Quitting Zoloft. Advice or insights?

I have been on a low dose.25/.5 Rx of Zoloft for 20+ years and feel it’s time to get off it… I tapered down to .25 for 3 weeks and then stopped after another week - since then I have had a wicked headache now for about 10 days, sometimes almost migraine like. Is this normal? Did I quit too quickly? How long will this last?

Please allow me to give a little background and clarify. I was put on Zoloft in April 2020z. By June 2020, the heart palpitations were so severe I had trouble having a conservative and sleeping. To help with the palpitations I was put on Propranolol. Thus began the medical professionals giving me a long list of why the palpitations were happening. Some things they tried blame was caffeine, alcohol, over the counter medications, illegal drugs, unresolved emotional issues. Before I started taking the Zoloft, I did not consume caffeine, alcohol, illegal drugs, took over the counter medications sparingly. I openly admit my father was an alcoholic and all the problems that caused. When I discredited all their excuses, I was told that I was experiencing the nacibo effect. That means I was not really expecting the severe side effects, I was just saying I was because the withdrawal effect are listed in the literature. And that everything was “all in my head” and I needed considerable psychological help. Meaning more drugs. I refused and kept digging for information and tapering the Zoloft.
In April 2021, I discovered the genetic testing for drug sensitivity. I gave the information to my doctor and she agreed to refer me for testing. In August 2021, I got the results that provided my genetic in the reason for my problem with Zoloft. The report lists I am a rapid metabolizer of the drug. The report does not use the phrase “not in my head.” My medical professionals started using that phrase when I was able to discredit all their other excuses. Sadly my medical professionals did not understand what is happening with my body being a rapid metabolizer. They kept telling me it was all in my head and kept pushing me to switch around medications. I kept refusing.
I kept digging for information and the natural healing practioner took me as a client. (I started with the natural healing practitioner in December 2022). Our combined efforts discovered the information in my first post of this thread. And I had print outs from medical publications to prove everything. Once I politely and respectfully presented the information to my medical professionals, they finally agreed that the problem is indeed genetic. And finally stopped saying everything was all in my head. I now have their support. They admit they have learned from my research. My pharmacist is especially interested.
Please remember, this is my experience. I am sharing my experience to help other find their way off Zoloft and hopefully other medications.
I tell people to use my information as a starting point. Do their own research to match their own situation.
I hope this clarifies everything. Please continue to ask me questions for further clarification.

I took Zoloft for 2 years, tapered last year with no problem. Got off of it in July 2023. Fast forward to last month. My doctor prescribed me Prednisone which I had a very bad reaction to then the ER gave me Compazine and Bendryl which I had a bad reaction to then the ER told me to take Xanax to help sleep, I did that then after a few days, I started getting sick. I started having muscle spasms so I took the muscle relaxer I was prescribed last year. My heart rate and blood pressure were up through the whole ordeal so my pcp prescribed me Zoloft to help me get through this anxious period. Well, I started having a reaction to that so I stopped cold turkey after 5 days. She prescribed me a beta blocker also. So, after 3 weeks of several medications in my system, I eliminated everything. That was 18 days ago and I still feel bad. Some days are better than others. In the mornings, the palpations start and anxiety. I have to have a large bm then I wait until I can drink my protein shake and drink my tea. I pretty much can't do anything in the mornings or early afternoons. As the day goes on, my anxiety and palpations ease up. Late at night, I almost feel like myself again. Can you relate at all? I refuse to take another pill. I also have a hard time eating. I try my best, I have to force feed myself. Does this sound like anyone? I feel so alone in this. When will I feel better again?

