I've taken several different types of antidepressants and I just don't feel like I'm me when I'm taking them. My cardiologist is going to say no, so I'm not going to let him know until I've been zoloft-free for several weeks. Any suggestions about dealing with the side-effects... an anxious buzz, dizziness, stomach problems and I can't seem to breathe very deeply. I've been off of them for about two weeks now.
2006-10-21 17:39:23 · 15 answers · asked by amethyst 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
I'm on Zoloft Too!!! Well when i forget to take them I feel the same way! And ask him if u can go back on. and slowly ease ur way down
2006-10-21 17:41:32 · answer #1 · answered by Katy W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I initially took zoloft for my depression and it worked for about 6 months. Then I started to realize that i was a zombie. I felt nothing. No anger, no joy, nothing....it was like floating through life and i realized that i had to get off. i did the dumb way because I really couldnt afford to keep paying the massive bills for the pharmacy cause i had no insurance. I will tell you that the first four weeks - you may flip out. Inappropriate anger was my problem. I would freak out over basically nothing. After that I started to "wake up". I felt better off the meds. It took at least a month but I dont regret getting off it.
I wouldnt advise this method. I would rather see you taper off like your supposed to. But on the other hand I think Shrinks are full of crap. My ex shrinks answer to get me off of xanex ($12.99 a month) was to prescribe me the following: Seroquel, Tegretol, Respirdial, Prozac and Valium. ((over $700 monthly) Gee I wonder if he was getting kickbacks from the pharm - reps?
I think its to their advantage keep you on drugs rather than get you off. Anti-anxiety drugs are the only thing I take anymore and Im doing better. Theres usually a trigger to deression. If you can figure out whats really eating you...maybe you wont need anything at all. Or at least find a decent doctor. When I went off Xanex I had to take anti-convulsants as thee is a chance you can go into seizure. so I would definately consult with him. Sometimes the body cant take such a drastic change. ( I was on 150 MG of zoloft so thats quite a bit for my size) If you have went 2 weeks though.....the worst is probably about over - Im not a doctor. Ask him how to do it safely. But whatever you do....be careful and watch for signs. The breathing could very well only be the anxiety. Dont take any chances.
2006-10-22 08:08:04 · answer #2 · answered by Hillary X 2 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best and only way to come off a psych medication is to taper off slowly. What dose were you on? If you were say on 100mg, then you'd start taking 75 mg for a week or so, then 50mg, then 25.. and over the course of a week you'd wean yourself off it...
If you don't do this, and you go cold turkey, then the side effects will likely last for a couple of weeks.. and may not subside at all.. It's best that you see your general doctor asap about this. It's dangerous to play around with the medications withou the advice of a physician.
Good luck! :)
2006-10-21 22:39:36 · answer #3 · answered by pola_pink_ocd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old are you? If your doctors felt your depression was serious enough to warrant medicating you, then you probably shouldn't stop taking them. But you have been off them for two weeks. Side effects are over, withdrawl is over. The rest is in your head. Sounds like maybe you should be on Xanax, Valium or Ativan. You sound like you have a problem with anxiety more so than depression. What you are experiencing is anxiety related right now. Go see your doctor and stop messing with your medications. There are some medications that will kill you if you stop taking them suddenly.
2006-10-21 17:52:21 · answer #4 · answered by Lola 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't go off a drug like Zoloft cold turkey so to speak. You cut down the dosage and after you've done that for a few weeks than you take this reduced dosage every other day and after you've done that for awhile than you go to every third or fourth day and so on. Whenever you're going off any medication you should do it with a doctor's assistance. Good luck.
2006-10-21 17:43:01 · answer #5 · answered by jljdc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't do it! My friend went off his meds and went Schitzo. He thought he was really smarter than anyone but he was insane completely. It took a lot of work to get him medicated again. He was a danger to himself and others.
If you feel this medicine is doing you harm go see another doctor and get a second opinion. See a specialist they may be able to give you a better medicine.
Zoloft has side effects that are not pleasent. Wellbutrin is much better but it depends on your situation. Don't lie to your doctor because based on wrong information he could end up killing you. Look on WeB MD
2006-10-21 17:46:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you need to find a different doctor - one who will work with you, one who you won't feel you need to lie to.
Did you wean yourself off zoloft or just stop cold turkey? Just as you had to ramp up your dosage of zoloft when you started, you have to ramp down to stop in order to avoid the withdrawal effects. 2 weeks sounds like a long time for withdrawal symptoms, but I'm no expert. I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms when I went off of zoloft (I also didn't feel right when I was on it). I had nasty withdrawal symptoms when I went off of effexor, but they only lasted a week. (Effexor worked well for me, I still felt normal when I was on it, but I went off of it so I could get pregnant.)
I really think you should talk with your doctor about your withdrawal effects - he might be able to help you out. Then get a new doctor you can trust.
2006-10-21 18:41:28 · answer #7 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you know you need to tell your dr. but it should be soon, because there are a lot of better meds now. i went through a least 10 different kinds. i had some really bad times stoping meds on my on, but if you have gone two weeks without it, you should be ok. but talk to your dr. because if you dont know how fast life can go downhill, go visit a psych ward and you will see that a least 85% of the people there are because they stopped tacking there meds. no ****, anyway the best of luck. take care of yourself, enjoy life.
2006-10-21 18:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by donna r 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't think breathing would be affected. Why would your doc say no? I think if you really feel you don't need them your doctor should be open to this. Unless there is good reasoning, than he should explain to you. I find this to be troubling with doctors.
2006-10-21 17:58:35 · answer #9 · answered by Labatt113 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
going off your medication without a doctor's supervision is really dumb. why would your doctor tell you not to go off of them unless he/she has a very good reason to keep you on them? Got heart problems and you're complaining of not being able to breathe deeply?!?!?
My doctor tapered me off SLOWLY, btw- it can take months and a good doctor can create the proper protocol for you to stop taking them- good luck
2006-10-21 17:50:18 · answer #10 · answered by count scratchula 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