Sertraline (zoloft) withdrawal, misc. moans & groans

[Claire the Red]

Anyone here tried using Benadryl and/or Dramamine to help reduce SSRI withdrawal symptoms? Any tips on how to do this?

I know many of us here take or have taken antidepressants in the past. I decided for a number of reasons that it was time to discontinue my daily 50mg dose of sertraline (generic Zoloft). Although I did my research and planned out a regimen of tapering off the medication gradually, and spoke with one of my docs about it, things haven't gone the way I planned. Stuff happened (broken-down car, inadequately stocked pharmacy, etc, etc) and here I am, six days after quitting "cold turkey." And boy, am I feeling sick! For the past several days I've been dizzy, nauseated, with persistent diarrhea and exhaustion.

I've heard of taking one dose of Prozac while coming off Zoloft, since Prozac stays in your system longer and tapers off. However, it seems silly to use one antidepressant to get off another antidepressant! And I don't want to get withdrawal from the Prozac. Plus, it's cold and rainy here and my joints have been acting up. Sorry, just needed to get it out of my system! Thanks for being here.

[inga]

I would think after 6 days you are thru the worst...altho, you know you should have tapered....hope you feel better soon.  It takes a while for the body to normalize. 

[Nans]

Hi Claire

I have been on and off of Paxil and Lexapro.  I tapered very slowly and still had withdrawal symptoms (Paxil was the worst of the two).

My symptoms included headaches, queasiness and this weird feeling that my brain was turning in my head when the rest of my head was still after turning my head.  To tell you the truth, I can't remember what I took to help that, but I would think that meclizine (Bonine) would help.  It helped me a lot when I had BPPV and while it does make me a bit sleepy, it doesn't knock me out like Benadryl and Dramamine do.  Perhaps it might be best to ask your doctor.

I hope your symptoms get better really soon!

[Claire the Red]

Thanks guys. I plan on looking into the meclizine. Wish I could have tapered slowly as planned, but I'm afraid that ship has already sailed.    I too hope this ends quickly... I have seen reports of "discontinuation syndrome" lasting anywhere from a week to more than a month.

[shelly]

i have had way more experience with this than i ever dreamed of having. it's pure heck.

some may not agree with what i'm about to say, but here goes...

if i were you i would not take any other meds to help come off the original. since it's only been 6 days you still have a short window to...here goes...go back on your meds. i would take the dose you were last on when you felt ok (no withdrawl effects). you came off too fast and/or cold turkey. not the way to go. doctors will take you off faster than necessary. after you're back on the last comfortable dose, your withdrawl effects should be gone within 24-72 hours .

i'm new here and i don't know how open the board rules are to giving specific advice on meds. if you want to talk in private i'm open for it.

some people need to come off psych meds balls at a time. opening the capsule and removing balls gradually by a very low percentage. i have links for info and groups on the subject. as well as info on the damage the withdrawl effects can cause. supplement info as well. i'm not selling anything, nor am i affiliated with anyone. just another person like yourself.

i hope i haven't offended anyone.

[Patze]

Hi Claire,

I'm sorry that I can't offer any advice about your withdrawl symptoms, but I sure hope that you feel better soon!  Sending you some extra gentle hugs...

Take extra care of yourself now, okay?

Patze

[eyeamdry]

I would do what Shelley said. I just took Wellbutrin for a short time.  I began to have jerky legs and arms and thought I don't like this.   I called the PA and she said "you could be low in iron, something and something."  Well, I was about to buy these things and I thought, now it was starting to take this pill when the stuff started and why would being low on 3 specific things have anyhing to do with it.

I stopped on my own.  The pills I took once a day and they were not able to be broken in half. I tapered my own self and had no problem.  I started by taking one in the morning and then the next day or two days take at night, then I took one every other day for a week or so, and then I took one every 3 days for a couple of weeks and then one every 4 days for a week or two, and by 5 days I was pretty much off them.  I didn't know if I would have withdrawal or not, but I wanted to be careful because of the muscle spasms I was having.

I took Zoloft for a long time years ago and had no problem with it.  I can't even remember if I tapered off it or not.
I think your best choice is to go back to the same med and not get another involved and do what I did.
Lucy

[irish]

I have tapered off drugs like this as has my son. Remember that you should talk to a doctor about doing this. It worked for me to go to one tab every other day for a month and then every third day for a month, etc. You could also try breaking the tab in half and cutting down on the dose and working out a plan.

When we have taken a pill like this it takes time for it to get built up in our body and for us to feel better. Likewise, when we taper off it needs to be done in slow increments as in decreasing the dose and increasing the days between the dose. Remember that it can take a long time to taper off. It took my son 9 months to taper off Zoloft.

If you quit cold turkey you can't tell what is withdrawal and what is another symptom from some of the autoiimmune issues. Need to keep life simple so that you know what is going on with your body. Quitting cold turkey is a very, very hard way to do this and I don't think it is worth the misery.Good luck. Talk with your pharmacist also. Irish