Have you taken the SSRI antidepressant Zoloft (Sertraline) to help with your depression? Millions of people have taken this antidepressant and many have had success with managing depressive symptoms. However, since the drug doesn’t work for everyone and/or individuals may not want to be on an antidepressant for life, they eventually decide to come off of the drug. Withdrawal from an SSRI (selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor) can be much more difficult than most psychiatrists think.
If you do not know what symptoms to expect, they may catch you off guard and your entire reality may get shook up. For many people, SSRI withdrawal is among the most difficult emotional experiences they will ever have to go through in their lives. For me personally, my withdrawal from Paxil was arguably the toughest thing I’ve ever experienced. It can be very difficult to deal with increased suicidal thoughts, dizziness, fatigue, and all of the withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal may push you to your mental limits – most people would describe it as experiencing “hell on Earth.”
Factors that may influence Zoloft withdrawal:
Many people do not understand why different people have an easier time withdrawing from Zoloft, yet other people struggle. There are various factors that play an important role in determining your recovery time. Although doctors don’t explain this to you, the time span (how long you took your medication), the dosage, your individual physiology, and whether you quit cold turkey vs. conducting a taper – will all play a role in influencing withdrawal. Keep these things in mind as you come off of Zoloft.
1. Time Span
How long did you take Zoloft? Was it for a few months just to get over a depressive bout? Or have you been taking it for years to help treat major depression? In general, it is assumed that the longer you take a certain medication, the more difficult it is going to be to withdraw from it. The shorter duration that you took Zoloft, the easier it should be (in theory) to withdraw from.
2. Dosage (50 mg to 200 mg)
How much Zoloft were you taking? Most people take anywhere from 50 mg to 200 mg per day of this drug. 50 mg is regarded as being the therapeutic level of dose. If you were on a lower dose, it theoretically should be easier to come off of the drug than someone who was taking the maximum prescribed daily dose of 200 mg.
If you were on a larger dose for a longer period of time, it is going to take much more time to taper off of the medication and deal with the withdrawal symptoms than someone who was on it for a shorter period of time at the minimal dose.
3. Physiology
Individual physiology plays a role in determining how fast you recover from withdrawal. If you are pretty resistant to withdrawals from medications, you may not experience many symptoms at all. For some people, the withdrawal process is pretty easy and simple. For other people, the entire process can be a total nightmare. Other individual factors that play a role include: environment, social support, diet, and exercise.
4. Cold turkey vs. tapering
All antidepressant medications should be withdrawn from in a “tapering” manner to help ease withdrawal symptoms. Quitting cold turkey is not advised and may end up doing more harm than good. With a medication like Zoloft, it is better to gradually decrease your dosage over a period of weeks and/or months so that it gives your brain time to readjust itself.
If you quit “cold turkey” with no taper, you are essentially leaving your brain in a state of chaos. It is expecting to be fed a drug, and since it isn’t getting the drug, it is going crazy trying to make up for the lack of serotonin. In order to minimize withdrawal symptoms, it is highly important to do a slow taper from Zoloft.
Note: Most people retain the active ingredient “Sertraline” for up to 6 days and its metabolite desmethylsertraline for over 2 weeks after stopping. As a result, symptoms may emerge with increased severity within 1-3 weeks after stopping.
Zoloft Withdrawal Symptoms: Extensive List
There are an array of symptoms that you may experience upon discontinuation of Zoloft. Although you may not experience all of the symptoms that are listed below, it is likely that you will experience some. It is important to understand that these withdrawal symptoms are normal and that you are not going totally crazy. When discontinuing any SSRI antidepressant, you may experience very severe symptoms.
- Anger: Some people experience extreme anger and/or rage at very minor things. Little things may really “set you off” and during the withdrawal, you may have a short fuse. Some people may get angry at the fact that they feel as if they cannot function.
- Anxiety: Since Zoloft is known to help with both anxiety and depression, coming off of it may increase anxiety to an extreme. While you are on the medication, it is inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin. When you come off of it, there is no reuptake inhibition so you are left with decreased serotonin which may make you extremely anxious.
- Brain zaps: Some people experience a phenomenon known as “brain zaps.” This makes people feel as though they are getting electrically shocked or “zapped” in the brain by an electrical current. These may last awhile, but they will eventually subside as your brain readjusts itself to functioning without the drug.
- Confusion: Cognition may be impaired to the point that a person may get confused. Confusion is a common withdrawal symptom along with memory issues. It is especially common if you stopped taking Zoloft “cold turkey.”
- Cramps: It is very common to get cramps – especially in the abdominal area. You may notice stomach cramps and/or other cramps throughout your body as well. These should go away within a couple of weeks.
- Crying spells: Many people experience such sadness upon medication withdrawal that they cry a lot. This is a result of significant emotional pain and the person trying to cope with how they are feeling. It is very normal to cry a lot during the withdrawal process.
- Decreased appetite: For most people, SSRI medications tend to result in an increased appetite. Zoloft may have worked great at helping you eat and/or may have even caused weight gain. When coming off the medication, you may feel like not eating for awhile. Part of this appetite decrease may be a result of increased depression.
- Depression: Your depression may be worse while withdrawing from Zoloft than before you even started taking the medication. This has to do with your serotonin levels being thrown out of balance as a result of the drug.
- Depersonalization: It is common to feel unlike yourself and/or depersonalized. You may wonder if you are ever going to feel like your “normal” self again. Depersonalization may make you feel numb, like a zombie, or like an alien has taken over your body. This is just your brain chemistry trying to adapt itself to the withdrawal.
- Dizziness: Some people report feelings of dizziness for weeks, and in some cases, months after quitting Zoloft. The first couple weeks tend to be the worst in regards to dizziness. You may feel drunk and/or like you have no control over how you are feeling. This is part of drug withdrawal that you should know about.
- Fatigue: Coming off of an antidepressant may make you feel as though you have chronic fatigue syndrome – that’s how extreme the fatigue is. You may be unable to work out, and may have difficulty just getting through the day. Each step you take may seem as though it’s in slow motion – you just don’t have the energy to work quickly.
- Flu-like symptoms: For some people the withdrawal feels like they have gotten the flu. They may feel nauseous, achy, bedridden, and be unable to eat. In some cases they may even vomit if the nausea is severe. These extreme symptoms tend to go away after the first couple of weeks.
- Headaches: A person may feel as though they have a never-ending headache when coming off of Zoloft. This is because their brain is trying to figure out how to react without the drug to stimulate activity. The headaches in combination with the dizziness can make life difficult for awhile.
- Insomnia: Certain individuals sleep for extended periods of time during withdrawal, while others are so anxious and/or stressed that they are unable to sleep at all. They may stay up well into the night and be so depressed and/or anxious that they cannot sleep.
- Irritability: Little things may really irritate a person that is withdrawing from Zoloft. They may seem irritable during socialization and may have no desire to be around others. The irritability may build up to an extreme and they may act out with aggression.
- Memory loss: It has been reported that some people experience memory loss while withdrawing from Zoloft. I experienced this symptom when coming off of a different medication. Just know that although your memory may be lacking right now, it will eventually return to normal – it may take longer than you think though.
- Mood swings: It is very common to experience mood swings. One minute you might feel as if you are doing okay with the withdrawal, the next minute you may feel extremely depressed. Another minute you may feel extremely angry. Know that the mood swings are associated with your brain trying to readjust itself.
- Panic attacks: Due to the fact that your serotonin system is dealing with an even greater imbalance upon withdrawal, you may experience sheer panic. This is because the anxiety and stress may feel overwhelming. You are not accustomed to dealing with the way you feel coming off of a medication.
- Poor concentration: If you feel like your concentration is lacking for school and/or work-related tasks, you are right. Many people report being unable to function after withdrawing from an SSRI. Some people have had to quit their jobs because they were unable to concentrate following their withdrawal. This will eventually return to normal.
- Sleepiness: Certain people may just feel like sleeping for hours on end. This is because their brain is attempting to stabilize itself without the medication and work out the chemical imbalance that has been created. You may feel extremely sleepy and/or drowsy with no energy while withdrawing – especially in the early stages.
- Suicidal thoughts: Some people experience worsened depression while coming off of SSRI’s than they did before they first started. Most of these medications have a warning that while on them you may experience suicidal thoughts. These thoughts can increase tenfold when trying to withdraw.
- Weakness: Your mind and body have been accustomed to a certain drug for an extended period of time. When coming off of it, it is common to experience weakness in your muscles and joints. Since you may feel weak and have no energy, it can make life very difficult.
Zoloft Withdrawal Duration: How Long Does It Last?
There is no clear cut answer here for how long Zoloft withdrawal is going to last. The drug itself will be out of your body in relatively short order, but making a full recovery back to normal body and brain functioning may take an extended period of time. As a general rule of thumb, I suggest that you assume that the readjustment period will last at least 3 months and/or 90 days. Although I have taken Zoloft in my past, I hadn’t been on it long enough to experience a major withdrawal.
Other people have had withdrawals so bad that they have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of the drug. Perhaps the most important thing you can do for yourself during withdrawal is engage in healthy activities. Make sure you are eating healthy, exercising, getting outside, socializing with friends and/or family, and doing the best you can at work or school. Eventually the symptoms will subside and you will fully recover from Zoloft withdrawal.
Understand that upon complete cessation of the drug, Zoloft stays in your system for between 11 and 12 days, with its metabolite “Desmethylsertraline” remaining for an average of 30.25 days. Variations in individual metabolism could dictate when the withdrawal symptoms become noticeable and/or most severe. Just realize that the process takes time and you should not expect to be 100% improved overnight – it will likely take weeks and/or months. If you recover sooner than three months – more power to you.
So glad to find this thread… 15 years of 50-100 mg of Zoloft. 5 years ago went to 25mg. Been tapering for a month… Down to 1/4 tablet. Hope to be done in a week. That’s a month of tapering. I can’t stay awake. At work I’m functional, but prone to anger. I’m so proud of myself for sticking with it. Lots of sleeplessness, mental confusion, brain zaps from hell, stomach and muscle cramps – no desire to run or go to yoga.
And I don’t know that it’s related, but I had 2 nosebleeds last week. I’m 55. These were the first nosebleeds I ever had in my life. Pushing through the lack of motivation – it’s tough. I meditate daily, try to eat healthy, and get enough sleep. I’m not giving up. I owe this to myself. What a horrible drug. I am a mess, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This seems to be the only website where people understand what I am going through. I am itchy, crying all the time, feeling dizzy and the brain shivers are unbelievable! I was on Zoloft for 10 years after being diagnosed with severe PND. I then went through a marriage break up five years later so was not appropriate to wean off them. That was the worst period of my life :( I am now another 5 years down the track and feeling so much better emotionally so doc and I decided to wean off – well two weeks later, I am a mess! Please help :)
I was on Zoloft for 10 yrs, with some fluctuation in dosage once in a while. Never had an issue. I got pregnant and immediately stopped taking it. Never experienced any withdrawal. Once my son was born I went back on it for post pardum depression. 2 years later, I’m trying to taper off and am having horrible withdrawal. The insomnia is crazy and I feel like I am coming down with a cold/flu. Hoping I can make it through but was warned I may have to be on it my whole life because of depression and anxiety issues. I’m going to give it another 2 weeks or so before considering going back on it.
I was on 25 mg. of Zoloft for about 3 years. I gained 15 pounds and decided to get off the stuff. I tried doing it cold turkey (my doc said I could stop if my depression was better but didn’t say anything about tapering off). When withdrawal symptoms kicked in 3 days later, I thought I had the flu or a bad case of allergies. Didn’t figure it out until reading some blogs. Then I started realizing that lots of other problems I’d experienced (nightmares, blurred vision, increased blood pressure, shaking, bruising and bleeding easily) were also due to the drug.
I went back on a lower dose 12.5 mg. and am struggling with dizziness, nausea, confusion, but so far am okay emotionally. It’s only been two weeks, though. Wearing Sea Bands can help with the dizziness and nausea (they’re sold for motion sickness online and in some pharmacies, about $8). I also found drinking peppermint and ginger tea helps reduce the nausea. I intend to continue decreasing the dose gradually. My doctor never said anything about Zoloft being addictive, nor did the warning sheet that came with the drug. I find that really negligent. Good luck all of you!
No one told me how awful it would be either! Nor did they warn me about quitting cold Turkey! I was on the lowest dose and really plummeted when I quit taking it Actually had to get back on it and increase the dose. This time I am tapering off 28th no side effects!!
I stopped taking 8 days ago and the withdrawal started yesterday. I have been in bed for 2 days. Feeling like I have the flu, blurred vision, muscle twitching, stomach cramps. I am also sleeping lots, and feel sick. I was taking 150mg sertraline for over a year and other antidepressants for 6 years.
I was on zoloft for 11 month at 25mg. I just quit and feel like I get angry and upset at little incidents. Also get irritable at times when I don’t expect it. I understand I was on smallest dosage and wasn’t expecting this reaction. Any one have any suggestions?
I have been off zoloft for 1 month now. I took the drug for nearly 2 years And weaned myself off. I get irritable and pissed off very easily. Is this normal? I though I should be through the withdrawal and back to normal by now. I don’t feel depressed or anxious. Just angry. Scared.
Update for all the sufferers. If you have read my history above, you will see I was on zoloft for many, many years. I quit last August. I have had some lows, especially during this miserable winter we had. I was tempted to restart so often, but didn’t because I knew the winter was making things worse and I didn’t want to start all over again. But the sun is shining and I feel better. But I did find some help. I purchased Natrol’s Mood+ at my local drug store. I don’t use it every day, and use only 1/4 of a tablet when I do use it, but it has been a real godsend.
