BlackBetty
01-01-2004, 05:38 PM
Hello All-
I am currently at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me? In August I went up from 50mgs of Zoloft to 100mgs because I found my anxiety getting worse. It made me feel extremely lethargic and very tired as well as constipated. I decided to taper down from 75mg to 50 to 25. It has been a week since I stoped the Zoloft and I am extremely nervous because I have been experiencing tingling sensations in my arms and legs. I think it may be MS but my doctor does not think so. I think he may be discounting this because I have a history of being a hypochondriac. But ever since I went up to 100mgs I just never felt like myself. The psychiatrist said the tingling should be gone in a wek, so far it has not subsided. I want to get an MRI to see if anything is wrong with me. My bladder also seems not to be funtioning correctly either. I do not urinate as often as I used to. I just wish the pins and needles would go away so I could stop thinking I have MS. I just dont know what to do?
I am currently at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me? In August I went up from 50mgs of Zoloft to 100mgs because I found my anxiety getting worse. It made me feel extremely lethargic and very tired as well as constipated. I decided to taper down from 75mg to 50 to 25. It has been a week since I stoped the Zoloft and I am extremely nervous because I have been experiencing tingling sensations in my arms and legs. I think it may be MS but my doctor does not think so. I think he may be discounting this because I have a history of being a hypochondriac. But ever since I went up to 100mgs I just never felt like myself. The psychiatrist said the tingling should be gone in a wek, so far it has not subsided. I want to get an MRI to see if anything is wrong with me. My bladder also seems not to be funtioning correctly either. I do not urinate as often as I used to. I just wish the pins and needles would go away so I could stop thinking I have MS. I just dont know what to do?
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sgt207
01-01-2004, 10:32 PM
Hello All-
I am currently at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me? In August I went up from 50mgs of Zoloft to 100mgs because I found my anxiety getting worse. It made me feel extremely lethargic and very tired as well as constipated. I decided to taper down from 75mg to 50 to 25. It has been a week since I stoped the Zoloft and I am extremely nervous because I have been experiencing tingling sensations in my arms and legs. I think it may be MS but my doctor does not think so. I think he may be discounting this because I have a history of being a hypochondriac. But ever since I went up to 100mgs I just never felt like myself. The psychiatrist said the tingling should be gone in a wek, so far it has not subsided. I want to get an MRI to see if anything is wrong with me. My bladder also seems not to be funtioning correctly either. I do not urinate as often as I used to. I just wish the pins and needles would go away so I could stop thinking I have MS. I just dont know what to do?
Sounds like it could be zoloft withdrawal.
I am currently at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me? In August I went up from 50mgs of Zoloft to 100mgs because I found my anxiety getting worse. It made me feel extremely lethargic and very tired as well as constipated. I decided to taper down from 75mg to 50 to 25. It has been a week since I stoped the Zoloft and I am extremely nervous because I have been experiencing tingling sensations in my arms and legs. I think it may be MS but my doctor does not think so. I think he may be discounting this because I have a history of being a hypochondriac. But ever since I went up to 100mgs I just never felt like myself. The psychiatrist said the tingling should be gone in a wek, so far it has not subsided. I want to get an MRI to see if anything is wrong with me. My bladder also seems not to be funtioning correctly either. I do not urinate as often as I used to. I just wish the pins and needles would go away so I could stop thinking I have MS. I just dont know what to do?
Sounds like it could be zoloft withdrawal.
butterflytrans
01-02-2004, 12:23 AM
Sounds like it could be zoloft withdrawal.
There is really no such thing as zoloft withdrawal. There is something called a discontinuation syndrome, but that's more of a "flu-like" illness rather than what you describe.
So you're on zoloft for anxiety right? Well, you seem quite anxious judging from your post. You're experiencing tingling--why would you automatically assume you have MS from that? There are so many more common and less serious things that it could be. Also, what do you think an MRI would do for you?
There is really no such thing as zoloft withdrawal. There is something called a discontinuation syndrome, but that's more of a "flu-like" illness rather than what you describe.
So you're on zoloft for anxiety right? Well, you seem quite anxious judging from your post. You're experiencing tingling--why would you automatically assume you have MS from that? There are so many more common and less serious things that it could be. Also, what do you think an MRI would do for you?
Zfree
01-03-2004, 09:36 AM
There is really no such thing as zoloft withdrawal. There is something called a discontinuation syndrome, but that's more of a "flu-like" illness rather than what you describe.
So you're on zoloft for anxiety right? Well, you seem quite anxious judging from your post. You're experiencing tingling--why would you automatically assume you have MS from that? There are so many more common and less serious things that it could be. Also, what do you think an MRI would do for you?
