I finally got through Zoloft withdrawal after being on this drug for over 10 years. It's been 6 weeks now and I feel so depressed! I have crying jags almost every day, no sex drive, feel lethargic and just generally hopeless. I'm really shocked by this change in myself and I don't know what to think. Has anyone out there had experience with discontinuation of antidepressants? I'm wondering if this is normal for a period of time or perhaps I'm just one of those people who need to be on AD's all of the time.

So hard to tell that this point, give your self a few months for your own chemicals to kick in again. I think your body has to re-adjust, and that can take a few months at least.
Its impressive you have been this far:)
If you need to go back on, you always can! And if you need to be back on its not a failure on your part!
Its just accepting that you have an medical issue that needs medication.

FYI- I have my self been on SSRI's for around the last ten years, and have tried to get off and stay off and have not been successful....and have returned to SSRI'S.

I was on zoloft for 9 1/2 years and have been weaning off basically the last four or five years. After horrible withdrawal in 2003, I was able to stop this past summer and now it's been almost 4 months off. It seems as though you need to give your body time to adjust.



I finally got through Zoloft withdrawal after being on this drug for over 10 years. It's been 6 weeks now and I feel so depressed! I have crying jags almost every day, no sex drive, feel lethargic and just generally hopeless. I'm really shocked by this change in myself and I don't know what to think. Has anyone out there had experience with discontinuation of antidepressants? I'm wondering if this is normal for a period of time or perhaps I'm just one of those people who need to be on AD's all of the time.

Mitchiesmom:

A safe and efficient alternative to antidepressants is MAGNESIUM. It will increase you brain serotonin level and w/o nasty side-effects. And you will feel the effect on your mental state quickly already after 2 hours. Take 1 or 1.5 gm/day.

I was on zoloft for 9 1/2 years and have been weaning off basically the last four or five years. After horrible withdrawal in 2003, I was able to stop this past summer and now it's been almost 4 months off. It seems as though you need to give your body time to adjust.


Hi Sgt!! :wave: Nice to see you.


SOE

I've never heard of taking magnesium for depression. It's interesting though and should be looked into. I really wish I knew how long to give this process. Last night my hubby told me that he was concerned about me and that it wasn't normal to cry all of the time and feel this way. He wishes I would go back on the AD's, but I just don't know what to do.

How are you doing? Hope you enjoy the holidays.

Been off zoloft now almost 4 months --- the smoking helped with the withdrawal. Now to stop the smoking. Still had some withdrawal periods and not back to my old old self but getting there.

Take care

How are you doing? Hope you enjoy the holidays.

Been off zoloft now almost 4 months --- the smoking helped with the withdrawal. Now to stop the smoking. Still had some withdrawal periods and not back to my old old self but getting there.

Take care

Don't be surprised if you have to go back on an AD when you quit smoking. I had been down to a 50 mg. dose of Zoloft for a few years and then when I quit smoking, major depression set in again. I had to go back up to a higher dose for over a year and now I'm off it again. It's really a struggle right now and I don't know if it's the best thing for me, but I'm still trying. Good luck with everything and your quit!

When I started smoking several years ago I experienced zoloft withdrawal but it was much less than when I weaned off of 5 mg's back in '03. Had to re-start zoloft in '03 and all stabilized when I took about 8 mg's for several months. Now I was able to wean down to about 2 mg's per day [yes, I know it's nothing but I took small chips]. I was able to stop the zoloft with almost no problems compared to '03. The first time I quit smoking back in 97, I had no problems so I'm hoping for such luck again. One thing is for sure, there is no way in hell I will go back on zoloft again. Taking zoloft helps many people I am sure, but for me it will never happen again. I also recently read of a medical study that stated when a person takes in nicotine, whether smoking or by a nicotine supplement [patch or gum], the ssri blood level will drop making it necessary to increase the dosage. It was this same theory that enabled me to wean off zoloft slowly, helped by the nicotine. I can't begin to describe the withdrawal that I went through in '03 only to be told it can't be from the zoloft by doctors. IT was a total nightmare, especially coming off of such a small dosage, a dosage that was supposed to be clinically insignificant.



Don't be surprised if you have to go back on an AD when you quit smoking. I had been down to a 50 mg. dose of Zoloft for a few years and then when I quit smoking, major depression set in again. I had to go back up to a higher dose for over a year and now I'm off it again. It's really a struggle right now and I don't know if it's the best thing for me, but I'm still trying. Good luck with everything and your quit!

I thought zoloft only started at 50 mg? How were you only taking 2 mg?

I would break the pills in half and then shave small amounts off with a razor, as per my doctor.

I thought zoloft only started at 50 mg? How were you only taking 2 mg?