It has a bit of 5HTP and a bit of L-theanine and is just what I need when I get down. Two statements though are very necessary. (1) Do not take 5htp if you have any zoloft in your system. I did that once, small amounts of each thinking I was safe, but ended up with a mild case of serotonin syndrome. Make sure you’re free and clear of zoloft before you start. (2) I was not/am not clinically depressed. If you are, your course may vary.
I have been on 200 MG of Zoloft for about 15 years. I wanted to get off of it and have been cutting back by 50 MG every 4 weeks. Everything was going well until I went from 50 MG to zero. I am so dizzy I can hardly walk and am really sleepy. My brain is in a constant state of confusion and if someone gives me bad news then I cry uncontrollably. I’m weak and really sleepy all of the time. I really appreciate all of the comments people have made as well as a comprehensive list of symptoms.
I’ve missed 3 days of work due to all of the stuff going on and didn’t realize until today that it was related to going cold-turkey on Zoloft. I called my psychiatrist and she suggested going back to 50 MG daily for about 3 weeks and then working on tapering off more after that. Going from 50 mg to 25 mg for a while then going from 25 to 10 and so forth. I’m hoping I can get off of this stuff without my symptoms continuing or getting worse.
Since I’m just starting the path of withdrawal I don’t have any words of encouragement to give others. I do appreciate the honest comments others have left. I’m curious if anyone has read any articles as to why it’s so easy to get on the drug and so terribly hard to get off of it.
I have been off Sertraline/Zoloft for about 1.5 months. I have this thing every morning right around the time I wake up, I stop breathing and have to “pant” to catch my breath. This will just keep happening until I get up, and happens throughout the first part of the day. It’s like my instinct to breath normally is disrupted. Anyone have anything similar?
Yes! I can never get anyone else to understand what I’m talking about. It always happens to me right before I wake up in the morning, and I end up gasping and worrying that my brain has forgotten to tell my lungs to keep working…almost like breathing is no longer an involuntary action. It’ll eventually go away. I think for me it takes closer to 2.5 months for that to stop happening, although I go on and off Zoloft throughout the year (on in fall/winter and off at beginning of summer)- your experiences may be different if you’ve been on it for a longer period of time.
I tried weaning myself off sertraline by tapering down from 100 mg to 50, to 25 and finally to zero over a two month span. When I stopped taking it completely (after being on it 20 years), I thought I had sleep apnea. I would wake up feeling like I couldn’t breathe, and then when I started to fall asleep again it was like I quit breathing.
I was so tired but couldn’t sleep without feeling like my breathing stopped. This went on for four nights. I was exhausted and was going to go see my doctor about it, fearing that I was on the verge of a heart attack since my dad experienced this the night before he died of a massive heart attack. I told my sisters about my symptoms and fears, and she told me it sounded to her more like a panic attack.
She worked with someone who suffered from panic attacks. I thought about this and wondered if my going off the sertraline could be causing a panic attack. I was so exhausted having only slept three hours in four days I was desperate to see if that was causing me to feel like my breathing was stopping every time I started to fall asleep. It was a horrible feeling and I would sit up gulping for air.
I decided to take a sertraline to see if I could sleep again without panicking and it worked, so I was experiencing panic attacks from sertraline withdrawal. I decided to go back on the drug rather than endure that panic, especially since I suffer from depression. It doesn’t cause me any problems, other than weight gain, and as I am now 60, I guess it doesn’t matter if I’m on it the rest of my life, and if I have to endure 18 months of panic attacks and no sleep, my life wouldn’t be worth anything anyway!
I had been taking Zoloft for 18 months (9 months 50mg followed by 9 months 100mg) up until a week ago when I decided to stop cold turkey. My reasoning for this was I felt my diagnosis of moderate depression and general anxiety disorder weren’t correct. After only having three appointments (yes, three, to warrant a repeat string dosage prescription) in which my symptoms correlated closely with those of cyclothymia, I was told that my symptoms would need to have been present for a year (at the time it was only a few months) in order to be diagnosed with cyclothymia. For now I was to be prescribed sertraline for my depressive tendencies and anxiety. This was prescribed using the extensive empirical evidence of… two questionnaires.
After a week without medication I have definitely noticed my withdrawal symptoms:
Loss of appetite – I can go two days without eating before I feel desperate for food. This is particularly frustrating as I’m heavily involved in fitness and nutrition.
Anger – I’m much more quick tempered and feelings of frustration last longer.
Vomiting – Usually just after eating with a constant feeling of nausea.
Intense crying – I can’t remember the last time I really cried, but now it’s every other night.
Other symptoms are evident also.
I hope it passes soon as I have essays to write and it’s extremely difficult to concentrate.. especially with the brain zaps (I could compare these to an intense pulse in the brain which lasts for only a second with disorientation lasting several). Although all these symptoms persist, I feel much better in myself knowing that soon I’ll no longer be reliant and pharmaceutical drugs. My plan is to adopt a healthy lifestyle to fight depression naturally. I hope this gives people my age (20) an insight into the effects of withdrawing cold turkey. Thank you for reading.
Yes! Hell!! I had been on sertraline for 5 months. I went off it in 3 days at 25mgs per day from 50mgs per day. Utter hell. Brain zaps, pyscho anger, anxiety, racing thoughts. F this! It’s horrible. I just want to feel normal.
I live in the Middle f*cking East (Beirut, Lebanon) – born and raised. Yes, I’m an Arab. No wonder why I’m on Zoloft? lol. So my messed up country suddenly ran out of Zoloft which I’ve been on for 8 years now. Today is my 5th day I suppose (I lost count and it feels like forever). I AM DYING!!! My psychiatrist told me over the phone to take cipralex 15mg because when Pfizer stop getting meds to Beirut, they simply stop providing them.
So I need to start taking this new med now, and I read that it’s going to make my sex life non existent and make me gain weight (which is why I quit Depakine chrono and substituted it with topamax BTW) anyway that’s not the point god I can’t focus! My Zoloft withdrawal symptoms! Brain zaps, my face is numb, I can’t feel my brains and yet they are heavy, my hands are numb and tingling, I feel like poo, I’m nauseous yet hungry, I’m using the bathroom a lot, my tummy hurts a lot, I cannot stop crying which is such a turn off…
I cannot sleep yet I’m very sleepy and when I actually do sleep, it’s freakin hell. I wake up the crankiest person on Earth so I’m dreading falling asleep. Moreover, I’m exhausted all the time and feel clammy and icky. I have an addiction problem so this does not help. I did not start with cipralex yet because it’s at my mother’s place and I read that cipralex has side effects too so I don’t need those right now, and besides it needs a couple of weeks to kick in. NOW I’M CRYING AGAIN AND I HATE IT!
Hi all, coming off feels emotionally horrible. I am a 25 year old female I have been on Zoloft 50-100mg on and off for 5 years. I am now coming off as my partner feels uncomfortable about me being on these meds and in a couple of years I would like to start to try for a baby. I am on Zoloft more for anxiety and a milder depression. Coming down to 50 from 100 this past 2 weeks has been a big leap for me emotionally.
I feel like crying all the time but I feel so empty and flat that can not cry. I’m up all night analyzing my behaviors during the day. How I interact with others, like OMG did that person get offended when I said this or that? What would they think of me now? I’m so weird imagine how others see me. I think everything I do is wrong or offensive. When I look at things rationally I’m sure to an outsider I seem confident, happy and bright but I can’t shake this feeling.
I also feel ominous like I just know something really bad is going to happen to someone I love or to me, this feeling also has no basis in reality but I can’t shake it. It’s like an inkling but I have to work hard within myself to convince myself it’s not true. Mum finding myself shying away from social interactions or needing to drink due to a fear of judgement over who I am, like I feel judging thoughts from others and it eats away at me. Gosh it’s horrible. I have nil physical withdrawal symptoms just emotional. I feel like I’m living an emotional hell that no body can see.
What if I have to be on this medication forever? Do the drug companies make withdrawal this difficult for profit reasons? Should I taper off from 100 to 75 instead off 100 to 50? Is there an alternative antidepressant I can take while pregnant? Although I appreciate all the medication has done for me (so much) feel worse coming off it than before I began. How long does it take for these feelings of judgement and anxiety to go away?
Oh my lord, before the drugs I wanted to kill myself. Now coming off the drugs I want to kill everybody else!! Err obviously I won’t, but the anxiety, anger and irritability is brand new to me. I’ve always been so placid. I’m told it will pass but I’m still scared and totally lost and very lonely as it can be quite isolating wanting to scream at all your lovely friends! NOW is when I could have done with counselling, not before!
Going to focus on the positives… yeah got the zaps and other common issues. Was on 100 mg, 1 year; 50 mg 5 years before that. I made the decision to come off to get my sex drive back – and yep it’s back.
I lost my mom in 2013 to brain cancer and was really struggling to cope with the sadness and shock, I also had 2 small children – 5yrs old and a devastated 20 year old sister to take care of. When I went to the doctor she prescribed me sertraline 50mg. I’ve been taking this for 8 months and now feel much more in control and generally happy so decided to stop. I started by cutting done to 25mg for a week and then one every other day for a week. Its been 3 days since my last tablet.
I almost immediately started feeling nauseous with a headache, dizziness, sweats and tiredness. I thought I was just getting a bug but pretty sure it’s the withdrawal symptoms, I was hoping that by tapering I’d get away without effects. I had little/no effects going on to sertraline so thought I’d be OK coming off of the drug. I have been unable to work today and afraid to drive, I expect this will continue for at least this week maybe more?
I am actually regretting ever taking this. I wish I had been able to manage in my own way but I suppose it has got me through what was a difficult time in my life. I’m just hoping now these side effects subside quickly in weeks rather than months.
Just a positive update for you all. Although I still have symptoms as described on the previous post the good news is that they are improving very gradually on a daily basis. I checked in with the doctor today just to keep a professional in the loop. He agrees that it’s just a time thing. Hopefully it will to continue to improve. I recommend just minimizing activity and having time out recover.
Doing things and rushing about definitely increases the nausea and brain zaps, even more so as the day goes on! Anyway I am feeling increasingly positive though so hang on in there all those who have a similar history to me, you will get there! Nb One thing the doctor said was that I should have tapered even more slowly, so ensure you don’t rush the process, the slower the better!
Was on Zoloft many years. Withdrawal included almost unbearable numbness of my lips, vertigo, and panic. It took about a month to feel completely symptom free. Titrating down is a must.
I’m a little late to the party, but I wanted to add that I have been taking 200 mg of Sertraline for 7 years and my doctor gave me instructions to wean myself off over the last month and I pretty much can’t take it! This is the worst thing I have ever gone through with the mood swings, the headache, the tiredness, etc. I really want it to be over!
How are you feeling from tapering the Zoloft?
Hi guys, came across your comments. I had my boy five years ago and after a traumatic birth and being stuck in hospital I ended up postnatally depressed and severe anxiety and negative thoughts, a mess. They put me on sertraline and after several months ended up on 200mg. Slowly I have been reducing it with small side effects and now on 25g. Was feeling great to start with but three weeks ago have gone completely downhill… anxiety is terrible and feel uncomfortable and miserable. So went back to 25g a day just over a week ago but still feeling absolutely terrible. Not sure what to do. Feel mucked up. Help advice please.
Three months off tablets. I get good days great days then get hoped up and then dreadful today. Woke up tears anxiety. How long does this last. Feel sad now as was feeling good last week and week before. Will it go away at all? Feel like going back on them. Help
Sertraline (Zoloft) withdrawal – I was on between 100 mg to 125 mg for 15 years and I have found a system that has worked for me to get off – Tapering, physical activity, meditation, praying, journaling and healthy eating work best for getting off this drug. Avoid sugar, gluten and alcohol when going through withdrawal. Also taking sleeping pills for the short term (low dose, non- addictive, prescribed) to sleep properly at night during withdrawal will help. I also take vitamins such as Omega 3, 6, 9, Vitamin D, and magnesium (magnesium at night before I go to bed).
I have been tapering gradually and making better lifestyle choices at the same time and it has lowered my withdrawal symptoms. I went from 125 mg and am down to 25 mg over a 4 month period. I have reduced by 25 mg each month. However now at 25 mg for 3 weeks I am noticing the withdrawal symptoms more so I am slowing down on reducing the drug. I plan to stay at 25 mg for 3 months and then go to 12.5 mg for 3 months and then half of that for 3 months. I believe it takes about 3 months to get over the symptoms when getting down to the lower doses.
It is the brain getting used to not having the drug and it takes a while for it to adapt. Exercising is by far the best way to cope as it seems to replace the seratonin with endorphins. Also dealing with core beliefs that led to the stress, anxiety and depression in the first place is essential. I have gone to therapy and have become very spiritual over the last few months. By dealing with my self thoughts and changing my thinking has really helped me cope. I pray every day for health and healing and have been mindful of my negative thoughts and my bodies reaction to those negative thoughts.
Praying every morning for peace and health has been very helpful. I read Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson to learn more about spiritual solutions to my problems. A more advanced self help book is called “A course in Miracles” which I have been reading and studying every night before I go to bed. Although zoloft helped me physically with my symptoms at one point – there comes a time that you have to move beyond that and deal with the real issues. Getting off zoloft is a start and my life has gotten so much better with all the steps I mentioned. God bless and be strong!
I have been taking Zoloft for the past 2 years, 300 mg daily, primarily for the treatment of OCD & Depression. Prior to the Zoloft I was on Prozac for 25 years also for the treatment of OCD. My therapist and I started the process of decreasing The Zoloft 2 months ago. I am now at 200 mg, I tried to reduce to 150 mg 2 days ago and I found the side effects too severe so I have gone back to 200 mg.