Judging from this post, you haven't been reading about what those of us have been experiencing while withdrawing from Zoloft. There certainly is such thing as Zoloft withdrawals. Some of us have experienced or are experiencing electrical-like brain jolts (this has been documented in AmJMed), as well as a host of other withdrawal symptoms as a result of coming off or trying to wean down from Zoloft. Please, before you say something like "there is really no such thing as zoloft withdrawal", do a little bit of research. You can start by reading the thread marked "Zoloft Withdrawal is Hell" and go from there.
Zfree
So you're on zoloft for anxiety right? Well, you seem quite anxious judging from your post. You're experiencing tingling--why would you automatically assume you have MS from that? There are so many more common and less serious things that it could be. Also, what do you think an MRI would do for you?
Judging from this post, you haven't been reading about what those of us have been experiencing while withdrawing from Zoloft. There certainly is such thing as Zoloft withdrawals. Some of us have experienced or are experiencing electrical-like brain jolts (this has been documented in AmJMed), as well as a host of other withdrawal symptoms as a result of coming off or trying to wean down from Zoloft. Please, before you say something like "there is really no such thing as zoloft withdrawal", do a little bit of research. You can start by reading the thread marked "Zoloft Withdrawal is Hell" and go from there.
Zfree
Zfree
01-03-2004, 09:44 AM
Hello All-
I am currently at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me? In August I went up from 50mgs of Zoloft to 100mgs because I found my anxiety getting worse. It made me feel extremely lethargic and very tired as well as constipated. I decided to taper down from 75mg to 50 to 25. It has been a week since I stoped the Zoloft and I am extremely nervous because I have been experiencing tingling sensations in my arms and legs. I think it may be MS but my doctor does not think so. I think he may be discounting this because I have a history of being a hypochondriac. But ever since I went up to 100mgs I just never felt like myself. The psychiatrist said the tingling should be gone in a wek, so far it has not subsided. I want to get an MRI to see if anything is wrong with me. My bladder also seems not to be funtioning correctly either. I do not urinate as often as I used to. I just wish the pins and needles would go away so I could stop thinking I have MS. I just dont know what to do?
Blackbetty,
This does sound like a withdrawal symptom from the Zoloft. There's another post around here wherein the poster was complaining of the same symptoms while coming off of Zoloft. Please don't feel that you are being a hypochondriac over this. I think in the back of our minds, those of us attempting to wean off of Zoloft and start to experience withdrawal symptoms, think the same thing. Perhaps by taking a small dose of Zoloft you can determine if it is withdrawal symptoms or not. If the symptoms disappear within a couple of hours, it is withdrawal. Amazingly, when I take Zoloft, I feel a bit more jumpy too. I realize it is to help treat my anxiety, but I sometimes wonder if some of us are reacting differently to it. In any event, always check with your doctor before doing anything.
zfree
I am currently at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me? In August I went up from 50mgs of Zoloft to 100mgs because I found my anxiety getting worse. It made me feel extremely lethargic and very tired as well as constipated. I decided to taper down from 75mg to 50 to 25. It has been a week since I stoped the Zoloft and I am extremely nervous because I have been experiencing tingling sensations in my arms and legs. I think it may be MS but my doctor does not think so. I think he may be discounting this because I have a history of being a hypochondriac. But ever since I went up to 100mgs I just never felt like myself. The psychiatrist said the tingling should be gone in a wek, so far it has not subsided. I want to get an MRI to see if anything is wrong with me. My bladder also seems not to be funtioning correctly either. I do not urinate as often as I used to. I just wish the pins and needles would go away so I could stop thinking I have MS. I just dont know what to do?
Blackbetty,
This does sound like a withdrawal symptom from the Zoloft. There's another post around here wherein the poster was complaining of the same symptoms while coming off of Zoloft. Please don't feel that you are being a hypochondriac over this. I think in the back of our minds, those of us attempting to wean off of Zoloft and start to experience withdrawal symptoms, think the same thing. Perhaps by taking a small dose of Zoloft you can determine if it is withdrawal symptoms or not. If the symptoms disappear within a couple of hours, it is withdrawal. Amazingly, when I take Zoloft, I feel a bit more jumpy too. I realize it is to help treat my anxiety, but I sometimes wonder if some of us are reacting differently to it. In any event, always check with your doctor before doing anything.
zfree
butterflytrans
01-03-2004, 11:18 AM
Please provide me with the reference for this article in the American Journal of Medicine. I want to read it.
baily
01-04-2004, 08:21 PM
butterflytrans, are you on Zoloft and trying to get off, or just giving the people who are a hard time?
butterflytrans
01-05-2004, 12:45 AM
butterflytrans, are you on Zoloft and trying to get off, or just giving the people who are a hard time?
