twocanbeasbadasone: Long time Zoloft user, brief history, taper mistake and problems

[twocanbeasbadasone]

 

 

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I have been struggling with panic and anxiety my entire life. I started taking Zoloft in 2010, and have been continuing on it , on and off. Though, now more on. I was able to easily taper off. And go back on without issues. However, last time I went on I also did so with Klonopin. This was due to severe panic attacks that would last days. Moved to Argentina and stayed on Zoloft and Klonopin.

 

Back in the states I dropped from 100 to 90 mg. and did the slow taper off of Klonopin. Long. Had withdrawal. Though I am thinking I also tried to lower my Zoloft with Klonopin and it was too much and too fast. Reinstated both and started the Klonopin taper again. Anyway, I then dropped the Zoloft to 75 mg. I was happy and satisfied. Dealing with Klonopin withdrawal well. Having Windows.

 

Decided to lower the Zoloft to 62.5. And then too quickly to 50. Well, once I hit 50, forget it. Terrible nerve pain, panic attacks. Just all out of whack. I'm now sick and reinstating back to 62.5. And will continue up to 75 if need be. My CNS is all out of whack and I need rest. I got way ahead of myself and I am looking for a community that knows what this is like.

 

I always go into the mind set that I have caused permanent damage. With brain fog, it's hard to manage a plan. It all just seems so overwhelming. My main questions are for people who reinstated and continued a slow low taper. Can I stay at 75 mg until I feel I am more healed or is the damage done? I am 3 days into an increase from 50 to 62.5. Don't want to shock my system by going directly back to 75. Any thoughts or additions are very welcome. Hugs for all. Xox

Edited July 22, 2016 by KarenB
added tags & paragraph breaks

[oops44]

greetings and salutations twocan, and welcome to the island of misfit toys! i just wanted to welcome you to the forum and let you know a mod will be by shortly, and in the meantime if you could put your drug and taper history in your signature it would sure go a long way toward all of us being able to quickly understand your situation and offer advice in a more effective manner.

 

a signature is the short description/history at the bottom of my post in light gray. to make a signature just copy this link into your search engine http://survivinganti...your-signature/ and follow the directions. as i said before it would be very helpful for us if you could do this.

 

I'm sorry you have fallen into withdrawal and i know it isn't pleasant. i am also dealing with sertraline withdrawal, along with many others here. for now i will leave the med advice for a mod or more experienced member, but rest assured someone who can help will be along shortly. 

 

if you have any questions for me feel free to ask them here in your thread.

[KarenB]

Hello twocan,

 

That was a lot of changes both up and down, so your Central Nervous System is asking for a break.  We recommend a gentle taper, reducing by no more than 10% of your current dose each month.  This allows your brain time to adjust as you go, and lessens any withdrawal.  Looks like your tapers were faster than that, but then that's how we all ended up here! 

 

You might find it reassuring to read about neuro-plasticity, neuro-sculpting and brain restoration.  They gave me a lot of hope when I first came here.  Damage has been done, but it can also be healed.  Holding for a good long while should help.  Four days is the minimum time to allow improvements to show up, and after a lot of changes, it can take weeks.  I'd suggest holding at 62.5 for a bit longer yet, to give it a chance. 

 

Many people find Fish oil and Magnesium useful during withdrawal.  

 

Keep it Simple; Keep it Slow; Keep it Stable

 

And here's a good thread for ideas for building a strong foundation to help you deal both with withdrawal, and with underlying anxiety/panic.  Non-Drug Techniques to cope with emotional symptoms. 

 

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature – all drugs/dates/dosages etc - so we can see your situation easily whenever you post, and help you more accurately.  Thanks.

 

Have a read of those and then you can come back to this thread to discuss things further.  This can be your journal to record your tapering and healing progress, and to ask questions. 

 

Welcome to SA,

Karen

[elbee]

Welcome to SA twocan! I'm dealing with VERY similar issues (primary, panic attacks) and dealing with getting off the exact same medication as you (plus one other). You seem like you've done some research around all of this, but I really recommend reading through a lot of the great information on this website and other recommended sites this site links to. I'm firly new to this so I'm not in a position to give much more advice than that, but just to let you know you're in the right place nd you're not alone with this! Other more "seasoned" folks will chime in on your questions soon.

