for metabolism/clearance.
  4. CYP450 inducers: A team of CYP450 enzymes work together to metabolize an ingested dose of Zoloft. Though some play bigger roles than others, drugs that enhance these enzymes may also expedite clearance. Since CYP2B6 is thought to play the biggest role in metabolism of sertraline (via N-demethylation), inducers of this enzyme could speed up clearance.  Keep in mind that some inducers of one enzyme may have inhibitory effects on others.
  5. Urinary acidification: There is evidence to suggest that low pH urine may aid in faster excretion of sertraline compared to high pH urine. If a person’s pH is low, it means it is acidic. Acidic urine prevents reabsorption of sertraline (and metabolites) and ramps up the clearance rate.  Acidification is possible by eating certain foods such as meats and cranberries.

How long has Zoloft (Sertraline) stayed in your system?

Many people quit taking Zoloft swear that it stays in their system for a long time.  Clearly we know that it takes an average of about 6 days to fully eliminate the Sertraline from your system.  However, we also know that it takes the average person over 15 days to completely eliminate the pharmacologically-active metabolite “desmethylsertraline.”

Even though most professionals point out that the drug will be completely “out of your system” within 1 week, the lesser active (but still active) metabolite desmethylsertraline is still in your system.  Should you end up on the slower end of the clearance spectrum, it could take over a week to fully clear the Sertraline and well over 2 weeks to clear the desmethylsertraline metabolites.  The variation in systemic clearance of Zoloft (and metabolites) may contribute to some variance in (and severity of) discontinuation effects.

Feel free to share a comment discussing how long you believe Zoloft stayed in your system after you stopped taking it.  Do you think that it took your body longer than 2 weeks to fully clear the drug?  In your answer, share various reasons as to why your clearance time may have been prolonged such as: age/sex, metabolism, body fat percentage, other medications, etc.

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42 thoughts on “How Long Does Zoloft Stay In Your System After Stopping?”

  1. I only took Zoloft for 2 days, the side effects were horrible. I have been of it for a total of 4 days and some of the effects are still with me. I was taken off Zoloft immediately by a doctor in the E.R. I had really rare side effects and a hyper-sensitivity to it.

    Zoloft works for a lot of people, it didn’t for me. I am going to try more natural solutions such as CBT. I was taking it for OCD. If anyone has OCD, you should check out Dr. Jeffery Schwartz’s books. I wish I would have started there first.

    Reply
    • Hi Gerard, Are you still experiencing side effects? I started a low dose of Zoloft on 7/31/18 for my recent grief and elevated anxiety. About two days in I woke up startled with my heart racing like never before and went to the ER. I don’t think I have ever had a panic attack before.

      They gave me Lorazepam to calm down. I still took the Zoloft for an additional 2 days and decided to stop on my own because I would wake up panicking and thought it had to be the Zoloft. About a week after I stopped I started getting these weird dizziness sensations in my brain.

      It’s now 9/3/18 and I am still getting them frequently. The doctor did my blood work and everything looks fine there and he thinks I am just nuts and it’s my anxiety. I have had manageable anxiety for the last 20 some years and have never ever experienced any of the above.

      I feel like I am worse than ever before. Either it’s Zoloft, Lorazepam, just me, or a brain tumor. They refuse to do an MRI at this point. I am 35. This is very frustrating.

      Reply
  2. I have been on this drug for 2 weeks now, 50 mg. It has completely screwed with my head. I was given it for anxiety and my anxiety is worse than it has ever been. I can’t sleep my heart is racing, and I feel like I’m outside my body.

    I’m feeling like there is seriously something wrong with me. Took a half one last night and plan on weening myself off asap. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost gone to the emergency room because I was convinced I was having a stroke or heart attack. Terrible side effects.

    Reply
  3. Hi. I went cold turkey on Zoloft 100 mg after taking it for about 6 months. It was making me too tired. I didn’t think abruptly stopping would be too bad because the first week was easy. But after about 2 weeks into third week I have been a raging a**hole and constantly irritable.