Neither....I'm just interested in reading the article that's all! I was under the impression that none of the SSRIs had withdrawal syndromes like you have with benzos or alcohol....rather they have DISCONTINUATION syndromes as I mentioned in my first post. There's a difference.
Neither....I'm just interested in reading the article that's all! I was under the impression that none of the SSRIs had withdrawal syndromes like you have with benzos or alcohol....rather they have DISCONTINUATION syndromes as I mentioned in my first post. There's a difference.
hanelo4
01-06-2004, 05:41 AM
Neither....I'm just interested in reading the article that's all! I was under the impression that none of the SSRIs had withdrawal syndromes like you have with benzos or alcohol....rather they have DISCONTINUATION syndromes as I mentioned in my first post. There's a difference.
Just to let you know hun, I had a bad reaction to an SSRI from stopping it after just 4 days. I was put in the hospital for this. I was hallucinating and seeing bright colors and my legs would shake uncontrollably. I do not do drugs, drink, or smoke. I'm not saying they all do this, because I'm taking one right now called Lexapro, but Paxil did not work for me for some reason.
At first, I wasn't sure what it was, and neither were the doctors. At the time, I was on Paxil cr. I've researched it since then and this is one of the rare symptoms they give from stopping the medication all at once. So, I don't know what the proper term would be for this, but I did feel like I was withdrawing.
Chantel :angel:
Just to let you know hun, I had a bad reaction to an SSRI from stopping it after just 4 days. I was put in the hospital for this. I was hallucinating and seeing bright colors and my legs would shake uncontrollably. I do not do drugs, drink, or smoke. I'm not saying they all do this, because I'm taking one right now called Lexapro, but Paxil did not work for me for some reason.
At first, I wasn't sure what it was, and neither were the doctors. At the time, I was on Paxil cr. I've researched it since then and this is one of the rare symptoms they give from stopping the medication all at once. So, I don't know what the proper term would be for this, but I did feel like I was withdrawing.
Chantel :angel:
baily
01-06-2004, 07:37 AM
Neither....I'm just interested in reading the article that's all! I was under the impression that none of the SSRIs had withdrawal syndromes like you have with benzos or alcohol....rather they have DISCONTINUATION syndromes as I mentioned in my first post. There's a difference.
Discontinuation, withdraw. It seems they are pretty much the same to me!
Discontinuation, withdraw. It seems they are pretty much the same to me!
butterflytrans
01-06-2004, 09:04 AM
Just to let you know hun, I had a bad reaction to an SSRI from stopping it after just 4 days. I was put in the hospital for this. I was hallucinating and seeing bright colors and my legs would shake uncontrollably. I do not do drugs, drink, or smoke. I'm not saying they all do this, because I'm taking one right now called Lexapro, but Paxil did not work for me for some reason.
At first, I wasn't sure what it was, and neither were the doctors. At the time, I was on Paxil cr. I've researched it since then and this is one of the rare symptoms they give from stopping the medication all at once. So, I don't know what the proper term would be for this, but I did feel like I was withdrawing.
Chantel :angel:
That sounds like it must've been horrible! Out of curiosity...which SSRI were you on? Was it by any chance Prozac or Paxil?
At first, I wasn't sure what it was, and neither were the doctors. At the time, I was on Paxil cr. I've researched it since then and this is one of the rare symptoms they give from stopping the medication all at once. So, I don't know what the proper term would be for this, but I did feel like I was withdrawing.
Chantel :angel:
That sounds like it must've been horrible! Out of curiosity...which SSRI were you on? Was it by any chance Prozac or Paxil?
hanelo4
01-07-2004, 06:03 AM
That sounds like it must've been horrible! Out of curiosity...which SSRI were you on? Was it by any chance Prozac or Paxil?
Hi again:)
Yes, it was Paxil cr. The funny thing about all of this is that five years ago I took Paxil cr for a whole year and had no withdrawals or side effects what so ever. What happened was that I was a little anxious around a lot of people and I would feel nervous and sweat and just want to run out of the room, so he put me on Paxil to calm me down a little. I would worry a lot too and he said it would also help with that. Well, he told me he had some samples and that I could start on it since it did well for me five years ago. The nurses usually handle the samples and they gave me 25mg and did NOT tell me to split them in half. I was supposed to start on 12.5. After three days I was feeling pretty good. I even told my husband that it was working fast and that the doctor had told me it wouldn't start working until about 2 weeks.
