Trad: 12 years Zoloft - seeking tapering guidance

[Trad]

Original topic title before shortening:  New Member Trad, seeking guidanc in withdrawing from Zoloft after 12 years.

 

Brand new here. Trying to not violate any rules. I have been on Zoloft for over 12 years, tried twice before to slowly go off but the zaps and  bouts of emotion and depression forced me back on the drug. Again this year I am trying to withdraw, and after five months down from 200mg a day to 50mg. No ill effects except for this past ten days. Not depressed, but feelings of hopelessness and arguments with my wife adding to that. My big question is how to determine if what I am feeling is withdrawal side effects or real depressive issues. Also, any other tips as I go through this process. Thanks much!

Trad

 

Edited September 21, 2022 by ChessieCat
added original intro title before shortening

[Shep]

Hi, Trad.

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants.

 

From your withdrawal history, it looks like you tapered too fast. This is a common problem because doctors are good at putting us on these drugs, but not so good at giving information on getting off them. We advise tapering no faster than 10% a month, based on the previous month's dose (not the original dose). Please see:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)

 

 

What is withdrawal syndrome? 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

How psychiatric drugs remodel your brain 

 

Healing from antidepressants. Patterns of recovery  video (4 minutes)

 

On 9/21/2022 at 6:45 PM, Trad said:

My big question is how to determine if what I am feeling is withdrawal side effects or real depressive issues.

 

Please see:

 

Again, chemical imbalance is a myth. Stop the lies, please.

 

How do I know it's withdrawal and not relapse?

 

Withdrawal or relapse? Or something else?

 

Please continue to use this thread to document your taper and to ask questions. 

[Trad]

Thank you, you've provided some great information for me.

 

[Shep]

You're welcome, @Trad. Let us know if you have any questions.

[Trad]

Just an update. Over the last six months or so, I have reduce Zoloft from 200mg a day to about 25mg. I had no issue moving from 200 to 100, but reduced the dose at smaller levels from 100 to 25.   I still experience life stress from time to time, and that includes mild depressions. But overall I have been feeling very good. However, since I reduced to this new 25mg level, I have noticed that on occasion I can become emotional. By that I mean almost get tears in my eyes. Almost. It has happened three times over the last five weeks, but only for a moment, and only while involved in some situation. It also goes away quickly.  Before I began Zoloft many years ago, this sort of emotionalism never occurred. So, I am guessing that this is a withdrawal effect? If so, how long will I need to deal with this?  And as I reduce Zoloft more I assume this could get worse?

A side note,  I have maintained a personal journal since 2017 as well as a daily mood log app, so I have some pretty decent data to rely on. This has been wonderful to refer to. (I highly recommend some sort of journal.)
One reason for me to try to go off Zoloft is the fact that my journal records that I had some very severe long term depressions while at 200mg a day!

Anyway, I am optimistic and continuing to reduce my dose.
Thanks to everyone for your comments and support.

 

[Faure]

Hello, and welcome to SA. I’m sorry to say it, but you are going too fast with your taper. So far you have been very lucky that you are still ok. However you found this site so must have some thoughts that all is not completely well.
 

I think what you are describing about becoming emotional could be signs that your body is starting to feel the reductions.  Your body relied on this drug for 12 years and the drug is now a ‘trellis’ in your brain. If you take the trellis away too fast the brain has nothing to support it and is very likely to go into withdrawal.  WD can be long lasting and very debilitating and is to be avoided at all costs. You are getting warning signs.  Feeling extremely good is another warning sign.  WD cannot always be fixed by increasing the dose. Unfortunately I found that out all too well myself. 
 

SA recommends a taper of no more than 10% of the last dose every 4 weeks. it takes about 3 years to get off a drug to using this method. Going faster than this risks triggering withdrawal that is extremely difficult to recover from and can take years. Now you are at such a low dose it would be a good idea to do a long hold (several months) to give your body a chance to catch up with all the dose reductions. This may well stop you tipping into withdrawal. After that you could start the 10% every 4 weeks and see how you get on.
 

I understand that you are very keen to get off the drug. We all are. But the fastest way is also the slowest way (as it avoids prolonged, painful periods of WD when life cannot continue as usual). It’s frustrating but it means life can go on and improve, all the while the drug is very slowly reducing. I used to read people’s stories on here to deter myself from trying to increase the speed of my taper, you might like to have a look yourself. This doesn’t stop me from thinking about going faster, but it has stopped me from actually doing it. 
 

