Going off of Zoloft...need support!

[contentess]

Hello! I've been taking Zoloft (50 mg/day) on and off for almost nine (!) years now for panic disorder, and I have had nothing but good experiences with it. It was worked very well for me, and has allowed me to employ behavior and cognitive techniques that have led me to gain control over my anxiety for the first time in my life. I've been panic-free for a year now, and my husband and I have decided to start trying to conceive. I am not comfortable taking Zoloft throughout my pregnancy, and I am very uncomfortable with the idea of breastfeeding while on Zoloft. (I realize there are people who do this, and that's fine, but it is not something I want to do if possible.)

So, I'm trying to wean off. Or, starting to wean off. I've actually gone off of Zoloft twice before, but at both times I went off because of selfish reasons--I wanted to drink, I didn't want to be taking a pill every day. And, I did not have a firm grounding in CBT techniques for reducing anxiety. Now, however, I have both a good set of coping skills and a very unselfish reason for wanting to go off.

I would really like to be in contact with someone else weaning off of Zoloft, since it is a stressful process and it helps to talk to someone who understands what you're talking about (like the zaps!). If anyone would like to correspond, please e-mail me at contentess@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
Lori

[LPL]

I started the weaning process about a month ago. My doctor instructed me to start taking my normal dosage every other day for a week, then take it every three days for two weeks. I've been completely off of it for a week. So far, the only thing that is really starting to worry me is a funny feeling in my head. It's not really dizziness...just kind of a "whoosh" when I turn my head suddenly, but it only lasts for a second. I'm not sure if this is what everyone else describes as "zaps". I guess you could call it a zap...
I'm also a little on edge....jumpy...sensitive to loud noises. But I heard that may happen when coming off of Zoloft. And I also heard that it can take two weeks for the medicine to be completely out of your system, so I'm hoping all of these symptoms will pass.
If anyone else is experiencing these weird sensations, especially the funny feeling in the head, I'd surely like to hear from you. I'm starting to worry about brain tumor over here.

[sgt207]

I was on it for 5 years for severe ptsd and panic. LAst year I started coming down on the dosage from about a high of 25mg, then I would cut off about 2mg and take that amount for 3 or 4 weeks, then cut off another 2mg's, etc until this past July I was down to 2 or 3 mg's . Then I stopped.

I still had withdrawal for about 8 weeks. It started out with dizziness, nausea, insomnia, stomach pains and aches, and bad anxiety. It would come and go in waves with no two symptoms at the same time. Most of my doctors said it wasn't withdrawal, except for my general practitioner who is not too long out of med school who said that the withdrawal can last for up to three months for those who have been on it for a long time even if you taper. If you go cold turkey you can end up in with very bad withdrawals.

Just take it very slow, then go slower.

[Mackie]

I am so glad I found this message board - I thought I was going crazy. I took Zoloft for about 8 months to help with some anxiety. While I was on it, it was great. My doctor said that after about 6 months, I shouldn't need Zoloft anymore and I could get off of it and my brain/body would be "trained" not to be anxious anymore. So, I followed her instructions to wean off of it very slowly. Last week I was down to 12.5mg every other day.

I took my last Zoloft Saturday night - I was fine Sunday & Monday. Then, wham! I woke up Tuesday feeling dizzy, everytime I got up I had sensations of vertigo, and if I moved my head, the whole room would move back and forth. I have had wooshes and zapping feels in my head, I've felt seasick. I went to the doctor on Wednesday morning (drove myself there - NOT a good idea) and she told me that all this had nothing to do with the Zoloft, that there are no side effects with getting off Zoloft. She diagnosed me with an inner ear infection and gave me some anti-dizziness medication.

I took the anti-dizziness pills on Wednesday afternoon and evening, and I felt 100 times worse. I was actually lying on the floor most of the day. Today is Thursday. I found this web site today and decided not to take the anti-dizziness pills since it didn't help at all. Today, I can finally sit up without feeling like I'm going to fall out of my chair. But the dizziness, vertigo, and zaps continue.

I wish I knew how long this was going to last! This is awful. I've missed 3 days of work now and can't afford to miss much more. This is actually causing me a lot of anxiety, and I am totally afraid that my doctor was wrong and my mind is not "trained" to be normal like she said it would. I know one thing, I am not going back on the Zoloft - this is not right!

[sugabr]

hi everyone. I have been going through withdrawl symptoms for about a week and half. i haven't experienced the emotional roller coaster yet but I am having to deal with those "zaps", dizziness, and nasuousness. Does anyone know how long this part of the withdrawl lasts? I would really appreciate all advice. If anyone wants to chat you can email me at sugabr9@aol.com or im me. thanks, kari