Hello. I just stumbled across this forum today and thought I could voice some things and hopefully get some answers or advice. I was on Zoloft for almost year until I quit a week ago. I've been taking 100mgs for depression/anxiety. The side effects I experienced were sexual libido low, fuzziness (like living in the clouds), and weight gain. Other than that, I felt better than I did when I was depressed. So I figured that I didn't need it anymore. Stupid me. My mind feels clearer than it's ever been but physically, I feel awful. I talked to my doctor in July and she said I could taper off of it but I just kept taking it. My boyfriend and I broke up a week ago so I stopped taking Zoloft since I didn't want to be on drugs forever. I didn't want to feel like I had no emotions. That was how I felt while on Zoloft. Mentally I feel great. I have ideas now and crying even feels good! It seems like before I was just "blah" and didn't feel happy or sad or mad or excited or anything. I was at this level where I was just there but not really feeling anything. So I stopped the Zoloft cold turkey and now my mind feels much better. The physical stuff that comes with this is driving me nuts though. I don't sleep much, I have incredibly vivid dreams (I used to never remember my dreams and now I remember each one...and they are weird), I get dizzy a lot, my vision seems blurry, I have these tingly feelings in my fingers and toes, and the worse part is the "electric shocks" that seem to run through my body all day. I feel sick to my stomach a lot and it's hard to eat. I don't know what to do. I don't want to go back on any medication. Does anyone have any suggestions as how to treat these symptoms of withdrawal? I know you'll say "talk to the doc" but I work too much and I go to college full time and I don't have the money to go to the doctor since I"m seeing a physical therapist each week too for TMJ disorder:( How long is this going to last? How long before this drug is out of my system. I'm 31 and I don't want to deal with these physical problems. I don't want anymore drugs. I want my mind to be clear and not fuzzy anymore. Thanks for reading
You can use a pill splitter and take half a zoloft a day for two days then half a zoloft every other day and so on . . . you just went off it too fast. I'm not sure how long the withdrawal will last, but it seems easy enough to get back on a low dose and taper off. Not much to lose.
You are right, we are not doctors so we really don't like to give medical advice.
Keep us posted!
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I had some of those same symtoms when I stopped taking zoloft. I haven't take the medicine in about 3 weeks and I can honestly say that I have felt better since I haven't been taking zoloft. i'm like you I feel like I have emotions again. I kept trying to tell my psych doctor that I didn't think zoloft was for me and he just kept upping the dose. Im not taking it any more I refuse to. I've noticed that since i quite zoloft my appitite has definately come back around and i've put on a little weight which is a good thing. I'm just have really had a lot of douts about this counseling and medication and wondering why the hell i'm spending all my money on this. I mean honestly I haven't taken medication in 3 or 4 weeks now and I haven't seen my counselor in two weeks; I see her tonight and I feel good i really do. I'm thinking about dropping it all. My husband thinks i'm feeling better cause I am seeing a counselor maybe but maybe i'm just having a new out look on things. I don't want someone to guess at how i'm feeling and sometimes its so hard to describe how i do feel i don't know I'm going to talk to my counselor tonight cause I've really thought about this hard for a few days now and i don't think i want to go any more. then again i know what will happen I'll stop going then I'll feel like a failure. I just need to talk it out with my counselor its just I'm really getting tired of doctors. I've had my fair share of doctors and appointments this year and I'm just plum tired of them. If i could make a living going to doctors I'd be a rich woman lol.
Hey Andromeda-- I stopped taking Zoloft after a year almost a month ago. I did taper for 8 days, then went off completely. I had some of your symptoms--not as intensely, though, that it seems you've been having.
I felt the same--NO MORE DRUGS. My father in law, who is in pharmeceutical sales, took me aside and said I should try taking Omega3 and 6 supplements. So, I started taking just one teaspoon of pure fish oil every day. I'd read some studies that some doctors have had real success with depression patients not having symptoms while on fish oil/omega 3 and 6.
