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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Helenb on June 7, 2005, at 1:04:34
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by suec on June 6, 2005, at 8:23:28
I'm only guessing about 4 weeks to start feeling better. I'm now down to 25mg every second day, i'm getting a couple of dizzy spells a day, but mainly in the morning. My dr says this is normal because my brain chemistry is changing. I'll admit is a little scary, but i'm starting to finally get back to my real self. Goodluck, i hope you feel better real soon.
Posted by SallyW on August 20, 2005, at 11:13:54
In reply to withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Shelly on May 4, 1999, at 17:37:51
I have tried many times since 1999 to withdraw from zoloft. The closest I got was 6 mg. in 12/2001, but my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer and my dad was very ill too. I have experienced many of the withdrawal symptoms everyone has mentioned on this site. As of today, I am 3 days completely off zoloft and thrilled. I did it using liquid zoloft and a 1 ml. tuberculin syringe. I began seeing a psychiatrist just to do this. Cutting the pills didn't work for me. Anyway, 1 ml. = 20 mg., .5 ml=10 mg., etc. The last dose I took was .05 ml = 1 mg. I came down in 10 mg. intervals every 4 days. As the dosage decreased to really small amounts, I began coming down in smaller increments. The smallest increment was 1mg. I mixed the liquid zoloft in orange juice. In the beginning, it was a little like having a screwdriver for breakfast (liquid zoloft has alcohol in it). BUT the withdrawal symptoms were minimal (vague dizziness, but rarely). I have tried this unsuccessfully so many times and have read this message board off and on for so many years, I just wanted to share how I got off the stuff. I should never have gone on it, I wasn't clinically depressed and my family doctor put me on it. My psychiatrist didn't know you could get liquid zoloft and she says I am one of 5 patients she is seeing for the purpose of SSRI withdrawal. Long post, but if you are trying to withdraw, don't give up - it's worth it just to know you beat it!
Posted by SallyW on August 20, 2005, at 11:13:57
In reply to Redirect: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Dr. Bob on March 1, 2005, at 23:47:43
Dr. Bob, is it possible that there are metabolic reasons why some people can't withdraw from the pill form but are successful liquid? This withdrawal was so easy compared to using the pills.
Posted by ed_uk on August 20, 2005, at 11:14:00
In reply to Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 19, 2005, at 9:56:11
Hi Sally,
Welcome to babble :-)
Congratulations for getting off Zoloft! :-)
>My psychiatrist didn't know you could get liquid zoloft........
You can't get it in the UK. Do you live in the US?
Kind regards
~ed
Posted by SallyW on August 20, 2005, at 11:14:02
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS! » SallyW, posted by ed_uk on August 19, 2005, at 14:10:37
Thanks! Yes, I live in Illinois. Couldn't you order it over the internet, say from Canada?
Posted by ed_uk on August 20, 2005, at 11:14:04
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 19, 2005, at 15:17:42
Hi!
>Couldn't you order it over the internet, say from Canada?
Probably - I don't need it though, I'm not on Zoloft. I was just curious because so few people seem to use liquid Zoloft.
Here in the UK, only Prozac, Paxil and Celexa come as liquids - not Zoloft.
Kind regards
~ed
Posted by SLS on August 22, 2005, at 0:43:47
In reply to Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 19, 2005, at 9:56:11
Hi.
That was a great way to discontinue Zoloft. Perhaps you could write a more detailed essay.
How often would you take Zoloft during the day?
- Scott
Posted by SallyW on August 27, 2005, at 22:29:11
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS! » SallyW, posted by SLS on August 22, 2005, at 0:43:47
Hi Scott - I started out tapering at 50 mg. When I began reducing the dosage by cutting pills, I felt really awful. We (Dr.&me) switched to the liquid. She suggested the 1 ml. syringe.(Get 2, 1 lasts about 3 weeks before it gets sticky and won't cooperate)- 1 ml. = 20 mg. I went back to 50 mg. (2.5 ml. or 2 1/2 syrngefuls) so that I would feel okay. I got a little pocket calendar and mapped out dosages and dates so that I would have a target. I took the zoloft once a day when I got up. I squirted it into 4-5 oz. of orange juice. I began coming down 10 mg. (.5 ml) a day for 7 days. I soon realized that I could come down faster and began decreasing the dosage every 4 days. I initially noted how I was feeling each day with a smiley or sad face. After a few days, this wasn't necessary because I didn't feel bad. Once I got really low, like 7 mg. (.35 ml), I decreased the dosage in smaller amounts. After 4 days at that level, I went down to 3.5 mg. (.17 ml) for 4 days, then 2.5 mg. for 4 days, then 1.5 mg. for days. The last dosage was 1 mg (.05 ml) and that was only for 2 days and then I didn't take anymore. That was two weeks ago. One thing I need to note is that you CANNOT cheat on sleep while you are doing this. You HAVE to get at least 8-9 hours of sleep each night. If you cheat, you will feel some withdrawal effects. I still feel fine except for an unrelated sinus infection. I actually feel empowered because I've wanted to be off of the zoloft for so long. I've been on it and the doxepin before it for 10 years and hypothyoidism symptoms before that. I'm not even sure how I'm supposed to act I've been drugged for so long. But I'm happy (and not manically so!).