The forth day I was babysitting my godson and forgot to take the pill that night and I was woke up at 3am in the morning hallucinating and freaking out. I actualy thought I was dying. I told my kids and husband I loved them and I thought I would die. The feeling I felt over my skin was horrible. I can't even explain it. I was vomitting and dizzy and felt like I would pass out. They rushed me to the hospital and I was told I had vertigo. Well....I was put on antivert and xanex which helped for a little while cause I mostly slept. I called to fill my persription again and I was told by the ER nurse that if I am still feeling dizzy after 2 weeks that it was not Vertigo.
Long story short........this kept going on and on. I would panic 24/7. I've always had a nervous stomach, but never in my life have I ever panicked before. They would take me off all medicines......I would withdrawal......then feel good for one day, and put me right back on more medicine...take me off again....withdrawal....and so on. Yes, it was horrible and I'm really thinking about talking to a lawyer. Those nurses should have never gave me those samples and they should have told me to split it in half. I had been going to this doctor all of my life. Needless to say, I switched.
I'm now on Lexapro 10mg and had to adjust to it. I started on 5mg for a while. My stomach was real sensitive to any medication after all of this.
Just wanted to say...the withdrawals are very real and they are no fun what so ever:(
Sorry this is so long...hope you have a good night:)
Chantel :angel:
Hi again:)
Yes, it was Paxil cr. The funny thing about all of this is that five years ago I took Paxil cr for a whole year and had no withdrawals or side effects what so ever. What happened was that I was a little anxious around a lot of people and I would feel nervous and sweat and just want to run out of the room, so he put me on Paxil to calm me down a little. I would worry a lot too and he said it would also help with that. Well, he told me he had some samples and that I could start on it since it did well for me five years ago. The nurses usually handle the samples and they gave me 25mg and did NOT tell me to split them in half. I was supposed to start on 12.5. After three days I was feeling pretty good. I even told my husband that it was working fast and that the doctor had told me it wouldn't start working until about 2 weeks.
The forth day I was babysitting my godson and forgot to take the pill that night and I was woke up at 3am in the morning hallucinating and freaking out. I actualy thought I was dying. I told my kids and husband I loved them and I thought I would die. The feeling I felt over my skin was horrible. I can't even explain it. I was vomitting and dizzy and felt like I would pass out. They rushed me to the hospital and I was told I had vertigo. Well....I was put on antivert and xanex which helped for a little while cause I mostly slept. I called to fill my persription again and I was told by the ER nurse that if I am still feeling dizzy after 2 weeks that it was not Vertigo.
Long story short........this kept going on and on. I would panic 24/7. I've always had a nervous stomach, but never in my life have I ever panicked before. They would take me off all medicines......I would withdrawal......then feel good for one day, and put me right back on more medicine...take me off again....withdrawal....and so on. Yes, it was horrible and I'm really thinking about talking to a lawyer. Those nurses should have never gave me those samples and they should have told me to split it in half. I had been going to this doctor all of my life. Needless to say, I switched.
I'm now on Lexapro 10mg and had to adjust to it. I started on 5mg for a while. My stomach was real sensitive to any medication after all of this.
Just wanted to say...the withdrawals are very real and they are no fun what so ever:(
Sorry this is so long...hope you have a good night:)
Chantel :angel:
baily
01-07-2004, 07:29 AM
Wow, that sounds just like what happened to me the other night. I am tapering off Zoloft and am down to 25 mg. I went out of town overnight and forgot the med. and I woke up at 1 AM with clamy skin, my stomach was in knots and my head started pounding. I really though I had caught the flu that is going around. I was scheduled to lower my dose to 12.5 mg but am sticking at the 25 for now. I also just started a new job and now I wake up around 4 AM with such worry that I won't learn all the things I need to know. I have a sick nervous stomach most of the time now. Does anyone know how long it will take for all the zoloft to be out of my system after I finally stop?
hanelo4
01-07-2004, 08:25 AM
Wow, that sounds just like what happened to me the other night. I am tapering off Zoloft and am down to 25 mg. I went out of town overnight and forgot the med. and I woke up at 1 AM with clamy skin, my stomach was in knots and my head started pounding. I really though I had caught the flu that is going around. I was scheduled to lower my dose to 12.5 mg but am sticking at the 25 for now. I also just started a new job and now I wake up around 4 AM with such worry that I won't learn all the things I need to know. I have a sick nervous stomach most of the time now. Does anyone know how long it will take for all the zoloft to be out of my system after I finally stop?
