Zoloft Withdrawal Or Something Else? - Drug Interactions / Side Effects Message Board

BlackBetty · 01-01-2004, 02:38 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?

sgt207 · 01-01-2004, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBetty

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.

butterflytrans · 01-01-2004, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt207

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?

Zfree · 01-03-2004, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterflytrans

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

Zfree · 01-03-2004, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBetty

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