    My wife doesn’t understand why I am being so mean. Everything feels intensified (not in a good way ever). So I called my psych and he prescribed me 25 mg Zoloft (oh also I take 300 mg of Wellbutrin everyday for past 5 years). I really don’t like the withdrawal symptoms but I should not have stopped so abruptly.

    Anyway the 25 mg I swear made me feel better within an hour. I really don’t think this is a placebo effect because it is so noticeable to me how much more relaxed and calm I feel. Has anyone experienced this before?

    Reply
  4. I am a 19 year old female and I only weigh 92 pounds. My doctor put me on 25mg of Zoloft and I took it Wednesday morning at 9:30am. I spent the entire day with a headache and was extremely tired the whole day.

    When I went to bed that night, I woke up every two hours very confused for about 30 seconds and then I’d fall back asleep. I decided against taking it on Thursday and I had a panic attack and had to leave my therapy session to go home and lay down. Now it’s 2am Friday morning.

    I’ve slept for 2 hours, and woke up to my whole body tingling and every time I try to fall back asleep, I get a pang of dizziness and give up on sleeping. If I drink enough water, will the drug leave my system sooner? I cannot go on like this!

    Reply
    • Hey Haley, Please ignore the typos, on my phone writing this. Very similar situation to yourself, I am 26, a guy and I was prescribed 50mg of sertraline for anxiety, one to be taken each day. I took the first dose on Saturday 30th June very early at 6am just before I went for a bike ride, come lunchtime I started to feel very bizarre, almost like I was disconnected from the world around me.

      I was a little bit dizzy, had a horrible headache, stiff neck and jaw, nausea and stomach cramps. I thought maybe I could just rest and sleep it off, that perhaps my bike ride sped up its absorption? So… 4pm or so I tried to rest and just let it calm down but couldn’t sleep at all.

      I kept waking up every 20 minutes and was very confused, I kept forgetting my name and where I was which sent me into a mild panic each time before slowly drifting back to sleep. Fast forward a bit, I eventually woke back up at 6pm but still felt like crap.

      I ended up unable to sleep at all Saturday night. It’s now Sunday 1st of July, 11.39pm (night) almost the 2nd and I still have not slept a wink, I don’t even feel tired but still get horrendous dizzy spells, no appetite at all. Anything I have tried to eat I have gotten tired of and just couldn’t be bothered to finish it.

      I still at times keep forgetting my surroundings, headaches and nausea comes and goes in short spells. This isn’t from anything I have managed to eat or from dehydration. Prior to this medication I have been perfectly healthy with the exception of anxiety.

      I’ve not taken any other dose since the 30th – the side effects were awful. From what I’ve been reading here and elsewhere, others have similar if not worse side effects happen to them. I believe it will take at the minimum 6-7 days to fully leave yours and my own system/bloodstream etc – but like the article says, it depends on your own health too.

      Reply
      • I was put on a low dose of sertraline of 25 mg and noticed my mood has taken a turn for the worse. I too cannot sleep, my heart races, I find myself more depressed. The clinician who prescribed me this wants me to lower my dose to 12.5 mg now. I plan on lowering the dose and eventually getting off of this.

        Reply
  5. Been on 50mg for 14 days before I decided to go cold turkey. Whilst on it the hardest part was only the first day, besides this the drug seemed somewhat beneficial, entirely numbing all my emotions, including being unable to feel fear.

    Whilst on it it felt like a dream state. Decided to get off it – as it’s completely destroyed my sex drive, making my life and mental state worse than it already is. Thanks.

    Reply
  6. It’s been three weeks. Still experiencing periodic brain zaps and dizziness. Though now it is not as often. Yesterday was rough, though the previous three days not so much. In fact, I’d begun to think I might be almost done. Not yet apparently.

    Had been on 100 mg. daily, for three years. 200 lbs. (was 145 when began). 5″2′, female, 54. Decided to stop cold turkey knowing what to expect, yet not wanting to extend through titration. Was put on due to perimenopause by doctor, saying changing hormones required medication.

    While it may help some in a temporary sense, I now feel it’s the worse thing you can do to a woman! You will gain weight, lots of it, no matter how little you eat. You become lethargic, yet because you have to function, it has the added “benefit” of you internally beating up on yourself.

