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Relieving withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft

Posted , 6 users are following.

nancy_56
nancy_56

my daughter is weaning off of Zoloft after taking 100mg for 3 years. She is having terrible side effects, nausea, headaches numbness, slurring words. So bad she ended up in the ER where they told her it was all in her head. Saw a psychiatrist who couldn't figure it out either. She is back on the 100 mg for now, but still suffering from withdrawals. Any ideas on getting relief?

 

1 like, 20 replies

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  • Noni9
    Noni9 nancy_56

    Posted

    She was suffering the classic well-known effects of coming off anti-depressants, especially cold-turkey.

    I find it hard to believe the ER doctor's and her doctor of this well-documented side effect.

    I had to take my daughter to the ER under similar circumstances. And I have had the same thing happen to me.

    It is a horrible thing to go through.

    She should change doctors.

    • nancy_56
      nancy_56 Noni9

      Posted

       They of course were doubting me when I told them this was side effects of withdrawal. The minute I mentioned that I had googled this they all rolled their eyes. It might help them to google a few things to be up-to-date on medicine!  I am just trying to figure out now how to treat the symptoms as we get her regulated. We have a pretty good plan of action for a new weaning schedule when the time is right, but her symptoms are still pretty severe. 
    • anna17409
      anna17409 nancy_56

      Posted

      Yes i had the same reaction from the doctor. They have never taken these drugs so how will they know about withdrawal symptoms. So at least by listening to those who have gone through it they wilk be able to help us.
  • julie95nicole
    julie95nicole nancy_56

    Posted

    I read about a lady weaning off 100mg zoloft , worked for her and goes as follow:

    75mg 3 weeks , 50mg 3-4weeks, 25mg3-4weeks, 12.5mg 3-4weeks , 6mg 3-4weeks, then 6mg every other day for 3-4weeks. Then stop.

    I also have read about people using Benadryl at night and helps a lot with symptoms for some reason.

    • Noni9
      Noni9 julie95nicole

      Posted

      Great schedule. Thank you for the tips. Wish everyone could read this.
    • nancy_56
      nancy_56 julie95nicole

      Posted

       She had been on 100, 50, 100, 15 and so on for two weeks then went down to 50 mg only that's when this serious side effects started. After speaking to the psychiatrist I think he will take it much slower. As well as longer times on each dose. But for now she is back to 100 mg until  The symptoms subside. Just don't know how to treat the symptoms…… 

    • Noni9
      Noni9 nancy_56

      Posted

      If after going back to 100 mg a day for week and she still has symptoms, go back to the doctor.
  • julie95nicole
    julie95nicole nancy_56

    Posted

    Nancy , what exactly led her to the ER? And what has been her weaning process?
    • nancy_56
      nancy_56 julie95nicole

      Posted

       She was hallucinating as well as acting very strange. They had to give her some Ativan to get her to calm down. Of course they ran every test in the book to make sure physically nothing was wrong. When she was discharged she was told it was all in her head. 
  • anna17409
    anna17409 nancy_56

    Posted

    It will take a while to stabilize. I have also been through a terrible withdrawal process after weaning off sertraline 50 mg (which i had taken for 4 years ) over 4 months. So much so my doc put me back on 50 mg daily and its been 10 days now and i am only starting to feel a positive effect.
    • nancy_56
      nancy_56 anna17409

      Posted

      She had gone back to the 100mg and it's been 7 days. Still having the withdrawal symptoms. 

    • Noni9
      Noni9 nancy_56

      Posted

      What symptoms is she currently experiencing?
    • Noni9
      Noni9 nancy_56

      Posted

      At some point, she should start feeling better.

      I know that's not much help.

      But, unfortunately (or fortunately) everyone's system is different.

      If she is taking her meds as directed, she should eventually get better.

      Keep in contact with her doctor letting him/her know her symptoms.

      They have to learn not to take people off these drugs cold turkey.

      It's dangerous.

  • Aspinan
    Aspinan nancy_56

    Posted

    The tapering regime suggested by julie95nicole sounds like the right way to taper off. 
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