I believe after 27 years of taking antidepressants (SSRI) the process may be longer, gradual and require patience. I identify with your journey and there is a Spiritual Solution to Our Problems, I am familiar with The Course of Miracles and Wayne Dyer, My problem starts with my thinking and it takes time to re-program the tapes, (my perception of life) and yes I also agree with The Law of Attraction (The Secret),
I am very much committed to my spiritual growth and a daily commitment to meditation, Mindfulness, Narrated by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I also have changed my diet and committed to working out, the exercise is not always easy getting motivated due to fatigue but the effort is there and I do not beat my self up, As with Mindfulness I try to be compassionate with myself. I am very fortunate to be an active member of a 12 step program and that I can share my experience.
Thank you for sharing your spiritual insight and to anyone that is struggling with Mental Illness, I speak from experience, medication has been only a small part of my emotional and mental recovery, Exercise, diet, Meditation, Socializing, being Mindful and vigilant and aware of my stinking thinking are 90% of my healthy recovery. Cheers.
I’m back for my second round of zoloft withdrawal. After the first time I swore never again, but after the birth of my son they put me back on that poison for post natal depression. It’s interesting that the withdrawl symptoms differ. The first time round I was terribly irritable, nauseous all the time and had some frequent brain zaps. This time around it vertigo/dizziness, cramps and a constant feeling of having the flu.
I don’t know if this will help some people, because research shows that this medication doesn’t work for every one. I was on it for a year and a half and it was a wonderful thing to be on. I had minimal side effects and it didn’t make me feel as disconnected as some of the other depression meds had done in the past. I quit taking it when I found out I was pregnant. No one could tell me if it would do any harm to my baby.
There’s no easy way to get of a drug that basically alters your brain chemistry. Even with tapering off (which I had done for three months prior to stopping). I’m just taking it one day at a time and if I feel like I can’t go on any more, I talk to my husband or a close friend. Some times it helps if some one else just realizes what your going through. As we say in sunny South Africa: Strongs to every one.
I have been taking 50 mg zoloft daily for 14 years. I was put on it to help with symptoms of severe depression and OCD. I did well on it for many years but it stopped working for me about 2 years ago and I became very dysfunctional. I tried quitting a couple of months ago and noticed a lot of things going back to “normal”, I had more energy, was more focused at work, sleeping better, I spent less time alone, and felt much more optimistic in general, but it was very difficult to deal with the anger.
It seemed like I was angry, almost in rage, all of the time over the smallest things. Is there anything that one can take or do to control this? I had a really bad anxiety and depression attack that almost drove me to suicide a couple of weeks ago so I went back on it, but again I have no energy, no drive, etc. and I want to leave it again, I’m just concerned about the anger issue. Could someone shed some light for me on this issue, please?
Hello. I was on Zoloft 100mg for 5 years for severe anxiety and panic attacks. I have been off it for 8 weeks and it has been hard! I came off the drug as I was experiencing memory issues whilst on it. Everything felt like a dream and the past 5 years is a bit of a blur. I have experienced lots of side affects coming off it and they are ongoing but slowly getting a bit better.
My main one is anxiety worse than ever – I cant go further than 10 mins from my house at the moment and am having very bad panic attacks at home too. I am glad to be off it but I do have weak moments when I want to go back on it! I have an appointment with the doctor on Friday as I said I would give it 8 weeks for the side effects! I also have a crazy lack of energy. I am a 21 year old guy and feel like I am 90 years old! Any suggestions to help?
I am successfully off Zoloft, but a poor sleeper. At least the Zoloft did improve my sleep. I was also experiencing terrible carb craving. I understood both of these symptoms to be an urge/need for serotonin. So in my internet searches for something to improve my sleep, I came across info about inositol. All the info I have is from internet searches (no visit to a doctor who probably wouldn’t be aware of it anyway) but, that being said, it seemed a reasonable approach. Our body makes it, it is naturally in some foods and is sometimes an ingredient in processed foods.
Doesn’t mean you can eat unlimited amounts, but shouldn’t hurt in small doses. Just because our body makes it doesn’t mean it is harmless. Our body makes insulin, but too much would be devastating. Anyway, the reports indicate that doses of up to 18 GRAMS are useful for PCOS and anxiety/depression. So I purchased 500 milligram pills. I took one in the evening and one the next morning. It did not help with sleep but I have to say….it was BETTER than a Xanax for anxiety. I have driving anxiety, can’t do bridges or highways.
I actually felt that I could have driven the local highway bridge. I didn’t in case I was wrong and ended up being in a bad situation, but I was very very happy and relaxed. Unfortunately, this affected my digestion and I had loose movements. So I am experimenting with doses and bought grapefruit juice, supposedly the highest natural food source of inositol. From what I understand, Zoloft leaves serotonin sloshing around in your brain and desensitizes your receptors, while inositol is supposed to resensitize them. Hope this is helpful for all who are anxious.
Alex I’m having a similar issue–especially regarding feeling old, tired. How long did your symptoms last?
I was put on sertraline for anxiety after two ER visits with rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath. They told me I was having panic attacks, which I strongly disagreed with. It was not panic that was causing my symptoms but my symptoms that were causing my panic. the meds didn’t help and my GP was hasty to bump up the dose to 200 mg.
I wasn’t having panic attacks. I literally went three months with these symptoms plus other issues with no no relief. It was like hell on earth! I couldn’t breath or sleep and felt severely nauseated and couldn’t even eat. To top it all of the meds were making me feel even worse. I ended up going to the ER numerous times during these months and the doctors shrugged me off all because the first time the ER doctor said I was just having panic attacks!
Turns out I was have severe GERD (acid reflux) which was causing my airway and chest muscles to constrict which was causing my 160 bpm heart rate and my shortness of breath. My boyfriend wouldn’t even take me seriously because some dimwit doctor decided that just because I wasn’t having a heart attack meant it was all in my mind. I would cry and beg for the pain to stop and my boyfriend would just shake his head. I was literally gasping for air for weeks! Unable to sleep. It was horrifying! I thought I was going to die!
Not only did the sertraline make me feel worse but now I am have withdraw! I have headaches day and night that are like migraines radiating in my temples, ears and eyes. It feels like someone is squeezing my head and eyes so hard my brain is going to leak out of my ears. The pain is awful not to mention the insomnia. Its a constant throbbing and I have a full body ache like the flu. It hurts all over. Especially my back and neck. The tension from my headache is so bad I can even feel it in my jaw!
This is why I hate doctors! Every single time I’ve gone to a doctor they mess up! I’ve been misdiagnosed on more then one occasion and I’ve had them look over a health issue multiple times. Luckily I’ve a very bright young girl and normally figure out what’s actually wrong with me before my doctor does. I do rigorous research and pay close attention to my symptoms and go back in and ask for a certain test and BAM what do you know, I was right! I’m so sick of doctors.
Guessing what’s wrong with me and then stating it as if it were an unwavering fact. When it turns out they were wrong and put me through hell for nothing. I urge all people to be persistent if they truly feel sick because doctors aren’t always right but they don’t want to admit it. It took me at least a dozen ER visits and visits to urgent care and my GP before I finally got to the route. The whole time my GP was telling me it was anxiety and blowing me off. I’m now looking for a new doctor!
OMG!!! Erica, that is verbatim what is happening with me! I’m so glad you posted. What did you find works for your GERD? I need to resolve this myself too. My doctor and the ER said the exact same thing and I’ve been so frustrated. I’ve spent a fortune on doctor visits and was prescribed Zoloft for weeks. I experienced severe side effects on top of the real issues the doctors won’t listen. I just cold turkey’d getting off Zoloft. Please tell me you found something that works for acid reflux. Please comment back, or I’m sure if it’ll post my email already, but my email is sharaharden918@gmail[dot]com. Thanks.
I was prescribed 50mg Sertraline for severe depression in January of this year and I had the usual 3 weeks of side effects, nausea / insomnia / exhaustion / worsened depression etc, but I got through it with the support of my family and friends. It really concerns me to think that some people with depression get put on this medication when they are at rock bottom, only to feel even worse and sometimes without support. Who knows what this leads to in some very unhappy people.
I stabilized and started to feel better and then the manufacture of the drug changed and intermittently (4 times in 6 months) I started experiencing the worst indigestion/oesophageal spasm immediately after taking the tablet. It was agony and had me writhing around in pain wanting to rip my throat out to get away from it. I spoke to my doctor and was put on lansoprazole. I believe the indigestion was some sensitivity to the tablet components and not necessarily the active ingredient, because the symptoms came on before the tablet would’ve had time to be absorbed and so the antacid wasn’t effective.
I started skipping days of taking Sertraline due to the fear of having these episodes without warning. I didn’t know how I’d cope if it happened again. I had a 4th and final bout of oesophageal spasm/indigestion a few weeks ago and decided I couldn’t cope any more and so stopped the sertraline completely, I thought I had weaned myself off enough by skipping days. A week later I started getting withdrawal. I ended up nearly passed out in my car unable to drive, slurred speech, I felt I was drunk and disorientated, aggressive, angry, tearful and exhausted.
I took 25mg and managed another week off them. I then had withdrawal almost like food poisoning and took another 25mg last night. I’m so determined not to go back on it. I just want to feel normal again. I am just tired all the time and emotionally eat and put on weight and it just ends up being a vicious cycle. It is a relief to know I’m not going (too) mad and that I can blame withdrawal and not my failure as a person. Places like this help people feel like they’re not alone. Thank you.
I’ve been on Zoloft for 26 months, with 22 of those months at 200mg daily and have never gone off…until about 8 days ago. Back in 2012 I had a heart attack at the age of 33, caused by high cholesterol and a LOT of anxiety (self induced). I was a wreck after the MI, thinking that every time I had a twinge in my chest that I was having another one! The Zoloft helped tremendously in reducing the anxiety that most post-MI people experience. Four months later I lost 2 very close immediate family members and began to experience not only major depression, but suicidal thoughts as well.
I was upped to 200 mg daily, which helped “level” me out. Life continued on and I did not experienced much anxiety, but continued to struggle with depression…packing on over 70 lbs in the last 2 years! About 6 months ago I decided to begin seeing a Jungian psychologist. Through cognitive behavioral therapy we began peeling back the layers of my psyche to discover why I habitually placed myself in situations that caused anxiety. Furthermore, depression and shutting down were my psyche’s natural way of coping with the anxiety.
My own actions were causing my brain chemistry to become screwy. Eight days ago I quit taking the Zoloft cold-turkey…and immediately began experiencing the brain zaps, whooshing in the ears, vertigo and that “drunk” feeling that was described. Interestingly, I have not experienced any of the rebound depression or anxiety that initially led to the prescription of the Zoloft. Prior to discontinuing the medicine I informed several people within my closest social and family circles.
I’ve asked them to be candid with me regarding my behavior over the next 6 months, all in the event that my perception of reality, and reality itself, may not match. I have never been the tapering type. I’ve quit smoking cold-turkey, drinking and drug abuse (through a 12 step program that I continue to attend, recently celebrating 10 years of continuous sobriety). In the last week I have begun to feel more and more in line with what I’ve always considered to be my healthy norm. I am not naive, and understand that this could change at any given moment.
One thing that I do plan on continuing is a simple positive affirmation I’ve recently learned…that I will not continue to expect negative things to continue in my life. I tell myself daily that I am not in charge, and ask for the strength, support and grace to make it through this withdrawal process. If I expect to experience all the withdrawal symptoms, I will…it’s a simple law of the universe. I’m going to see what I expect to see; whatever I feed will grow.
For those of you out there going through the process of withdrawal, my thoughts are with you. It’s not an easy battle, but I truly believe that each of you possess the strength and conviction to triumph. In closing, I’d like to thank the makers of Zoloft. It was a wonder drug for me at a time when I truly needed it. I’m not sure I would have survived through 6+ months of emotional hell without it.
Everything I’ve shared with you today are my own personal thoughts and experiences with relation to my experience on and off the drug. My testimony is in no way meant to affirm or negate anyone else’s personal experience with depression or medication. Each of us has a truth regarding their experience and there is no right or wrong with regards to personal experience and individual truth. Thank you for sharing your experience, strength and hope and happy journeys :)
Thank you so much for your honesty and genuine response in regards to this very delicate topic matter.
I was taking 150mg daily for the last 10 years. I ran out of refills and my doctor took forever to call in a refill. So I was off of it for 5 days. Then I decided to just stop taking it altogether (not really knowing of side effects, etc.). I’m off work because I had carpal surgery 3 weeks ago. Thank god for that because I feel terrible. Insomnia, nausea, headaches, crying, depressed, aches/pain, zombie feeling, I have it all except for the brain zap people are talking about. I am now on day 8 without it and I’m determined to continue my journey without Zoloft! Thank you all for your posts! It’s nice to know how many people are doing this and I’m not alone with my withdrawals!
Glad I ran into this discussion. I have anxiety and clinical depression, I’ve been on Zoloft for 26 years with the last 5 years at 200 mg. I hadn’t planned on stopping as the clinical depression is permanent but after reading this I am definitely not going to go off it. I am not sure what the one guy was talking about being half a man on it. It has done nothing other than help me for all these years. Really wouldn’t want to see how it would have been without it. Sam
One day at a time, Ryan.
Hello fellow sufferers. I was prescribed sertraline for PTSD last year and was on 150mg. I tapered off with the guidance from my GP for 6-8wks which was fine. Then after about two weeks off the meds all Hell let lose. I had very bad anxiety low mood etc. Thought I was going mad and thought I was never going get better. Its taken me 3 months to start to feel better I still get my moments but all I can say is try and stick with it because it does get better. This site is very helpful and I took comfort from it when I was feeling like crap! It’s a long road but trust me it will get better be strong and the demons will disappear eventually.
