Be careful......

[rpfs12761]

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.

[Hidden]

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

[rpfs12761 in reply to Hidden]

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!

[MAS_Nurse]

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.

[joeyawesomo]

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?

[rpfs12761 in reply to joeyawesomo]

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

[joeyawesomo in reply to rpfs12761]

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!