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anna7887: starting Zoloft taper soon


anna7887

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I'm sorry you're going through this. We're not able to work with you without those daily notes that have been requested many times.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

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Below is my journal. Intuitively I feel like I’m having an adverse reaction to the Zoloft. I did not have this racing heart issues prior to the dose change, but it could be the homeopathy suddenly. I’m wondering if I should try skipping the zoloft just for one night just to see if I have the same reaction?  I feel like my state of anxiety is almost constant and that I’m going to make myself physically sick if I don’t control it soon. I can’t calm myself down it is very scary. Thanks for your help.

 

2/22

Broken sleep- little to no REM 

12am-1am- racing heart panic attacks in bed. Phantom burning smell. 

7am: wake up, racing heart feeling of dread/ sickness 

7-8:30am- meditation/ rest 

8:30am- breakfast oatmeal 

9am- major anxiety, feeling on verge of collapse from exhaustion and nerves - barely have the energy to get dressed 

10-noon- work calls, shaking, sweating, palpitations , salt like taste in mouth off and on 

11:45am feel better just exhausted green tea 

12-2pm- conf calls listening in. Barely functional. Feel so Ill.

2pm- extreme weakness hard to walk around the house. Thinking of going to ER. Palpitations. Heart feels so weak. Force myself to eat a salad. 

2-3pm- therapy. 

3pm feel slightly better, work calls. Heart rate normalizes. 

3-6pm window 

6:30pm take 4mg of zoloft with dinner (salmon and veggies)

7:30pm increase in muscle bone pain (this is not new) 

8:30pm anxiety increases 

9:30pm- 200mg magnesium , and homeopathy sleep aid formula (taking this for 3 years). Trying to sleep, feel relaxed but unable to fall asleep. 

11pm-1am- sudden adrenaline surges racing heart / palps unable to sleep. Feels like I had coffee. HR 140 when walking to bathroom. Can’t relax end up taking .5mg of Ativan (I haven’t done this since dec I couldn’t could calm down, really try not to use)

 

2/23

1am-7:30am- broken sleep, still no REM feel awful. Racing heart continues. Hydrate a ton with coconut water- HR improves slightly. 

8:30am-11am- sleep some more feel so fatigued. HR still high.

11am- oatmeal and tea 

12-7:30pm heart rate improves, window. Work calls/ visit grandma in hospital  / pizza for dinner 

out 

7:30pm- 4mg of zoloft 

9:30pm- lay down for bed  

11:30pm-1:30am- racing heart/ adrenaline surges

 

2/24

1:30am-8:30am- broken sleep 

8:30am- Beet juice & meditation& oatmeal. Heart is still racing. 

10am- salty taste in mouth-  weakness starts 

11-1pm- green tea & work calls - anxious and tired but functional 

1-3pm window - heart rate normalizes 

3pm extreme exhaustion. Have to lay down. 

Found out grandmother died complete panic in body - had to take a homeopathy aid to calm down trying to avoid Ativan 

7pm- take 4mg of zoloft 

8pm- anxiety, salty taste in mouth 

10pm- magnesium and homeopathy - lay down for sleep 

1am-7am- broken sleep… HR stays pretty low 

9am- intense anxiety racing heart 

-given Prozac at 12 due to panic attacks for 6months

-Med free until 2008 when I was 20 years old 
-2008-2009- Pristiq, followed by quick taper. 
-1/10-Rxed 50mg Zoloft & .5mg Klonopin daily after a death in the family

- 2/2012 Successfully micro tapered off .5mg of Klonopin after taking daily for 2 years. Started 100mg of Trazadone for sleep .

- Oct 2013- Quickly tapered off trazadone. Bad idea! But finally trazadone free. 

- July 2015- present Became very ill with lyme like sxs

-August 2018-present. Started micro taper off 50mg of Zoloft via liquid titration  ... 

- July 2021- down to 3mg.. had digestive issues so got an endoscopy and major flair! 
-March 2022- tried cross tapers to Prozac and lexapro did not work. Jumped off everything.

-Present: Med free and pregnant! Aside from some health issues I’m doing better than expected!! 

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  • Administrator

Please be more rigorous in your drug schedule. Over 3 days, there's a variance of an hour in the time you take Zoloft.