F#CK!!!! I have gone cold turkey after taking 150 mg a day for 2 years…my GP DID NOT OUTLINE the true meaning of the drug. I will never take it again, it’s been 3 days now and I intend to see it thorough. I understand that it has helped many people, I was placed on the drug due to severe depression, but I want to feel like a man again, the drug has taking this away. I will live with what ever happens as I need to feel alive.
That seems pretty drastic. If it is torture please feel okay about taking a reduced dose, then reduce some more, etc. No need to go fast (unless you have bad side effects and the doctor tells you to quit at once). By reducing SLOWLY you will have a better chance of success.
Very interesting and hugely informative for me – was prescribed setraline 50, then 100 then 150 for about 5 months. Felt very uncertain about value of drug so decided to reduce – took 5 weeks to taper down. Haven’t used for about 10 days and am experiencing the dizziness, ‘brain zaps’ and tinnitus ringing. Thought this was due to ear problems but after reading results here I recognize what’s going on. This gives me at least an understanding about the withdrawal symptoms. Should have known better because many many years ago (I’m now 68) I managed to get off minor tranquilizers which took me three years to recover! These chemicals are a nightmare! Thanks everyone for sharing.
I have been on 100mg of Zoloft for 4.5 years after getting PND/PPD and then suffering stress-induced depression/anxiety issues thereafter. I got put on 15mg of mirtazapine at night time when I reported stress-induced insomnia. A demanding 50-hour per week job plus a young child didn’t allow me to withdraw from the meds… until now (I took a redundancy).
Until I read this post I was getting genuinely concerned that I was developing early-onset Alzheimer’s. I have cut both meds in half over the last two months, mirtazapine was reduced first for a month and aside from poorer quality sleep (it has a sedative effect), recently adding Zoloft in half one day, full the next etc. I just say, I have gone from being mentally sharp to a bit of a space cadet. I forget things I have just been told, I keep asking people to repeat themselves because I find myself only half-concentrating on casual conversations.
I got a panicked feeling driving (e.g. am I on the right side of the road!!? *panic feeling* – which only lasted a second but made me doubt whether I should even be driving). Physically I feel ok but this brain fog and vagueness is doing my head in. I hope it improves. At least it seems to be a fairly common experience to experience similar impairments. May they pass quickly!!
Please tell me it’s all gone since you posted this a year ago. Your post 100% describes the way I feel. I’ve been off Zoloft (same dose, same duration) for about 2 months and it does not seem to be getting better. The brain fog is so bad I feel like a complete dumbass when I talk to anyone. I went from being a sharp quick thinker with a good vocabulary to this. I don’t get brain zaps but visual disturbances. Like my brain is always a split second behind.
Tiff I’m having the same experience. Joint aches too. And a super stiff neck. I’m 26 and feel like I’m 50. I assume it is withdraws, but it has actually gotten worse in the past couple weeks despite being off it for about a month and a half.
Well here goes, 58 yo male, on Zoloft for over 10 years at 200mg a day! Just went for checkup, wasn’t feeling 100%, just found out I have Diabetes 2, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. When my GP found out I was on Zoloft that high for that long he had me begin tapering off, in addition I was taking Metmorfin for Diabetes, a stating for high BP and Lipitor. I was also on Zanax .5mg a day which he had me taper off. Now I was hit with a lot of crap at once, but man oh man do I feel like crap.
I do not know if it is my body screaming for sugar, my high BP or coming off Zoloft, but I feel like my head is not connected to my body, and god forbid get a lightheadedness spell (happens a lot), I then get a sick feeling in my stomach and some times a headache follows. Then when I immediately lay down, I begin to sweat profusely. I have this slight feeling of a knot in my stomach, slight tingling in my hands and lips (especially during the dizzy spells) and if I am walking, I feel as I have no control of my body, almost like I am drunk. I am on my third week of reducing the Zoloft and taking my new meds, my DR says it is to be expected. I am a mess! Cannot wait for this crap to stop!
I was on zoloft for 4 weeks. First week I was on 25mg, then 2 weeks on 50mg and decided I wanted to get off of it so the last week I went back down to 25mg then quit. It’s been over 3 weeks I’ve been off of it and I am experiencing visual disturbances, headaches, stiff neck, brain fog, depersonalization and I’m super fatigued. When the hell will this end?
I was only on zoloft for 4 weeks as well. Started at 50 MG and then after the third week went down to 25 MG. It is the 3rd day since I stopped and I feel horrific. I am so tried and have major “brain fog.” Since we had similar time frames of taking Zoloft, I was wondering if you could tell me how long it took before you felt normal again? Thanks Quinn.
I took Sertraline for about 2 years and started tapering off a while ago, while I was at 150 mg a day. Went down to 100, then after a while of that 50, and last week I started not taking them at all. After 3 days of no meds, symptoms were pretty prominent, but a few days after that I feel like they’re starting to get a bit better, at least more bearable. At this current rate I feel like they should be gone in around 2 weeks. So my advice would be to taper off of the drug /very/ slowly. From my experience when I was taking 150 mg a day, quitting cold turkey will drive you insane.
I took zoloft/sertraline for just about 7 years 150mg daily dose. This past August I had difficulty getting my prescription renewed. I had the expected weight gain and was tired of it so I took the situation as an opportunity and cold turkey quit zoloft. AAAAAAAAAAAA!! Ouch! The weight is off but my mental health is a wreck.
I’ve joined a gym and run three times a week. Aside from meditation it’s the ONLY thing which relieves the anxiety. It is rough. Rough. I read a post above where the person mentioned 90 days of post zoloft hell. I HOPE HOPE HOPE that I see some relief when I hit that time mark. Please post any suggestions as to how I can increase the quality of my mental health while I go through the post zoloft/sertraline withdrawal. (I’m appx 45 days out).
I find passion flower works really well.
Hi all. Thanks for the comments, First of all I’ve been on Zoloft for 3 years at 100 mg. Went on because I could not relate to my children. Commenced a cold turkey approach in getting off them, yes the usual side affects mostly head zaps and irritability, quick to anger ETC.
Not sure how long this will last but I’ve taken a physical approach to combating these issues: Yoga, Boxing increased physical exertion (for me swimming 3+ km 4 times a week) as well as writing my thoughts out. Not sure if this helps. I’m posting this to make others aware of what faces them when you go cold turkey, tried reduction method but found the same symptoms so why bother prolonging the discomfort.
I’m not sure if cold turkey is correct either. My next phase is to embrace meditation to help focus negative energy away from everyday life, this sounds rather hippy in approach. Good luck to all who choose to leave this medicated world. Long Life Jon
I was on 50mg sertraline for about a year 5 years ago. I tapered it out but the brain zaps were the worst part, about every 10 seconds so 100’s of times a day. I did some reading and discovered a tip of taking fish oil in huge doses, about 4 giant caps 4 times a day, I don’t remember the dosage but it was a lot, and within 1 day the brain zaps were down from 100’s to about 5. It was incredible! After post natal anxiety disorder I’ve been on 25mg for 2 years, last week tapered to 12.5 for 5 days then stopped.
What prompted me to stop was a quit refined carbs and sugar a few weeks ago and feel better than I’ve felt in years and ready for another baby. I’m not getting zaps this time but I DO NOT feel good that’s for sure, constant dizziness and anger, loss of appetite and emotional wreck. Will get straight back on the fish oil now and see if it helps alleviate those symptoms! Good luck to all, it’s a tough road that only those who walk will ever understand.
I was on Zoloft for 3 weeks and had horrible anxiety and nausea. I stopped the 25 mg dose and took half for 8 days then half for 3 days then 1/4 for 2 days I am still having anxiety on and off and some nausea and trouble sleeping. I have starting taking Holy Basil and hope it helps.
I was on Sertraline for 2 and a half weeks and quite cold turkey. I’ve been off it for 6 days now and I’m always fatigued in the legs and arms. I also feel like I’m on a freaking cruse ship all the time. (Dizziness) Screw these drugs! What kind of crap are they putting in us?
Hi Matt, My idiot doctor prescribed Zoloft to me after I went to him with anxiety that I had developed after not sleeping properly for an extended period of time due to tinnitus. I was desperate at the time so accepted. (Silly me) I only took this poison for 3 days and was starting to completely flip out so stopped. (This was a week ago). My anxiety was triple what it was prior to taking this crap, with feelings of depression thrown in top!
(Was not depressed prior, only anxious). The next day after stopping I felt bizarrely distant as if I was a stranger in my own body, mixed with panicky feelings and and anxiety like I have never felt in my life. I can not fathom how this stuff is given to anyone. When I went to my doctor and asked him what the hell he had given me, he stated that there were side effects that varied amongst people and that I needed to push through them and “all would be well” in a few weeks!?!??
This stuff is poison. Pure poison. With each day that goes by I feel a little less warped. And I only took it for 3 days… I feel for anyone dealing with anxiety or depression, however the sacrifice that you need to make to be on this stuff and to then get off it is ridiculous. The doctors prescribing it and the companies making it should all be in jail.
For 4 years I took 200 mg of Zoloft daily. I gained 35 pounds, and lost interest in most of my life. I receive no emotional support from my housemate, as he eschews all medications. ALL. Zoloft should be banned. Seriously. Life is not for sissies – and who needs the additional crazies this medication induces?! (Not I.) Menopause was a walk in the park compared to Zoloft withdrawal. I take Xanax for anxiety attacks – good that I have that medication! I would be a raving loony if not for Xanax. I’m so happy (yeah, right) I found support and access to similar hell-hole survivors. Thanks so much!
Well, I’ve taken Sertraline 100 mg for three years for menopausal problems and they really helped me cope. Now I don’t feel I need them anymore so I gradually off starting two and a half month ago and now I’ve been off them for four weeks. Lots of zapping and a feeling I have to take deep breaths or I’ll suffocate. Menopausal sweating back again but three years of pain in joints has really got a lot better.
I have less nightmares and sleep better now but I feel more tired. I put on a stone during the three years, thinking it was due to menopause but have lost a fair bit of it since coming off these pills. I’m glad I stumbled upon this site as I never knew about the effects of taking them and certainly never associated the zapping etc with withdrawal. I just thought I’m suffering from something serious. I’m not so bad and do feel better knowing the reason. Thanks to you all ?
Hi Tom – I’m wondering how long it took you to get back to normal? My situation is similar, in that I took Zoloft for a very short time and felt very similar to you. I only took this poisoned pill of hell for one day, thank God, but am wondering when, and if, I’ll ever feel normal again.
I have anxiety and just took Xanax occasionally as needed. I’ve had some health concerns lately that exacerbated my anxiety. My family thought I should try a more regular stabilizing medication, so my doctor recommended Zoloft. I took one 50 mg pill and within a couple hours I knew it was going to be bad.
I got incredibly anxious, felt warm waves rushing through my body, but at the same time, my hands and feet were cold and I was cold and shivering, thought of food made me ill, diarrhea. My anxiety was ten fold. I felt incredibly weird, just not myself, like in another body. Jaw starting to lock up, dizziness, etc…I looked up the drug and read so many horrible comments and told myself (even though many suggested riding out the symptoms to reap the benefit), hell no, I will not take this drug for one more day.
Well, now 3 days later, I am feeling that most of the same side effects have not gone away. The first day off was awful. Second day was slightly better, I thought, but now am getting these waves of pure panic, the warm sensation, trembling, and just feeling drugged and like I’m in another body. Gloom and doom…Don’t even know how to describe it. My family doesn’t understand, and I know that neither will my doctor, nor is there anything she can do for me.
I’m just looking for some hope. I’m much worse off than I ever was before this drug. I thought for sure after only taking one pill that I could sleep it off and feel mostly better in 24 hours. I tried a few antidepressants as a teenager dealing with depression and never had anywhere near these issues. This is insane. I have two children, one an infant, a job, husband, and I can’t care for any of them right now. Will this hell be over soon? I don’t feel like I can do this much longer.
This is very comforting information! Thank you for providing it.
I have taken Zoloft for 3-4 years now at only 12.5 mg (half of 1 full pill). As I matured, I felt less and less like it was having any effect on my mental state. I recently decided to quit my prescription with my doctors approval and we both decided I could quit cold-turkey because of missing many doses anyways. It’s been exactly a month now and I’m beginning to feel the withdrawal symptoms, unfortunately. I’m experiencing tingling sensations in my limbs, “sea legs”, unexplained physical pain, and a very slight loss of appetite. No depression, thankfully, and not much anxiety except for when I start to feel the sensations I described above.
Is it common to feel only physical side effects and not mental? As well as, is it normal to feel withdrawal symptoms after being off the drug for a month? I’m an extremely positive individual and continue to be, but the physical effects I experience can be quite draining and bothersome.
Hi Hannah. I found the information in this link to be very helpful and easy to understand. http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2010/November/going-off-antidepressants
Hope this helps.
Thanks for this Harvard link. Found it helpful. I’m tapering down 25mg from 3x a week to once a week then hopefully zero in 4 weeks time – but feeling very anxious in the process. Sleep disrupted but putting my cbt exercises into practice helps… Filter out the ‘what if’ questions and think positive! Alerting my family to my erratic moods in these few months.
I’m been taking seraline for 6 days came off them has they gave me bad anxiety attacks every day so I came off them how long till the anxiety side effects go and back to my old self again xx
Hi! I took Zoloft for 7 days (4 days with 12.5mg and 3 days with 25mg). It has been 13 days since I stopped and am still very dizzy. Did you get dizzy at all and when did it subside? A lot of times if I turn my head I felt like I was falling and got the stomach feeling as well.
