Quitting Zoloft

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?

I too was put on generic Pristiq and was on for six weeks. Some help with tremors from anxiety but always felt activated and did not touch the depression. Bad side affects headaches and pretty bad rash. This was tough to get off of with lots of withdrawal because they only had the 25 mg CR available.

Regarding sertraline, I am in the same position but I took my 12.5 MG every day for 16 days. Same thing, my doctor said to just stop cold turkey. What is difficult is that I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for the past 8 months. So it is hard to say if withdrawal is different than the baseline condition. I decided to cut the 12.5 in half and take half dose today instead of stopping cold turkey. Did you have any symptoms prior to starting sertraline? Also why did you stop after 9 days. Unfortunately, sertraline causes more anxiety and sometimes depression upon starting the medication. I am torn about maybe going back on the 12.5 and giving it more time. The disappointing thing is that after two weeks, you would think you would see some improvement not the symptoms getting worse and worse.

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?

Always talk to your pharmacist they are the experts on rx!!! They will give you a schedule to follow,
I am so very sensitive I can’t handle fast reductions !
It could take 6 weeks to reduce but do it the right way & slow .

I stopped the sertraline because the side effects were sudden and terrible - I would zonk out asleep in whatever I was doing. I decided I had to stop it when I could feel the sudden need to sleep coming on when I was standing up. I also had terrible nausea and dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, sweats, joint pain, to name a few. My anxiety got bad too but I think that was in part because the side effects were really scaring me and limiting me as to what I could and couldn't. My doctor suggested taking half my dose on the same schedule but I haven't decided if I'm going to do that or tough it out a while longer. I read it that is is out of the system after a few days but can affect the brain a lot longer. This is nasty stuff. I'm surprised the FDA approved it.

Wow. Those are really bad side affects. I see why you went off the med. Are you even considering another psych med? If you are sleeping okay and functional, I would likely stay away from trying any more psych meds. You may want to consider the half of the 12.5 and slowly titrate down to help with the withdrawal symptoms. The nervous system needs to adjust without the drug.

Not planning on going on any more of these meds. I've tried others too and they all had bad side effects. I'm NOT sleeping well at all and sometimes up all night and barely functional at this point. I think that is good advice. I am considering it and praying about it. I don't know if it will get worse when I start it up again. I don't know what to expect. The side effects I had were within two days of starting it. It may stop the withdrawals but the original side effects will probably return. Thank you

@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 will be praying for you. Hopefully the lower dose will not provide that level of earlier side affects.

I am actually one who knows what you are going through. I am also not sleeping well and fairly dysfunctional with the severity of anxiety and major depression. I am completely stuck at this time. I know how this feels, Please hang in there and keep the faith. It does take a lot of time for our nervous system to re-regulate. This has been the hardest part for me with this trial; going on nine months with very little progress. I have tried so many other modalities outside of medication including weekly counseling Accupuncture, TMS, without significant progress. I pray consistently for divine healing. I hope you find some relief and start feeling better quickly.

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?