Posted by Brenda T on September 29, 2003, at 18:02:53
In reply to Re: zoloft withdrawal symptoms, posted by rickg on September 16, 2003, at 20:05:21
I am a 33 year old female. I have been on a mixture of antidepressants and mood stabilizers for 7 years. The mixture that the doctors had me on was Zoloft, Wellbutrin and Lithium. I do have to say that I was able to get my life back on track while being on these meds, but now I am trying to stay on track and be healthy without the meds. I believe the body can heal itself and I will get my strength through zoga, meditation and diet.
Here's my story:
I successfully quit taking Lithium in December 2002 with few side affects. I slowly reduced the dosage in July of 2002 until I eliminated it completely in December 2002.
Then, I successfully quit Wellbutrin in March 2003. I went through several months of withdrawal symptoms, of which, I believe most of the symptoms I experienced were actual side affects from being only on the zoloft.
After about a month of stability in my mood, I began to taper off of Zoloft. In July 2003, I was taking 100 mg of Zoloft. I then took 75 mg. of zoloft for 3 weeks with no withdrawal symptoms. Then I took 50 mg a day for the next 3 weeks and only experienced headaches. Then in September for 2-1/2 weeks I reduced to 25 mg a day and sometimes I would forget to take the 25 mg. I began to experience many more withdrawal symptoms.
It has been 17 days since I last took zoloft and these are my symptoms: dizziness, lack of energy, easily fatigues, craving sweets, increased appetite at times, headaches, dry eyes, cold feet, hands fall asleep during the night if they are above my heart, less patient, more emotional, easily agitated, vivid and dark dreams, low mood and enthusiasm. I have found that taking a 1-2 hour nap mid-day after lunch is helping me get through the days of intense withdrawal symptoms. I allow my body and mind to shut down each day for a couple of hours so that I can reduce the feelings of being overloaded, overly fatigued and easily angered. It helps but doesn't eliminate all of these horrid symptoms.
I've read that withdrawal symptoms usually go away after 3 weeks or so, but because I had been on zoloft for over 5 years, I'm prepared to experience these symptoms for even longer.I did read that Vitamin B6 or B12 may help reduce the symptoms. Does anyone know for sure and which one may help?
Thanks for letting me share. And for everyone out there going through the withdrawls of any antidepressant, hang in there and journal everything that you are experiencing. Journaling every symptom will help you through this. You are not going crazy...your body just has to readjust itself and heal in time.
Have faith in your own ability to heal!!!!!!!!!
poster:Brenda T
thread:5582
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030928/msgs/264304.html