8 Weeks Off of Zoloft - Emotions are Raging

Optimist415 · 08-27-2003, 08:30 PM

Hi all, I've been off Zoloft for 8 weeks after being on it for 4 years, and coincidentally went off my birth control pills 4 weeks ago. My anxiety/panic that I originally went on for (which I believed I've made a lot of headway with) is definitely back, but also a disturbing amount of depression and self-doubt (along with lack of appetite and trouble sleeping), which I didn't have before. I think I am really afraid of getting by on my "own" and not sure I can do it. Does anyone have any advice for getting myself through this time or also any experience with going off multiple meds at once like I did? I know that there are people out there who have gotten off successfully, though maybe they're out having fun and not reading message boards.

Thanks for any help...

sgt207 · 08-27-2003, 09:04 PM

Did you taper down, and what was the dosage when you stopped?

Optimist415 · 08-27-2003, 09:36 PM

Yes, I tapered over 4 months. I went to 75 then 50 then took a break for 6 weeks, then went to 25 and to 0 over 2 weeks - which may have been a little fast. I did have some side effects the first few weeks - numb tongue was the weirdest one - and increased anxiety. I definitely have more symptoms now, I think my original symptoms are back (and then some) and I also have low confidence because I relied on those darn things for so long. Thanks for any advice...

sgt207 · 08-27-2003, 09:56 PM

I was on Z for 5 years and went off five weeks ago. Since I was so sensitive to it I tapered very slow. In fact I went all the way down to 2 or 3 mg's before i stopped and i still got the withdrawal, albeit to a lesser degree.

From what I've seen on this board, the withdrawal shouldn't last for more than 6-8 weeks. We'll see.

Optimist415 · 08-27-2003, 10:09 PM

Are you worried about getting your original symptoms back? How are you dealing with those feelings?