Posted by Sarah T. on April 2, 2006, at 17:07:28
In reply to withdrawal.. and medical school, posted by medstudent on April 1, 2006, at 3:58:37
Hi. Congratulations on finishing medical school, and even more congratulations on accomplishing as much as you have in spite of your depression.
Yes, I am in full agreement with you regarding the withdrawal from antidepressants. Even worse is the fact that the pharmaceutical companies and many doctors don't call it "Withdrawal." If they acknowledge it at all, they use euphemisms like "discontinuation syndrome," but whatever they call it, it is, in many instances, far worse than withdrawal from restricted meds. I know people who withdrew from Paxil and Effexor years ago, and they're still experiencing brain zaps, movement disorders and numerous other problems.
A relative of mine who was a physician once cautioned me not to try any new antidepressants (or any other meds, for that matter) until they'd been on the market for at least a few years. He always said, "Only take what's tried and true." He had seen so many instances of patients trying brand new drugs, only to see those drugs withdrawn from the market within weeks or months due to problems that either did not surface during clinical trials or were covered up.
My suggestion to you is to withdraw from Zoloft as slowly as possible. Lower the dose in almost imperceptible increments, and stretch it out over as many weeks or months as you can. I know you want to get off the stuff fast, but if you do it too fast, you're likely to rebound and end up more depressed. Is Zoloft available in liquid form? If so, taking the liquid with a medicine dropper that is very finely graduated will help manage the tiny, nearly imperceptible dose changes that are necessary for this very gradual withdrawal.
Good luck. Please let us know how you're doing.
poster:Sarah T.
thread:627404
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060228/msgs/627916.html