I was on Zoloft 200mg daily for over 4yrs, and I stopped taking it abruptly. Let’s just say it cost me my life. I went through Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome. At the time I didn’t know that’s what I was going through. I thought I was going insane. My memory was already getting bad, and this speeded up the process. I get these things called brain zaps and hurt like hell. The depression is worse than ever, and I’ve been back on Zoloft for 3months. If I could go back in time, I’d go back to that day I stopped taking them. And don’t believe stories about if you taper off it will be better. Everyone is different. It can happen that way too.
Be careful......: I was on Zoloft 200mg... - Mental Health Sup...
Be careful......
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I am sorry to hear of your experience. Even tapering off there will be some withdrawal but I would be surprised if they are as severe as stopping suddenly like you did.
The official advice is to taper off under a doctors care. Also you need to keep taking the meds until you have felt better for at least 6 months before trying stopping them.
I hope you are ok now. x
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Thanks for your input and concern. Unfortunately it’s only getting worse. And it never felt like a Withdraw that you would get from quitting painkillers. I’ve been through that and still take Suboxone as a maintenance medication. What I’ve been told is that bc I still have some of the symptoms like the “brain zaps”, insomnia, memory issues and severe depression, that I’ve suffered some permanent damage to the brain bc I waited too long to get back on Zoloft. My docs said if I had gotten back on them when I noticed I wasn’t feeling right, a lot of damage could have been avoided. The worst thing about all of this is that besides losing everything in my life, in my head it’s like I just don’t care about anything anymore. I could care less if I got arrested, or hit by a car or just died. I just don’t care anymore. And I can’t get it to go away! I will be switching meds next month bc I don’t think Zoloft works anymore. The other thing I noticed is for about 8-10yrs, I really didn’t drink alcohol. Kind of got tired of it. But for the past month, I go through a bottle of brandy every other day. I hate this life I’m living. Oh, and I have no insurance. That’s the cherry on top of this turd sundae!
Thanks for the warning to be careful out there with your meds. Please always make any changes under the guidance and monitoring of your HCP. I am sorry you have had such a bad experience; if you are planning to switch soon please follow the above and be honest about self medicating on alcohol. I really hope you find the right healing way soon.
Take care.
Those Brain zaps are horrendous, I had those on Citrolopram!
Setraline I actually stopped and fortunately didn't have any side effects apart from being aggressive and rapid thoughts while taking it. As soon as I stopped about a month later the depression did come back 10 times worse. It was a No win situation.
However it did help with the depression and also made me feel like a Zombie, I felt depressed but couldn't feel depressed if that makes sense.
I'm a little confused as you said you've been re taking it for 3 months but if you could go back in time you would go back to the day you stopped taking them. So are they working for you?
They were working the entire time I was taking them. The thing was I was moving to Europe. Things in my life were looking good and I felt I had been taking them for so long that it was time to live my life without them. I think that's what everyone here ultimately wants right? I've also been taking suboxone for almost 9 years (I'm told it's being used as a maintenance medication). I was addicted to painkillers for awhile. It started when I got hurt and got way out of control. Partially bc I saw it helped with my severe depression but caused the manic side of my bipolar to skyrocket. Anyway, i was down to 1/2 pill a day of suboxone, from what was 2 1/2 pills (8mg/2mg). I thought I was finally gonna be able to live a pill free life. But in actuality, I was going through serious withdraw from TWO very potent mind altering medications. The worst part was the fact that I didn't even remember I had stopped taking Zoloft. It's when I came home from Europe is when I saw my Zoloft in the medicine cabinet and then it hit me. I guess what I want to ask now is, can anyone recommend a medication equivalent to 200mg of Zoloft daily? Something I can get in generic for since I don't have insurance. Thanks in advance
Hey thanks for your reply.
I've recently started taking Lamotrigine about 5 weeks ago and it genially has changed my life. I was on Zoloft before (200Mg) but I quit because it made me very aggressive and made my head go a 100,000 miles per hour and totally turned me into someone who doesn't care of consequences. I kind of did the same just stopped taking it but fortunately I had no side effects.
I allegedly don't have Bipolar and just recurrent depression but since taking this drug I feel incredibly stable and not feel like a Zombie and haven't self harmed myself and feel in control.
Above all my head doesn't rush with a million ideas and I can actually keep a interest of things longer than a week.
I'm sorry that you have had these withdrawal symptoms, I remember being on Diazepam for a short while and damn I want some still 5 years later!