lonut: overmedaticated? zoloft withdrawal?

[Ionut]

Hi people,

 

I am kind of desperate as I feel really weird for the last week or so and it is not the anxiety or the depression that I started the antidepressants for (at least this is how I perceive it).

 

As you can see in the signature, there were a lot of changes and adjustments since I started the antidepressants.

My current doc (will have a meeting with her on Wednesday) recommended to go up to 150mg of zoloft and so I did, in December. But by the end of December I started to feel super anxious again and upon google research (doc not available during the holidays), I decided by myself to drop back to 125. A week after that I started to feel really good, maybe best I've been since I started the medication. It lasted about until around 20th of January when I started to feel another increase in anxiety. Contacted the doc and she recommended another drop, to 100 mg. 

About 5 days later I started to feel a bit better, but only for 2-3 days. Then the weirdness started.

 

I now have a  feeling that I haven't had before (of course, I might perceive it like that since the mix of depression and anxiety with OCD and health anxiety on top is a BOMB cocktail), like I am not the same anymore, a dreamlike feeling, a bit dissociative, a bit emotionally numb, a bit of confusion, ability to focus on something dropped a bit etc. Feels a bit like the derealization I had when I felt into depression, back in summer 2023, but without that severe depression. I fear that my brain got permanently "damaged" (a bit illogical, I know, but the fear is there) from all these meds and adjustments.

I feel this new state to be even scarier than the anxiety attacks I was having in Autumn (at least I was feeling better after an attack, for the rest of the day, optimistic and hopeful) because I am in it the whole day, with minor ups and downs.

Can I actually feel this way because of the last drop in dosage? If so, why I haven't feel this way when I dropped from 150 to 125? 

 

Lately I was thinking that upping the escitalopram dosage from 10 to 20 mg, back in September (I had a rough week right after I returned from holiday, anxiety was through the roof the week before I went up on 20 mg) was a mistake and maybe I just had to push through and stay on 10mg. I have the feeling that I have been overmedicated since then. I actually dropped back to 10mg mid Novemeber (and then switched to zoloft) after I complained several times to my doc that I started to feel a bit weird, mood shifts during the day, like feeling great in the first half and like **** in the afternoon.

Also, I am seriously thinking in the last few days to start weaning off the poison, because I started to believe these meds are actually doing more wrong than good (of course, these words may come out just because I feel super off lately)

 

I appreciate your thoughts and advice.

 

Thanks!

[Emonda]

Welcome @Ionut

 

Sorry for the delay in getting to your post. We are a very small team with many people wanting to join our community.

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

I feel really weird for the last week or so and it is not the anxiety or the depression that I started the antidepressants for

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

I now have a  feeling that I haven't had before (of course, I might perceive it like that since the mix of depression and anxiety with OCD and health anxiety on top is a BOMB cocktail), like I am not the same anymore, a dreamlike feeling, a bit dissociative, a bit emotionally numb, a bit of confusion, ability to focus on something dropped a bit etc. Feels a bit like the derealization I had when I felt into depression, back in summer 2023, but without that severe depression.

 

I've read that people with WD symptoms say things like this. I've experienced it, too:

 

This site recommends tapering very slowly: Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

If you taper faster than this (like dropping from 150mg to 100mg of Zoloft (Sertraline), that would likely lead to WD symptoms. Can you identify with the symptoms on this list: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) It sounds like WD symptoms based on what you write. 

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

Can I actually feel this way because of the last drop in dosage?

 

You sure can.

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

If so, why I haven't feel this way when I dropped from 150 to 125? 

 

Sometimes, there is an initial delay in WD symptoms. But once they hit, you know about it. Also, the lower you go in your dose, WD symptoms can become more challenging. 

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

I fear that my brain got permanently "damaged" (a bit illogical, I know, but the fear is there) from all these meds and adjustments.

 

No, not permanent brain damage. Your body just needs stability and time to recover from that drop. 

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

About 5 days later I started to feel a bit better, but only for 2-3 days. Then the weirdness started.

 

Improvement comes in a Windows and waves pattern of stabilization

 

Some of us fine this link helpful to deal with Emotional Spirals

 

This link of Non-drug coping strategies is also helpful.

