3 yrs after stopping Zoloft still having withdrawal symptoms every day
I'm at my wits end. I was on high levels of Effexor for 20 years and then Zoloft for 10 years. I felt I no longer needed antidepressants so weaned myself off Zoloft over 6 months. About a week after completely stopping, I developed tinnitus, lightheadedness and internal vibrations. It's progressed to the point that it is now almost constant. My primary care dr. felt that it was just a coincidence that the symptoms started and believed it was inner ear related as I do have moderate hearing loss. I've been to ear specialists, endocrinologist, and neurologists. Have had MRI, blood work, glucose tests, brain scans, vestibular tests and nothing has been found. My primary care put me back on a low dosage of Zoloft to see if that would help but it didn't. Every single day is a struggle. Should I try to take higher doses of Zoloft or, as said on the antidepressants withdrawal website, resign myself that I've permanently damaged my brain with withdrawing too quickly? I don't even know what kind of doctor to go to next because none of them seem to believe that SSRI withdrawal symptoms are a real thing. The closest large medical center to me is John Hopkins but they want a diagnosis before I can get an appointment there. The Cleveland Clinic needs to know what specialty. I have no idea what to say because I have no provable idea of what is causing this. I don't know if my insurance will cover the Mayo clinic and it is really far from me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !!!
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@annewoodmayo
Thank you for your suggestion. I have used LipoFlavonoid for years and then I stopped it because there was unfortunately no improvement whatsoever.
How are you doing now?
I have had a similar experience. Did you find any relief? Any answers? I’m so sorry this also happened to you. It’s totally unfair. Thinking about you.
My daughter was given a low dosage of Zoloft because of anxiety after weaning from nursing her baby. Because it did not agree with her. The doctor stopped her from taking it anymore. She has been having withdrawal symptoms for 8 months now. Nobody was believing her before but she did find a group of doctors that is studying this phenomenon. She is getting better but very very slowly. She is really at her wit's end. So I want you to know that there are others. I can send you the contact information for the doctors who are studying this long withdrawal. Please let me know if you want the information.
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1 ReactionI have been on Zoloft for years and have cut back from 100mg to 50mg because as anyone who truly suffers from depression knows it doesn’t just magically vanish.
I have always thought that Zoloft was the most well tolerated of all the SSRI’s. If you are still having brain fog you might want to search elsewhere for your persistent brain fog.
Good luck.
@annai I’m interested in the drs! I’m suffering from withdrawal from Paxil.