    You will experience chronic fatigue. No matter how much you exercise, eat right, etc. For perimenopause/menopause it is not a long term answer, if it should even be a temporary one at all.

    Reply
    • I was on 150mg a day for a little under two years in my teens, and I had brain zaps, dizziness, and some anxiety for something like three months after stepping down to 0mg. It sucks, but hang in there, I promise it’s worth it to get off them. I couldn’t be more glad that I stuck it out.

      Reply
  7. I was on Zoloft 12.5 mg for a week and I felt like I lost a week of my life! My symptoms or side effects were dizziness, shakes, headache, feeling like my head was on fire, numbness and tingling throughout my entire body, restlessness, no sleep.

    No appetite, basically I felt like I was dying. This drug was horrible for me. I quit cold turkey and am still experiencing side effects a week later. Side effects have lessened some. I never want to see this drug again.

    Reply
  8. Hi everyone – I took 25mg for 2 days (day 1 took at 1pm Friday, day 2 took at 9 am Saturday) and I ca’t handle the multiple side effects and the extreme brain fog anymore. On day 3 Sunday I didn’t take my dose and still have brain fog and am dizzy. When does this stuff leave my system? Will it be out of my system by Monday? Thanks.

    Reply
  9. I (43 year old male) was waking up in cold sweats, couldn’t get warm. Doctor started me on 12.5MG for 3 weeks, then a week at 25MG and then onto 50MG. For me it was miserable, the first week I started getting racing thoughts, hot shoulders and neck, tremors in hands really bad, jitteriness, just a train wreck. Called the doctor’s office and he said it wasn’t the Zoloft it was the anxiety and to keep taking it.

    I went in to see him after 6 weeks, I told him most of this was still going on, he pushed me up to 75MG for 6 days them to 100MG. I was on 100MG for 9 days and couldn’t take it anymore. Called the doc and he said to stay on it for 60 days then come back and see him. I then started to take myself off with the help of a nurse friend.

    I did a week at each dosage 75, 50, 25. My nurse friend said if you are coming off and you have side effects stay on it until they lessen. This was hard for me because all I had was side effects. It’s now been 10 days and I feel much better, still get waves of racing bad thoughts but they are going away. I guess Zoloft was not for me, I hope everyone is experiencing better.

    The good thing is that the anxiety and grief I went through of 3 months on Zoloft was so worse than my life anxiety so now that’s a piece of cake. Advice to all on Zoloft, you are not your thoughts and thoughts are not real. It’s just the drugs and brain not getting along. Keep your head up, better days will come.

    And everyone listen to your doctors, I didn’t because he didn’t listen to me. My friend who is a really good nurse helped me and I’m going to see a new doctor next week. Xanax is fine here and there for me. Drink lots of water, get some exercise (that really helped me) what’s worse the side effects or getting exercise?

    Exactly, get off you butt… The drugs won’t fix everything, no silver magic pill, fix your behavior. Good luck everyone, get a 2nd opinion if you are skeptical, it might save you 3 months of misery. If this article is right in about 5-10 days I should be completely clean of everything. I think I will be, will report back.

    Reply
  10. Was on 100mg for 3.5 years, began tapering down to 50. Took 50 for about 1 to 2 months I think. Then went to 25 for about a month then split the 25 in half so 12.5 mg for another month and 2 weeks ago I completely stopped.

    I’ve been feeling quite emotional. Crying very easily whether happy or sad and things have def felt a bit more “heavier” than normal. Some of the brain zap stuff and a bit of the tightness in my chest but I def think my libido is up! Hahaha. My goal is to never be back on anything like this again and live life the way it was intended.

    I’ve worked very hard at the things I have achieved and being I’m a HSP (highly sensitive person) it’s def felt hard in the past to achieve my goals but I’m determined again, not to put chemicals in my body. I guess I will power through these feelings and remind myself I have been on a drug for almost 4 years…it’s going to take time to adjust.