My 2 cents: On zoloft for approx. 20 years… Started withdrawal 18 months ago and it was a living hell. This drug should be banned. I’m lucky to still have a wife and a life; I almost lost both.
Frank, I’ve taken Zoloft 15 years, I have stopped cold turkey 21 days ago, and I understand exactly what your talking about! I just want to ask are you back to yourself!?
So, one month later – how are you doing? I was on 50 mg of Zoloft and just didn’t like me anymore on it. So, I took one night of 25 mg and then stopped – well, only one night. But, felt “out of sorts” this morning so decided to Google it and found this site. I quickly went to pop a half pill in my mouth and think I will do this a bit slower instead of cold turkey.
Lisa, I also took Zoloft for 20+ years. I went off cold turkey 21 days ago. I am having mild brains buzzing (wouldn’t really call it zaps because they are mild and happen mostly upon awaking). I do feel dizzy a lot of the time (mild, just foggy), and my body is super achy. I am exercising a little more an eating a nutritious diet.
My question is: How long did it take you (assuming you are still off)? I can do this if I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have been on vacation from work, but have to return next week. My job takes a lot of mental clarity so I am concerned. I managed to work the last couple of months with a traumatic brain injury… so maybe I can do this too. I’m hopeful. -Suzy
I also took Zoloft for 15 years (doses ranging from 100mg-200mg) and began tapering over a month ago. I have an excellent doctor who warned me this would be difficult. An on-call doctor treated me for Serotonin syndrome on a Friday and told me to quit my Zoloft (mid tapering) altogether. By Sunday night I had lost my job and any sanity I had left. On Tuesday I started back on 50mg of Zoloft to begin the tapering process again. I am in hell.
No one warned me (or my parents) about this when I started taking it at 12 years old. I’m mad (also censoring my language). Frank, are you back to being yourself? If so, congratulations. I don’t know if I can take this as long as you did.
How are you feeling now?
Hi Frank, Can you elaborate?
I have been on 200mg of zoloft for 10 years and today is the 2nd day of being weaned off. I was so dizzy this morning it took 4 hours to lift my head off the pillow this morning. I had no idea that the withdrawal symptoms of trying to come off this medication were this bad! This is only the 2nd day! I will not give up.
I’m so happy I’m not the only one who felt horrible after taking them for a short amount of time! I took 25mgs for about 5 days, had the worst panic attack of my life and it triggered depersonalization, and this is the third week I’ve been off Zoloft. I quit cold turkey, and I feel like my brain still isn’t back to normal. I’m just horribly dizzy now and my heart randomly starts racing. I just didn’t think the withdrawal would last this long, since I wasn’t on it for even a week? I just don’t feel like myself.
Hi Sue, How are you feeling since coming off Zoloft?
I took half a pill 25mg of Zoloft for about 2 weeks. It gave me horrible panic attacks. Made me feel fear like a superstitious person on speed. My mind feels like its going crazy when I have these panic attacks. I have been off of it for 6 days. Panic attacks are not gone. I have no other withdrawals but this. I am back on my prozac which I never should have stopped taking to begin with.
But due to zombie feelings my doc decided to let me try Zoloft. Wish I would have never done so. I feel afraid to even go out. I worry I will have a panic attack and don’t want to risk it. I really hope they go away. Please let me know if yours have gotten better so I have some hope.
I’d like to say that the symptoms of withdrawal are all you have to worry about when you quit taking zoloft, but it’s not usually the case. I took it for 10 years, 50 mg a day, and while it worked perfectly for me for that time period, when I decided I wanted to stop taking it and see the world on my own, I had the most horrific withdrawal symptoms that came and went for about 3-4 months. Now, I am 9 1/2 months off of it and having a growing feeling of anxiousness, tension headaches, pain in the shoulders and neck area, a constant feeling of worry and I feel like I should go back on either zoloft or another. If you make the decision to take this SSRI, make sure you understand the withdrawal effects, and do not stop taking it as quickly as I did. I only weened off of it over a month. Definitely not long enough to avoid some of the withdrawal effects. The worst was the brain zaps that make you feel like your’e being electrocuted when you least expect it, and the dizziness.
In my past attempts to come off Zoloft I did have brain zaps. But this last time, with the extremely slow taper I used, I did not. Slow is the key.
I’ve been on zoloft for 10 months, started at 100 mg then was put on 200. Now I have to come off of it all together. I’m scared sh#tless bc I know that even missing one day of it screws me up and I freak out. Any tips on things that might help??
In 1998, after 2 years of many traumatic experiences, my GP placed me on Zoloft. I thought it was a wonder drug and felt like my old self. Fabulous, right? Except for the 30 pounds that piled on almost overnight. Well, so I bought larger clothes. Still, I wasn’t clinically depressed or have mental health diagnoses, I had simply had MAJOR EMOTIONAL TRAUMA for 2 years. So in retrospect, I think Zoloft was probably not the right solution. For the past 5 years I’ve tried several times to quit, but it was always the rebound depression that brought me back. Depression was not my normal state prior to the trauma era…so the rebound depression was a result of the drug, I am certain. I had only ever been up to 50 mg maximum and still the rebound depression was hell. I was able to live through the brain zaps, but not the rebound. Anyway, about 2 years ago I was on a steady 25 mg a day and decided I wanted to try again to quit. I was off it for 3 months and life was miserable. The rebound depression again. So I went back on but at 12.5 mg. And that was enough. I felt much better. So I stayed there for a year. This past year I wanted to reduce again and chopped those in half, taking 6.25 mg (+/-) a day and guess what….that was enough too! With a 24 hour half life, I was carrying about 13 to 14 mg in my system at all times. As my ultimate goal is to get off it entirely, I now take those slivers of zoloft and break them in half again and take it every other day. This gives my brain the crutch it needs to not go into rebound depression while (hopefully) it is healing itself. I will take this as slowly as I need to, but still…even if I have to take 4 mg every other day for the rest of my life…that’s progress. For anybody reading this – please remember, I did not have a diagnosis of depression and so given enough time initially I would have overcome the traumatic events without drugs. If you have depression this process may not work for you.
Wow Anne, I really appreciate you sharing your experience and insight. Although this drug can be helpful for many, I share your sentiments – the drug is overprescribed for issues that may be better handled with psychotherapy.
People do not realize the difficulty and withdrawal hell that many deal with upon quitting. Simply taking these meds for a period of time can have an impact on brain activity, neurotransmitter levels, etc. so when you stop taking them, you feel WAY worse than prior to taking them.
It takes time to heal, and I’m glad to hear that you’re in the home stretch of a slow withdrawal. Keep pushing through the pain, I am living proof that you will eventually experience a full recovery. Wish you nothing but the best.
Thanks Gloom for the kind comments and reaching out. I didn’t see a history by you though; did I miss it? I would really like to know how you are living proof of a full recovery. What dose were you taking and for how long? Does the brain return to normal function and how long did it take? Thanks.
Anne, the recovery time is subject to variation. It took me about 1.5 years before I overcame most of my withdrawal symptoms from quitting Paxil cold turkey. Symptoms were so extreme I thought I had a brain tumor, I could barely function. It took several years for me to feel “myself” again. I have also taken Zoloft and withdrawn. Best wishes.
1.5 years?!? This is good to know. I went off Zoloft June 10 – cold turkey – after being on it for 3 years. Having a hard time with the anger and insomnia. Was conversing about these last night with my poor dear husband, who said “it’s been a couple of weeks, shouldn’t you be feeling better?” He will not be happy to hear the news, but I’m glad to have a better idea of how long it may actually take. These sites are life-savers. Thank you Gloom and thank you everyone who has shared their experience.
The EXTREMELY slow taper is crucial. It takes time, of course, but it allows your brain to slowly get used to the chemical changes and is essential to manage or avoid withdrawal symptoms. I weaned down from 200 mg to 25 mg though it took a couple of years. I would pattern it like this: (these are daily dosages) 200, 200, 175, 200, 200, 175. I had mild symptoms – dizziness, some nausea, overly emotional, and short temper, but they were manageable and lasted about two weeks.
I would then give my body another two weeks to fully acclimate (and give myself those two weeks of no withdrawal symptoms) and then go to every other day: 200, 175, 200, 175. Again I would have mild withdrawal symptoms for two weeks and then would stabilize. After two weeks without symptoms I would go down to 200, 175, 175, 200, 175, 175. Again, symptoms resolved in about two weeks and I would have a two week reprieve. As i went lower and lower, the amount I would “step down” each time would decrease.
I got impatient and made a jump from 50 mg to cold turkey at the end and had a miserable 3 months. I went back on at 25 mg and completely stabilized. As I taper down to go off completely I will go MUCH slower toward the end this time, like Anne has demonstrated. I also have learned that it a major change or stressor or trauma comes up, I wait till life stabilizes before I begin to wean off again.
It’s a process and it requires me to be gentle with my brain and body as I do so. The medication helped me immensely for about 15 years and will just take a while to get myself accustomed to not taking it. I had massive trauma to work through in therapy and Zoloft helped me be able to function through that process. I am grateful it was available and will now deal with teaching my body to regulate its chemicals itself.
Erika, thank you so, so much for taking the time to detail your process. I too have been on several different meds, most recently Zoloft – for about 13 years (mostly for anger issues with teenagers..then menopause…then dying parent…etc etc). I’ve gotten up to 200 mg and now that life is pretty stable I’d like to go off. I tried cutting back pretty drastically for two weeks and felt like I was back in the ’70s.
I guess that’s what y’all were calling “brain zaps”. When I realized how sick I was making myself and Googled – I found this site and I feel like I can now follow your lead, going very slow… and eventually free myself of this drug. It has been immensely helpful to me (and my family) but it is time for me to (hopefully!) handle things without it! Blessings, Teril from Cedar Hill, Texas
I was on 50 mg of Sertraline for 6 weeks. I reduced my dose to 25 mg for a week and came off. After day 4 I started getting brain zaps, ringing in ears, swoosh when I moved my head and insomnia. I went back to 50 mg for a couple of days to relieve the symptoms. Then I went back down to 25 mg for 2 weeks. Not wanting to repeat those withdrawals I cut the pills in half again to 12.5 for about a week and a half. Thought I had it licked but then after about 4 days those same withdrawals came back but a little less intense. Now I’m just trying to tough it out. It has been about 11 days since I last took any and the withdrawal symptoms still persist. I heard there is a liquid form to help reduce the dosage further. Might be worth looking into before trying to come off.
I thought those brain zaps, dizziness ALL those symptoms were because of my hypertension!! Runs in my family so I’m thinking “heart attack/stroke right around the corner for me”. I really believed I was about to check out, I was convinced I was on verge of a stroke.
I’m so glad to read this post and this comment. I’m on 100mgs of Sertraline, I’ve been on it for a good 9/10 months or so. I usually take it for SAD as my depression usually peaks in the autumn/winter months. My prescription ran out last week and I couldn’t pick up the repeat prescription for the weekend. I was fine for the first day or so but over the last few days I’ve been going through hell.
All of the symptoms mentioned in the post and some on top, mainly the “swoosh” you referred to, I’m so glad you mentioned it because it worried me that it hasn’t came up on other articles. I haven’t experienced the “brain zap” but it feels like every time I move it’s taking my brain a good few seconds to catch up with my head movements, it keeps giving me what I can only describe as motion sickness. Coupled with the confusion and dizziness I’ve been going about my day probably looking to everyone else that I’m drunk!
Picking up my prescription in the morning but going to see my doctor about coming off all together. Has anyone had any luck trying natural alternatives? The only things I can find as a suggestion are St. John’s Wort and Vitamin B12 supplements as well as physical exercise (which is impossible considering I can barely stand up without almost falling over). Any advice would be appreciated!
I took 50mg Zoloft for about 10-12 weeks then went off cold turkey. The zombie side effects were outweighing the benefits so I just stopped. Not the best idea but I’ve gone this far without it so I’m just going to push through. I’ve replaced it with an organic non-alcoholic liquid form of St. John’s Wort and also a supplement that’s relatively new called Child Ease (yes from InfoWars — political opinions aside, their supplements are simply amazing). It was designed for child ADHD in mind but works for adults as well.
I also drink lemon water in the morning, continue fluids through the day and avoid all sugars and sweeteners (i.e. I put milk in coffee and nothing else, or drink tea plain). I still have brain “swooshing” throughout the day but continue to push through. Since I brought St. John’s Wort (Wild Harvest brand liquid form) and Child Ease into the picture it’s helped a lot not only with my anxiety that I was taking the Zoloft for originally but also the withdrawal from the Zoloft.
I also take an organic non-GMO multi-vitamin supplement, Nascent Iodine supplement, Vitamin D3 and B12 supplements. (Multi-Vitamins are New Chapter, the other 3 are from InfoWars). I’m looking forward to being rid of these withdrawals. In the meantime, I’m considering a juice fast for a week to detox with things like Cilantro, Parsley, Cayenne, Garlic, Beets, Ginger root, Turmeric root, Peppermint leaf, and lots of various berries (as many different kinds as I can get my hands on) along with the standard base of greens (Kale, Celery, Bok Choy, Spinach, Cucumbers).
I’m not aware of any documented natural ways to naturally recover from this crap so I’m thinking go mass detox + nutrition saturation and see what happens.
I’ve been taking zoloft for 8 years. Started weaning in January. 3 weeks I was taking 25mg twice a week so I stopped at that point. For the past 3 weeks I’ve been angry, crying, dizzy and nauseous (like vertigo), and irritable. I can’t stand it. I’m thinking of trying Sam-e. My nutritionist says its good and it’s ok with my doctor. Sometimes I want to go back on zoloft to make it all stop but I told myself I will never go through this again.