 

Just to confirm, you haven't changed anything else, have you? Same manufacturer of the AD? A change here can cause you grief. Are you taking the AD at the same time each and every day?

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

I have the feeling that I have been overmedicated since then.

 

Plenty of us are in that boat. Once you are in that position, the solution is a very slow taper, time and much patience. 

 

On 2/10/2024 at 8:18 AM, Ionut said:

I am seriously thinking in the last few days to start weaning off the poison, because I started to believe these meds are actually doing more wrong than good

 

Please refer back to the 10% maximum taper per month. Also, you don't want to start tapering until you feel stable.

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

Avoid alcohol. 

 

This is your own Introduction topic.  Each member has only ONE Introduction topic.  Your own Introduction topic is the best place to ask questions and the place to journal your progress.  This keeps your history in one place and means you do not have to repeat your story. 

 

Once again, welcome to S.A.

 

Emonda

 

 

 

[Ryder]

Which is the drug that bothers you the most ? 

[Ionut]

Hi Emonda,

 

10 hours ago, Emonda said:

If you taper faster than this (like dropping from 150mg to 100mg of Zoloft (Sertraline), that would likely lead to WD symptoms. Can you identify with the symptoms on this list: Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) It sounds like WD symptoms based on what you write. 

 

So, I changed to zoloft at the end of November, from escitalopram. 5 days after I started the taper, I was feelind awful, a massive depressive episode and anxiety was thorugh the roof. I started with 50 mg of zoloft, while tapering and then bumped to 75 and then to 100, on 10th of December., the day I stopped escitalopram completely. Doc said to bump it 150, by the end of December. I remember I was actually stabilizing after 75, or maybbe after 100. But by the end of Dec, when I was on 150, I got super anxious. then I dropped to 125, last day of December. Started to feel great 7-10 days later. but then, during the 3rd week of Jan, anxiety was coming again. dropped again to 100. 

 

I am repeating this because I simply cannot understand why I feel worse in some way, after dropping to 100.  

 

10 hours ago, Emonda said:

Just to confirm, you haven't changed anything else, have you? Same manufacturer of the AD? A change here can cause you grief. Are you taking the AD at the same time each and every day?

 

I haven t changed anything except dropping the trazodone from 50 mg to 25mg, but that was after I started to feel weird.  I take the meds roughly about the same time each day and every day.

10 hours ago, Emonda said:

We don't suggest many supplements, but two that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. Add one at a time and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

 

 

I take Omega 3 and Magnesium L Threonate for some weeks now.

 

10 hours ago, Emonda said:

No, not permanent brain damage. Your body just needs stability and time to recover from that drop

 

Dunno, it sure feels like it.

 

1 hour ago, Ryder said:

Which is the drug that bothers you the most ? 

 Hi Ryder,

 

Dunno. I actually felt pretty good in December and then again mid January so I was pretty confident that Zoloft was actually working. But in the last couple of weeks I started to question if the meds really work.

I am very confused about why I was prescribed valproic acid and now I hate the doc for doing it (it was another psychiatrist). 

I would also quit trazodone since I feel that I don t really need it but I am scared about the side effects, even that the dose I am taking is low.

[Emonda]

19 hours ago, Ionut said:

I haven t changed anything except dropping the trazodone from 50 mg to 25mg, but that was after I started to feel weird.  I take the meds roughly about the same time each day and every day.

 

Best to only taper one thing at a time and stick to the maximum 10% rule. That way, you can be certain what taper could be causing you grief. WD symptoms don't always appear immediately.

 

19 hours ago, Ionut said:

Dunno, it sure feels like it.

 

Time and patience...

 

19 hours ago, Ionut said:

I am repeating this because I simply cannot understand why I feel worse in some way, after dropping to 100.  

 

You've made quite a few changes over November, December, January. That'd likely leave you feeling fragile.

[Ionut]

6 hours ago, Emonda said:

You've made quite a few changes over November, December, January. That'd likely leave you feeling fragile.

Hi,

 

I think I feel worse by the day. Blood pressure is high, strong feeling as not being myself, non stop rumination etc. It's been almost 3 weeks since I dropped to 100.  Should I go back to 125 mg?