Posted by SLS on August 28, 2005, at 6:28:38
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 27, 2005, at 22:29:11
Hi.
Thank you so much for sharing the details of your withdrawal method. It sounds great!
- Scott
> Hi Scott - I started out tapering at 50 mg. When I began reducing the dosage by cutting pills, I felt really awful. We (Dr.&me) switched to the liquid. She suggested the 1 ml. syringe.(Get 2, 1 lasts about 3 weeks before it gets sticky and won't cooperate)- 1 ml. = 20 mg. I went back to 50 mg. (2.5 ml. or 2 1/2 syrngefuls) so that I would feel okay. I got a little pocket calendar and mapped out dosages and dates so that I would have a target. I took the zoloft once a day when I got up. I squirted it into 4-5 oz. of orange juice. I began coming down 10 mg. (.5 ml) a day for 7 days. I soon realized that I could come down faster and began decreasing the dosage every 4 days. I initially noted how I was feeling each day with a smiley or sad face. After a few days, this wasn't necessary because I didn't feel bad. Once I got really low, like 7 mg. (.35 ml), I decreased the dosage in smaller amounts. After 4 days at that level, I went down to 3.5 mg. (.17 ml) for 4 days, then 2.5 mg. for 4 days, then 1.5 mg. for days. The last dosage was 1 mg (.05 ml) and that was only for 2 days and then I didn't take anymore. That was two weeks ago. One thing I need to note is that you CANNOT cheat on sleep while you are doing this. You HAVE to get at least 8-9 hours of sleep each night. If you cheat, you will feel some withdrawal effects. I still feel fine except for an unrelated sinus infection. I actually feel empowered because I've wanted to be off of the zoloft for so long. I've been on it and the doxepin before it for 10 years and hypothyoidism symptoms before that. I'm not even sure how I'm supposed to act I've been drugged for so long. But I'm happy (and not manically so!).
Posted by ed_uk on August 28, 2005, at 8:42:51
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 27, 2005, at 22:29:11
Hi Sally,
Are there 10 divisions on your 1mL oral syringe?
~Ed
Posted by SallyW on August 28, 2005, at 17:18:20
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS! » SallyW, posted by ed_uk on August 28, 2005, at 8:42:51
It actually breaks it down into 100 increments - each ml. is subdivided into 10 mcl. (micromililiters - is there such a thing?)
Posted by SallyW on August 28, 2005, at 17:19:33
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 28, 2005, at 17:18:20
I have just finished registering my complaint with the FDA and a zoloft attorney. I registered a complaint two different times with Pfizer (years ago).
Posted by ed_uk on August 29, 2005, at 3:46:33
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 28, 2005, at 17:18:20
Hi Sally,
>It actually breaks it down into 100 increments...
Does the oral syringe have a brand name? I'd like to look it up on the internet.
Thank you
~ed
Posted by SallyW on August 29, 2005, at 23:25:40
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS! » SallyW, posted by ed_uk on August 29, 2005, at 3:46:33
It's not actually an oral syringe. It's an injection syringe without the needle. They're made by B-D. The pharmacy just gave them to me.
Posted by ed_uk on August 30, 2005, at 14:58:42
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS!, posted by SallyW on August 29, 2005, at 23:25:40
Ah right, I know the one. Thanks :-)
~Ed
Posted by SallyW on September 29, 2005, at 21:48:56
In reply to Re: Withdrawal SUCCESS! » SallyW, posted by ed_uk on August 30, 2005, at 14:58:42
I'm now 1 1/2 months off of zoloft. Around weeks 3 and 4, I did have some dizziness, but everything has abated now. Now it's just the problem of figuring out who I really am. I've been on zoloft for so long. I am doing a better job of getting things done. If I don't do something I think I should, I actually stress out and do it. I used to not care. All in all, I'm sooooooooo glad I made it!!!!!!!!!