 

Adverse effects from Zoloft in the evening may be affecting your sleep. Suggest you take Zoloft an hour earlier each day until you're taking it at noon. Please post daily notes while you do this so we can see if this causes changes in your symptom pattern. 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hello @Altostratasorry for the delay. My grandmothers death threw me into major depression over the past week. I ended up slowly moving the time to 2pm- still aiming for noon, I am also taking 3mg vs 4mg. I know this is a big jump but ever since the accidental dose change, I feel like I can barely tolerate the zoloft anymore. The waking in the middle of the night with my heart racing, and fantom burning smells/ metal salty taste has improved over the last week. I will start positing another symptoms diary. Thank you. 

-given Prozac at 12 due to panic attacks for 6months

-Med free until 2008 when I was 20 years old 
-2008-2009- Pristiq, followed by quick taper. 
-1/10-Rxed 50mg Zoloft & .5mg Klonopin daily after a death in the family

- 2/2012 Successfully micro tapered off .5mg of Klonopin after taking daily for 2 years. Started 100mg of Trazadone for sleep .

- Oct 2013- Quickly tapered off trazadone. Bad idea! But finally trazadone free. 

- July 2015- present Became very ill with lyme like sxs

-August 2018-present. Started micro taper off 50mg of Zoloft via liquid titration  ... 

- July 2021- down to 3mg.. had digestive issues so got an endoscopy and major flair! 
-March 2022- tried cross tapers to Prozac and lexapro did not work. Jumped off everything.

-Present: Med free and pregnant! Aside from some health issues I’m doing better than expected!! 

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  • 11 months later...
On 10/15/2020 at 2:12 PM, Sleepless said:

I’m sorry you are going through this also.  I really can’t answer your question as to if the dye/anesthesia will bother you.  That would need to be answered by an administrator here.  🙂


I know that during my first taper attempt in 2016,  I started having digestive issues.  My symptoms were bloating, nausea, acid reflux, constipation and stomach pain.  I had all the tests you mentioned plus a nuclear scan.  It was determined to be gastroparesis.  I think my stomach got used to the serotonin and had trouble functioning when I stopped the paxil.  When I went back on Cymbalta the symptoms stopped.  Now that I’m no longer on medication, some of the same symptoms have reappeared.  I’m hoping that it will resolve itself with time.  I suggest you look up a gastroparesis diet and try it for a few days.  
 

I hope you get to feeling better soon.


has the gastroparesis symptoms gone away for you yet? I’m dealing with the same @Sleepless

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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On 10/15/2020 at 1:42 PM, anna7887 said:

I am having a really tough time, I'd appreciate some support please. Through my taper so far, I've still indulged in drinking alcohol on the weekends. About 2-3 months ago, I started experiencing pretty bad nausea after drinking/eating a greasy meal. It's progressively worsened & a month ago I made the decision to quit alcohol altogether. My nausea, rib pain, sour mouth, loose stools, etc. has all gotten progressively worse. Essentially I'm nauseous 24/7. I feel terrible. I've had an rib x-ray, ultrasound, stool test, and bloodwork which is all normal. I've tried pepcid, tums, etc. nothing gives me relief. My doc just ordered a barium CT scan with contrast and following that test I may need to get an endoscopy. Having suffered chronic lyme like symptoms for 5 years now, I am always concerned with getting tests that require medication because I am SO sensitive. Do you think these tests are okay in withdrawal. I am reading horror stories about adverse reaction to contrast dye, anesthesia, etc. Could my nausea/ digestive issues be related to withdrawal? Thank you. 


hey how are you doing? I’m having these same exact GI gastroparesis symptoms you describe. Has this gone away for you yet ? @anna7887

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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@anna7887How are you doing now - any updates? Hope you are well.

25mg Sertraline from 2018 - 2023  - came off for 6 months in 2018 then reinstated. 

25mg Bisoprolol Oct 15 2022 - Nov 8 2022 - had adverse reaction. Stopped.

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I still have mild to moderate gastroparesis symptoms.

