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Trying for 3rd time to quit Zoloft


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Hello all,

Been on Zoloft for about 15 years. Twice in the last five years tried to stop. I slowly reduced dose and each time it took months to get to zero. Each time I experienced the zaps and other side effects. The first time I got to the point of crying at Ford TV commercials, which actually, I never did in the past, even before going on Zoloft. The second time I hit a severe depression, which again, I never experienced before. During each time period there was a lot of stress going on in my life too.

So, here I am today, July 2022. I have reduced Zoloft from 200 to 150 and then to 100 a day. Feel fine. No zaps, no depression. I am also in a peaceful time of my life. Yet, I am pretty scared to try to go down further. I don't want to experience those side effects.

So, my question is, has anyone figured out how to go off Zoloft to avoid those? Taking supplements vitamins, different diet or what? Or, does anyone know how long it takes to get through these withdrawal symptoms?

Thanks in advance!

Trad

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

What I did once I got down to 25 mg was to cut the quarter pill into tiny pieces with a blade.  Then I'd take one little piece each day for a month or so, then every other day for a few weeks, then every three days, and then zero.  The brain zaps were minimal, but I did have the intensified emotions that you describe (crying at everything).

Good luck.  I know tapering off of anything is rarely as easy as it sounds.  

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At what dosage in your previous tapers did you begin to get the zaps?  I took Zoloft for over 20 years and up to 200 mg, but at the time I decided to start tapering I had been at 100 mg for several years.  You started your taper from 200 so it might be different than my experience, but as you said you've managed to get down to 100 already without any problems.  

By the way, I should point out that I'm not a doctor lol.  Hopefully that goes without saying.  It's always best to consult with your doc before quitting meds.  I didn't do that.  

Edited by AloneGuy
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Hi AloneGuy,

Thank you for your reply. Over the last three years I varied the dose from 200 to 150.  I easily dropped to 100 without any side effects at all. But, I am in a better place in my life these days.  Previously I had external stresses bothering me. I have been on 100 for about three months now, maybe a tad longer.  A few days ago dropped to 50mg. I plan on staying at that level until November 1st assuming no issues.

My reason for getting off Zoloft is based on how I was put on it originally. I was at a very stressful job and in a very stressful romantic relationship. Also, financially a disaster. At a routine doctor visit I vented to my doctor about feeling bad emotionally and he suggested Zoloft.  I was so excited to maybe have a solution to my misery that I immediately started feeling better. (Yes, I was an idiot then.) I thought it was working for a few months, and with my life a disaster who knows, maybe it was helping in some way. But after that initial time period I continued my normal pattern of being depressed and miserable. Not serious enough to miss work or anything. Just low level misery. As life happened I responded with deeper lows, but again nothing serious. For the last 20 months my life has been in a much more peaceful and healthy place. I have also learned more about who I am and how I compensate for life's troubles instead of facing them and fixing things.  So, it is my hope that if I go off very slowly, that I will avoid some of the negative effects of withdrawal.  I had heard that some people supplement vitamins or herbs to starve offside effects. I am not doing that currently. I have spoken to my general doctor, a new guy who did not originally prescribe it,  and he just said go slow. Didn't have much else to say.

So the fact that you have made it off Zoloft does give me some hope. I wish there was a group somewhere of ex-Zoloft people who could share their stories.
Thanks again, and I wish you well.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I just quit taking it.  The brain zaps last a few days and sleep is awful for a while but I got so sick of doing this with every medication.  I don't think I could go through it again mentally.  Quitting them all is like the times I quit drinking.  It was an absolute nightmare.  You almost have to take a week's vacation to get through it.

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A year and a half. That is pretty good. Hope you are doing well.

October 15th I plan on reducing my dose from 50MG to 25MG.

If that goes well then December 15th may consider eliminating it, or maybe go every other day. I am being so extra careful and slow because of my previous failed three attempts.

I am being hyper vigilant, monitoring every mood I get. Probably more vigilant than necessary. But so far, all seems well.

All the best.

 

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9 hours ago, Trad England said:

A year and a half. That is pretty good. Hope you are doing well.

October 15th I plan on reducing my dose from 50MG to 25MG.

If that goes well then December 15th may consider eliminating it, or maybe go every other day. I am being so extra careful and slow because of my previous failed three attempts.

I am being hyper vigilant, monitoring every mood I get. Probably more vigilant than necessary. But so far, all seems well.

All the best.

 

So do you plan on going from 25 mg to zero in December (as in 25 one day and zero the next)?  Or do you mean you're going to continue to taper from 25 with even smaller doses before going to zero?  I'm just curious because going from 25 mg to zero is too big of a jump in my experience.  When I was at 25 I continued the taper by cutting them into even smaller pieces before jumping off completely.  I'm just trying to understand as specifically as possible since you're trying to avoid the zaps and other effects at small doses.  

 

 

 

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11 hours ago, Trad England said:

A year and a half. That is pretty good. Hope you are doing well.

 

Oh and thank you, by the way.  I actually plan on getting back on meds (but probably not zoloft), but my situation and illnesses are very different from yours.  In my case it wasn't very smart to quit my meds lol 🙂.  

Edited by AloneGuy
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AloneGuy

I started out at 200mg and reduced to 50mg. I was planning on switching to 25mg before quitting entirely, but will take your guidance and cut the 25 in half for a few months. I am not in a big rush. I do hope to get completely off them in time. I have been monitoring my moods daily, probably obsessing about it too much. Yesterday had a large argument with my wife, and that impacted my mood. Of course, I don't know if that mood change was normal or not. It was an argument so certainly there is going to be a change in one's mood. (We made up so all is well now.). But again, I am being hyper vigilant watching how I feel. Overall though, I have felt much better since reducing. But my life is in a better place than previously too. The difference in my moods from before Zoloft to after starting Zoloft is minimal. Which is why I've been trying to go off of it. With that said, if it turns out I need to be on it or something similar, so be it.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I hope you find what you need. Life is crappy enough without being depressed on top of that.

Trad


 

 

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