Pfizer and the medical community have not come up with an explanation.
Since my entry was made, I have had genetic testing. The testing proves, my body is a rapid metabolizer of the drug Zoloft. I have also learned that Zoloft depletes magnesium from the body. Zoloft distrupts the flow of sodium. Both are needed in sufficent quantities and in a steady rate to help function properly.
What I believe is happening, is that being a rapid metabolizer of Zoloft, my body depletes the magnesium more quickly and distrupts the sodium more quickly. Thus causing increasingly severe heart palpitations. Theses severe heart palpitations cause more anxiety, which causes more palpitations. I have increased my intake of magesium l-theorate and sodium beyond what the doctors believe I should be consuming.
From my research, both the magesium and the sodium are needed for muscles and the nervous system. Again, the medical community will not confirm or deny what I have found out.
Additionally, I have found that the heart palpitation medication, Propranolol, deleted by B vitamins. That caused a constant pin prick feeling. Thanks to a friend who is a natural healing practioner, I found, Nerve Renew, a product manufactured specifically to help with this issue. Within a week of starting Nerve Renew, my problems with the pin prick feeling started to be relieved. Within 2 weeks, the problem was alleviated.
With the help of natural healing practioner, I have started drinking ginger root tea to help support my heart.
Plus I am doing acupressure at home and recieve acupuncture treatments every other week.
I am feeling considerable better.
On August 12th, 2023, I plan on starting another taper. I will make a post about the results.
Please reach out to me. I have more information.

Pfizer and the medical community have not come up with an explanation.
Since my entry was made, I have had genetic testing. The testing proves, my body is a rapid metabolizer of the drug Zoloft. I have also learned that Zoloft depletes magnesium from the body. Zoloft distrupts the flow of sodium. Both are needed in sufficent quantities and in a steady rate to help function properly.
What I believe is happening, is that being a rapid metabolizer of Zoloft, my body depletes the magnesium more quickly and distrupts the sodium more quickly. Thus causing increasingly severe heart palpitations. Theses severe heart palpitations cause more anxiety, which causes more palpitations. I have increased my intake of magesium l-theorate and sodium beyond what the doctors believe I should be consuming.
From my research, both the magesium and the sodium are needed for muscles and the nervous system. Again, the medical community will not confirm or deny what I have found out.
Additionally, I have found that the heart palpitation medication, Propranolol, deleted by B vitamins. That caused a constant pin prick feeling. Thanks to a friend who is a natural healing practioner, I found, Nerve Renew, a product manufactured specifically to help with this issue. Within a week of starting Nerve Renew, my problems with the pin prick feeling started to be relieved. Within 2 weeks, the problem was alleviated.
With the help of natural healing practioner, I have started drinking ginger root tea to help support my heart.
Plus I am doing acupressure at home and recieve acupuncture treatments every other week.
I am feeling considerable better.
On August 12th, 2023, I plan on starting another taper. I will make a post about the results.
Please reach out to me. I have more information.

@vfrifr -Boy,does your experience speak to me! Having some tough times now…my sister (only remaining family member) passed away a year and a half ago…I’m executor in addition to grieving her loss so much…my husband’s memory is all of a sudden much worse, since we got our son’s (age 49) diagnosis of gliblastoma last Fall. So, in conversation with my PCP, she prescribed Zoloft, since I had taken it once in the past. I made it to the 5 week mark (where they say things will improve) but had to stop. The anxiety and heart palpitations I felt on it were much worse than how I had been feeling before I started on it. This (your experience) makes SUCH good sense to me! She was baffled, as she said ‘I don’t understand…It’s worked for you before.” I do take a mg supplement daily. Thank you for posting this! ( I see that it is from a year ago. Hope you are well)

I had horrible heart palpitations after stopping my Zoloft. Drs did testing and could see nothing is wrong. I would just be sitting on the couch and would feel like my heart was going to explode. It would get up to the 130s and cause me even worse anxiety, I had to go back on. If you have more information please let me know.

I took the genetic testing and went with their first choice and the rx had horrible side effects. Had to get off it.
I am glad it worked for you .

I had gen testing done years ago too and from that testing my doctor at the time put me on Pristiq. It was horrible! Years later I'm now coming off just 9 days of a very low dose of sertraline - 12.5mg every other day - and I feel terrible. I didn't taper, just stopped it. My doctor said the withdrawal symptoms shouldn't be bad because of the low dose and short time I took it but it has been a month since I went off and I'm still feeling pretty bad. I don't know if I should go back on it at a lower dose and taper or just wait it out. Any ideas anyone?