Paxil 2001- 2016.  Came off of it on a slow taper.  After 9-12 months, I was put back on Paxil because I was unable to function. Paxil reinstatement triggered a rash.  I was then placed on 20 mg of Cymbalta on 2018.  I chose to take 10 mg.  I then had to be taken off of Cymbalta due to it causing cardiac issues in 2019.  I was placed on Seroquel and it caused a rash.  I was then moved to 12.5 mg of sertraline  where I did a fast taper which ended April/May of 2020.  I had to fast taper because of joint pain and joint redness.  August 2020, I was considered presumptive positive.  Since then, I’ve been prescribed Atenolol and Diazepam for withdrawal symptoms of tachycardia and massive anxiety.  I take these very sporadically and less than 1/4 of a tablet at a time.  I was given metformin in September 2020 for diabetes and it triggered massive anxiety after 1/4 of a pill.  I attempted to reinstate 1 mg of sertraline on 9/20/20.  I am supposed to be taking B12 injections and prescribed vitamin D.  I will stop these for now.  On 9/29/20 I was moved from 75 mcg generic levothyroxine to 88 mcg Synthroid.  This triggered anxiety approximately 2.5 hours later.

10/5/20 less than 1/8 teaspoon of Benadryl 

10/7/20 & 10/8/20 .10ml Benadryl (stopped 10/2020)

10/9/20 3mg Atenolol  (stopped 11/2020)

10/16/20 started taking magnesium citrate during the day (stopped 10/2020 due to it triggering more anxiety)

11/9/20 grain of diazepam @ 2:30 am for muscle spasm pain (stopped 11/2020)

11/10/20 .50mg of metoprolol tartrate (stopped 11/10/20 due to nausea, weakness in arms & legs, anxiety)

11/11/20 using lidocaine patch on neck and chest for pain due to muscle spasms

1/1/21       1 drop of liquid b12 (stopped 1/4/21)

 

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On 2/6/2023 at 12:51 PM, Sleepless said:

I still have mild to moderate gastroparesis symptoms.


I’m sorry to hear. Did you ever get a gastric emptying procedure? and if so, did you have a bad reaction to it or were you fine @Sleepless

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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@peaceandlove I did have a gastric emptying scan completed without any issues.  It’s a simple test but does take a few hours to complete.

Paxil 2001- 2016.  Came off of it on a slow taper.  After 9-12 months, I was put back on Paxil because I was unable to function. Paxil reinstatement triggered a rash.  I was then placed on 20 mg of Cymbalta on 2018.  I chose to take 10 mg.  I then had to be taken off of Cymbalta due to it causing cardiac issues in 2019.  I was placed on Seroquel and it caused a rash.  I was then moved to 12.5 mg of sertraline  where I did a fast taper which ended April/May of 2020.  I had to fast taper because of joint pain and joint redness.  August 2020, I was considered presumptive positive.  Since then, I’ve been prescribed Atenolol and Diazepam for withdrawal symptoms of tachycardia and massive anxiety.  I take these very sporadically and less than 1/4 of a tablet at a time.  I was given metformin in September 2020 for diabetes and it triggered massive anxiety after 1/4 of a pill.  I attempted to reinstate 1 mg of sertraline on 9/20/20.  I am supposed to be taking B12 injections and prescribed vitamin D.  I will stop these for now.  On 9/29/20 I was moved from 75 mcg generic levothyroxine to 88 mcg Synthroid.  This triggered anxiety approximately 2.5 hours later.

10/5/20 less than 1/8 teaspoon of Benadryl 

10/7/20 & 10/8/20 .10ml Benadryl (stopped 10/2020)

10/9/20 3mg Atenolol  (stopped 11/2020)

10/16/20 started taking magnesium citrate during the day (stopped 10/2020 due to it triggering more anxiety)

11/9/20 grain of diazepam @ 2:30 am for muscle spasm pain (stopped 11/2020)

11/10/20 .50mg of metoprolol tartrate (stopped 11/10/20 due to nausea, weakness in arms & legs, anxiety)

11/11/20 using lidocaine patch on neck and chest for pain due to muscle spasms

1/1/21       1 drop of liquid b12 (stopped 1/4/21)

 

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On 2/7/2023 at 2:21 PM, Sleepless said:

@peaceandlove I did have a gastric emptying scan completed without any issues.  It’s a simple test but does take a few hours to complete.


thank you. I want to get the test done, my symptoms lead to gastroparesis. It’s so hard to eat I have to spread out meals. How do you mange it, do you take PPIs at all ? @Sleepless

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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@peaceandlove

I do not take any PPI’s by choice.  I manage symptoms by eating smaller meals and easily digestible foods.  As well as sleeping with my head up. 

