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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JoHum on December 16, 2002, at 21:14:04
Has anyone successful gotten off of Zoloft permanently? How do you quit? I have tried several times, but have been unsuccessful. When it was originally prescribed 10 years ago I did not know at the time that I had thyroid disease. I am now getting treated for that and no longer feel the need to take the medication. The doctors think it is a tonic of some kind and say to keep taking it. It is causing me to have all kinds of physical problems and I want to quit. Can anyone offer any advice? Please!!!
Posted by comftnumb on December 17, 2002, at 0:10:37
In reply to Zoloft withdrawal, posted by JoHum on December 16, 2002, at 21:14:04
This is totally unprofessional advice, I'm not a doctor and I don't know if it would work. But here's something you might consider:
Go onto a sister antidepressant as you try to quit Zoloft. Prozac, Celexa, Paxil or any of the other SSRI would do. This should ease the symptoms of Zoloft withdrawal. Then after a month or two discontinue the new antidepressant, which should be much easier since you've been on it far less.
Posted by agencypanic on December 17, 2002, at 11:08:00
In reply to Re: Zoloft withdrawal, posted by comftnumb on December 17, 2002, at 0:10:37
I learned that gradually decreasing the amount that you take
makes all the difference when trying to stop it. This will really alleviate/lessen the side effects you're
bound to experience.
Posted by bookgurl99 on December 19, 2002, at 2:01:58
In reply to Zoloft withdrawal, posted by JoHum on December 16, 2002, at 21:14:04
Don't you feel ticked that more docs don't check hormone levels when patients have symptoms of depression?
I also have a thyroid problem and sometimes suspect that if my thyroid had been treated to begin with, I would not have developed associated anxiety/depression problems.
Remember that it takes time to find the right thyroid dose. In addition, zoloft can supress the thyroid activity, so your levels might change significantly when you get off of it.
In addition, don't ever play around with your dose. The other day I took a dose and a half by accident, and I was a nervous wreck for 18 hours.
bookie
Posted by JoHum on December 19, 2002, at 11:47:10
In reply to Re: Zoloft withdrawal, posted by bookgurl99 on December 19, 2002, at 2:01:58
I have done a lot of reading on thyroid disease and despression and according to what I have read if the thyroid disease is treated properly then the symptoms - like being too cold, hair falling out and depression should go away or be lessened to the point that you should not need anything as strong as Zoloft. Since I have not been off of the Zoloft since I was first treated for hypothyroid I would like to know how the doctors can be so positive that I have depression. The Zoloft is causing some major physical problems for me. In the Musculoskeletal system I have had some really serious problems and have spent thousands of dollars for test with a neurologist and neurosurgeons. I have been to physical therapy, etc., but that did not help. One of the frequent symptoms listed is hypertonia, which is knotting of the muscles. Mine got so bad in my upper back and neck that I was in constant pain day and night and the pain could not be relieved with anything, even something as strong as Loratab. After two years of this the problem went away after I started to lower my Zoloft. I have been treated for asthma for two years because of shortness of breath, not enough oxygen in my system and whizzing when I breath. They too have stopped. I have had anterior chamber eye hemorrhages, abnormal liver function test, visual field test problems (which fluctuate and the doctor has not been able to pin point why. He said usually when that happens it is permanent, but he did not take in the Zoloft factor.) The list could go on and on, but I must get completely off this medicine to know what my thryoid is actually doing.
Posted by LyndaK on December 23, 2002, at 23:43:01
In reply to Re: Zoloft withdrawal, posted by JoHum on December 19, 2002, at 11:47:10
JoHum,
I concur with agencypanic. I found that if I just decreased the Zoloft very slowly, i.e. small amounts over a long period of time, it really eased the withdrawal symptoms.
If I were in your shoes, I too would want to know if the thyroid treatment alone is enough to resolve the depression. You can always go back on the Zoloft if you find out that it isn't.
Good Luck.
Lynda
This is the end of the thread.
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