I don't know if it's a placebo or not, I really don't. But I feel sooo much better. I take the fish oil, a calcium supplement, and a multi-vitamin, and I really watch my diet. Only "whole" foods--as little preservatives as possible and no trans fats. It's easier than I thought--I work a morning job then I stay home all day with my 1 and 3 year olds, and I do some volunteering, too, so I understand about being busy and not going to the doc.
Anyhow, I feel great--and even my husband has commented on my attitude change. I've lost a little of the weight I gained on Zoloft, too, which is a bonus.
Don't know if it's for you, but it's a thought. The real fish oil isn't cheap--i got it at a natural foods store for $20 a bottle. It has lemon in it, too, so it's palatable. And it's meant to stay refridgerated.
Thank you everyone for your concern. I'm getting a bit better. I'm sleeping better but I still have the dizziness and the "electric shocks". I used to wake up all sweaty but that doesn't happen anymore either. I'm hoping that the Zoloft is finally getting out of my body. I know it wasn't smart going grom 100mg of Zoloft to Zero, but I wanted to be drug free and now I am. My mind is getting clearer by the minute. I don't know about the fish oil stuff. I am a vegetarian so I try to stay away from animal products. Is there anything else you'd suggest? I am taking a multi-vitamin each morning, I'm on Allegra for my allergies and I take ortho-tri cyclen for birth control. I am feeling better though. I'm exercising and stretching and meditating and that really seems to help. I just don't like the dizziness and "electric shocks". I wish they would go away. I suppose these things take time though. Thanks again for the kind words from you all:)
You can get Omega 3 and 6 from Flax Seed, too. You can take it in pill form or get it ground up and put it on cereal or yogurt. It's pretty tasty that way, actually.
Hi! I'm new here. My son is 15 and has been on zoloft for over 5 years along with straterra and risperdal. He has had a hair pulling problem since beginning these meds. which one caused it, or did any of them?/???? Anyway, he took himself off of it and has stopped pulling altogether. I am unsure of how long he's been off, but i'd guess at least 2 weeks. he's doing ok, but has some angry outbursts. i kind of want him to try taking a small dose, just to taper off, but he isn't into that idea. i'm nervous about high school and his anger.....any suggestions???
Nobody should go off medications with out a doctors help. I would call his doctor and let them know what is going on. He could have some major issues yet from this. So please let his doctor know what is going on.
You should be very careful, and talk to your doctor about this. Tapering off extremely slowly is the smartest thing to do.
I went cold turkey two weeks ago, and got so sick I couldn't get out of bed for two days. I'm still dizzy, struggling with nausea, and have been to the ER twice from fainting.
AND - there is no guaranteed miracle cure or quick relief tp going back to the original dosage. I did that immediatly after feeling moderate flu like symptoms, reading that relief was almost granted in 24-48 hours. That's just b--sh--t. I'm still groggy and feel awful. Think about it, it took Zoloft weeks to promote significant levels og serotonin/sertraline in your blood to work, and someone is saying you can refill the depleted levels in 48 hours?
This day, th 6th day after reinstating Zoloft, I have been able to turn on my computer for the first time. Talk to a doctor about withdrawal, don't do this on your own.
I want to welcome you to HealingWell depression forum. You have given some very good advice on your post. I hope that you continue to converse with us. There is a wonderful group of members here. They are kind and compassionate.
Stay with us, Best wishes, Karen... Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia
This forum (I found by happenstance) seems to be a good place to talk about odd withdrawl with which no one in my family can empathize.
I have been on SSRIs since about 1998 or 1999 for OCD, and upon finding out I may be pregnant, I consulted my psychiatrist to ask if I could halt all at once. (50 mg/daily) He said there would be some discomfort...that was an understatement. Long story short, after the extreme headache and dizziness subsided, I am finding that I am incredibly sensitive, and vacilating between emotional and sobbing to aggressive and angry. (ohhh, and the pregnancy wasn 't viable so it shouldn't be hormonal).
Is this in fact withdrawl? Or perhaps signs of needing to go back to medication (which I prefer not to do).
My reaction has been different, I was not using it regularly (Like I should have I know) but ever since I quit I have been feeling so down I am near my lowest point. i just got insurance and am trying to find a doc to try something else I too hated the fuzzy, disconnected feeling. especially with my kids I can't just be oh well.
