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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cathie2005 on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:58
Praise God I found this site today! I thought it was all me. I too have been weaning myself off Zoloft for the last 7 weeks and thought I was literally dying, or I didn't know what. Kept wondering what was wrong with me,thought it was like the flu, yet so odd for this time of year. I too have had lots of the lightning "zaps" off and on, just like a flash of lightning. This week more than ever experiencing severe tiredness and awful nagging nausea. I started Zoloft about five years ago while in a horrid marraige. I finally went thru a much needed divorce. My doctor started me out on a low dosage to see how I reacted to it. I had no side effects so she increased it alittle. After a couple of years I still had nagging depression so it was increased again and with each increase I always improved. I was on 200mg a day when I decided I didn't need it any more. I had tried to wean myself off several times during a 5 year span and I would have horrible crying jags so I would go back on it and they would go away and I would get back to normal with sleeping much better too. I mentioned this to my doctor how I would try to wean off several times and had to go back to full dosage and she seemed nonchalant about it and stated, "Well it is okay to do that; but some people need to be on it for LIFE". It kinda stunned me but I accepted it since she was the doctor.
I got a wild hair about a year later, I was tired of paying the $20.00 copay and felt I didn't need it anymore and I was going to wean off and go thru withdrawals no matter how hard it was. What a joke!
I have suffered so much with the longer weaning off of the drug this time that I have decided to go back to the full dosage and maybe it will be better at another time in my life to go thru the withdrawals as now I am aware of what is involved. It is just not worth feeling so HORRIBLE. The withdrawals have affected my job which is not acceptable since I am sole supporting and have to deal with the public in a high stress job. I cannot tolerate the withdrawal symptoms that I have which is severe tiredness, muscle pain and weakness, and annoying dizzy feeling, not to mention this horrible NAGGING NAUSEA that I never experienced before.
Does anyone know why the nausea is a withdrawal symptom??? I find it stranger than the rest.
Thanks everyone for sharing their situation. It has really really helped me to understand what I have been experiencing. I welcome all feedback.
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:58
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Cathie2005 on June 9, 2005, at 22:29:36
If the zoloft allows you to live a normal life stay on it. The biggest mistake I ever made was to go off the l0mg of paxil that worked for me. But my Son was coming to live with us and he was anti-med. Since I've never found any AD that worked for me. Luvox did once right after the paxil and I'm just starting back on that. I am stopping zoloft to do this. But I never went above 25mg because of just what you're describing. But let me tell you that if I can get this luvox to work I will take it forever so I can go back to work. I'm not young and have limited time to work. It's been 8 years of misery since I went off that paxil. i tried all the others and couldn't tolerate the side effects. So going off 25mg of zoloft shouldn't present a problem. Interestingly my Son is now finally admitting he has PTSD from Desert Storm where he lost his eyesight and two fingertips. It's taken him all these years. He's taking 200mg and feels good. He's working for the VA. He is l00percent disabled but can work some. He helps other Veterans. Zoloft has allowed him to do this. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Cathie2005 on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:58
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft » Cathie2005, posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2005, at 23:43:39
Thank You Phillipa. I could kick myself in head for trying to wean off since I was doing so well.
Posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:59
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Cathie2005 on June 10, 2005, at 4:07:56
Don't mean to play the devil's advocate, but the worst mistake I ever made was to go on them in the first place. I didn't really need them and now I am addicted to them and have no choice.
Linkadge
Posted by Cathie2005 on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:59
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 6:23:44
> Don't mean to play the devil's advocate, but the worst mistake I ever made was to go on them in the first place. I didn't really need them and now I am addicted to them and have no choice.
>
> LinkadgeI understand what you are saying. I really needed it when I went on it. I had suicidal thoughts, the whole shebang. However, I was given the notion by my doctor it was a "temporary drug", or that was it for the most part. When I went on it I believe it was fairly new and doctors were "practicing" as they are alllowed to do of course and just were not aware of withdrawal symptoms, but I like you say feel I am addicted to it. I can't take the time off from work to force myself to go thru the withdrawals so I feel I am addicted but I can live a normal life with no side effects from it. Also too, depression seems to run rampant in my family so maybe like my doctor said "some people have to take it for life"....??
Posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:59
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Cathie2005 on June 10, 2005, at 11:36:34
There is nothing wrong with taking it for life, so long as you don't get what I did where basically it just stops working and now you're addicted to something and you need something more.
I think when doctors say that you will need this med for life it is more a way to sweep under the carpet the crippling withdrawl that is now fairly evident. But ironically they are telling the truth! Most people will now need it for life, but not because of depression!
Anyhow, please don't let my oppinion be the only one you read (since I am going through withdrawl) (well I won't say going through, because I believe it is permanant), but the point is that my oppinion is severly skewed to the negative.
Linkadge
Posted by Cathie2005 on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:59
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 16:00:20
Linkage how long have you been on Zoloft and what milligram? Thanks for your feedback.
Posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:59
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Cathie2005 on June 10, 2005, at 16:14:16
Well, I have been on all the SSRI's over the past 5 years, but the last one prescribed was zoloft which I have taken for about 8 months. I got up to 75mg. I was fed up with the fact that I had to put up with being a zombie, for not really a whole lot of change in my condition.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:59
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 19:07:24
That's not that high of a dose. Fondly,Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 22:11:59
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2005, at 19:56:49
I know, but it was just heading down the same road that the others were leading. Ie doing the same things that high dose celexa was doing.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2005, at 22:21:46
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft » Cathie2005, posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2005, at 23:43:39
Funny how some people can tolerate such high doses of a med and others only need a small amount. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by woolav on June 11, 2005, at 8:30:21
In reply to Re:withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft, posted by linkadge on June 10, 2005, at 19:07:24
I had only gone off meds once and had horrible side effects. (i literally thru my meds in the trash) because I was feeling better. I made it through the withdrawls and then was ok for about a year. Then the depression crept back, until it was so bad i was crying everyday. I went to a pdoc once again and have been on AD's again for the last 5 years. For me, its easier, because when i stop one, i am immediately put on another so I dont get the major withdrawl effects. I have come to the conclusion that i may have to be on meds the rest of my life. But it stops the depression I will do it. Life is a one time thing and I am not living in a hell if i dont have too..
S
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