Hi hun:)
If I were you, I would stay on the 25mg for a while longer. Even if you have to stay on for another month, then drop to 12.5. I've read many stories and it seems that the longer you taper the better. I'm not too sure how long this will last for you. I hope not too long though. I'm not a doctor, but from what I've read here, it takes some like 5-6 weeks to feel completely normal again. Just hang in there and don't give up. I know if feels horrible, but it does pass:)
Good luck hun:)
Chantel :angel:
Hi hun:)
If I were you, I would stay on the 25mg for a while longer. Even if you have to stay on for another month, then drop to 12.5. I've read many stories and it seems that the longer you taper the better. I'm not too sure how long this will last for you. I hope not too long though. I'm not a doctor, but from what I've read here, it takes some like 5-6 weeks to feel completely normal again. Just hang in there and don't give up. I know if feels horrible, but it does pass:)
Good luck hun:)
Chantel :angel:
sgt207
01-07-2004, 10:11 AM
Hi hun:)
If I were you, I would stay on the 25mg for a while longer. Even if you have to stay on for another month, then drop to 12.5. I've read many stories and it seems that the longer you taper the better. I'm not too sure how long this will last for you. I hope not too long though. I'm not a doctor, but from what I've read here, it takes some like 5-6 weeks to feel completely normal again. Just hang in there and don't give up. I know if feels horrible, but it does pass:)
Good luck hun:)
Chantel :angel:
I went for 8 weeks after stopping zoloft but the withdrawal never went away. The dr had to re-start me on Z. After a while the Z kicked back in and the symptoms went away. Seems my body was so used to the Z that I went into typical withdrawal which led to seretonin depletion along w/anxiety re-emergence. But this doesn't happen to most people I'm told. I must be really sensitive to it.
If I were you, I would stay on the 25mg for a while longer. Even if you have to stay on for another month, then drop to 12.5. I've read many stories and it seems that the longer you taper the better. I'm not too sure how long this will last for you. I hope not too long though. I'm not a doctor, but from what I've read here, it takes some like 5-6 weeks to feel completely normal again. Just hang in there and don't give up. I know if feels horrible, but it does pass:)
Good luck hun:)
Chantel :angel:
I went for 8 weeks after stopping zoloft but the withdrawal never went away. The dr had to re-start me on Z. After a while the Z kicked back in and the symptoms went away. Seems my body was so used to the Z that I went into typical withdrawal which led to seretonin depletion along w/anxiety re-emergence. But this doesn't happen to most people I'm told. I must be really sensitive to it.
baily
01-08-2004, 08:10 AM
I went for 8 weeks after stopping zoloft but the withdrawal never went away. The dr had to re-start me on Z. After a while the Z kicked back in and the symptoms went away. Seems my body was so used to the Z that I went into typical withdrawal which led to seretonin depletion along w/anxiety re-emergence. But this doesn't happen to most people I'm told. I must be really sensitive to it.
How long were you on Z? Does the dr. think you'll ever be able to go completely off it?
How long were you on Z? Does the dr. think you'll ever be able to go completely off it?
hanelo4
01-08-2004, 09:09 AM
I went for 8 weeks after stopping zoloft but the withdrawal never went away. The dr had to re-start me on Z. After a while the Z kicked back in and the symptoms went away. Seems my body was so used to the Z that I went into typical withdrawal which led to seretonin depletion along w/anxiety re-emergence. But this doesn't happen to most people I'm told. I must be really sensitive to it.
That sounds so horrible hun. I feel for you and I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. I hope you are able to one day get off completely. I hope for myself too that one day I can get off. Although I am not on Zoloft, I still think all SSRI's have slight withdrawals.
Good Luck:)
Chantel :angel:
That sounds so horrible hun. I feel for you and I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. I hope you are able to one day get off completely. I hope for myself too that one day I can get off. Although I am not on Zoloft, I still think all SSRI's have slight withdrawals.
Good Luck:)
Chantel :angel:
sgt207
01-08-2004, 10:28 AM
How long were you on Z? Does the dr. think you'll ever be able to go completely off it?
On it for 5 years - low dose <25mg's.
Hopefully one day I can try to come off it again but even slower! As it was I was down to about 2mg's per day which is almost nothing. The next time I'll do that but then go every other day for several months, then every third day, then 4th, etc.
On it for 5 years - low dose <25mg's.
Hopefully one day I can try to come off it again but even slower! As it was I was down to about 2mg's per day which is almost nothing. The next time I'll do that but then go every other day for several months, then every third day, then 4th, etc.