connaught45: Zoloft tapering and experiences - advice on what to do now?

[connaught45]

Hi everyone. Below is the Zoloft tapering schedule I have followed to the present. I didn't notice any withdrawal until dipping below 25mg. As I've gone down from 75mg towards the 50mg and 25mg marks, I began noticing huge improvements (needing less sleep, better/clearer thinking, more sex drive, caring more about work and meeting deadlines). Now I'm experiencing withdrawal (insane bloating, brain fog, needing way more sleep, vertigo, dizziness, lack of coordination, and irritibility)

 

Schedule I followed:
March/April 2017: began Zoloft 75mg
November 2017: I went down from 75 -> 62.5mg by reducing by 2.5mg every couple of days
December 2017: stayed at 62.5mg all month
January 2018: went down from 62.5 -> 50mg, reducing 2.5mg every couple of days
February: stayed at 50mg all month
March to April: went down from 50 -> 25mg, reducing 2.5mg every couple of days
early May: stayed at 25mg for 2 weeks
late May to present: went down from 25 ->12.5mg, reducing 2.5mg every couple of days. I've been on 12.5mg for one week.

 

The current side effects are almost debilitating. My question is what you think is best to do now? Should I go back up to 25? Should I wait until I stabilize at 12.5mg and then do the 10%/month taper? My worry is that I probably won't stabilize at 12.5mg because it's not even a therapeutic dose, so if I just wait here for a month I'm just prolonging the withdrawal.

 

Any feedback would be much appreciated as I'm torn on what to do next! Thanks to anyone who responds ❤️

[Altostrata]

Welcome, connaught.

 

If I were you, I'd go back to 15mg to start. Often a small updose is all that's needed to stop withdrawal symptoms. You'd stabilize for a month or more, then taper carefully by smaller amounts.

 

This topic explains how to titrate Zoloft Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline)

 

Please let us know how you're doing.

[connaught45]

Thank you for the response and advice! I have good news to report. About 2 days after I posted this, I thankfully stabilized. I feel extremely lucky for this and can only attribute it to the slow taper I was doing before now. Currently, I'm still on 12.5mg and experiencing no withdrawal except for a slight reduction in energy. I definitely learned my lesson and am staying at 12.5mg for at least one more month before doing the 10%/month taper. I'm so glad I found this forum and the wealth of information you posted!

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, connaught45 said:

am staying at 12.5mg for at least one more month

 

Hi connaught, welcome from me too,

 

Because you have been tapering so quickly my suggestion would be to give yourself a nice long hold of at least 3 months.  This way, it will give your brain a chance to make the adaptions it needs to make which you may not be feeling.  If you do that hold now, it will hopefully stand you in good stead for the remainder of your taper.

 

Please create your drug signature.  Only dates, drugs, doses - no symptoms or diagnoses.  Please update it whenever you make a change.  Thank you.  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

[connaught45]

Hopefully the signature is showing up now.

 

Still holding 12.5mg and have had no withdrawal since my original post. I still have low energy though, which is frustrating. Before zoloft, I was an extremely active person who loved lifting weights. Now, I am trying but I get very lightheaded and nauseated from doing these things at the gym which I used to love. It's frustrating and I miss my old muscular body/previous energy levels.

 

Other information that might be relevant: Three weeks ago I began taking a B vitamin, Krill Oil, and Omega 3s. Seven weeks ago I cut out all sugar. I've also always eaten gluten-free and high-fat/low-carb so that's just continued (but I've been stricter).

[bubbles]

Quote

Seven weeks ago I cut out all sugar. I've also always eaten gluten-free and high-fat/low-carb so that's just continued (but I've been stricter).

 

I also do much better when I eat like that. I've been very slack lately and eating all the carbs... today is the first day I've been fairly strict again.

 

 

[connaught45]

1 hour ago, bubbles said:

 

I also do much better when I eat like that. I've been very slack lately and eating all the carbs... today is the first day I've been fairly strict again.

I agree! I think if we are trying to figure out WD symptoms, we should really be doing everything else we can to support our health so we can be more sure it's actually the WD causing it and not poor sleep, poor diet, etc. Of course, easier said than done when you are nauseated and all you want to do is eat carbs!!

 

Also, congrats on being down to 8mg! Are you doing liquid?

[connaught45]

Also - I don't know if this is the forum for this, but the reason I was put on the zoloft in the first place was because I had severe PTSD (daily flashbacks and panic attacks for a year before I finally caved and took the meds). I've fully recovered from PTSD and would be happy to detail how I accomplished that if any other abuse/trauma survivors are interested!

[bubbles]

Also, congrats on being down to 8mg! Are you doing liquid?

2 hours ago, connaught45 said:

Also, congrats on being down to 8mg! Are you doing liquid? 

 

No, liquid isn't available where I live. I have a compounding pharmacy that makes up weird doses for me as I need them.

[connaught45]

Nice! I will ask mine if they will do that, thanks

[Altostrata]

12 hours ago, connaught45 said:

Also - I don't know if this is the forum for this, but the reason I was put on the zoloft in the first place was because I had severe PTSD (daily flashbacks and panic attacks for a year before I finally caved and took the meds). I've fully recovered from PTSD and would be happy to detail how I accomplished that if any other abuse/trauma survivors are interested!

 

This would be very interesting! Is the Finding Meaning forum the right place?

[connaught45]

Hi all, I'm bumping my old introduction topic with a very sad update and I am seeking some advice.

 

After tapering slowly off of zoloft I was doing very well for awhile until I entered an abusive relationship. My depression came back as a result of this, and I began heavily using marijuana to cope. It is legal in my country and I was using high-THC/no-CBD vape pens without knowing how dangerous they had potential to be. I developed a substance-induced psychosis resulting in a forced hospitalization in October. This served as a rehab and once the marijuana left my system, so did the symptoms of psychosis. They forced me to take respiridone for two weeks in the hospital and I stopped it immediately after leaving.

 

For the past few months I have been in severe depression due to the events of psychosis known as "post-psychosis depression". I have been treated by a psychologist and a counsellor, and followed by my family doctor. Both are recommending I resume on an anti-depressant because my depression is severe, so I begrudgingly began taking zoloft again. I took 12.5mg for a week, and then when I tried to increase to 25mg, I had horrible side effects of panic and muscle tremors. This did not happen the first time I took zoloft. I am wondering if anyone thinks I should stay on 12.5mg longer or just withdraw cold turkey? Does anyone's opinion of anti-depressants change when its so severe like this? Thanks for any input.