Posted by SLS on April 2, 2006, at 19:50:20
In reply to withdrawal.. and medical school, posted by medstudent on April 1, 2006, at 3:58:37
I agree with others along this thread that it is in your best interests to discontinue Zoloft using a taper strategy. However, I question the necessity to protract the withdrawal process over the course of months.
I've had success discontinuing Zoloft 200mg within 2 weeks using a flexible-dosing strategy. To make a long story short, I use small amounts of Zoloft almost like a PRN whenever I feel the withdrawal symptoms coming on. I end up dosing 3-4 times per day. I take only enough medication to last 6-8 hours. I don't take my next dose until the symptoms reappear. I find that it takes smaller and smaller doses to last the 6-8 hour period. Eventually, I reach a minimum dose plateau where even the smallest reduction is incapable of defering withdrawal symptoms for more than a few hours. This is the point at which I discontinue the drug entirely. The key word is "flexible". One does not have to be absolutely precise with the amount of each dose. I try to estimate how much it will take to last 6-8 hours. If it ends up being 10 hours, I know that I will need to take a smaller amount the next time. I reduce the dosage by "feel". It works for me.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:627404
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060228/msgs/627993.html