[nz11]

I got way ahead of myself and I am looking for a community that knows what this is like.

Welcome twocan,

You sure found the right place cos boy do we all know what this is like....welcome to the choir.

 

So glad you found sa ...millions never do.

 

nz11

[RachelSusan]

Welcome Twocan,

I too am in your situation.  I was reinstated on Zoloft after a distastes withdrawal. I am no doctor, in fact I am new on this site as well so I can't offer you anything but my sympathy and share my situation. I went back on Zoloft at 50 mg on July 8 and was very upset that I didn't see any improvement until around two weeks later (this weekend).  Yesterday felt terrific, today a few steps back but certainly not back to where I was before July 8.  When I didn't respond to reinstatement after one week my doctor suggested putting me back up to 100 mg, however due to my new education I held firm at 50 mg.  I am happy I did so, but that is only my story, everybody is different.   Best of luck to you.

RS

[elbee]

Hey just following up, did you decide to hold at the 62.5 mg of Zoloft or go back up to 70 mg?

[twocanbeasbadasone]

Thank you so much for the replies. I have been having technical difficulties . I have added my signature

[twocanbeasbadasone]

I reinstated completely up to 87.5 mg. I feel so defeated and lost. It's like I can't stop changing it. I won't go any higher now but I feel scared. Has anyone kept trying and failing to get off? Can that permanently mess you up? Or is there hope of stabilizing and then doing the 10% protocol?

[RachelSusan]

Twocan,

I am so sorry you feel so defeated. I don't have enough of a history myself with Zoloft withdrawals to answer your questions.  I have been off once and then had to reinstate as well. I'm trying to stabilize before I try again. Unfortunately I found this website after I had gone off the first time.  I am reading as much as I can over and over and over again. From what I am reading here on this site it does sound like there is hope, it just seems that it takes much longer that we think it will.  At least that is what I get out of my reading. Hang in there and keep reaching out for support.

[scallywag]

twocan, I hope that you'll hold steady at your current dose for at considerable time because that's the only way to get things settled. 

 

I started to cycle between startup side effects and cold-turkey w/d symptoms because of my medical-professional-advised taper skipping days.  I found SA,  read several threads, one about my med (Cymbalta) and one about the 10%.  Within a few days of returning to taking a consistent dose every day, my symptoms lightened noticeably and they were mostly resolved within 6 weeks.

[twocanbeasbadasone]

I am definitely not touching the dose. Staying put. I will sit at this dose for awhile. I have been reading as much as I can, but sometimes it just becomes so overwhelming and I feel stuck. Stuck because, I have always had anxiety from childhood and when you start a drug and then read possible implications of said drug, hindesight is 20/20. Like now I have no opportunity to build up coping skills with out the drugs. Or so it seems like a tough battle now... On ward and upwards.

[scallywag]

Yes, onward and upward.  If reading about others' experience doesn't help and in fact makes things worse, good thing it's not compulsory.

[elbee]

I understand that feeling of being defeated by the meds. They are a nasty foe! I think it makes sense to try and restablize at the dose you are on and holding. That's not defeat though, I think it's simply employing good tactics for your long term goals. I know I've been getting to an overall "more stable" place and it's because I've been willing to follow the advice to hold and let things settle. I just did a ten percent drop on my Zoloft after holding 3 months to try and stabilize. I could have probably held longer. But while I'm sticking with this drop, I'm prepared to hold again for another three months at this level if that's what my body says I need to do. My poor brain has been through hell over the last 2-3 years. I figure it can use a little compassion on my part.

[Hopeinahpwr]

If you read my background, you'll see I went from 150mg zoloft to 0, then had to reinstate back to 100mg. Once I did, have since dropped by about 10% and have for the past month been fine...I really believe the slow taper is needed, which is what I learned from this amazing forum! If you have questions, feel free to contact me to discuss.

Ben