Jump to content

snowbird70: C/T Zoloft support


snowbird70

Recommended Posts

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. :wub:  :(  :o 

6 yr history of Klonopin and Tramadol for RLS

2 year history of Zoloft 50mg

Tapered off Tramadol in January '17.  Don't miss it.

Tapered off Klonopin too quickly 1 week ago. Reinstated today at .125mg

C/T Zoloft 25mg due to severe RLS.

No psych or emotional withdrawal symptoms.

Multiple physical symptoms ie tinnitus, severe headaches, dizziness

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

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/

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

Link to comment

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?

6 yr history of Klonopin and Tramadol for RLS

2 year history of Zoloft 50mg

Tapered off Tramadol in January '17.  Don't miss it.

Tapered off Klonopin too quickly 1 week ago. Reinstated today at .125mg

C/T Zoloft 25mg due to severe RLS.

No psych or emotional withdrawal symptoms.

Multiple physical symptoms ie tinnitus, severe headaches, dizziness

 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

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.

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy