alfonssweden: Setraline zoloft withdrawal problems

[alfonssweden]

I am going through withdrawal from setraline zoloft used for 22 years, have tried to quit but failed, hope to find help here and help others

 

Haven't drank alcohol in 2 years, haven't had a problem with alcohol like that but drank too much when I did.

 

Going to a psychologist

 

Have not used other drugs only zoloft.

 

When I took zoloft my highest dose was 100mg, withdrawal was if I remember 6 weeks 50mg and 25mg 4 weeks if I remember correctly

 

I have made a suspension of 2.5 months with the end of the last tablet of 25mg

2023-11-06

 

But now I have severe anxiety and compulsive behavior.

 

Have I made too short a delay?

 

Anyone have any tips on how I should do it?

 

Thanks have nice day 

 

Edited February 8 by Emonda
Name to title and amended formatting

[LotusRising]

Hi @alfonssweden

 

Welcome to SA,

 

We are a peer-run volunteer site dedicated to a harm reduction tapering approach in an effort to minimize withdrawal symptoms. As you may have read, we suggest tapering by no more than 10% of your most recent dose each month. See  Why taper by 10%.

 

Thank you for creating a signature. Could you please add the month you stopped your medication completely. 

 

I'm not clear if you've reinstated your medication, or have plans to - can you please confirm?

 

This topic may be relevant to you Reinstating and Stabilizing.

 

And here is information on tapering zoloft:

 

 

Please post any updates or questions related to your specific situation right here in your thread. 

 

And again, welcome 

 

Lotus Rising

[Ryder]

You will likely need to re-instate a smaller dose. You were using 100mg Zoloft for 22 years, is this correct ?

[alfonssweden]

Thank you for creating a signature. Could you please add the month you stopped your medication completely. 

 

I'm not clear if you've reinstated your medication, or have plans to - can you please confirm?

 

 

I stop medication 2023-11-06

 

I not  reinstated  medication

 

My goal is to stop the medication completely, but the withdrawals are too strong.

 

What deposit should I start with?
Should I go up to 100mg or only 50mg and then from there go 10% a month?

 

Thanks

[alfonssweden]

Ryder

 

You were using 100mg Zoloft for 22 years, is this correct ?

 

Yes this correct 

[alfonssweden]

 

 

Was thinking of starting 25mg zoloft today. How long should I eat 25 mg and the next step is 50 mg to 100 mg which I ate as max dose. Gets a little worried when it says that the brain can be damaged, if I understood correctly, it heals over time and you are restored?

[LotusRising]

@alfonssweden

 

Can you confirm if you mean Nov 2023, or June 2023. You've written it both ways and the information I provide might be different depending on how long ago you stopped the drug. 

[Ryder]

12 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

I stop medication 2023-11-06

What month was this Alf ? Was this November or June.

 

I want to ask exactly what Lotus has said. 

[alfonssweden]

 

day 6

month 11

year 2023 

[alfonssweden]

Took 25 mg of zoloft as a start to deposit yesterday but will 
wait today to take 25 mg again, in case if you have views on taking a lower dose

[alfonssweden]

Is there any danger for me that I ate 25 mg yesterday and 
then maybe you say that it is better starting on 12.5?

have such anxiety and worry

[Gonzo]

After so many years taking Zoloft /Sertraline you should quit extremely slow, it seems like you stopped treatment too fast, withdrawal symptoms can happen months later after taking the last dose, in my experience.

 

I'd say, go back to a dose that let you stabilize your symptoms, you don't need to rush this process, and you don't want to, trust me.

 

I want to tell you that withdrawal can mean for some people a coming back to a difficult emotional reality that you forgot about, maybe that's not your case but if it is the moment you stop taking the pills and that you get in contact with that reality is when you start reprocessing all those emotions, even if they are decades old emotions.

[alfonssweden]

Thanks Gonzo
My severe anxiety started 2 weeks ago with my psychologist who used emdr hypnosis, got in touch with severe traumas as a little boy. 

After that, my severe anxiety and withdrawal started.

