Mei123 Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 (edited) Hi, I’m new here. 👋 I’m surprised of having such strong withdrawal symptoms going down just 1% from 57,5 mg to 57 mg of Zoloft, starting yesterday. High anxiety, agitation and headache. Could stopping Lamictal 4 weeks ago affect the Zoloft withdrawal (I only took 25 mg of Lamictal for 19 days)? I’ve been on Zoloft for more than 20 years. I made a MRI and it showed I’ve had minor strokes effecting parts of the prefrontal cortex which my psychiatrist says can explain my sensitivity. Any thoughts are welcomed! Edited January 6 by Emonda Name to title Zoloft 1999-2003 50 mg Zoloft 2003-2015 25 mg Brake from Zoloft 1,5 years Re-started Zoloft 2017-2023 50 mg Zoloft increased to 60 mg Tapered Zoloft 57,5 mg Sept 23 stayed on this dose Lamotrigine 25 mg for 19 days off 12/12 -23 Started tapering Zoloft 57,5 mg reducing 1% to 57 mg 5 Jan -2024 Link to comment
Administrator Emonda Posted January 7 Administrator Share Posted January 7 Welcome @Mei123 So the moderators can best help you, please complete your drug signature by following these instructions. Adding a signature ensures your drug history appears at the bottom of every post, making it more efficient for those trying to assist. It's possible you are experiencing WD symptoms from stopping the lamotrigine. Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) We look forward to seeing your drug signature so we may be able to comment further. Please post any updates here in your thread. Once again, welcome to S.A. Emonda. Please don't send me PMs. I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions. Start of taper: Jan ’22 Vortioxetine 15mg, End year 1: 4.5mg, End year 2: 2.38mg, Year 3: 8 Feb 2.19mg, 21 Mar 1.99mg, 2 May 1.83mg, 13 Jun 1.69mg, 25 Jul 1.50mg, 14 Aug 1.46mg, 3 Sep 1.43mg, 10 Sep 1.40mg, 17 Sep 1.37mg, 16 Oct 1.34mg, 23 Oct 1.32mg, 30 Oct 1.29mg Link to comment
Mei123 Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 Thanks Emonda, I've added my drug signature now. When will my post be public? Zoloft 1999-2003 50 mg Zoloft 2003-2015 25 mg Brake from Zoloft 1,5 years Re-started Zoloft 2017-2023 50 mg Zoloft increased to 60 mg Tapered Zoloft 57,5 mg Sept 23 stayed on this dose Lamotrigine 25 mg for 19 days off 12/12 -23 Started tapering Zoloft 57,5 mg reducing 1% to 57 mg 5 Jan -2024 Link to comment
Mei123 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 @Emonda When you mention the possibility of withdrawal symptoms from Lamotrigine, does that imply that commencing the tapering of Zoloft could have reactivated the Lamotrigine withdrawal? It felt like the withdrawal was over when I started tapering Zoloft, but maybe it was still too early (being off Lamotrigine for 26 days). Are there any posts written around this topic? Zoloft 1999-2003 50 mg Zoloft 2003-2015 25 mg Brake from Zoloft 1,5 years Re-started Zoloft 2017-2023 50 mg Zoloft increased to 60 mg Tapered Zoloft 57,5 mg Sept 23 stayed on this dose Lamotrigine 25 mg for 19 days off 12/12 -23 Started tapering Zoloft 57,5 mg reducing 1% to 57 mg 5 Jan -2024 Link to comment
Mei123 Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 Hi! I reduced my Zoloft dose from 57.5 mg to 57 mg (only 1 %), and I am experiencing loads of withdrawal symptoms (akathisia) that have not improved after 7 days, has been getting worse over the days. Prior to the reduction I was more stable. Any inputs? Zoloft 1999-2003 50 mg Zoloft 2003-2015 25 mg Brake from Zoloft 1,5 years Re-started Zoloft 2017-2023 50 mg Zoloft increased to 60 mg Tapered Zoloft 57,5 mg Sept 23 stayed on this dose Lamotrigine 25 mg for 19 days off 12/12 -23 Started tapering Zoloft 57,5 mg reducing 1% to 57 mg 5 Jan -2024 Link to comment
