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lookingforrainbows: 3 months of Zoloft withdrawal hell - can't take much more


lookingforrainbows

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Thanks ChessieCat, I appreciate your time and advice. What you mention about the dr is what I worry about. I would rather try a minimal dose first and see before seeing the dr. I am just concerned that I'm not hiding my struggle at work as well as I was and my family can't afford me to lose my job. I need to be able to function. So the last dose I took was 25mg back at the end of April. How small a dose would I start on? 

Prescribed Zoloft for PND approx June 2011

 

April 2017 - began 4 week taper to zero

100mg  reduced to 75mg week 1

75mg to 50mg week 2

50 down to 25mg week 3

25 down to zero week 4

 

August 2017 - 25mg prednisone prescribed for sinusitis (quit cold turkey after 7 days after increased withdrawal symptoms) 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Lookingforrainbows, I'm reattaching the links regarding reinstating so that you can take a look at what would be involved.  If you do decide to reinstate it would be best to reinstate at the lowest possible dose and increase in small increments to reduce your withdrawal symptoms only if necessary.  When we say the lowest possible dose, we mean much much smaller than your last dose, probably less than 2 mg.  Because you have been off of Zoloft for approximately five months there are no guarantees that a reinstatement will work, so you need to be aware of the benefits and/or risks.  Once you have had a chance to familiarize yourself with what is involved in reinstating, please feel free to ask any questions or for clarification.

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms.

What to Expect in Reinstatement (James Heaney article)

 

 

Current Prescription Drugs for Hypothyroidism:  Synthroid 100mcg / Cytomel 5mcg (15 years Pristiq/Effexor)

Tapering Schedule
September 15, 2016 - switched from Pristiq 50mg to Effexor XR 75mg; November 10, 2016 - reduced to 67.5 Effexor XR
December 9, 2016 - reduced 60.75
January 5, 2017 - reduced 54.67
January 30, 2017 - reduced to 49.0
February 20, 2017 - reduced to 44.0 
May 20, 2017 - reduced to 40.25 (holding for additional month due to late onset of withdrawal symptoms after this taper)
July 17, 2017 - reduced to 38.24
August 15, 2017 - reduced to 37.5 (50% of my original dose)

October 15, 2017 - reduced to 35.6

November 12, 2017 - reduced to 33.8
December 15, 2017 - up-dose to 35.6
December 28, 2017 - up-dose to 37.5

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Thanks. Baroquep, there's lots to consider, it's all a bit 'stuck between a rock and a hard place'. Today was a bit of relief, no tears,no anger outbursts, I'll take that and wait and see what tomorrow brings. I'm always nervous to wake up, but at least I'm waking up. This is the longest wave I've had and the lighter feeling made me feel like perhaps there's a window coming? Maybe? Thanks everyone for your ears the past few days, it is hugely appreciated. 

Prescribed Zoloft for PND approx June 2011

 

April 2017 - began 4 week taper to zero

100mg  reduced to 75mg week 1

75mg to 50mg week 2

50 down to 25mg week 3

25 down to zero week 4

 

August 2017 - 25mg prednisone prescribed for sinusitis (quit cold turkey after 7 days after increased withdrawal symptoms) 

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Hi. How are you doing?  Hope things are better for you.

Mid 2014 - June 2016 (~ 2.5 yrs): sertraline 75mg. Under advice of my Pysch NP, weaned off in 1 month

Sept 2017 - Feb 2017 (6 months): Latuda (dose 20mg up to 80mg). Under advice of Psych NP, weaned off in 6 weeks (Jan - mid Feb). Tirtated down 20mg every 2 weeks.

Nov 2017 - Feb 2017 (3 months): lamictal 100mg. Abruptly taken off. This was the "wean": 100mg, 50mg, then off

Feb 2017: sertraline 150mg for 1 week to bring me out of a severe suicidal depression. Abruptly stopped due to serotonin syndrome. Tried to reinstate 50mg a week later, but the serotonin syndrome symptoms came back. Not possible to reinstate sertraline.

March 2017: remeron 7.5mg. Took one dose that knocked me out for two days. Refused to take it again

February 2017 - March 2017: Ativan 1mg. Took 5 pills total spread out over the course of 3 weeks. No longer taking it.

6/16/18 - 6/26: celexa 1.25mg

6/27/18 - 6/29: celexa 2.5mg, 6/29 had burning and agitation within 30min of dose

6/30/18 - present: celexa 1.25mg

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Hi Trying, thanks so much for checking in, it means so much. My mood is improving from last week. I had a wobble at the weekend, but it was a busy few days and weekends are always my release days. I actually dread weekends since I came off the Zoloft. Do you find that? I hold it in all week and then boom crash! I saw my dr on Saturday and took my hubby for mora support, she has referred me to a counsellor and thinks that it might be too late to try and go back on anything, especially as I seem to be so sensitive to any drugs since I tapered. We'll see, this week feels so good after the darkness of last week. How are you going? Xxx

Prescribed Zoloft for PND approx June 2011

 

April 2017 - began 4 week taper to zero

100mg  reduced to 75mg week 1

75mg to 50mg week 2

50 down to 25mg week 3

25 down to zero week 4

 

August 2017 - 25mg prednisone prescribed for sinusitis (quit cold turkey after 7 days after increased withdrawal symptoms) 

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  • Mentor

Hi Looingforrainbows,

I'm checking in.  I hope some of the darkness has lifted.  We are here for you.

RS

 

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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