Paxil 2001- 2016.  Came off of it on a slow taper.  After 9-12 months, I was put back on Paxil because I was unable to function. Paxil reinstatement triggered a rash.  I was then placed on 20 mg of Cymbalta on 2018.  I chose to take 10 mg.  I then had to be taken off of Cymbalta due to it causing cardiac issues in 2019.  I was placed on Seroquel and it caused a rash.  I was then moved to 12.5 mg of sertraline  where I did a fast taper which ended April/May of 2020.  I had to fast taper because of joint pain and joint redness.  August 2020, I was considered presumptive positive.  Since then, I’ve been prescribed Atenolol and Diazepam for withdrawal symptoms of tachycardia and massive anxiety.  I take these very sporadically and less than 1/4 of a tablet at a time.  I was given metformin in September 2020 for diabetes and it triggered massive anxiety after 1/4 of a pill.  I attempted to reinstate 1 mg of sertraline on 9/20/20.  I am supposed to be taking B12 injections and prescribed vitamin D.  I will stop these for now.  On 9/29/20 I was moved from 75 mcg generic levothyroxine to 88 mcg Synthroid.  This triggered anxiety approximately 2.5 hours later.

10/5/20 less than 1/8 teaspoon of Benadryl 

10/7/20 & 10/8/20 .10ml Benadryl (stopped 10/2020)

10/9/20 3mg Atenolol  (stopped 11/2020)

10/16/20 started taking magnesium citrate during the day (stopped 10/2020 due to it triggering more anxiety)

11/9/20 grain of diazepam @ 2:30 am for muscle spasm pain (stopped 11/2020)

11/10/20 .50mg of metoprolol tartrate (stopped 11/10/20 due to nausea, weakness in arms & legs, anxiety)

11/11/20 using lidocaine patch on neck and chest for pain due to muscle spasms

1/1/21       1 drop of liquid b12 (stopped 1/4/21)

 

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On 2/9/2023 at 6:28 PM, Sleepless said:

@peaceandlove

I do not take any PPI’s by choice.  I manage symptoms by eating smaller meals and easily digestible foods.  As well as sleeping with my head up. 


I agree I don’t want to take PPI’s either. Sorry for all the questions but also have you gotten put to sleep during withdrawal, have you gotten a endoscopy? That is what they’re doing first & im scared of the anesthesia 

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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@peaceandloveI’ve had anesthesia while in withdrawal and not had any problems out of the ordinary.  They use propofol for this type of procedure where I’m located.

Paxil 2001- 2016.  Came off of it on a slow taper.  After 9-12 months, I was put back on Paxil because I was unable to function. Paxil reinstatement triggered a rash.  I was then placed on 20 mg of Cymbalta on 2018.  I chose to take 10 mg.  I then had to be taken off of Cymbalta due to it causing cardiac issues in 2019.  I was placed on Seroquel and it caused a rash.  I was then moved to 12.5 mg of sertraline  where I did a fast taper which ended April/May of 2020.  I had to fast taper because of joint pain and joint redness.  August 2020, I was considered presumptive positive.  Since then, I’ve been prescribed Atenolol and Diazepam for withdrawal symptoms of tachycardia and massive anxiety.  I take these very sporadically and less than 1/4 of a tablet at a time.  I was given metformin in September 2020 for diabetes and it triggered massive anxiety after 1/4 of a pill.  I attempted to reinstate 1 mg of sertraline on 9/20/20.  I am supposed to be taking B12 injections and prescribed vitamin D.  I will stop these for now.  On 9/29/20 I was moved from 75 mcg generic levothyroxine to 88 mcg Synthroid.  This triggered anxiety approximately 2.5 hours later.