Someone please tell me these horrible withdraw symptoms will end soon. I was on 100mg of Zoloft managed to wean down to 75 got sick 10 days ago with a nasty cold and was out of Zoloft couldn't get to the store so I just stopped taking them and was doing great until 3 days ago then the brain zaps, crying and yelling spells started. I figure my body was to busy fighting the cold to notice the Zoloft was missing so i just went with it. This is day 11 with NO Zoloft. The brain zaps has gotten better, the crying and meanness seem to be getting worse. One minute I'm freezing the next I'm hot. I just feel so uncomfortable in my skin. No suicidal thoughts just feel really miserable, nausea, can't stand the sight of myself or even the sound of my little kitty's meow. When will this end? here comes the crying again. I hate my life, I'm such a loser and the worst part is i have been on xanix for 12 years and that is only slightly taking the edge off.
I stopped taking the Zoloft for a few reasons I'm tired of being fat (60 pounds over weight), I want my sex drive back, I want my life back! It all fell apart 12 years ago when my son died and I never recovered I have a wonderful husband who just doesn't get it and a beautiful teenage daughter who I don't expect to get it.
Life has always had it's downs for me and I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself and hiding behind one drug (SSRI) after another.
I know all my symptoms are normal BUT living with them is another story.
Hello and welcome to HealingWell. I am so sorry you are going through all of the withdrawal sx from the Zoloft. I agree that you need to wean off the medication slowly to allow your body to adjust.
Feeling better cannot be enjoyed if your having all of these nasty sx.
I wish you the best and would like you to discuss a weaning plan with your physician.
Thank you for replying. I called my doctor today and he can't spare 5 minutes to speak with me till Friday and seeing how I have been off the Zoloft for this long I just can't see going backwards now no matter how horrible the withdrawal is. To have to do it all over again knowing there is a possibility of this again. It does seem to come in waves right now I'm "think" I'm heading out of a bad wave hopefully it will be he only one today which would be an improvement!
I took Zoloft for 5 years in the past and over a week stopped taking them with NO withdrawal symptoms but not this time I guess I foolishly thought it would be the same this time. I'm a warrior and going to keep on marching through this miserableness because I know the other end of the tunnel can't be much further even though I don't see the light yet, i know it's there! I will be soooo much better without the Zoloft. Probably be back tonight "if" the second wave of yuck comes on time!~ Thanks again for your reply!
Hi - i'm so glad to have found this site and to see that i'm not hte only one who has gone through nasty withdrawal symptoms from zoloft. Is anyone taking zoloft for anxiety as well as depression? and if so have you attempted to stop taking it. This med has helped me alot but i began to notice loss of interest in sex and the whole cloudy feeling--feeling like im lost in a cloud and trying to find my true self again!! i'm praying that i can stop taking it and not have to go back but i'm a bit worried. last time i tappered off the drug i was ok for about 2 months but then i was hit with a big bang of anxiety and dispair- i was forced to go back. currently im at 25 mg down from 50mg-- i'm hoping that in time i can just continue to tapper down until i'm totally off of it. I'm seeing my doctor this week and will explain to him my decision. i would love to hear from any of you on this
I just wanted to welcome you to the HealingWell depression forum. If you would like to you can introduce yourself on the introduction thread we have, or start a thread of your own. I think that you will find the members here are wonderful.
Keep posting, I am sorry I don't have a lot to say about zoloft. I tried it years ago and got extreme diarrhea from it. So ;I stopped it.
Best wishes for a wonderful day, HUg,s Karen Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia
I don't want to go back on any medication. Does anyone have any suggestions as how to treat these symptoms of withdrawal? I know you'll say "talk to the doc" but I work too much and I go to college full time and I don't have the money to go to the doctor since I"m seeing a physical therapist each week too for TMJ disorder:( How long is this going to last? How long before this drug is out of my system. I'm 31 and I don't want to deal with these physical problems. I don't want anymore drugs. I want my mind to be clear and not fuzzy anymore. Thanks for reading 
