Karman Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 I’ve suffered most of my adult life from anxiety mostly, with occasional depression. I’d like to come off my daily Zoloft 100 mg dose. I’ve tried by reducing my daily dose by half, but after about a week, I begin to feel more anxious. I’ve recently added 2 good herbal supplements daily to aid in the transition: tulsi-holy basil & ashwagandha. They have had a noticeable gentle calming effect. I’m hoping to now be able to gradually transition of the Zoloft. I have no other related medication history, and no exact dates. 2008- Zoloft 50 mg-100 mg 2018- (May) 1st withdrawal attempt at 50% taper. Restarted dose 14-16 days later. 2018-(Sept) 2nd withdrawal attempt initiated Sept 22 at 10% taper. Ongoing. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted September 22, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 22, 2018 Welcome, Karman, Your drop from 100mg to 50mg was a 50% cut, a very steep drop, and very likely is the cause of of your increased anxiety. At Surviving Antidepressants, it is recommended that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases. The 10% taper recommendation is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs. Some people may have to taper at a more conservative rate as they are sensitive to even the smallest drops. Why taper by 10% of my dosage? Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline) However, before you taper any more, I suggest you hold where you are for at least three months to let your nervous system stabilize. Please keep us updated on how you're doing. Sometimes withdrawal symptoms are delayed, and if your symptoms worsen, you might want to consider reinstatement of a very small dosage of the Zoloft. Please don't reinstate without checking with us first for a recommended dosage, as reinstatement of too large a dosage can be destabilizing. Regarding the two herbs you are taking, Google SurvivingAntidepressants plus the name of the herb for information about them. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of April 1: 6.8mg Taper is 91% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Karman Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Thank you for this information. I reinstated my dose when my anxiety began to rise, so my correct dose is 100 mg. I will try again at a 10% reduction. I have no other related medication history, and no exact dates. 2008- Zoloft 50 mg-100 mg 2018- (May) 1st withdrawal attempt at 50% taper. Restarted dose 14-16 days later. 2018-(Sept) 2nd withdrawal attempt initiated Sept 22 at 10% taper. Ongoing. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus manymoretodays Posted September 22, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 22, 2018 Hi Karman, And welcome aboard. Please put your withdrawal history in your signature This is the portion that you see under posts(unless viewing from a phone device). Just follow the information in the ^ link and you can still create a signature if you are phone posting and viewing. This is now your introduction/journal page. Your introduction to the community, as well as a place to ask questions specific to your situation, journal, and communicate with other members. Love, peace, healing, and growth, mmt Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks. Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988. In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm. Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time). 5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014) 12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs. My last psycho med ever! Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to 2016 Dec 16, medication free!! Longer signature post here, with current supplements. Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016. And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed. Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022. Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜 None of my posts are intended as medical advice. Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider. My success story: Blue skies ahead, clear sailing Link to comment
Lolita Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Hi karman I know its hard but Im also in a taper from zoloft. Going slow is the best way to go! Have you been stabilise from zoloft with your anxiety in those past years? I was on lot of différents meds for 11 years for anxiety also but seems they dont work on me anymore so I had a breakdown while on it a year ago and since, I changed med with no success ...but lots of symptoms and side effects !!! Take care and try to go one day at a time and...slow! 2006-2010 effexor 2010-2011 differents ad for a year: cymbalata, lexapro, wellbutrin, pristiq, lexapro, trintellix 2011-2015 zoloft 2015-2017 lexapro 2017 to 2018 lexapro, effexor, zoloft, lexapro, zoloft, citalopram, lexapro, and prozac 20 February: Prozac 10 mg, 1 March: Prozac 20 mg, 4 April: 30 mg, 8 April: 20 mg, 28 April: 10 mg, 10 May: 8 mg, 13 May: 7.5 mg, 19 May: 5 mg, 23 May: 4 mg, 29 May: 5 mg., 1 June: 8 mg, 9 June to of july: 5 mg. switch to zoloft 25mg (10 days), 50mg from july 30 to august 20. Down to 37.5mg until sept 12th, now at 25mg. clonazepam 0,5mg since january 2017. I take 1/4 to 3/4 mx everyday. Link to comment
Karman Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Hi Lolita, Thank you for post. I’ve been stable most of the time. Was on a lower dose before that. So glad to now have guidance and a fellow traveler to help me along the way. K I have no other related medication history, and no exact dates. 2008- Zoloft 50 mg-100 mg 2018- (May) 1st withdrawal attempt at 50% taper. Restarted dose 14-16 days later. 2018-(Sept) 2nd withdrawal attempt initiated Sept 22 at 10% taper. Ongoing. Link to comment
shespark Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Hi Karman, Its hard but. I just started tapering from zoloft from 100mg to 50mg on 8-1 was the beginning. Ive been on variety of AD for 13 years because of a trauma I went through. Ive never felt the same on AD. Just take it one day at a time. Take Care Patty Current 8 yrs Zoloft 2015-2018 Zoloft 100mg tapered to 50mg Aug 1, 18 Dr ordered Valium 5mg 1x a day 2010 current AD since 2005 Link to comment
Karman Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 Hi Patty, Thank you for your words of encouragement. I officially started my taper yesterday. Now at 90 mg daily, hopefully for the next month. K I have no other related medication history, and no exact dates. 2008- Zoloft 50 mg-100 mg 2018- (May) 1st withdrawal attempt at 50% taper. Restarted dose 14-16 days later. 2018-(Sept) 2nd withdrawal attempt initiated Sept 22 at 10% taper. Ongoing. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus ChessieCat Posted September 24, 2018 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted September 24, 2018 Hi Karman, and welcome to SA from me too, Please create your drug signature. Please keep it simple - NO symptoms or diagnoses. Please update it whenever you make a change. Thank you. Details for the last 2 years - dates, ALL drugs, doses Summary for older than 2 years - just years and ALL drugs Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature On 9/23/2018 at 12:50 AM, Karman said: I’ve recently added 2 good herbal supplements daily to aid in the transition: tulsi-holy basil & ashwagandha. They have had a noticeable gentle calming effect. I’m hoping to now be able to gradually transition of the Zoloft. holy-basil-or-tulsi-ocimum-sanctum From this topic ashwagandha-herb-for-anxiety-stress-and-toxic-overload On 7/31/2013 at 9:19 PM, GiaK said: I used to take ashwaganda daily...it's one of many supplements that went south on me...it's now agitating and very unpleasant...just FYI * NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA * MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: (6 year taper) 0mg Pristiq on 13th November 2021 ADs since ~1992: 25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq: 50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity) Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021 LAST DOSE 0.0025mg Post 0 updates start here My tapering program My Intro (goes to tapering graph) VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management Link to comment
Karman Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 Comment withdrawn I have no other related medication history, and no exact dates. 2008- Zoloft 50 mg-100 mg 2018- (May) 1st withdrawal attempt at 50% taper. Restarted dose 14-16 days later. 2018-(Sept) 2nd withdrawal attempt initiated Sept 22 at 10% taper. Ongoing. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now