After taking 50 mg for 6 weeks (100mg for 3 days in the middle), daughter (19 yo) is having almost every withdrawal symptom of zoloft listed. Most horrible part besides the nausea is the brain zaps, every time she moves her eyes. I can not believe after only 6 WEEKS she is going through this. It’s been 3 weeks off and nothing has subsided. Its scary for her, and for me, when will this stop and shes back to normal?
I’ve been taking zoloft for like.. 9 months. Whenever I stop buying it -not because I want to, tho- therefore, taking it, it’s literally hell on earth. It takes three days to start feeling the symptoms. I feel you brothers.
I have only been off two weeks, after a tapering off… Some days I’m great, then all of the sudden- dizziness, panic, head zips and aches- scared to drive,then within an hour it subsides enough for me to function- I refuse to go back on the sh-t, how long will this last? I HATE being afraid to go somewhere in case I melt down again… :(
This is exactly how I feel too!!! I want to get off it once & for all it’s so tough feel like I’ve lost the plot :(
I know how it feels I’m one week off, it’s awful… I have psychophysical insomnia and used Zoloft for one year.. I gained 20 lbs and my sleeping is the same. My heart is racing all the time and I constantly worry about meltdown. Help!
How is it going now for you? I switched to 50mg of Zoloft about 1 1/2 years ago and it doesn’t make me any less depressed or help with my anti-social behaviors, which were my issues, so I am going off it. My prescription ran out so I took half a pill which was left and now off for 1 day. Slept good – but, this morning I do feel anxious and twitchy. Decided on a lark to just google it and came up with all kinds of horror stories.
I was taking 100 mg of Zoloft for more than 10 years due to anxiety since my husband passed. I went to my doctor for a check-up (he was an associate) not my regular doctor who wasn’t there that day. I had no pills due to my prescription plan running out. He didn’t give me a prescription due to my iron count being low. Well, talk about hell on earth. I must have finally gotten some withdrawal systems, most of all insomnia.
What a terrible feeling. Why didn’t this other doctor tell me about weeing off the pill instead of just stop taking it? My doctor finally gave me a new prescription which I am going to fill and hope this puts me back on track. I should have read about the withdrawal symptoms earlier and I would not have loss the feeling of getting a good nights sleep. I am glad I read this on this website and continue taking the Zoloft as soon as I fill the prescription.
It took me 18months to get back to some normality. I was on citalopram (UK) 60mg for 10yrs, then was cold swapped to another for 3 weeks, then to sertraline 50mg for 2 wks, then to 100mg for 4 wks, then back to 40mg citalopram. Then started my hell on earth. 18 months later I was nearly back to my old self. This was 3 yrs ago. I am now down to 20mg citalopram. An that is where I’m staying as tried to go lower and the hell started again. For anyone out there suffering, I’d like to say it does get better I promise. -Pat
Agreed. Hell on earth. Hell on the drug and now hell off it too. 3 months off so far and in the depths.
Yup! Hell on Earth! Brain Zaps! I didn’t know their was a word for it. My RX ran out, I’ve been taking Zoloft for over 3 years. The Psychiatrist would not refill them, even a couple week’s worth until he could see me. So, cold turkey, 100mg, gone for two weeks now. I have been so dizzy, and the brain zaps are constant! If anything it has gotten worse every day. Today, I was uncomfortable driving and even walking made me disoriented. Tomorrow, finally, I can see the Doc. What an a double s for not giving me a refill.
I have been on Zoloft for over 15 years. I was very sleepy in the beginning but never experienced what everyone else is talking about. I have tried to go off of it and get so depressed and anxious. Therefore, staying on it outweighs being off it.
Hell on earth….tapering at this stage. Brain zaps and literally feel movement in my brain. As if someone is shifting the puzzles around. Makes you feel insane.
The best way that I can describe Zoloft withdrawal is, Hell On Earth!
Dear Gloom,
First, thank you for your posts. I read your disclaimer that you are not a professional. However, I am very interested in what you are reporting about withdrawal symptoms. Would you be willing to post the sources of your information, or are they just based on peoples’ reports? I had some surgery last September, and without having any discussion with me before or after surgery, the surgeon took me off all of my antidepressants.
Part of this may have been necessary, because it was surgery to repair a hiatal hernia, and resulted in my not being able to swallow hardly anything solid, or to keep anything down. However, now that I have read your posts, it’s not a stretch to see that the extreme nausea that surprised the surgeon was caused by withdrawal symptoms. I actually had to have medication for months after my surgery that I had to fight with my insurance to get. Only a drug that is used to treat nausea related to chemotherapy gave me any relief.
To say I was a mental wreck would be an understatement. I felt like an absolute zombie. I thought it was from my surgery. Of course, I was so out of my head I couldn’t realize until afterwards that it was much more than that. But it wasn’t until today when I started reading your posts that I realized just how many of my symptoms were from withdrawal.
Just reading the one about Trazadone was an eye-opener. Itching?! My gosh, I felt like I was losing my mind. I thought it was imaginary…I had no idea it was a side effect of withdrawal. Zombie-like feelings?! That is an apt description. I felt so totally out of it. I don’t remember hardly anything that happened in the week after the surgery while I was still in the hospital. I remember very small snippets of the days – some images that my husband was in the room, or that the doctor was in the room. I had to ask my husband if he had even visited me.
I only remember one instance of him being in the room. I felt like someone erased my memory. But the symptoms dragged on for months. So again, thanks for your posts on the blog, and I think you are doing the public a great service. I just hope you are able to provide some hard data for me. I want to talk to my surgeon about this. It’s too late for me, but I think he needs to be made aware of this so that others can be spared the horrible side effects I had to go through.
Hi Joan, the symptoms that I publish are a combination of self-reports as well as studies in NCBI. It is well known that SSRI’s have nasty discontinuation effects especially if a person is forced to quit “cold turkey” (sounds like this was the case for you).
I don’t cite sources because it would simply take too much time, but search “Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome” and you should find some good information. There have been lawsuits regarding these symptoms… initially drug companies never reported them and doctors told patients that they should feel fine within a few days after quitting the drug.
Little did they know… Now it is well-known that a person needs to taper off of these drugs and withdrawal can last a long time. Most professionals prescribing these drugs now (finally) know that they should not be discontinued abruptly. Unfortunately there are some that are still clueless.
Sounds like you are in a very rough situation and I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery if you are not 100% yet.
Here’s an article:
Fava GA1, Gatti A, Belaise C, Guidi J, Offidani E. (2015) Withdrawal Symptoms after Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Discontinuation: A Systematic Review. Psychother Psychosom. 2015 Feb 21;84(2):72-81. Free full text at PubMed:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25721705
Thank you for your posts, going through an unintended withdrawal from Zoloft due to the negligence of my psychiatrist, I’m driving myself and my boyfriend crazy, I thought about heading to the ER but reading your research has soothed me enough for now to take some benedryl and continue to try riding it out. Again thank you. Not my first time at the rodeo with these either. I do hope I can remain off and sane.
I was so bad just last week I thought my husband was going to divorce me and it only heightened the anxiety and panic. I am going back up with my Zoloft. The feeling during withdrawal as well as the mood swings not on it are not worth it.
Thank you for your post, I am on 200mg of zoloft, 1mg of xanax 3 times a day and 27mg of concerta (sp) I was being treated for ADHD, depression and anxiety disorder…by the way I am also a recovering alcoholic and have been sober for almost 2 years. I am very honest with my doctor. I have been on zoloft for 2 months and within a few weeks I became a monster, I have wanted to not live before but never would have done anything about it.
After 60 days I could actually visualize myself hurting myself. after speaking with my therapist, who is in recovery too, told me I needed to consider getting a new doctor who specializes in addiction. A week later I was with a new doctor that has read more than a chapter on addiction and recovery. Come to find out those meds where slowly killing me, he told me because I am sober and going to meetings I could have held on for a few more months but it would have ended up with my thoughts becoming a reality.
I am not any of those things the previous doctor had said, I am actually bipolar 2, now coming off the old meds and introducing new meds is a scary deal. I have started introducing lamictal and moved down to 150 of the zoloft and .5 xanax 3 times a day. I knew it would be a rough road but really had no idea on what I was dealing with until I read this article…thank you for taking the time to put it out there.
This is a hell of a lot more helpful than the medical care I have been getting! I have been told everything I was on and the dosages 10 years ago they would have done a medical detox, which I didn’t even experience when I got sober, but of course insurance companies won’t pay for that anymore and patients are left hanging in the unknown. Again thank you and best of luck. Adrienne
Please go nice and slow. Why not detox from the zoloft first and when you are feeling 100 percent, start the benzodiazapine detox. Slowly. If you do it too quickly, it might affect your sobriety. GOOD luck to you.
Hi Gloom, Thanks for your great advice on this site. I’ve been taking 100mg for 12 years and slowly dropped it down over the years and now over the last few months from 50mg to 25mg and feeling the effects BIG TIME!! I was wondering about coming off cold turkey for a week and then taking 5HTP?
You say the serotonin stays in your system for a certain period of time, so how long would you say until it’s safe to start taking 5HTP in general? roughly? Because the current medication has to leave your system, otherwise you’ll get Serotonin poisoning? What are your thoughts on this? Thanks. -Reece
Thank you for your input! I have been on Zoloft for 9 years. I started with 50 mg then to 100 mg then back down to 50 mg for the last 5 years. I stopped taking it for 3 weeks and literally felt like I was coming out of my skin!!! Reading this post helps he not feel so alone!
Try turmeric tea, it really has helped me. 1 cup of boiling water, add 1/4 powder turmeric, (preferably organic) steep and drink, It takes getting use to, but it helps a lot.
Not sure why turmeric (an anti-inflammatory herb) would help but certainly a low dose of St. John’s Wort in tea or capsule might serve as a mild nerve tonic to help calm and settle frazzled nerves created by a reduction of Zoloft.
I used Curcumin while coming down from Zoloft. I had been using it for around 20 years. I am on my 5th week completely without Zoloft and am starting to have anger issues and poor little me feelings. I have now added Omega 3 twice a day and at this point and on this day it seems to be working.
Also, the Omega 3 has Vitamin D3 which is a component in Terry Naturally for the brain. This is my second time to try to come off Zoloft and this time it is working. I think it is the Curcumin which is found in turmeric. My best to you.
Hiya, It’s ill-advised to use St John’s wort as it is itself a natural SSRI and can complicate withdrawals and/or contribute to a contraindication such as seratonin syndrome. Good luck. ☺️
Hello, My name is John and I am on day 5 of Zoloft 25Mg. I can’t handle it. The anxiety is so bad that I just tossed the script. I am reeeeeally hoping that only taking it for 5 days will not lead to any detox. I have never been on this type of medication before but do suffer from minor depression and moderate anxiety so the Dr. started me on it.
I know that people say the side effects go away after a few weeks but I started my 2 week vacation and was planning on adjusting to it during that time but I’m so out of sorts that I can’t risk the side effects still ebing here when I go back to work in 10 days. So, I’m not taking it ever again. 5 days, not a biggie, right? Not going to have a meltdown or psychotic episode in the next couple days, right?
After 5 days, you will not detox. This medicine is obviously not for you. Some medications, especially those that work on the brain, can do the exact opposite of what you started taking it for. YOU might feel odd for a few days, but luckily you are taking a small dosage. Good Luck.
Thank you as well, I am on day 5 of taking Zoloft and I am not going to take anymore. I feel horrible. Worse than ever. I was worried about going through withdrawals, reading this eased my mind and if I can submit this now, I will follow up in a few days to let anyone else know that it is going to be okay only 5 days.
So just following up from yesterday, I was really worried, from how bad I felt if I was going to have any withdrawal symptoms after using Zoloft for 5 days @ 50mg. I do not have any symptoms and I feel pretty much normal now, no dizziness or stomach issues like yesterday how I felt after I took it for the 5th day. I could not even eat, or focus.
I will never ever take anything like that again, before reading up on it first, even if a Dr. suggests it for my anxiety/insomnia and mood swings during PMS. I really thought I was going to have to go to the hospital last night. I took a benadryl and was able to lay down and go to sleep eventually…
Hi. I was on sertraline 50mg for 3 years. I quickly developed a cough which I did not associate with the drug. Eventually I was tested for lung problems and then stomach problems. In the last year, I have discovered that I too have a hiatus hernia and produce a lot of acid. On discussing an operation with the surgeon, he felt that I should stop medication first as coughing is a known side effect of sertraline.
I have been cold turkey for several weeks now and it has been tough but I think the cough has stopped. I now think the hiatus hernia was caused by the constant choking rather than vice versa. I tried to discuss this with my GP but he was so unhelpful I have changed to a new practice. At times I was taking 160mg of omeprazole per day. It actually made me much worse.
Even 40mg per day seemed to irritate my stomach and oesophagus more than taking nothing. Does this sound familiar to you?
Coming down off Zoloft is like a zombie or confusion like feeling. I feel extremely tired but I can’t sleep. I have anger, depression, confusion etc. Can’t function.
This is not true. Your post is irresponsible. Everyone deals with it in their own way. Do not frighten people just because you had a bad experience. -Alex
I believe the point of this post is that everyone deals with it in their own way. Did you not read and comprehend the content before replying?
Minus the crying spells I’ve felt all those symptoms, even the brain zaps. I’m on day five right now of quitting cold turkey and to be honest it’s kinda freaky and very stressful. I’m just trying to not focus on it too much but it’s tough sometimes. I don’t feel those symptoms usually when I’m not on any medication either.