10/5/20 less than 1/8 teaspoon of Benadryl 

10/7/20 & 10/8/20 .10ml Benadryl (stopped 10/2020)

10/9/20 3mg Atenolol  (stopped 11/2020)

10/16/20 started taking magnesium citrate during the day (stopped 10/2020 due to it triggering more anxiety)

11/9/20 grain of diazepam @ 2:30 am for muscle spasm pain (stopped 11/2020)

11/10/20 .50mg of metoprolol tartrate (stopped 11/10/20 due to nausea, weakness in arms & legs, anxiety)

11/11/20 using lidocaine patch on neck and chest for pain due to muscle spasms

1/1/21       1 drop of liquid b12 (stopped 1/4/21)

 

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3 hours ago, Sleepless said:

@peaceandloveI’ve had anesthesia while in withdrawal and not had any problems out of the ordinary.  They use propofol for this type of procedure where I’m located.

Awesome thanks so much for your help 🙂

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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  • Mentor

@peaceandlove I saw your post and wanted to chime in that I also have had propofol while in withdrawal. It was a different procedure but I thought I would share that it was not a problem for me either.

 

I am not a health professional in any way.  I do not give medical advice.   Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a professional medical practitioner.

 

NEW INFORMATION FOR GABAPENTIN TAPER

April 29, 2022 900 mg to 800 mg (11%), May 29, 2022 800 to 700 mg (12.5%), June 20, 2022 700 to 650mg (8%), July 20, 2022 650 to 575 (12%), August 20,  575 to 500 (13%),  Sept 20, 2020 500 to 475mg (5%) Nov 7, 2022 475 to 425 (11%), Nov 21, 2022 500mg

Medications: Gabapentin, Prednisone 1.5mg a day, Cortisol Inhaler daily. 

HISTORY FOR ZOLOFT TAPER

Feb. 2016 to June 2016  - Was on 150mg Zoloft.  Put on Gabapentin at 900mg a day in 2016 due to antidepressant withdrawal. 

Quit Zoloft (Sertraline) June  2016,  reinstated 50mg of Zoloft July 2016.  From July 2016  to October 2016 went from 50 mg down 2.3 mg. I up-dosed in November 2016 to 12.5 mg. Held there until January 2017 when I started a much slower taper.

STARTING SENSIBLE  ZOLOFT TAPERING USING GUIDELINES FROM THIS SITE

Dec. 10 2016  - switched to Liquid Zoloft (Sertraline) @ 12.5 mg.   Jan. 4, 2020 1.875 mg (6.3%). Jan. 25, 2020 1.75 mgFeb. 29, 2020 1.625mg (7.10%).  Apr. 4, 2020 1.5 mg.  May 9, 2020 1.375 mg.  June 6, 2020 1.25 mg. (9.10%).  July 4, 2020 1.125 mg. (10%).  August 15, 2020 1.0 mg.  Oct 24, 2020 .875 mg.  Nov. 28, 2020 .75mgJan 16, 2021 .685mg (8.7%).  Feb 13, 2021 .62mg. March 12, 2021 .56mg.  May 1, 2021 .375mg.  May 29, 2021 .25mg. June 26, 2021 .0125mg. July 25, 2021 .065mg. August 22, 2021 .048mg.  October 2, 2021 .043mg.  October 10, 2021 .038mg.  October 23, 2021 .035mg.  October 30, 2021 .032mg.  Nov. 13, 2021 .030 mg.  Dec 4, 2021 .0285 mg.  Dec 11, 2021 .0265 mg. Dec 18, 2021 .0246 mg. Dec 25, 2021 .023mg. Jan 1, 2022. 0 mg. OFF COMPLETELY

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11 minutes ago, RachelSusan said:

@peaceandlove I saw your post and wanted to chime in that I also have had propofol while in withdrawal. It was a different procedure but I thought I would share that it was not a problem for me either.

@RachelSusanyayy! Thanks so much 🙂 

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 2/9/2023 at 6:28 PM, Sleepless said:

@peaceandlove

I do not take any PPI’s by choice.  I manage symptoms by eating smaller meals and easily digestible foods.  As well as sleeping with my head up. 


I have been sleeping in a chair 😩 can you give me examples of what you eat for breakfast lunch & dinner please? @Sleepless

April 2022- Only 1 celxa pill 10mg

had an adverse reaction & never took anymore again 

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