My withdrawal was (my highest dose 100mg)100mg to 50mg to 25mg at the end, 
I remember correctly I did 5-7 days on 12.5mg.

I think the total delay was 2.5-3 months

Can I start on 25 mg now and for how long?
Thank you for your reply, it warms my heart :)

[Gonzo]

I'm not an expert in withdrawal procedure, mods here are the ones you need to ask and listen to, but after 20+ years taking the drug even that timeline seems too short and fast for me, take it easy, things will get better if you give your body and mind time to learn how to function without the drug and to reprocess all the stored traumatic stuff.

[LotusRising]

@alfonssweden

 

I would have suggested starting lower than that, maybe as low as 5mg, and no more than 10mg. But now that you've taken 25mg, how did it make you feel?

 

 

[alfonssweden]

Still have severe anxiety today, will be tablet 3 tomorrow.
Maybe it will take a few days before it gets better. Only have 100 mg tablets.
How can I divide them so that it is only 10mg?

[Ryder]

Please remember that you were taking 100mg for over 20 years. You finished your taper 3 months ago only in November, so yes you are likely to feel symptoms. 

 

How have you been doing on 25mg ? Did it make your symptoms better or worse. 

 

 

 

 

[alfonssweden]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's worse, should I lower the dose?

How long can it take before it becomes stable?

Have been prescribed Lergigan

[Ryder]

5 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

Have been prescribed Lergigan

 

This is an anti-psychotic drug. You don't want to be tapering off that later down the track. 

 

5 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

How long can it take before it becomes stable?

 

I honestly feel within the first couple of days you will know if 25mg feels about right. 

 

5 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

It's worse, should I lower the dose?

 

You can. If you have access to a pharmacy, that can compound your medicine for you, they can make it into custom 10mg tablets. 

[LotusRising]

5 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

It's worse, should I lower the dose? How long can it take before it becomes stable?

What symptoms feel worse since restarting the 25mg?

 

Lergigan looks like kind of a messy drug to me. Were you prescribed it for sleep? I would try to avoid if you can

[alfonssweden]

It was the anti-anxiety tablets. 
should try to avoid them. have felt a little better today, 
is the 3rd day on 25mg, can try dividing to 12.5, is it safe that it will be exactly 12.5? 
is it dangerous to change the dose?

[Lipsticklou]

On 2/8/2024 at 8:20 AM, alfonssweden said:

I am going through withdrawal from setraline zoloft used for 22 years, have tried to quit but failed, hope to find help here and help others

 

Haven't drank alcohol in 2 years, haven't had a problem with alcohol like that but drank too much when I did.

 

Going to a psychologist

 

Have not used other drugs only zoloft.

 

When I took zoloft my highest dose was 100mg, withdrawal was if I remember 6 weeks 50mg and 25mg 4 weeks if I remember correctly

 

I have made a suspension of 2.5 months with the end of the last tablet of 25mg

2023-11-06

 

But now I have severe anxiety and compulsive behavior.

 

Have I made too short a delay?

 

Anyone have any tips on how I should do it?

 

Thanks have nice day 

 

Hi Alfonssweden

Hi hope your doing OK,  I too have a history of 10 year on Sertraline at a 200mg dose currently I have nearly been off it 9 months and god what a time I've had ,looking at your info I think you are tapering off too quickly , I did mine over 4 months and it has been pointed out that that also was far too quick , and I suffered really bad with withdrawal and still do now but not as bad  ,it changes all the time and comes in waves, unfortunately the Dr's that prescribe these types of drugs have no idea how to taper you off correctly and have no idea at all regarding withdrawal, but you are right to have joined this group there is endless help and support on here and it reinforces that your actually not going mad and all the things we have to go through to rid ourselves of these terrible drugs are normal 

Good luck and keep going it will get better , drop me a line anytime 😊 

[alfonssweden]

Have side effects now like dry mouth and trembling hands, should I lower the dose to 12.5? or continue on 25mg?

How important is it when dividing the tablet that it is exactly 12.5?

