I've been on Zoloft for a little over 2 years now and I know that I have to slowly get off the meds- but I'm unsure of how long this should take. I am on 200mg a day and don't know if I go down by 50mg a week or how I do it. Anyone who has experienced this please let me know what you did. Thanks so much!
2006-08-24 09:25:25 · 11 answers · asked by Tammy 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Don't go cold turkey, it's bad for your heart. If you are on 200mg a day then go down to 100mg a day for a week. Then take 50mg a day for a week. Then 25mg for a week. After that start taking 25mg every other day and then every three days until you are off.
2006-08-24 10:09:10 · answer #1 · answered by Izzy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow that really sucks that it even got prescribed to you. That is not what an anti-depressant like zoloft is supposed to treat. 1 mg of Ativan as needed would have been more useful in your case. Your Doctor is right. You have to be weened off of Zoloft.(especially long term users) If you just quit, it could cause Dysmithia. The Zoloft does change the chemicals in your brain, but not permanently. Producing dopamine in some areas in the brain and decreasing production in other areas. It also changes your serotonin levels and can make your neuron receptors more active. Chances are that if you have been taking it for 40 days and just stopped taking it, you wouldn't have any withdrawl symptoms and if you do, they would be minor, however you never know how your body will react and you could get dysmithis(but since it wasn't being used to treat depression or bi-polar, it is possible that you won't get dysmithia. The only other problem that there could be after quiting your medication is: If you are predisposed to a mood disorder, such as bi-polar, by taking the Zoloft and then quiting it so quickly, could bring on a bi-polar episode, such as hypo-mania or depression. The best thing to do, is to ask your Doctor to prescribe smaller and smaller doses of the Zoloft, changing each week to the smaller dosage, until it is safe to quit. The best thing to do when dealing with anti-depressants is to talk to a physchiatrist. Working with and prescribing these kinds of medications is their job. GP's don't always have the knowledge and understanding to prescribe these drugs and some that do, over prescribe them. Good luck!
2016-03-27 03:57:23 · answer #2 · answered by Shirley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
should I get off Zoloft after 10 years
2015-11-28 18:07:49 · answer #3 · answered by Melody 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go off 50 mg at a time for 2 weeks at the new dose. Be very careful with this. I went off Zoloft 2 years ago, and I did all the wrong things. I was really screwed up in my head. I had to go back on it just so I could wean myself off of Zoloft. Good luck to you.
2006-08-24 09:33:19 · answer #4 · answered by WyoHunter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had actually taken zoloft for about 2 years as well and was up to 200mg, finally the dr just told me i probably didn't need it anymore and took me off cold turkey and i feel great!!! i'm been off anti-depressants now for about 3 years!!!
2006-08-24 11:00:48 · answer #5 · answered by ana g 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been on Zoloft for over 2 years now and plan on being on for the rest of my life. It will help you from crashing and burning.
2006-08-24 09:40:05 · answer #6 · answered by whoami 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this stopping Zoloft some sort of experiment? Most people who take Z want to try to live without it for a while, especially bi-polars, because we miss the uside part of the mania. My advice is: DONT DO IT without medical supervision.
2006-08-24 12:56:25 · answer #7 · answered by The Oldest Man In The World 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I went off, I did it myself cold turkey. Not a good idea. I had to be put back on it twice after that. Make sure you partner with your doctor. Explain why you want to go off the meds and how he or she suggests you do so. Remember that doctors should have lots of experience with this!
2006-08-24 09:32:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anne 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to talk to your doctor regarding medication withdrawal and they will give you all the information you need and decide whether they feel you are ready to come off or maybe just reduce dose for a while. Withdrawal can not be done instantly otherwise you will suffer serious withdrawal symptoms and become worse than you were before you started taking it. You need to see gp before doing anything.
2006-08-24 10:22:22 · answer #9 · answered by angelle_76 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I stopped taking Zoloft and I didn't have any withdrawals. But I do think everyone's different along these lines.
2006-08-24 11:23:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