Administrator Emonda Posted January 12 Administrator Share Posted January 12 Hi Mei123, I've just moved your new post back to your own thread. It's best to keep everything relating to yourself in one spot. It makes it easier for those trying to assist. I'm just heading out now, but I will drop back a little later today to reply to your question. Please don't send me PMs. I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions. Start of taper: Jan ’22 Vortioxetine 15mg, End year 1: 4.5mg, End year 2: 2.38mg, Year 3: 8 Feb 2.19mg, 21 Mar 1.99mg, 2 May 1.83mg, 13 Jun 1.69mg, 25 Jul 1.50mg, 14 Aug 1.46mg, 3 Sep 1.43mg, 10 Sep 1.40mg, 17 Sep 1.37mg, 16 Oct 1.34mg, 23 Oct 1.32mg, 30 Oct 1.29mg Link to comment
Administrator Emonda Posted January 13 Administrator Share Posted January 13 As I mentioned in my first post, you may be experiencing WD from stopping the Lamotringine CT after 19 days. I've read that dependency can occur after ~ 3 weeks, and you were right on that. I have copied and pasted an extract from the Lamotringine tapering post (I added the bolding): Like all psychoactive drugs, lamotrigine can have withdrawal difficulties. Even doctors who are aware of withdrawal problems with other drugs can be surprised at how hard it is to go off lamotrigine. As with other drugs, we recommend very gradual tapering at 10% per month, based on the current dosage (the amount of the decrease keeps getting smaller). Read Why taper by 10% of my dosage? Lamotrigine makes the nervous system less reactive. This allows regulatory systems, such as the GABA system, to work better. Much is unknown about how it works. Removal of lamotrigine can cause a nasty rebound of "alerting," i.e. anxiety, restlessness, and sleeplessness. As to Zoloft: I wouldn't be reducing the Zoloft again until you feel stable. Are you using a liquid or tablet for Zoloft, and, have you recently swapped from one to the other? Have you changed the manufacturer of Zoloft recently? Has anything else changed? Please don't send me PMs. I am not a doctor. My comments are based on my personal experience with ADs and tapering. Consult your doctor about your own medical decisions. Start of taper: Jan ’22 Vortioxetine 15mg, End year 1: 4.5mg, End year 2: 2.38mg, Year 3: 8 Feb 2.19mg, 21 Mar 1.99mg, 2 May 1.83mg, 13 Jun 1.69mg, 25 Jul 1.50mg, 14 Aug 1.46mg, 3 Sep 1.43mg, 10 Sep 1.40mg, 17 Sep 1.37mg, 16 Oct 1.34mg, 23 Oct 1.32mg, 30 Oct 1.29mg Link to comment
Mei123 Posted January 13 Author Share Posted January 13 10 hours ago, Emonda said: As to Zoloft: I wouldn't be reducing the Zoloft again until you feel stable. Thanks Emonda, I don't want to reduce my dose at all. In my new heading (which disappeared when you moved my post) I asked about reinstating to my prior dose 57,5 mg, to reduce the intense withdrawal symptoms I'm having. Any inputs around that? Zoloft 1999-2003 50 mg Zoloft 2003-2015 25 mg Brake from Zoloft 1,5 years Re-started Zoloft 2017-2023 50 mg Zoloft increased to 60 mg Tapered Zoloft 57,5 mg Sept 23 stayed on this dose Lamotrigine 25 mg for 19 days off 12/12 -23 Started tapering Zoloft 57,5 mg reducing 1% to 57 mg 5 Jan -2024 Link to comment
Mei123 Posted January 13 Author Share Posted January 13 Sorry I forgot to answer your questions. Are you using a liquid or tablet for Zoloft, and, have you recently swapped from one to the other? I'm taking a 50 mg tablet and 7 mg liquid form. It's been the same since I increased my dose in July Have you changed the manufacturer of Zoloft recently? No Has anything else changed? No Zoloft 1999-2003 50 mg Zoloft 2003-2015 25 mg Brake from Zoloft 1,5 years Re-started Zoloft 2017-2023 50 mg Zoloft increased to 60 mg Tapered Zoloft 57,5 mg Sept 23 stayed on this dose Lamotrigine 25 mg for 19 days off 12/12 -23 Started tapering Zoloft 57,5 mg reducing 1% to 57 mg 5 Jan -2024 Link to comment
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