    Reply
  11. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, it made me feel a little better having some sort of idea what to expect as I started to reduce my Zoloft dose. I’ve been on 100mg of Zoloft for 6 years now, and in December I realised that I wasn’t feeling anything about anyone or anything, and if I ever did feel something it was cranky. So my doctor increased my dosage to 150mg to help me through Christmas with the family, and now we have a plan to change me across to Lexapro.

    I was expecting the worst as I reduced my dose, I did 5 days @ 100mg, 5 days @ 50mg, and 5 days @ 25mg, today will be my first day of no pills. I have actually felt really great! I have had some of the side effects like decreased appetite and tiredness (though not too bad), the worst for me has been the dizziness. I already have low blood pressure, so I haven’t known if it was just that, but after 7 days of it not going away, I think not.

    Interestingly enough though, my blood pressure yesterday was fairly low (103/80), so I am curious to know if other people experiencing dizziness have had their blood pressure taken. The good stuff is how great I feel, and having my libido back is the best thing! I seem to get extra frustrated with the people who have always frustrated me, but that’s probably a sign to cut those people out of my life!

    I hope my experience can help someone else have an idea of what they might be able to expect :)

    Reply
    • I took zoloft for 3 days, that was it. I stopped taking it because it made me really dizzy. I’ve been off of it for just over 3 weeks and still have dizziness. Has anyone else had this from taking it?

      Reply
    • Jess, I understand completely the not caring aspect. That actually was the final straw for me. One day realizing I just didn’t care about not caring. At all.

      Reply
  12. My son died July 2016 after taking 150mg, or more, of Zoloft for several months. He called me before he died and stated extreme palpitations, clammy, sweaty, sleep deprivation, more anxiety, and chest pain so severe that took him to the ground 4 times. His visit to his Primary Care doctor revealed his dose was not an indicator of a heart attack (although left arm was numb and tingling, and he had chest pain radiating to his back).

    Dr’s did no further tests and told him his chest pain was due to his anxiety. He died within the week. The autopsy found 1600 mg in his system (his body wasn’t found for 5 days). He was not suicidal, nor abusing other drugs.

    He did celebrate his friends life event and had a couple of drinks the night before he died. The toxicology found 0.04 alcohol in his system. Has anyone heard of these symptoms due to Zoloft? and why was his body not metabolizing the general dosing of Zoloft? Thank you. Sad momma.

    Reply
  13. Took 9 days of zoloft feeling worse each day. Getting off it. Halved for three days and now none. Feel awful, woke with bad nausea in night. Trying to drink water to eliminate quicker. Any idea how long will feel ill?

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  14. Only took zoloft 25mg for 2 nights. I can’t sleep! Is it still in my system after just 2 days? Stopped using going on 3 nights.

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  15. I took zoloft for 8 days before I decided I really didn’t want to be puking every day until I “adjusted”. I was on 25mg so I just quit taking it, it’s been 4 days and today is the first day I haven’t woken up puking (which is because of the ondansetron from my brother, which isn’t recommended to take with zoloft at all, but it’s better than puking). Still feel bad and can’t get out of bed until about 12pm, as per usual, and I’m so irritated my doctor thought this was a good idea. She prescribed it for my anxiety-so far it’s just made me freak out about missing a week of college the week before finals.

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  16. I will never take this ever again. The withdrawal symptoms are enough to make me realize this stuff is bad for you. It’s been a week and the emotional mood swings are hard to deal with. Not to mention the weird dizzy spells. I hope it goes away soon.

    Reply
    • Are you feeling better? How many days has it been without zoloft? I’m feeling a bit emotional as well and I only took it for 2 days at 25mg.

      Reply
  17. I have been taking 50mg of Sertraline for 3 years and 7 months. I have gained 28lbs in weight in that time but Sertraline has been a lifesaver due to massive anxiety attacks. I decided to come off it so my GP advised that I took one every other day for 4 weeks and then come off totally. I am now on day 11 of total withdrawal and apart from being a bit short tempered, I don’t feel like I have any side effects [and after reading some of the horror stories on the internet I was expecting a terrible time]. Hopefully my withdrawal will continue to be free from side effects – fingers crossed. :)

    Reply
  18. Husband took Zoloft 25 mg for 10 days. He’s thin and is 69 yrs old. Has Huntington’s Disease. Swears it gave him headaches so he quit cold turkey. It’s now been over a month off Zoloft. Still has headaches every day. He’s sure it’s from the drug. I’m at a loss. What does anyone think?