How are you finding the symptoms now angus? I’m almost a week cold turkey after a year and a half of 50mg. The dizziness and light-headedness are really getting me down just now but I’m going to persevere, good to know I’m not alone.
I tried cold turkey too. The first 2 weeks I was so nauseous and puked up every meal. I did not initially suspect it was the Zoloft, but then it dawned on me, oh yeah, I quit taking that sh*t. Got back on it, all that stopped. This time around, I did half dose every other day for 3 weeks. Starting yesterday, I’m taking half dose every other day. I do get the occasional brain zaps and hate them because I get a lightheaded sensation at the same time. Who knew! UGH. Can’t wait to be done with this. I’ve been on the 50mg and only been on it maybe 2 years.
I’m doing the exact same thing. I was on 200mg and dropped to 100mg (on my own) and now off. I’ve had brain zaps for over a week and they seem to get worse in the evening. It almost keeps me from being able to function on a daily basis. I’m hoping it starts to subside because it’s very difficult to deal with. I’ve been taking antidepressants off and on for 25 years and only effexor was worse to quit.
I’m in my four week of cold turkey from 200mg/day. I started taking Zoloft at 50mg/day, but had to slowly up it over 8 months to keep the affect. I’m exhausted, having strange and intense dreams, can’t get organized enough to do the simplest things, feeling physically stronger, very sweaty (too much information? :-) ), dizzy, zaps.
The first two weeks the symptoms were fairy mild. I agree with Nate – while this is really awful, Effexor withdrawals were far, far worse. I was getting 2 or 3 zaps a second for a few minutes, then a short break and more zaps – debilitating. With Effexor I found no benefit in tampering off, which is why I’ve gone cold turkey on Zoloft.
The only advice I can offer is to just accept what you are feeling and know that it will taper off sooner or later. I try not to focus on how crap it is, and just ride it out. Good luck and good health to you all.
Everyone is different and everyone has a different threshold to sensations, discomforts and anxiety. I believe that for most of us that have had anxiety and panic for decades, our tolerance is a bit higher to changes in the body, than for others. There is no shame in not feeling well. There is no shame in doing okay either.
I would rather go through something real and heal from it than be in an extended dream state all day every day. Taking Zoloft has even negatively affected my relationship with my son. No connection.
Did you post this while withdrawing from zoloft? That might explain the angry outburst. You may want to try tapering off.
I think the post is very informative and unbiased. The author states that everyone is different and some experience no side effects. I am almost at one week off sertraline (Zoloft) and am experiencing a few of the withdrawal symptoms myself. They are not terrifying but good to know that they will subside if I persevere.
Alexandra….Actually I have, or currently am experiencing 90% of these withdrawal symptoms and the author is pretty exact in describing them. I have also seen and known many others go through this with the exact descriptions above…not to mention this, and many many other blogs about it. I think you may want to re-think your post.
Thank you for your post as I’ve been having a very rough time and didn’t know why. I’ve been on Zoloft for 25 years and went cold turkey four months ago. I have experienced horrible withdrawals which I thought would have subsided by now. I went through the angry stage and was diagnosed with an ulcer in month three. The stomach pain was unbearable but I didn’t link the two until a friend of mine told me about a Zoloft forum where many people reported the same thing.
I have been severely constipated since stopping Zoloft and wonder if it is the reason it stayed in my system. When I realized I was having Zoloft withdrawal symptoms I started taking it again. My thoughts calmed down quickly but I am shaky and feel like I’m experiencing some of the symptoms I got when I first started the drug. My plan is to even myself out and try doing a slow taper when I’m ready. All I can say is God help us all because this stuff is brutal.
I’ve been on Zoloft since Feb/March 2015, switched to it because I got pregnant and the other antidepressant wasn’t good to be on, can’t remember the name of it but started in 2013. Started on 50mg, then after 4 months upped the dosage to 100mg because I felt no changes to my anger/stress. Even at this higher dosage I felt no different then before I started taking antidepressants.
Counseling works much better for me so I’ve decided to quit cold turkey, especially after the shitty tapering advice my doctor gave me. Totally get that it should be done, but my doctor gave me a week tapering schedule! And cold turkey generally works better for me. After reading this article and realizing that you still put up with these sh*tty withdrawals even if you taper I’m glad I’m going cold turkey.
I’ve gotta put up with the extremes that wouldn’t come with tapering but I’ll be seeing the light in just the same time frame. I just feel sorry for my family. I’ve always been a stress head with a short fuse but now I’m like a volcano, constantly smoking with unpredictable bouts of lava and flaming rocks!! I’m glad I’ve found this article, not only did it help me realize this is going to be a long process, but getting info from someone who’s experienced it first-hand rather than second/third hand really helps.
Thanks mate, now I’ve just gotta find the motivation to exercise so I can sweat this shit outta me as I didn’t feel the symptoms until 3 days after my last tablet, so I have a sh*tty metabolism! Good luck everyone with your journey.
Alexandra. Did you really read the article?
I think Alexandra either created or works for Zoloft ;). Great article, and thank you: I do feel like crap but good to know I’m not alone.
Alexandra, do you have any experience with withdrawal from Zoloft? If so, please share. If not, you’re the one being irresponsible.
Alexandria just to let you know this is quite accurate in its description. At this very moment I have quit taking Zoloft cold turkey and just your post alone makes me want to drive my first into the wall. I feel dizzy, anxious, shakey, and I am having tremendous amounts of mood swings. If you want me to tell you a lie I will, but the honest truth for me is this has been a total hell. My whole mental state has been turned upside down. I’m weak in every aspect of the word. You cannot base your experience on this and just assume that you have all the answers. If you’ve never experienced a withdrawal from Zoloft then shame on you.
I have been on Zoloft for 2+ years, 200 mg/daily – I am 31 years old, and have been diagnosed with GAD/PAD/OCD/Insomnia from 15 years old. My husband and myself are trying to conceive our second child. After a long discussion with my therapist, I decided to wean off ALL medication. (Although, she did tell me Zoloft is safe to use during pregnancy… there is no way I could put my child through withdrawal after birth, or perhaps cause birth defects or other issues pertaining to medicinal use during pregnancies).
I tapered off all anxiety, sleeping medicine and now – the Zoloft. IT IS HELL ON EARTH. I have never had nausea, sickness, body chills or headaches so badly. I have to stop myself daily from running to the pharmacy for the refill I know is there. NOT FOR THE NARCOTICS!! I also have refills on my Klonopin and Seroquel that I don’t even feel I need right now – but, it is eating me alive knowing I could stop these terrible feelings by filling/taking my Zoloft.
I have withdrawn from opiates, benzodiazepines, and sleep medication with little problem. I NEVER expected to have these severe withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants. It is through swimming everyday, my husband and daughter that I have even kept my sanity. I’m 16 days with ZERO Zoloft and its still this severe, following my therapist’s weaning schedule.
According to online reports of withdrawal from Paxil and Zoloft can last up to 90 DAYS (WHAT!?!). The author of this thread has listed several symptoms I’m experiencing right now, and I feel like although stated, this was not posted by a medical professional – it is posted by someone who has had the EXPERIENCE, and didn’t learn it from a text book. That is leaps and bounds more appreciated by someone like me.
Alexandria, have YOU gone through this experience? YOUR response is irresponsible. I had a GREAT experience USING Zoloft – but, that isn’t the discussion, is it? It’s the NON USE that is effecting people horribly. (For the Most part). My NON MEDICAL ADVICE – if someone writes you a script for Zoloft – toss it in the trash and resource/research other options for yourself!!
All I can say is WOW. Worse than a benzodiazepine withdrawal. I can’t imagine anything worse. Hang in there no matter how bad it gets. Remember why you stopped. You are doing this for the baby. GOOD LUCK TO you.
Thank you so much for your honest description. Reading these comments is all that is keeping me sane. I am 8 days into withdrawal from zoloft after 3 years of 100mg. It is so refreshing to find a thread which is not judgmental, only honest. I have had many negative comments about quitting so quickly but I do not want to be owned by these drugs anymore.
My withdrawals are shocking at times, mood swings like nothing I’ve ever known. It’s so hard having to work and care for my family but I’m determined to keep going. The dizziness and anger is terrible however. I wish everyone going through this the very best.
OK Alexandra, it may be that the post is not true in your case however as you state everyone deals with it in their own way, I believe the writer is giving people and indication of how it MAY be for people and is not putting it forward as gospel.
This article is 100% true as I’m dealing with almost all of these scary symptoms myself!
(In reply to the comment about the article being “irresponsible”) How is it irresponsible to give people true information? The article even states that you may not experience any withdrawal symptoms, it just depends on the person and how long they’ve been on it. I have been reading about SSRIs for over a decade, and it is pretty well known now that there is a high prevalence of at least one or more distressing withdrawal symptoms. And not that I am bashing SSRIs: I am currently on a high dose of Lexapro to help fight my OCD.
How much did Zoloft pay you to say that? Obviously you have not tried coming off this crap. All I can say is unless you are suicidal, don’t even consider taking these SSRI’s. IN MY OPINION, they are worse than the original problem. I wish I would have read all these threads before taking Zoloft. I’m only reading them now because the withdrawal is so BAD!!!!! I’m searching for comfort.
BJ. It’ll all get better friend. Just stay around good people a keep yourself busy.
I have been on Zoloft 100 mg for over 20 yrs. I have been off of it cold turkey for about 9 days now. I have been having a little anxiety (not too bad) and mood swings (angry and sad mostly), and sleeping more than usual. The last couple of days I have had severe pain in my lower back (maybe I slept to much?). This morning when I got out of bed, I was very dizzy and had the spins. I can do this… as long as I know it is going to stop eventually. It is going to stop, right?
Yet another response to the irresponsible comment. I find it kind of amusing that we are all so angry with Alex’s comment. She is probably long gone and has no interest in the therapeutic nature of our shared experience weaning off Zoloft. Trolls my daughter call them… rabble rousers to us old timey folks.
Anyway, I am interested in finding out more about transitioning to a new medication, in my case bupropion. I was on a high dosage for anxiety and also fibromyalgia relief (studies show link between chronic pain and low serotonin levels). 2x100mg tablets in the am. I tapered down with a very generous schedule over two months and am down to 50 mg and 50 mg of bupropion.
I am curious to hear if anyone has tried transitioning and if doing so helps with the withdrawal symptoms: whirlers, blurry vision, short temper, body zaps, basically everything we all experience? Zoloft made me gain weight, retain water, thirsty all the time and lethargy – all things that make chronic pain and anxiety worse. The idea is to take another medication that doesn’t take such life-enjoying activities away.
I want to have the energy to feel good about myself again and how it feels to live in a clean house and the satisfaction of a day well spent. For Alex if you are still out there: you will never understand the guilt we have when we can’t play with our kids because we are exhausted. That makes all the blues and anxiety just so much worse.
Sharing these symptoms makes us realize that we have been on a bad medication, not that we don’t want what is best for our family and ourselves. Hope and a silver lining is never irresponsible; it’s necessary for us to know this to shall pass.
I am coming off of it for about the third time. I’ve taken it this last session for about four years. It never gets better coming off but it is better for me to taper. I have gone down from 150 mg to 100 for two weeks, then 75 for a week, to fifty for a week to 25 for a week. I have found for me that if I go to slow with the taper I prolong the bad side effects. But, tapering like this I get side effects for a less amount of time.
I’m experiencing bad stomach problems, bloating, can’t stay out of the bathroom, dizziness, brain zaps, these are all normal and should be better explained before being treated! I’ve never heard one doctor yet explain coming off of this medication! Gets much better after about three days for me as far as how harsh the symptoms are. Good news is they do eventually go completely away ;). Hang in there your worth it ;).
Thanks. My son was on a low dose for 2 months. I took him off because he never should have been on it… after 10 days he began having headaches and shaking his head randomly. I thought about side effects and I’m glad to see they do go away.
Thanks for this. The dizziness has me feeling a bit crazy. I gained about 15lbs in the three months I was on Zoloft. Part of my original depression was weight so don’t know why my doctor would give me this. Been tapering for about three weeks. Glad to know I’m not alone.
I was on Zoloft 50 mg for a month but for me I wasn’t 100% sure I needed to be on it and if it even helped so I did quit taking it cold turkey. It has been about 4 days now and I haven’t really had many of the symptoms listed except being overly tired all the time.
I’m nervous about the other withdrawals that may occur I just don’t want to be put back on the medicine because while I was on it I think I was encountering serotonin syndrome, where I was receiving too much serotonin. I’m so confused. lol
Your post was very helpful Keith. I am starting the tapering process and I already have horrible headaches and nausea.
He isn’t scaring anyone. Just letting us know what we can expect from withdrawal. My head has hurt for weeks. Like it’s bouncing around in my head. Vomiting from the “spins”. Dramamine helps BTW. Tired is putting it lightly. My husband is fed up with me sleeping all the time. Sleeping makes it easier to go through it all. It is helpful to know. If I wasn’t informed previously I probably would have gone off the deep end. Knowing I’ll feel “normal ” again one day keeps me going. It’s rough.
What isn’t true Alex?
I’m sure my lower abdominal cramps are me “dealing with it in my own way” Alexandra :P
I think everyone mistook what Alex said or was gettjng at. I didn’t take her comment as a denial in withdrawal symptoms exist, I took it to mean that John stopping only after 5 days – citing the side effects as a reason – to being irresponsible as there are many of us out there who need such medication to help and get them through each and every day.
I took Alex’s reply in a positive light in that what John said could scare or prevent someone commencing antidepressants for fear of the side effects being discussed, and that in itself could be very harmful to anyone who really needs the help of medication. For someone to not to commence medication out of this fear could have devastating consequences on their health.
