I got divorced and lost my health insurance. My Zoloft will now cost me $90 a month instead of $10! No way I can afford that and raise 2 kids. I already cut back from 100mg to 50mg two months ago, and my doctor asked me if I want to try going off it completely, now that my stress has GREATLY diminished (my ex-husband), but I was a little scared to do it yet. I am going to contact him, so don't everyone freak out and tell me I need to go to the doctor! I just want to hear some real life experiences.
I never had any problems going off Paxil a few years ago, and I've heard Zoloft has more mild withdrawal symptoms. I was thinking I might cut back to 25mg daily and then maybe every other day the last week...if that's ok with my doc. What do y'all think?
2006-09-11 15:13:31 · 13 answers · asked by MAC 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
How about start doing some sort of stress reducing technique. Then start supplementing that for the Zoloft so you can ease off of it. The Doc had me on Zoloft when I came back from Iraq and I hated it from the get go.
2006-09-11 15:30:09 · answer #1 · answered by Abrams Tanker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG, it was the most awful thing I have ever been thru. For some reason Zoloft was bad. Effexor and paxil were nightmares but zoloft was bad for me the last time. I think it depends on if you are on any other medications at the time, and if you are switching from one to the other. If you didn't have any problems with Paxil, which was worse (physically) zoloft was worse (mentally, and little physical). You may be OK, but just in case, go down as gradual as you can, and if you have difficulties after you stop. I took 25 mg, every time symptoms came on, and it took within an hour and lasted 3 days until eventually I came off.
I think sometimes people think that their depression is returning, and jump right back needlessly on the pills, but it is just withdrawal.
2006-09-11 22:20:47 · answer #2 · answered by Rachel☺ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband left and my youngest child(23 at the time) was diagnosed with a mental illness so I took Zoloft(50 mg. daily) for two years. I then weaned myself off of it much the way you're considering doing it and didn't experience much difficulty. You might want to cut back to 25 mg. a day for a full month and then every other day for two weeks and then every third day for the final two weeks. In other words take two months instead of one to get off it fully. I had a little sleeplessness and nervousness but nothing too traumatic. My friend however took paxil for 5 yrs and it took her at least a year to get off it with a lot of side effects. Since you didn't have any trouble with the paxil, in my opinion you should be fine. Of course, as you say, if it's ok with your doctor.
2006-09-11 22:49:28 · answer #3 · answered by lookwid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when I went off Zoloft I went to one tab every second day, to keep some levels in my system, then half a tab, then off completely. I did it over a one month period. I still had some mild withdrawal, headache and insomnia, but it only lasted about a week and I was fine. The only thing is that if you are taking Zoloft for chronic depression perhaps there is a generic form of anti-depressant that won't set you back so much financially? Good luck!
2006-09-11 22:22:49 · answer #4 · answered by moejaymom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was on Zoloft for 1 year. I then switched to Celexa because the ZOloft was no longer working. But getting off of it made me sick. I felt dizzy all the time. I am now drug free, but you just need to know that getting there isnt easy. I talk to a consuler still which helped. I would talk to your doctor about what side effects to expect.
2006-09-11 22:31:54 · answer #5 · answered by Jackie253 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been on Zoloft for 3 yrs I m afraid to go off of it i have flelt so much better on it , if it has been helping you try to keep taking it they just come out with a generic version of zoloft Im not sure how much it cost, It wouldnt hurt to look into it
good luck
2006-09-12 11:32:23 · answer #6 · answered by mp h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had no problem what so ever going off Zoloft as far as symptoms but I did have to go on another med within 6 months. My dr gave me enough samples to keep me going because I was in the same boat as you are. I told him I couldn't afford them and I never had to buy them any more.
2006-09-11 22:26:11 · answer #7 · answered by 51ain'tbad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am on paxil now and have been for four years befor paxil i was on zoloft i dropped it all at once i had no side effects BUT paxil is a different story for me i have tried to back down and even if i forget a day my body feels like i am going through electrical shock therapy I know every body is different but like i said zoloft was no problem for me I know I know talk to your Dr.
2006-09-11 22:31:17 · answer #8 · answered by diggerbonz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you didn't experience it with paxil you probably wont have a problem then....... when I stopped taking paxil the withdrawal symptoms were very bad!!(I to had lost my insurance). you should come off it slowly though, just in case....
2006-09-11 22:20:03 · answer #9 · answered by ☠Naz☠ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been on and off zoloft twice. Never had any problems taking myself off of it, just do the reduced dosage and gradually reduce the frequency, you should be ok.
2006-09-11 22:26:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