Posted by John k on April 16, 2001, at 4:10:14
In reply to withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft, posted by animari on April 12, 2001, at 23:24:34
> hi. I am a 20 yr old college student who has been
> on anti-depressants for over 5 yrs now. I am trying
> to get off zoloft because I don't think it is
> working anymore and it makes me tired, blah and
> not happy-not sad-just nothing. I don't want to live
> like this anymore. My prescription last time was
> 100mg daily. A few months ago I cut it to 50 mg. and
> now I am taking 50 mg. every other day. I thought
> I was doing well so during spring break i decided
> to stop taking it all together. Big mistake.
> A few days later I got really sleepy, had no appetite,
> couldn't talk to people no matter how hard I tried
> (i would give one word answers,very scary, i was trapped
> in my own head). I am going to Greece next year
> to study abroad-studying abroad has been a lifelong dream of mine. I realize that going abroad will
> make my depression possibly worse-so my goal is to
> be off zoloft by july and then have august to adjust
> to being off the drug.
> I am wondering if anyone can recommend any books,
> resources, websites, etc. to help me in this.
> Thanks. Good luck to everyone trying to get off
> this drug!animari,
If I understood you correctly you're currently taking 50 mg of Zoloft every other day. I believe it's better to take 25 mg every day. That way you will have more stable levels of the drug. Also, make sure to either always take the drug with meals OR always take it without meals since taking Zoloft with food increases its uptake about 40 %. This will give you the more stable levels that the body prefers. I have been taking Zoloft myself for two years and I have noted the difference that stability of medicationing makes.
Then try to follow the program outlined at this website:http://www.ascp.com/public/pubs/tcp/1997/oct/ssri.html
They document withdrawal symtoms and how to avoid them by slowly tapering the drug.
In case you realize later on that you actually do need taking Zoloft or other medications, I thing you should buy a copy of the book "The Antidepressant Survival Program" by Robert Hedaya. That book has helped me immensely with the very problems you have with Zoloft ("tired, blah and not happy-not sad-just nothing").
I hope it will work out for you!
poster:John k
thread:49078
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010411/msgs/60034.html