It’s all about perspective and we shouldn’t be so quick to judge what people say just in case we misunderstood where they were coming from. I believe Alex was merely implying that scaring someone off this form of treatment was irresposible as not all of us respond to, or have the same side effects, from Zoloft. Food for thought…
Alexandra. The post was VERY helpful! I was getting really scared about stopping Zoloft Cold Turkey about 10 days ago and especially yesterday when the side effects kicked in full throttle! I came to the internet to see if I could find out what was happening to me and if it was the result of stopping cold turkey. I was on 100mg for about 2 months, before that 50mg for a year and before that 25mg for about 6 months!
I have almost every single one of the side effects, except suicide (never was before)and insomnia. Thankfully I can sleep and not to have to feel the effects. I can’t imagine insomnia on top of all my other side effects. Ugggg. I actually had to call in to work today, because there was no way I could go in. The sweating, nausea and not being able to concentrate is unbearable!
The only positive thing out of it is the the crazy dreams. They are so vivid. So miss Alex, the only thing I can think of is either you work for drug company or have no business being on this site because you are just a troll. If you do work for the drug company, you should be ashamed of handing this stuff out to the public.
I have seen people addicted to heroin were the withdrawals are only about 4 days! This Zoloft is 1000 times worse and takes forever to get out of system. This is a serious issue people are having and want facts so they are not scared they are dying or really sick and that with time we will all be ok.
Actually, this article helped me tremendously. All of these points were dead on and now I at least don’t feel like I’m going crazy!!
Alex, why attack this person who is just looking for information? I have to think they may be right as I’ve been dealing with post nasal drip all the time along with a irritating throat cough for a long time now on Sertraline, also noticed a severe itching problem on some of the antidepressants. Now I am off then because they just stopped helping. I realize my post nasal drip and throat cough are gone?
I love that but unfortunately my depression and anxiety worsens…and I’ve tried many other types of antidepressants, adderall which helped my depression at first and continues to help my ADHD doesn’t work for depression and escalates the anxiety after more than a year or so… Even though it helps me with my severe fatigue… I am thinking about replacing it with something less anxiety causing.
I’ve always had severe anxiety, PTSD, and usually antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft helped…I don’t know why they stopped. The Zoloft helped with anxiety but made me very antisocial. To a point I was content living in my home and not picking up a phone to call my siblings for over a year – when we all were very close. The only thing worse than being on Zoloft when it stops working is going off it.
I was in a car accident years ago which caused chronic severe insomnia… and now my brain hormones have changed drastically. This may be why it doesn’t help? At this point I’d rather be sleeping with less anxiety than strung out running around accomplishing things. I even thought of going back on Zoloft because now that I know a lot of these symptoms are Zoloft off related… even if it doesn’t help my depression… it’s long lasting withdrawal symptoms would ease up.
I never associated withdrawal symptoms until I read this article, but I have them all brain zaps, itchy skin and all. Gone are the days when Prozac and Zoloft blissfully protected me from depression and anxiety… sadly like many I don’t know where to turn next.
I have the same problem Sissy – “The Zoloft helped with anxiety but made me very antisocial. To a point I was content living in my home and not picking up a phone”. I have become an introvert since starting Sertraline and now I feel like I can not go to the store, social events, or work. (Started with 25mg, up to 50mg within 6months and took that for a year, and now on 100mg for the past 4 months).
Slow progression and increase because it seems to not be working and I’m still dealing with PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety. I also take alprazolam for anxiety. I want to go off that also. Homeopathic here I come! (I hope). I want to go off it. I want information about what to expect.
I’m also quitting smoking and sugar intake. Talk about a domino of explosions about to happen. Grateful for this information. Grateful for all the comments and insight. Thanks!
You just made me realize where my post nasal drip was coming from. Wow, I never realized that the zoloft might have something to do with it. I went cold turkey a week ago and have been dealing with extreme tiredness, headaches, brain zaps, dizziness, and symptoms I probably haven’t even contributed to me stopping the zoloft.
Honestly, I’m glad I went cold turkey though because I think I could handle the withdrawal as long as I know that it’s exactly just that… withdrawal symptoms. If I didn’t know where it was coming from, I probably would be a lot more anxious.
I disagree. I relate 100% to the post and I’m thankful I found it because it shows that what I’m going through isn’t abnormal and thus not something to worry about. Most of what is described seems to be very common (judging by others commenting and by other google searches).
Hi there, I am new to this forum. I am withdrawing from Sertraline. I was on Paroxetine for 4 years and then switched to Sertraline for another 4. 100mg daily. I did a strange thing and at a time of great crisis decided to go cold turkey as I wanted to “feel” what was happening to me. Hell on earth is a good description of how I feel at the moment 5 weeks into my withdrawal. Brain zaps, anger like I feel I could kill someone, tiredness.
Also, I am in the middle of extensive house renovations and my daughter has had to move out and stay with my sister. The sense of loss I feel is incredible, even though I see her everyday. The loss I feel over a termination (for medical reasons) I had 18 months ago is indescribable. The utter panic that my cancer will return (I had breast cancer at 28 years old) is terrifying. Anyway, I just wanted to touch base with some people who know how I feel and what I am going through. S
I wish you all the strength and support you need to get through this. I’m happy that you have a support in your sister. Please be careful.
Sammy I cannot believe what I just read in your post! I am going through the exact same thing!! With the small kids, remolding the living room, dining room, and a complete new kitchen with removed walls. I was on 100mg of zoloft for the last 3 years and 50mg for two years prior to that. I started to taper off about 6 months ago from 100 to 50. That took about 2-3 months until I was functioning OK… then I dropped it down to 50mg every other day, then every 3rd day, then about 8 weeks ago I went to zero.
The first two-four weeks were hell. Brain zaps, confusion, the “drunk” feeling, nightmares, memory loss, everything was peaking and driving me mad. That’s when we really got into our remodel and started tearing out the cabinets, replacing electrical, etc. Just insane…not to mention having three young boys and a four month old baby girl. The anger, I’ve never felt anger like I have these last few months.
My wife and I even filled out a non contested divorce packet at one time. It’s very scary. It’s like I have zero buffer. I go from pleasant to rage in .05 of a second. I can’t watch my baby girl for more than an hour at a time where as I was a very loving and patient father with all three of my boys before that when they were babies. I know some might judge as to why in the hell I did this at this time but whatever.
I gained 40 Lbs, my libido was toast and was an embarrassment to my wife when I couldn’t preform and those two things did it for me. I’m done. I was Rx’ed this when I graduated from radiology school and couldn’t find a job so I was pretty anxiety riddled and depressed. It helped for the first year or two but has done nothing since then. I’m 8-10 weeks off it and a lot of these symptoms have weakened except the quick to anger.
I still have zaps daily but only 2-3 a day. My confusion and memory are slowly getting better..S L O W L Y though. I’m afraid I’m turning into this angry man who I’ve never been before and I cannot do that , especially having 4 kids and a wife whom I love dearly. I hope this improves. It’s like a nighthmare…and those, the dreams are very scary too. Wow.
So sorry this is going on with you hopefully you can heal and be back to your old self again. When I tried stopping this medicine I thought I was going crazy and hated it.good luck with everything. I had to start the mesd again because the side effects were so horrible I honestly thought I was going crazy and the crying spells plus anxiety drove me almost nuts. Yep I know how you feel.
You should read this article to your wife and kids, so they can understand a little…. and ask for their patience, and they should walk away from you and not take it personally. Allow your anger to turn to tears. It does help. Don’t be proud. It takes a greater man to cry then to get angry. Hope your days get better and better.
DeeDee- I like what you said about letting your anger turn to tears. Maybe I can do that. Last night, my husband asked me why I was being so mean. Oh no… I just realized I am supposed to have my puppy to the vet in 20 minutes. I’m hoping I can start playing with him… therapy. :)
Steven – Your story is a mirror of mine. My question is this – you posted this in July and it is now October. How are you doing? Since your story is so incredibly similar, I am wondering how the anger is at this point? I’m trying to figure out how long it will take to subside.
Steven – How are you now? This is also my concern as I’ve gone off (tapered and cold turkey) before and the quick to anger kicks in and I have gone back on them for the sake of being able to function around others. (DISLIKE). I wonder if anyone has experience with the anger and how long it lasts…??
You are not alone. I am currently on short term and may not make it back to work. But I am coming off zoloft after a month on it and I am so tired during the day. Social/Anxiety and depression is still there. I was on paxil for about 10 years and worked great until mid august when all hell broke loose and couldn’t function at my job late Sept. I’m starting to take Pristiq. I hope this one will work! Pristiq was one of the meds that was recommended by a gene testing but my insurance wouldn’t pay for it except the zoloft. Another round…
I have been on Zoloft 200mg for about 12 years, and am currently in the process of tapering off. I have to say, with being on the highest dosage for that amount of time, I, if anyone, should be having a TERRIBLE time with it. I have wanted to come off the drug for quite some time but have been putting it off out of fear of the withdrawal process.
If I said that I’ve been completely symptom free, I would be lying. However, to my surprise, the experience has been far from unbearable. I can only assume that I owe it to my purchase of a nutribullet. I have no involvement with the company nor am I trying to sell something, I’m simply trying to offer my best advice to people trying to come off this drug with as little discomfort as possible. I am several months into the tapering off process.
The first symptoms I notice are the brain zaps (which would be frightening to anyone who didn’t realize that this is a normal, harmless result of withdrawing) nausea, and headache. These have all been very mild in my case. A few weeks in, I started experiencing fatigue, depression, and irritability. This has been the most bothersome for me, but again, it hasn’t been severe enough to keep me from functioning in my day-to-day life.
I have also woken up during the night to panic attacks a couple of times, as well achiness and itchy skin, but I take a deep breath and remember that it’s a normal symptom and that it will pass, and I’ve been able to calm myself down rather quickly. As I’ve explained, it hasn’t been the easiest thing I’ve ever done, but considering the dosage I’ve been taking and the amount of time I’ve been taking it, one would assume that I’d be a LOT worse off! I truly believe that having 2 drinks from the nutribullet every day has made a tremendous difference in how well I’ve done during this process.
I highly recommend getting one, or any other nutrition extractor, to anyone withdrawing from an SSRI or just to people who want to improve their overall health and well being. Do some research on what ingredients to add that will help you with anxiety/depression/or whatever symptoms are bothering you the most. I truly wish that I had taken that route in the first place before getting on this medication. Also, being surrounded by positive and encouraging people has made a huge difference, as well as getting outside and exercising (as much as you may not feel like it, you’ll be glad you did!)
I hope that sharing my experience and suggestions will help to encourage anyone going through this process. I have been able to work and function as usual, and unless I’ve told people what I’m going through, they haven’t even noticed anything different about me at all. Again, as someone who was on 200mg for 12 years, if I can do it, anyone can! Stick with it, don’t give up, and know that any discomfort or troubling symptoms WILL pass.
Never underestimate the power of good nutrition, good company, and exercise! Believe me when I say, it can make all the difference :)
Thank you, Josaphina. I have been on Zoloft 100mg for 15 years. I am trying to taper it off. I do it very slowly. 100mg/75mg every other day for 1 month. then, 75mg for 1 month, then 75mg/50mg every other day for 1 month, then 50mg for 1 month. I am now at the 75mg for 1 month (I am at the second week).
I do feel tired, but other than that I feel fine. Tell me, what do you put in your nutribullet? I have a nutribullet too, but do not use it often. I hope my journey will continue well and wish all of you the same. Listen to your body and do as it tells you. Everybody is different. Taper, Pray, and Eat healthy.
I see you are recently coming off Zoloft. I am going through hell, tapered for about 2 weeks, then went off cold turkey for 9 days now. I feel like bursting into tears, I am so bad tempered and I ache all over. I started taking Sertraline 8 months ago because my husband had convinced me I was neurotic and yes they did calm me down.
However I have put on over a stone and my sex life is completely dead with no libido, so I must way up the positives and negatives and I so want to be normal again. How long will my joints ache so much? I can put up with everything else. I just hope I can do it, I need encouragement. HELP. Barbara
How are you now?
Brain zaps!! What a perfect description. I thought I might have a stroke or heart attack. I tapered off of Zoloft for the past two months. Just last weekend I got so angry I felt like I would past out. I was shaking all over and my blood pressure went up. Since Sunday I have felt like I would fall asleep standing up, dizzy and headachy and generally upset. Reading this website helps me realize that I will get better.
Agreed 100%.
I have been on 100mg Zoloft for about 17 years. Except for when I was pregnant. Did not have much issues coming off of it when pregnant. My kids are getting older now one is school age the other is a special needs please pre-schooler. I am have been off of it for about 2 weeks and on Cymbalta.
I am having issues. Brain Zaps, extreme fatigue, depression, I am just SOOOO tired! Dealing with this and my special needs child is VERY challenging to say the least. I have been relying on my husband more to help. I feel like a failure of a parent and wife. Logically I know that is silly but it doesn’t change how I feel. :( Just have to ride the waves!
I am also very grateful for this list that you compiled. It answered a lot of questions for me, too. The same week that I was going through withdrawal from taking sertraline, I also had food poisoning (which wasn’t too bad, but recovering from it took several days) and a uterine prolapse. Because of the close proximity that these things happened in, I couldn’t tell for sure what caused what symptom. This is the most comprehensive list I have seen of sertraline withdrawal side effects. Thank you for putting this together.
I am now off Zoloft for 3 months. I still have dizziness, nausea, extreme anger (out of character), upset stomach. The anger has been the most disturbing symptom. I was also anemic-which I have read can be caused by Zoloft withdrawal. I won’t ever due this again. You couldn’t pay me to ever take this drug again.