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  19. Unbelievable! My doctor prescribed the lowest dosage for my anxiety 25 mg once a day. I took the first dose on Friday morning and felt normal that day. I took the next dose the next morning on Saturday. In the evening, by 930pm, I began to feel heat surges, heart palpitations, and increased anxiety attack coming on. I thought to just leave work and go home and rest it off assuming it was just a panic attack.

    Trying to think nothing of it – I took a shower and tried to calm myself. I rested and while resting began to feel more heat surges and every time increased heart rates fluctuating back to slower heart rates. Then, I began to feel nausea and had to go to the bathroom on several times for diarrhea. Ultimately, I felt as if all the symptoms were getting worse and took myself to an ER.

    While there, I explained the new medication and what I was feeling. They took blood work, ran an ekg, and put me on rapid IV fluids. As I began urinating more frequently, the symptoms went lessening and I felt good enough where they let me go home 4 hours later. They explained it was the side effects of the Zoloft.

    The next day, Sunday, I continued to drink plenty of fluids and did not take the dose. Instead I took what I had been taking before, which was half of .025mg of xanax, a very mild dose that I had been using for years to help with my anxiety. The entire day I was ok. Around 930pm that night, again, I felt a heat surge as I had felt the night before and, of course, a mild panic attack ensued.

    I was in bed and just calmed myself and continued to drink plenty of water as I had done at the hospital. The symptoms were the same just milder and therefore, a bit more controllable. I fell asleep and thought that by the next day I’d feel nothing. Monday morning I woke up and took my usual half of .025 of xanax to help ease any anxiety.

    However, I was still jittery. I decided to stay home and just rest. Today, it’s Tuesday morning… and by 9am, once again, I felt another panic attack coming on, jittery, clammy, sweaty palms, and feelings of cleaning out bowels. I was trying not to have to take the xanax on this day as I’ve been able to go on and off of xanax for all these years without any symptoms, but due to the symptoms still occurring from the Zoloft, I decided to take my xanax again turn on some meditation music and let it pass along with drinking water.

    I came upon this article in order to fully understand how long Zoloft would take to get out of my system. I find it incredible to think that with really just one dose, it could take “6 days to fully excrete sertraline, and up to 16 days to fully excrete the desmethylsertraline metabolite.” I’m extremely disappointed and utterly, for lack of a better word, pissed off that my doctor, who did not take sufficient time to fully understand my history, my panic attacks or my body prescribed such a disgusting drug that is now affecting me, my quality of life, my work, and my stability for this many days.

    I DO NOT recommend that people keep getting prescribed chemical drugs. There has to be a way to combat anxiety problems a more natural and healthy way that does not alter your body’s chemicals so drastically. I truly feel bad for anyone having to deal with this on a much longer term.

    At least, now I am fully aware that I may have to deal with some more of these symptoms for up to 2 weeks. Thank you for the informative article as it has put my “stressed out” mind to ease a bit.

    Reply
    • I took Zoloft 50mg for 4 days and I’m having nausea and whole body aches. I also find it absurd that any doctor would put there patient on this horrible medicine. How long did the symptoms last? I’m on day 2 of no Zoloft.

      Reply
      • I could only handle for 2 days at 25mg. It made me feel worse than I was before taking this. I can’t sleep. Not sure if it’s me or if it’s the zoloft still in my body.

        Reply
  20. Stop taking Zoloft every second day, half-life is 24h… guess what will happen when you take Zoloft every second day. Don’t know who came up with idea but it’s a BS advice! Use the knife and split the pill. Don’t do “every second day”, really bad advice!

    Reply
  21. One year on a daily dose of 150mg. Male. Late 30s. 150mg to 0mg in five weeks. [Written 12th July 2016].