[BaccatePlayer]

On 2/9/2024 at 10:18 PM, Ionut said:

I fear that my brain got permanently "damaged" (a bit illogical, I know, but the fear is there) from all these meds and adjustments.

I feel this new state to be even scarier than the anxiety attacks

I strongly relate to that (also struggling with sertraline effects) but we can't blame ourselves since withdrawal likely messes with the exact thing that regulates how we feel about it.

[getofflex]

On 2/13/2024 at 10:02 AM, Ionut said:

I think I feel worse by the day. Blood pressure is high, strong feeling as not being myself, non stop rumination etc. It's been almost 3 weeks since I dropped to 100.  Should I go back to 125 mg?

I would not go back up to 125 mg, but instead try updosing to 115 mg, because your brain has probably partially adjusted to the lower dose of 100 mg.  When you dropped from 125 mg to 100 mg, that was too big of a drop - it was a 20% drop.  We suggest reducing by no more than 10% at one time.  It's very important to reduce very slowly and gradually, and not jump around on your drug dose.  Because you've made so many drug changes, I suggest after you go to 115 mg, you stay there for a few months to help your brain rest.  

 

Please be aware that psychiatrists are notorious for putting their patients through many drug changes, and rapid tapers that will harm them.  Our advice here will probably contradict what your doctor recommends.  If you want to prevent feeling worse, we suggest you make your own decisions about your drugs, instead of following what your psychiatrist tells you to do about drug switches and tapering.  

Edited February 20 by getofflex

[Ionut]

7 hours ago, getofflex said:

I would not go back up to 125 mg, but instead try updosing to 115 mg, because your brain has probably partially adjusted to the lower dose of 100 mg.  When you dropped from 125 mg to 100 mg, that was too big of a drop - it was a 20% drop.  We suggest reducing by no more than 10% at one time.  It's very important to reduce very slowly and gradually, and not jump around on your drug dose.  Because you've made so many drug changes, I suggest after you go to 115 mg, you stay there for a few months to help your brain rest.  

 

Please be aware that psychiatrists are notorious for putting their patients through many drug changes, and rapid tapers that will harm them.  Our advice here will probably contradict what your doctor recommends.  If you want to prevent feeling worse, we suggest you make your own decisions about your drugs, instead of following what your psychiatrist tells you to do about drug switches and tapering.  

Edited 7 hours ago by getofflex

 

Hi there,

 

Over the course of a week, I gradually went back to 125. The thing is, I am not in the tapering process as I am still under treatment. I was so desperate because of how I was feeling that I came here for some advice. 

I started to feel better by the day since I started to return to 125mg. Now I am almost confident that I was taking by mistake a lower dose for maybe longer than a week and that is why I started to feel anxious again, about 3 weeks ago. It also makes sense because I was feeling pretty good for the first 2-3 weeks of January, when I was taking 125 mg. But somewhere between 15th and 20something  I was most probably taking a lower dose by mistake (I am taking oral solution, twice a day, 75 mg in the morning and 50 in the afternoon and I was probably taking 25 mg in the afternoon since my mind was somewhat set to only fill the dropper to the half, as the second fill in the morning)

[getofflex]

17 hours ago, Ionut said:

I am not in the tapering process as I am still under treatment. I was so desperate because of how I was feeling that I came here for some advice. 

The purpose of this forum is to help people taper off psychiatric drugs.  If you are still under the treatment of your doctor, then you need to go to your doctor with any problems you may be having with your drugs.   

[Ionut]

On 2/20/2024 at 2:39 PM, getofflex said:

Please be aware that psychiatrists are notorious for putting their patients through many drug changes, and rapid tapers that will harm them.  Our advice here will probably contradict what your doctor recommends.  If you want to prevent feeling worse, we suggest you make your own decisions about your drugs, instead of following what your psychiatrist tells you to do about drug switches and tapering.  

 

On 2/21/2024 at 4:03 PM, getofflex said:

The purpose of this forum is to help people taper off psychiatric drugs.  If you are still under the treatment of your doctor, then you need to go to your doctor with any problems you may be having with your drugs.   

 

OK.