SoulSeeker: tapering off of Zoloft

[SoulSeeker]

Hello my name is Leanne and I am new to this sight and a little overwhelmed. I’m not sure how to use it and whether I am posting this in the proper place. Please help. I have been taking psychiatric drugs for 25 years and have decided to stop. I am currently taking Zoloft, Lamictal and Trazadone. I am tapering off of Zoloft first. I was at 200 mg daily and have been going down by 25 mg every 2 weeks. I am down to 50 mg now.  This has been a horrible struggle and I feel like I am dying. Many days I wish I would. I feel so lethargic, have a constant splitting headache, am dizzy and unstable ( I have fallen countless times),  have severe light sensitivity, have pain all over, am severely depressed or angry, have an upset stomach off and on and feel as though there are electric currents coursing through my body and that my brain is on fire! I am getting little to no sympathy from my husband and children who all expect me to act and do everything I’ve always done for them. I feel very frustrated, confused and alone through this process. 

[SoulSeeker]

Hanging on by a thread

 

Just when I think I can’t possibly feel worse and the worst is behind me I am proved wrong by increasingly horrible symptoms. I am so depressed and lethargic that I haven’t gotten out of bed for 2 days. My head hurts so bad it’s got me in tears. I’m now sweating like I have a fever but I don’t. The electric shocks to my brain and body have gotten worse. I honestly don’t know if I can take this anymore. I’ve even been thinking about giving up on this idea and sticking with the drugs. 

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[SoulSeeker]

Is this normal?

 

Hi all,

I am experiencing the worst head pain I have ever had. It is not a headache. It’s different. My head feels like it is under so much pressure that my eyes are going to pop out. It feels like my brain is shaking sometimes. Other times it feels like my brain is on fire and I get the worst electric shocks where sometimes I lose my vision or even pass out. Fun times huh? Anyone else experiencing anything similar?

 

Edited April 9, 2022 by ChessieCat
added Intro topic title before merging with intro topic

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @SoulSeeker

 

The first rule of going off psychiatric drugs is....stop tapering when you get withdrawal symptoms!

 

When was the last time you reduced Zoloft? If you went from 50mg to 25mg, if I were you, I'd immediately go back to 37.5mg. This probably will stop the withdrawal symptoms.

 

You will need to taper more gradually to avoid severe withdrawal, which is what you have now. Zoloft comes in a prescription liquid to enable titration, or you can make your own liquid. Here are our Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)
 

[SoulSeeker]

Hey Altostrata,

Thanks for the help. I’m feeling a little bit better today and am going to stay the course at 25 mg but I am going to stay here for a few weeks and recover before I try to taper anymore. I’ve read instructions on how to make a liquid preparation of Zoloft from this forum so when I do continue I’ll do it more gradually. Thanks for the very informative help. This forum is amazing! Psychiatrists don’t have a clue do they? I feel like this forum is my safety net and I feel confident getting off of my psych meds with the help here. Blessings 🙏🏽

[ChessieCat]

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Non-drug techniques

 

The important thing when tapering is to listen to your body/symptoms and hold for longer if you are not stable.

 

Stability

 

WDnormal

 

And Brassmonkey talks more about it here:

 

tao-of-the-brassmonkey

[Altostrata]

3 hours ago, SoulSeeker said:

but I am going to stay here for a few weeks

 

You probably should plan on holding for substantially longer than a few weeks. It's not a good idea to make a drug reduction when you are still shaky from a prior reduction.