Posted by bvisuze on February 9, 2006, at 20:58:39
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Mirandakdj on March 1, 2005, at 20:22:37
hey folks!
very nice and comforting to read your stories...makes me feel more confident about this whole withdrawl thing.
i went on 50mg a day of zoloft in march of '94 for depression/PTSD/anxiety and have been on it pretty much since then. i was seeing an awesome therapist and doing the standard every 6 month psychatrist visit that pretty much went "how are you feeling? good? oh well then keep on it." then i moved out of the US for 3 years and kept with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude.
i moved back to the US 2-ish years ago and started thinking about getting off zoloft. i became curious and wondered if i even needed it anymore. i settled in, started seeing a great therapist and a great psychiatrist (who bumped me to 75mg/day a year ago to stabilize me after a bad break up, moving, life changes, etc...)and i am surrounded by a supportive family and network of friends. i decided in january that it was time to see. i am fine with the answer, either way.
on 1/25 i went from 75mg to 50mg a day with no problems. on 2/2 i went to 25mg and i have been feeling more in my head and obsessive. i am very tired in the morning, the days goes well and then i'm exhausted in the evening. i feel a bit twitchy and extra animated and self-conscious when i talk to people. my tummy is weird too. i am wondering if the weaning my dr. prescribed is too fast OR if it's a combo of work related stress/pms/and a lack of excercise OR a combo of both.
i started taking evening primrose and a multi-vitamin yesterday and eating more fruit. i've heard about SAMe and read some about qi and blood tonics (which are supposed to help with withdrawl) on itmonline.org.
i guess i'm wondering if i should go back to 50mg for another week or increase the exercise/meditate and take one of the withdrawl helping supplements. wait a week and see. call the doc? i'm afraid he'll just say i'm not ready and bump me back up to 75mg indefinitely.
any suggestions are appreciated.
suze
Posted by janeB on February 10, 2006, at 8:54:45
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft » Mirandakdj, posted by bvisuze on February 9, 2006, at 20:58:39
For me it was necessary to take a very slow weaning schedule. I would suggest getting a pill splitter and reduce by 1/4 tablet increments.
> hey folks!
>
> very nice and comforting to read your stories...makes me feel more confident about this whole withdrawl thing.
>
> i went on 50mg a day of zoloft in march of '94 for depression/PTSD/anxiety and have been on it pretty much since then. i was seeing an awesome therapist and doing the standard every 6 month psychatrist visit that pretty much went "how are you feeling? good? oh well then keep on it." then i moved out of the US for 3 years and kept with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude.
>
> i moved back to the US 2-ish years ago and started thinking about getting off zoloft. i became curious and wondered if i even needed it anymore. i settled in, started seeing a great therapist and a great psychiatrist (who bumped me to 75mg/day a year ago to stabilize me after a bad break up, moving, life changes, etc...)and i am surrounded by a supportive family and network of friends. i decided in january that it was time to see. i am fine with the answer, either way.
>
> on 1/25 i went from 75mg to 50mg a day with no problems. on 2/2 i went to 25mg and i have been feeling more in my head and obsessive. i am very tired in the morning, the days goes well and then i'm exhausted in the evening. i feel a bit twitchy and extra animated and self-conscious when i talk to people. my tummy is weird too. i am wondering if the weaning my dr. prescribed is too fast OR if it's a combo of work related stress/pms/and a lack of excercise OR a combo of both.
>
> i started taking evening primrose and a multi-vitamin yesterday and eating more fruit. i've heard about SAMe and read some about qi and blood tonics (which are supposed to help with withdrawl) on itmonline.org.
>
> i guess i'm wondering if i should go back to 50mg for another week or increase the exercise/meditate and take one of the withdrawl helping supplements. wait a week and see. call the doc? i'm afraid he'll just say i'm not ready and bump me back up to 75mg indefinitely.
>
> any suggestions are appreciated.
>
> suze
Posted by suec on February 10, 2006, at 10:51:26
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft » Mirandakdj, posted by bvisuze on February 9, 2006, at 20:58:39
The same exact thing happened to me. I went from 75 mg to 50 without a problem. But then the next week when I went 50 25mg, it was horrible. I truly believe that doctors don't think there are any withdrawal symptoms. I totally think it was going to 25 too quickly. I have a balance disorder which causes dizziness. So when I went to 25mg, not only was the dizziness horrible, I also had the head zaps and crying jags. Personally, I went back to the 75 mg and within a few days the symptoms had gone. For me, it's not worth it to go off. It obviously is working. But for anyone else, WEAN YOURSELF VERY SLOWLY.
Sue
Posted by bvisuze on February 12, 2006, at 18:46:04
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by janeB on February 10, 2006, at 8:54:45
thank you for your responses...they were very helpful and comforting.
i am wondering if about natural serotonin boosters...any information/advice?