Please keep us posted as to how you are ☺️

[Trad]

Thank you for the warning. Since I've tried to get off this drug twice before and failed, I will heed your guidance. I'm back on my 25mg dose and will remain so until January or February, then begin the 10% reduction. I hate that it will take so long, but I can't argue with other people's real life experience with this. I sincerely appreciate your post and will keep you all updated.

Thanks!

[Shep]

23 hours ago, Trad said:

Over the last six months or so, I have reduce Zoloft from 200mg a day to about 25mg. I had no issue moving from 200 to 100, but reduced the dose at smaller levels from 100 to 25. 

 

You may find it helpful to read the first post in this thread:

 

Why taper? SERT transporter occupancy studies show importance of gradual change in plasma concentration

 

A large part of the drug is concentrated in those lower doses. Many people find the lower doses to be harder to taper, so going slow is best. 

 

[Faure]

9 hours ago, Trad said:

Thank you for the warning. Since I've tried to get off this drug twice before and failed, I will heed your guidance. I'm back on my 25mg dose and will remain so until January or February, then begin the 10% reduction. I hate that it will take so long, but I can't argue with other people's real life experience with this. I sincerely appreciate your post and will keep you all updated.

I’m very happy to hear you have decided to hold for a few months 👍☺️👍 I was worried for you ploughing on.  Try to keep life simple and stress free, especially avoid vigorous exercise as this stresses the CNS and can cause people to crash. Gentle exercise is best. 
 

We all hate that it will take so long. I know. It’s rubbish. But for me life has improved hugely since I started tapering 16 months ago. I’m unrecognisable in what I can now do. So your life will probably improve too and in a way that is sustainable.  

 

You may want to hold for longer, to be sure all WD is completely resolved. Especially as you’ve failed twice before (I’ve failed 3 times) and your CNS will be sensitised. It’s probably a good idea to keep a diary of how you’re feeling, any WD symptoms and check in here before you start your 10% taper.
 

You will need special scales and other things, have you got them? This would be a good time to read up on what you’ll need, get your head round it and start buying the stuff. Or you may want to use liquid. I haven’t got my head round that yet but can help with weighing. Let me know if you want any details ☺️

[Trad]

Thanks for the encouragement, that really helps. Most people have no clue what I am dealing with. Regarding weighing, you mean weighing the pill pieces? I have been cutting my 100mg pill in half using a cutter, then cutting the half in half But when I start reducing further, I guess I can't keep cutting in half, right? I wold like info on the type of sale I will need.

Thanks again!

[Shep]

5 hours ago, Trad said:

I wold like info on the type of sale I will need.

 

Please see:

 

Using a scale to weigh and measure doses

 

The Gemini-20 is very popular for tapering. You can find it on Amazon, Ebay, and other online stores. Here's a video review of the scale that shows you how to set it up and use it: 

 

Smart Weigh GEM20 Digital Jewelry Scale Review

 

 

[Faure]

I use the Gemeni scale and also bought a nice pill grinder which is necessary as it makes sure all parts of the pill are ground up and you’re not just relying on segments. I bought one a bit like this as I’ll be doing for years and didn’t want one that was a bit rubbish!

 

i can put in details about how I make up pills when you’re ready ☺️

[Trad]

Update:
January 2, 2023 and I am still on about 20mg of Zoloft. Originally taking 200mg. I use a phone mood app to rate my moods daily and also keep a journal, so I can look back in time and see that December and January are my worst months when it comes to feeling the blues, regardless of what dose of Zoloft I am taking, This winter I have had tough days, but not as tough as last year or the year before, when I was on 200mg of Zoloft. Obviously I am mood challenged, and depression has walked with me since I was a teenager. But it is clear Zoloft is not the answer.

I plan on going at least another month or two before I attempt to reduce the dose again. I want to seriously thank everyone here for your support and information. This website is truly valuable.

New year wishes for success and health to everyone.

Trad

[Shep]

Thanks for the update, @Trad. Very glad to read you're finding your way through this. 

[Faure]

I’m glad things are going fairly well for you. Well done for slowing down and giving yourself a break from tapering. You might want to think about meditating to help with your general well-being. I started at the beginning of the pandemic and it truly has changed my life. I do this Jon Kabat Zin body scan most days. 

