snowbird70: C/T Zoloft support

[snowbird70]

I naively stopped Zoloft 25mg c/t thinking the low dose would not be a problem to jump off. My RLS of some 14 yrs had gotten

much worse after a quick taper off Klonopin one week previously. My RLS group said Z could be the culprit. So I just jumped.

Bad idea. Feel very calm and sleeping well, but tinnitus, severe headaches, stiff neck are uncomfortable. Decided to reinstate K this am at 0.125mg because this site informed me that I should not have stopped these two drugs together. Further, it is best to wean off antidepressant first, then benzo. I want to stay off the Z, so thought the low dose of K was lesser of two evils.  Have I made another error?

My dr and I are 1200 miles apart at this time. She doesn't have a good understanding of taper and withdrawal. In hindsight, I guess she couldn't have messed this up worse than I did.      

[mammaP]

Hi Snowbird, welcome to SA.  When did the restless legs start? Klonipin needs very careful tapering after long term use, as does zoloft. As you quit both together you may be best to reinstate both. If it is only one week since quitting you could go back to half the dose of zoloft. klonopin can help to soften zoloft withdrawal but not alleviate it altogether because it is a different type of drug. 

 

How long did you taper tramadol? Tramadol is a synthetic opiate and SNRI. Stopping all 3 drugs in a short space of time will have rocked your nervous system.  If you reinstate zoloft you should wait a while before tapering to stabilise and let your brain recover as much as possible. 

 

Thank you for filling in your signature, it is very helpful. 

 

Here are some links to topics for you to read. It sounds like you have done some reasearch already which is great. 

 

About reinstating

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

Tapering zoloft

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1441-tips-for-tapering-off-zoloft-sertraline/

 

You might want to visit the members only benzo topic for advice on klonopin. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/29-members-only-benzo-forum/

[snowbird70]

Thank you mammaP for your helpful reply. I am disappointed I am not getting more replies to my initial post. Is there something in the way I presented myself that is a turn-off or not interesting enough? You are probably dead on about quitting these 3 meds so close together. I felt much better today after just 0.125 of Klonopin this am. Will repeat tonight. I really want to stay off the Z but reinstating half a dose is an option. What does the term "hold" mean when you are doing a taper?

[Petunia]

Welcome from me too Snowbird70,

 

I'm happy to hear you are feeling better after reinstating Klonopin. There's nothing wrong with your post or story. Usually, a moderator will respond first to new members, giving important information, relevant to the situation, which is what mammaP kindly did. You may get more responses in time, and you are welcome to visit other intro threads to chat and offer support.

 

It would be helpful for us if you would answer these questions.

 

When did the restless legs start?

 

How long did you taper tramadol?

 

If your symptoms are improving, and not getting worse, then you may be ok with just the Klonopin reinstatement. Keep your doses regular at the same times every day, and monitor your symptoms for a few weeks. I suggest you don't start tapering again until you have stabilized and been symptom free for at least 2 weeks.

 

If the physical symptoms you mentioned continue, you may need to consider a partial reinstatement of Zoloft also, as MammaP mentioned.

 

We have a topic with information about antidepressant withdrawal which might help you work out if your symptoms are Zoloft related. Especially have a look at Dr. Glenmullen's symptoms check list. What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

To answer your question, 'holding' during a taper means you stop tapering for a while. This is sometimes necessary if you have developed worse symptoms which don't subside within a few days and a sign your taper is too fast and you need to slow down.