    Week1: 100mg daily – you can feel it within a few hours of missing a full dose. Be aware prepared to feel a little off and read up on typical symptoms of withdrawal like ‘brain zaps’ as you’re likely going to experience them.

    Week2: 100mg daily – hoping to halve the dose at the 15th day. I’m s looking unlikely as I’m feeling like I need a cigarette. I’m an ex-smoker, four years clean.

    Week3: 100mg daily – dropping to 50mg is out of the question. Another week then reassess.

    Week4: 50mg daily – it was a big jump but I was prepared to ‘up’ if it was too difficult. Be prepared for brain zaps to increase again. Day 2 of week4 I took 100mg but stayed at 50mg for the rest of the week.

    Week5: 50mg daily – can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Know the score now and know it’s the price to pay to get it out of my system.

    Week6: That’s it, packed the remainder of my prescription in a drawer knowing what to expect having spent the last five weeks dealing with it. Expect to feel a little ill after three days of no Sertraline, brain zaps a plenty. That’s me today, while I write. Can’t comment on the future other than I know I can do this!!

    Note: I’m booked in for my first ever DMT/Ayahuasca hewing session in two weeks and needed at least 15 days of no Sertraline beforehand to ensure it’d cleared my system. If I had more time I’d have dropped to 25mg for Week6.

    Hope the above experience helps someone reading this blog. Feel free to reply and I’ll try to respond… Might even have a positive update in the coming weeks.

    Reply
    • “Brain Zap” is a word I picked up in articles about SSRI withdrawal. For me it feels like being a little drunk, unbalanced and weird just like you’ve stood up really fast.

      Reply
    • Hi Trent, How are you doing now? I have been on 150mg for 10 months for treating OCD. I haven’t found it has helped much, so have decided to slowly go off of it and use the tools I have learnt over the last several months.

      I have gone down to 100mg for 3 days – so far so good. Definitely felt weird first two days, today I’m feeling “normal”. Can you give me an update on how you did after going off completely? More interested in the withdrawal symptoms and mood instability?

      Reply
  22. After over 10 years of 50mg per day Zoloft and second try at coming off them (couldn’t cope with the brain zaps and irritability so went back on it) I tapered off over 6 months and was down to 25mg every second day and then stopped a few weeks ago. Still having very mild brain zaps and annoying dizziness and tiredness but apart from that all good. I think having upped my daily walking has helped too. Sleeping ok which if you sleep ok you can cope with most things!

    Reply
    • Hi jules, how long did your withdrawal symptoms last? I’m now fully off zoloft but only 3 days after tapering down for about a month. I have the symptoms you mentioned as well.

      Reply
  23. Dropped from 150mg to 50mg this week, but am using 200mg of 5-HTP (herbal serotonin booster). All good so far, but after 5 years of this dose I’ve a long way to go. Not looking forward to the mood swings returning, but hoping that the 5HTP will eventually win through.

    Reply
  24. Went cold turkey – 200 mg zoloft, 50 mg seroquel, 2 mg prazosin, 25 mg mirtazapine! I’m still living! Leg cramps, brain zaps, anxiety, anger, frustration, impulsive spending, giving things away, fear, total lack of concentration, loss of appetite weight loss, cold sweats and shivers.

    But, no more panic attacks, nausea, acid reflux, total lack of energy, sex drive, passiveness, hoarding and untidiness. I’m beginning to set goals for myself again. I wish I could stop my tinnitus. I wish I could sleep like normal people.

    Reply
    • Hi, I reduced for a couple of days then went cold turkey. I’ve had some nausea, feeling “odd” moments and some cool/scary dreams/nightmares. However, I have more motivation, and am completing more tasks than when medicated. Furthermore, the increased myalgia and arthralgia I experienced have decreased significantly and my stomach and sex drive are improving. Good luck all.

      Reply
      • Hi. Are you thee Moon Unit? I’m dealing with some pretty grim withdrawal symptoms from Sertraline/Zoloft, it’s not nice. Nausea, dizziness and micro seizure type flashes. Did you find anyway of helping to clear this drug from your system any quicker? With light, Ray

        Reply

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