[Trad]

I am reaching out for some guidance. Finished my last Zoloft January 7, 2023 after almost a year of continued reduction. I made the decision to get off of Zoloft because I have had low level depression since I was a kid. Once on Zoloft, I continued to have depressions every now and then, so did not see any benefit of taking it. It has been four months now without Zoloft, and my depressions are still there, as they always have been. But they seem to last longer these days, and in some cases drop a bit deeper. This could be due to issues in my life currently, or could it be that Zoloft might have been actually preventing me from going too low? I have an app on my phone and I rank my mood every single day since 2017, on a scale from 1 to 10 with 6 being a perfectly normal good mood. A 5 is neutral, my normal resting place. 4 is mild depression, 3 is serious and 2 very very low. (I never hit 1). While on Zoloft I rarely got to a 3 and almost never below that. However, in the four months since I have been off Zoloft I have settled in around 4, and often hit 3 and a few times 2. On Zoloft my depressions seem to last five to six days, once in awhile ten days. But I have been in a depressions for fifteen days now. It caries from a 2 to a 4, but never better than that. It is wearing me out. I am considering going back on Zoloft.
 

Could this be still a reaction to stopping Zoloft? Or is this my normal mood situation?

Any thoughts about this would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Shep]

On 1/2/2023 at 1:52 PM, Trad said:

Update:
January 2, 2023 and I am still on about 20mg of Zoloft. Originally taking 200mg.

 

Trad, the above quote is from January. 

 

And now recently you write: 

 

11 hours ago, Trad said:

Finished my last Zoloft January 7, 2023 after almost a year of continued reduction.

 

11 hours ago, Trad said:

On Zoloft my depressions seem to last five to six days, once in awhile ten days. But I have been in a depressions for fifteen days now. It caries from a 2 to a 4, but never better than that. It is wearing me out. I am considering going back on Zoloft.
 

Could this be still a reaction to stopping Zoloft? Or is this my normal mood situation?

 

It looks like you stopped the Zoloft at 20 mg, which was way too high a dose to stop.

 

Please re-read your thread. You tapered too quickly and stopped at too high a dose. So no, I wouldn't think this is your "normal mood situation." You likely have withdrawal syndrome. 

 

You're now more than 4 months off this drug and dealing with withdrawal. Here is the reinstatement thread:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

Since you stopped at 20 mg four months ago, I would reinstate at no more than 0.25 mg to see how you do. Your body has already started acclimating to not having this drug in your system, so you'll want to start at a very low dose to test the waters. You can always increase later.

 

Here is information on the dose to stop at:

 

When to end the taper and jump to zero?

 

Please read the links we post here in your thread. If you have any questions, simply ask and we'll do our best to give you an answer. But we can't help you if you aren't going by this information. From what we've learned over the years that people have been using these types of forums, the 10% reduction based on the prior month's dose (not the original dose) is the best way to get off these drugs. And continue tapering until you're on the smallest fraction of the drug possible before stopping. 

 

 

 

[Trad]

Thanks for your quick response. That is sincerely appreciated! Starting at 200mg and going all the way down to 20mg, sometimes 12.5, I thought I could make the last jump safely.  In past attempts to get off Zoloft I experienced the zaps and all sort of withdrawal reactions. This slow reduction prevented all of that, so I thought I was free of withdrawal issues.

After four months off Zoloft with no other withdrawal symptoms, I didn't think the deeper depressions could be withdrawal related. I was concerned that they may actually be the nature of my depressive disorder. I do need to reread the links posted here again. I am doing that today.

You suggest that if I decide to go back on Zoloft to take just 0.25 dose? Not 25mg but 0.25, correct? And then continue with the 10% reduction regiment. I think that might be the wise thing for me to do.

Seriously, thank you again!

Trad
 

 

[Shep]

22 hours ago, Trad said:

This slow reduction prevented all of that, so I thought I was free of withdrawal issues.

 

SSRIs are known for a delayed withdrawal. Some people don't experience withdrawal from SSRIs for several weeks to several months. That's no unusual.

 

22 hours ago, Trad said:

I was concerned that they may actually be the nature of my depressive disorder.

 

Please see:

 

Again, chemical imbalance is a myth. Stop the lies, please.

 

22 hours ago, Trad said:

You suggest that if I decide to go back on Zoloft to take just 0.25 dose? Not 25mg but 0.25, correct?

 

Correct. This is a tiny, tiny dose of only 0.25 mg. You can see how to get to that dose here:

 

Tips for tapering off sertraline (Zoloft)

 

22 hours ago, Trad said:

And then continue with the 10% reduction regiment. I think that might be the wise thing for me to do.

 

Good to read, Trad.

 

Please let us know how you do with the reinstatement and if you have any questions.

[Trad]

Thanks for the guidance and support.

I am rereading all of the links to refresh my memory about everything.

Thanks again!

Trad