Quitting Zoloft

125 mg of Sertraline (Zoloft)
I have been on this high dosage of zoloft for many years (over 10 years). I also take 50 mg of Atenolol. I feel good with this amount of zoloft. Initially I was on a very low dose of 25 mg --- was not working. Fifty mg of zoloft was the increase -- still was not working. I was so miserable waiting for this drug to work. Then my DR increased my dosage to 100 mg. My symptoms still were there -- not as severe -- but still had unpleasant symptoms. Finally, I asked for an increase to 125 mg of Zoloft. Finally, I began to feel better. More than likely, 150 mg would probably even be better -- which is what a psychiatrist informed me after an exam. However, I was afraid to make the leap to 150. Thus, I implemented other mental boosting strategies into my regimen. --- such as a very low carb diet, exercise, prayer and meditation, etc. I have OCD also --- which was my biggest nuisance! Thus, the sertraline (Zoloft) of 125 mg helps this very much. I didn't have the repetitive hand-washing --- it was more of the repetitive thoughts, fears, irritability.

I often wondered if I COULD EVER GET OFF of 125 mg of the Zoloft. My doctor said that if it is helping, stay on it. Thus, I am afraid that if I lower the dosage even, that the OCD and depression symptoms might return severely. Occasionally, I have had mild recurrences when I am stressed out. Once, I deal with the stressful situation, then I am okay again. NEVERTHELESS, I was also informed by my DRs (gen prac & former psychiatrist) that when matters are extremely stressful, and I feel that I need help coping to add the Xanax to the mix. That amount is just 25 mg. I have been instructed to not take this often -- only as needed. Thus, I rarely take the Xanax --- maybe 1 pill a month or every 2 months -- depends on the need.
Initially when the Sertraline (Zoloft) was not working after just getting on it, I had to take the Xanax every day with the 125 mg of Sertraline to arrest the awful/ unbearable symptoms. Once the sertraline started working after about a month of taking it --- I could get off the Xanax and take only when needed , I do find that my hands get extremely cold . But this could be from the 50 mg of Atenolol that I take (been taking over 20 years). As a whole, I am pretty healthy. My diet is very healthy and clean. I am 5'2" and weigh about 118 lbs and I am over 65 years old.
THUS, IS IT harmful to never stop taking the sertraline (Zoloft) and the atenolol?
What is the best meds for OCD? The sertraline seems to be working well for me, but I am taking it also for anxiety and panic attacks. I do get heart palpitations sometime and I used to get PVCs quite often. Thus the meds (atenolol and sertraline) seemed to help with the PVCs and palpitations. Occasionally, I will get palpitations --- and I blame that on a side effect of the atenolol. My concern is that I probably will never be able to stop taking either drugs --- Sertraline (Zoloft) or the atenolol. I now take the atenolol to help with my blood pressure, too -- now -- didn't always because my pressure used to be very low consistently. Then my cardiologist added Rosuvastatin to the mix to help with chloresterol which creeps up sometimes -- even with this healthy diet of mine.
MAIN QUESTION is what are the long-terms side effects of SERTRALINE (Zoloft)? Looks like I might have to be on it forever. I am afraid to try weaning. I would not be able to handle the OCD symptoms anymore . Friends have said that I should try weaning myself off of the Zoloft. My doctor said not if it is helping me --- my quality of life is SO, SO much better. It took forever, forever to get the Zoloft working --- but when it did --- it was worth it! LAD

Zoloft has been a life saver for me due to chronic pain and anxiety. Why get off something thar gives you a better quality of life. These medications are made for a reason. It's when people abuse them that it gets a bad rap. OCD can be debilitating. Don't go back to that.

Is there any particular reason why you feel you must get off the Zoloft?

I take 150mg of Sertraline per day and 0.5mg of Clonazepam twice per day. It is difficult to determine the effect of the Sertraline but the Clonazepam definitely made me feel better quickly,about 1 hour. Recently the Clonazepam appears to have stopped working. I have been taking both medicines for 4 years

It stopped working four years ago. These feel good drugs the longest they work for is 4 to 6 weeks.. Very addictive if you keep taking them after that. I don’t know how much other medication you’re on, but when you continually take one of these benzos for that long, you start having other problems which then, doctors start poly drugging you thinking that will cure the toxicity that the long-term use of the benzo caused. So many people suffering from this right now that have taken benzodiazepine for so long. Having all kinds of problems,wish you luck on all of this increasing the dosage is only going to make it worse.

Happened to me. Your’re 100% correct.

Thanks for that. I want to ask you and other forum members if they know of any direct link between taking Clonazepam and developing peripheral neuropathy.I have searched for evidence like trials etc. but cannot find any. Can any member quote any real evidence or personal experience that answers my question.

From all my research any benzo will cause this and many other symptoms when taken for too long. Again, they only work anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. But people keep taking them and doctors keep prescribing them. There are no studies proving that it causes neuropathy because big Pharm doesn’t want you to know all the horrible effects that it can cause.
I know…, I was on lorazepam, which is just like Xanax another benzo . It took me four months to find help I was in such horrible shape, anorexic hairfalling out pacing back-and-forth no sleep suicidal and yes I developed Peripheral Neuropathy in my feet. Took me a year to taper off of this drug, Got some of my life back, but the neuropathy stayed. Not only me but if you go to any benzo forum especially on Facebook you’re goning find out the majority of people on these Benzos end up having this. Coincidence, I think not.
The Wall Street Journal recently did a huge report on the dangers of taking Xanax and other benzos, big Pharm itself has actually issued a black box warning on all these. Temporary relief is not worth it for permanent damage.

With all due respect to everyone on this site I have taken the same dosage of Clonazepam along with Zoloft, Buspar and Wellbutrin for over thirty years.
I have never suffered any side effects and feel that clonazepam when combined with antidepressants can strike a nice balance.
A few caveats should be mentioned. I have stayed with the same dosage for the entire time and have never had any adverse side effects.
Everyone’s body reacts differently to any medication and every medication has side effects.
All I can say is I hope people are aware of how far we have come with treating depression. Embrace the advances and find what works for you.
Some medications I see advertised on television have side effects that scare me to death. Yet for certain people they are life saving for conditions I have never even heard of but that doesn’t mean they can’t be serious for a portion of the population.
Exercise, eat well and do what it takes to feel good. Life is too short to fell like you are on a never ending roller coaster ride.
Good luck to all of you and I hope you find that balance in your life.

What dose of Clonazepam do you take?