Going to taper off Zoloft (sertraline)

[blimpsgo180]

I've been taking Zoloft for twenty years and no longer feel it's necessary. When I started Zoloft, I was in high school and my depression was pretty severe. However, all these years later, I'm a much happier person, and I can't say it's all thanks to Zoloft. There were times over those twenty years where I wasn't as happy, but the reasons were explainable, like the death of a family member or being in a bad situation.

The one way I'm still suffering is once a week anxiety attacks. I've never found Zoloft to be especially helpful with this part of my mental health. There were times when I was taking Zoloft when I was very anxious, and my doctor at that time wanted to put me on a very high dose, but I could tell it wasn't helping. I've been treating my anxiety with CBT (the gold standard), and specifically Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which has you live the life you want to live despite anxiety.

My current doctor actually wants me to go off of it (she's afraid it could make me manic *eye roll*). I currently take 150 mg. Has anyone else done this? I feel like I'll be turning over a new leaf if I no longer have to swallow this pill.

Thanks!

[optimismrus]

Hi blimpsgo180. It's great that you feel well enough to go off Zoloft. And it sounds like you've been doing a lot of work to get there. Good on ya! I just want to share that I too, felt like I wanted to go off Wellbutrin many years ago. Unfortunately, the "depression" didn't agree and within a few weeks I was falling back into darkness. Hoping your decision works out better than mine did, and wishing you continued growth. 🥰

[blimpsgo180 in reply to optimismrus]

Thanks for posting. I know what you mean about depression not agreeing with things. I think my body is used to having Zoloft in it, so I want to taper extremely slowly.

[Mummymozzie69 in reply to optimismrus]

Same thing happened to me when I tried to taper off sertraline.I'm on sertraline for life because my depression is caused by biochemical problems and not caused by any particular trauma.

[Beevee]

💙"You live the life you want to live despite your anxiety."💙

This is everything everyone needs to know about overcoming anxiety in one short, very sweet, sentence.

...and live happily ever after.

The End 💙

[blimpsgo180 in reply to Beevee]

I'm glad you like it! I got that from a book, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety.

[Beevee in reply to blimpsgo180]

Any self-help book that advocates facing and accepting [observing and letting go] irrational fears created by your anxious state is worth more than its weight in gold.

Essential Help for your Nerves by Dr Claire Weekes was my "bible" on my journey to recovery and I never looked back.

[JDog2000]

Good Morning, here’s my experience. Zoloft took me out of a near catatonic depression. It worked quickly and was amazing for my very bad depression. I had some insomnia, but the lifted depression was worth it. I stayed on it like 10 years. When I got pregnant, I weaned off pretty quickly and didn’t need an antidepressant again for another 18 years. Now, I’m taking Zoloft at the prescribed anxiety level at a doctors suggestion. But, I did go off and stay off and depression free for all those years. I believe a lot of my depression was due to infertility, work and rekationship problems. Once 2 of the three were solved, I seemed to be able to cope without an antidepressant. I still can, I’m taking 50 mags now that only touches anxiety.

[blimpsgo180 in reply to JDog2000]

Thanks for the advice! Sounds like you had a pretty successful run being off of it. I think I can do it, but I'm going to taper very slowly.

[Kimmieblue]

Please be careful stopping Sertraline, I was on it for 8 years and this time last year I really thought I felt so well I could come off of it, I did it very slowly over 4 months and all seemed fine however the dark depression crept back in slowly and when I had a few problems including my dog becoming very ill, I couldn't cope at all, my anxiety is clinical and I worry really badly, I had to get back on the Sertraline and it took a while to work. I think I'll stay on it now, it helps me think logically about everything. Best wishes and take care weaning off.

K.

[blimpsgo180 in reply to Kimmieblue]

Thanks. I plan to do it very slowly. It's possible I'll become depressed again, but I'm willing to take that risk.

[Kimmieblue in reply to blimpsgo180]

You sound really positive about it so I wish you good luck and I hope it all works out for you.K.