[Lipsticklou]

Hi have you actually managed to get off Zoloft at all , from what i can make out you seem to be taking different amounts and jumping on and off it . maybe you need to stabilize yourself and get on a level then start reducing again , I am not a Dr and only talk from  personal experience , maybe leave it at 25mg until you have levelled off a bit 

[Erimus]

It can take weeks, months, or even years to stabilise after reinstatement. Constantly chopping and changing dose in response to symptoms will not help you in your attempts to find stability. You need to pick a dose (or no dose) and stick with it for 6 months.

 

Cutting tablets in half is generally not considered accurate, but if it is the best you can manage then it will do.

[Ryder]

Are you able to go down to your pharmacy where they can prepare your tablets for you ? 

 

25mg should be easy to make with Zoloft splitting 50mg. However, a dose of 12.5mg perhaps a pharmacy nearby may be able to help create a 12.5mg tablet. Also, your GP can write you a script for smaller doses 10mg, 12.5mg etc etc. 

 

Whatever the dose is that you choose, it needs to be consistent. 

[Lipsticklou]

Source the  liquid form of Zoloft , in some areas you can get it, ask your G.P that would help to taper down to the smaller quantities.

I was told not to cut tablets as it is really difficult to cut therefore you are probably not  get the right amount of drug each time , maybe when you are down to 25mg which I think is the smallest amount in tablet form certainly in the U.K take every other day for a month then every third day for a month, I was told this after I had come off Zoloft which probably would of helped me more than just stopping the 25mg but Drs really do not have the knowledge  about Tapering   

Good Luck  

[alfonssweden]

Haven't changed the dose, running on 25mg now for 4 days and today I feel better so I think I found the right one :)

I think about 14 days i can test 50mg

[Lipsticklou]

Hi that is good you are feeling better, maybe stick with that dose for the time being and get yourself back on track, then start thinking about reducing down very slowly, I found it really hard with the withdrawal which only started when I had taken my last tablet, I felt like I was never going to get through it but I did, I still have a lot of withdrawal symptoms but they are different , some are the same but not as bad some are new, and they come in waves but you will do it especially with the support of this group which I have found and continue to find  invaluable !!

[LotusRising]

9 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

Have side effects now like dry mouth and trembling hands, should I lower the dose to 12.5? or continue on 25mg?

These sound like they could be expected effects from restarting the medication. If it's been 4 days and you report feeling better, I would hold here and see how you progress. You may not have to updose any further. If you do decide that you need to increase, I would do so at smaller increments. Jumping from 25mg - 50mg is a big leap.  

[Ryder]

Hi Alf,

 

It is good that you are starting to feel better. Hold at 25mg for the first 7-days and update us how you are doing. 

 

 

[alfonssweden]

Feeling much worse today, don't know what to do, should I stand on 25 mg or lower. 
maybe just getting worse on 25mg, think I got more side effects now like dry mouth, 
twitching in the body, think hearing hallucinations, very high anxiety today no food 
appetite no desire for anything. Don't know how I will manage to divide the tablets

[Lipsticklou]

Hi I would stay on the dose your taking, you need to avoid swapping and changing the dose , you need to get your body on a level which will be hard if your not consistent, even when you have reinstated medication you need to give your body time to adjust which in my opinion your not doing.

You will have good and bad days even when your body is on a level , try and go with it and give it time, after all you had a good day yesterday !  

[LotusRising]

15 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

think I got more side effects now like dry mouth, twitching in the body, think hearing hallucinations, very high anxiety today no food appetite no desire for anything.

Are these symptoms you had before reinstating the 25mg?

[alfonssweden]

Some side effects same as before, but much worse anxiety now

Have stopped and started before without problems, 
never experienced any similar side effects

[Lipsticklou]

2 hours ago, alfonssweden said:

Some side effects same as before, but much worse anxiety now

Have stopped and started before without problems, 
never experienced any similar side effects

Hi I would stay on the same dose for some considerable time and allow your body to level off, even though I have been off the medication for 9 months I'm still experiencing side effects some days are OK some are terrible ,give your body time to level off,  write down daily what you are experiencing so you can see improvement no matter how small.