Posted by SLS on May 22, 2005, at 10:20:57
In reply to Re: withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Nena500 on May 22, 2005, at 9:47:34
> I have been off of zoloft 50mg now for 2 weeks. I tried to taper, but kept going back on it because I did not want to prolong the withdrawals. So I am doing it "cold turkey", have been hospitalized for chest pain/palpitations since stopping and told that it was due to Zoloft withdrawal. I was given a prescription for Ativan and sent home. I have been taking zoloft for 2 years, not under a Psychiatrist's care because, well, psyche benefits suck and medical doctors just don't know that much about it and don't want to know about it. Psychiatrists have told me that Zoloft and the other SSRI's have no withdrawal symptoms and that its all in my head, so I stopped going to them. I decided to get off due to NO sex drive, felt like an asexual plant. No desire to mingle with people or the opposite sex and I beleive weight gain (a lot). It did, however, allow me to be able to concentrate and get through a family member's serious illness, and complete a degree. Now, I want to see if I still need it or not. Withdrawal symptoms: Strange motion sensation upon quick eye movement, some dizziness, Really HOT hot flashes, muscle pain & a sensation that I can't stretch them enough. Somehow though I have lost 5 pounds since being off of it. I am worried though that these withdrawal symptoms will linger on for months, does ANYONE know when they will stop?
I don't have an answer for you except that others whom have stopped "cold turkey" have described withdrawal effects lasting weeks and even months.
Does the Ativan help at all?
How high a dosage of Zoloft had you been at?
Your options are:
1. Restart the Zoloft and use a flexible-dosing strategy to taper off of it. This involves taking small amounts of medication several times a day - just enough to prevent withdrawal.
2. Take a short course of Prozac to eliminate the withdrawal symptoms and produce a smoother taper. This can involve taking Prozac for as few as 5 days with some follow-up dosing if necessary. I'm still not sure what the most effective protocol is for this strategy.
3. Refrain from reintroducing a SRI antidepressant and use Benadryl as a palliative treatment to make some of the withdrawal symptoms less severe. From the descriptions here, the action of Benadryl is broad in scope.
Please post regardless of what decision you reach. The more information we can gather here, the greater the likelihood that we can develop more effective discontinuation strategies and prevent negative experiences such as yours.
Thanks.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:501175
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050519/msgs/501194.html