Headaches from Zoloft withdrawal?

Posted by js @jstarkman, Mar 23, 2024

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

@jstarkman
Tapering too quickly would be my guess.
Have you considered restarting Zoloft and see if your headaches improve?
If so taper much slower and try increasing the time between cuts as well.
Just go SLOWER. Tapering too fast has caused seizures in some people.
Remember SLOOOOOOW.
Take care,
Jake

REPLY

I take zoloft to and there has been time I was out of it until I seen the doctor it made me feel weird and yes I got headaches also so if u want to get off them I would talk to your doctor to see how u could go about doing that ...Good luck ..

REPLY

Headaches can last for several weeks. Rest and fluids is important. Hang in there and I hope it passes. Getting off Zoloft after 2 years myself but no symptoms. I do nap a lot and drink a lot of water so maybe I haven’t noticed other withdrawal symptoms myself.

REPLY

Does Efexer course weight gane

REPLY

Ive been thinking about going on zoloft for trauma, weight loss but mainly imbalance issues. I have adhd with depression. Any insight?

REPLY

If you still suffer from depression why are you tapering off Zoloft!?
Depression is something you will have to deal with your entire life. If Zoloft is working stay on it. You are taking a minimal dose. “If it isn’t broke why fix it”Remember what it was like when you were having a depressive episode. Do you really want to go through that again?
Good luck to you.

REPLY
Profile picture for daveshaw @daveshaw

If you still suffer from depression why are you tapering off Zoloft!?
Depression is something you will have to deal with your entire life. If Zoloft is working stay on it. You are taking a minimal dose. “If it isn’t broke why fix it”Remember what it was like when you were having a depressive episode. Do you really want to go through that again?
Good luck to you.

Jump to this post

We really need a "not helpful" option. That's what I'd click for your comment.

REPLY

I am sorry you feel that way.
I didn’t know I suffered from depression for many years. I just knew that there were times life was easy and there were times life was hard and very dark.
The advent of SSRI’s was life changing for me and more importantly my family. Yes there are sexual side effects but they didn’t outweigh my being a better father and husband. Ironically my son suffers from depression and by being open with my struggles he was able to address it right away his freshman year of college. He went on to get his law degree and is now a diplomat stationed in Kuala Lumpur.
My daughter suffered from OCD and anxiety. Like my son she sought help and is a tremendous wife, mother and extremely successful in business.
A good friend of mine has a wife suffered from depression for many years and was taking Prozac. They retired and she decided she could wean herself off Prozac because her stressful job was over. Long story short it was a disaster for her and her husband. Her depression came back and it took her six weeks to feel herself again once she resumed taking her medication.
Long story short depression is not something you can just wish away. It has a strong genetic component and like any other health condition you can’t just ignore it.
The descent in to depression is very gradual and once you are there unfortunately it can take up to six weeks to feel better once you resume your medication.
I have been there and done that myself. I was just offering advice based on my own experiences. That is what I thought this site was for.
Good luck to you.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.