Posted by joyeba on February 22, 2006, at 16:13:45
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by suec on February 10, 2006, at 10:51:26
I'm so glad I found this website. I feel like I'm not going crazy. I was on Zoloft for 8 months, and I didn't have money to get my prescription refilled, so I went from 150 to 100 to 50 and quit 2 weeks ago cold turkey. It has been HELL. I was on coke for a couple of years as a teen, and quit cold turkey with no withdrawals. This is 100 times worse. My doc never mentioned anything about this. I have constant "zaps" and I am so sick I can hardly take care of my kids. Being a single mother, I'm so angry that nobody ever told me this would happen. I'm just going to tough it out now that I know what is happening to me. I thought I had diabetes. My doc took me off valium because it is "addicitive". But I no side effects when I quit taking it. If that's addictive, I want to know what they consider this. I would have rather been depressed. Please warn anyone about these evil pills!!!
Posted by bvisuze on February 26, 2006, at 23:11:33
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by joyeba on February 22, 2006, at 16:13:45
i found a fantastic book...VERY helpful information about naturally boosting your serotonin levels. it's called "the chemistry of joy" by henry emmons, md
it's been great for me...i hope it provides some relief for you.
:)
Posted by jaclamac on March 4, 2006, at 10:16:39
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft » SalArmy4me, posted by bingo on October 9, 2001, at 15:14:09
I was on Zoloft( Lustral here in the UK) for 6 years. 25mg aday.I had flu the past couple of weeks, and stayed in bed, sweating heavily, han I thought..this is a good detox! perhaps I will stop the drugs....I did...and apart from a couple of days of dizziness, and 2 nights of wierdness, I seem to be fine! off it nows for 21 days...fingers crossed
Posted by msnattygrl on March 5, 2006, at 18:23:04
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by jaclamac on March 3, 2006, at 4:34:42
This forum has been so helpful! I tried getting of Zoloft last year and had fits of crying, flu-like symptoms, nausea...it was awful! Now I'm trying to do this right by backing off s-l-o-w-l-y. In late December I went from 50mg/day to alternating between 50 and 25 for several weeks (probably not the best idea; I felt really crazed from mood swings). Then I stabilized at 25mg and stayed there for a month (so far so good!). Then I started cutting off a little bit of the pill, and then a little more, then a little more, and so on, for about two weeks. Now I've stabilized at 12.5mg and I'm feeling really weird emotionally, crying all the time, and feeling like everything is very vivid and emotionally stimulating/depressing. I hope this is a side effect of weaning and not my natural non-Zoloft state (it's been 5 years, so it's hard to tell!). Bleh. I'll keep at 12.5 for another month and hopefully mellow out before I drive my fiancee completely mad. But I'm afraid: what if I'm just a biologically depressed person, and Zoloft has been covering it up? I hope not. The experiment continues....
Posted by Mia CD on March 6, 2006, at 21:45:25
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by msnattygrl on March 5, 2006, at 18:23:04
> This forum has been so helpful! I tried getting of Zoloft last year and had fits of crying, flu-like symptoms, nausea...it was awful! Now I'm trying to do this right by backing off s-l-o-w-l-y. In late December I went from 50mg/day to alternating between 50 and 25 for several weeks (probably not the best idea; I felt really crazed from mood swings). Then I stabilized at 25mg and stayed there for a month (so far so good!). Then I started cutting off a little bit of the pill, and then a little more, then a little more, and so on, for about two weeks. Now I've stabilized at 12.5mg and I'm feeling really weird emotionally, crying all the time, and feeling like everything is very vivid and emotionally stimulating/depressing. I hope this is a side effect of weaning and not my natural non-Zoloft state (it's been 5 years, so it's hard to tell!). Bleh. I'll keep at 12.5 for another month and hopefully mellow out before I drive my fiancee completely mad. But I'm afraid: what if I'm just a biologically depressed person, and Zoloft has been covering it up? I hope not. The experiment continues....
We are all experiments it seems with these antidepressent drugs. Around the time I got engaged ( just about 2 years ago) I had severe panic attacks. I saw a doctor. He started me on 100 mg then down to 50 and recently I felt I did not feel normal. I found myself unemotional sort of like a robot. Not able to cry when things were really sad. For instance my uncle passed away 7 montjhs ago and it was very tragic. I couldn't cry, I felt so bad. My husband and I got married in October and could not cry. I just moved away from my family and friends and can't cry. I just want to feel again. So I decided to bring myself down to 25 mgs for 2 weeks and for the past 2 days I haven't taken anything and experiencing some withdrawl symtoms. I felt like you today wondering if I was just biologicaly depressed. I felt hopless, just horrible. I took a nap and woke up and felt okay again.
I am so glad I found this site because it gives me hope. To know that I am not the only one going through this is a relief. I would not wish this upon anyone. I have to wonder where this all comes from. I have 2 friends that have experienced panic attacks and had to go on medicine but have stopped. Both are in their mid 20's and female like myself. The more I talk with people, more seem to relate to this illness. You have to wonder is it in the food we are eating? The water we are drinking?
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