Is taking Zoloft on and off repeatedly okay for my health?

Question

Is it okay to do this?

-take Zoloft 2~3 weeks, and after my body gets used to it (my body adjusts to it), stop.
-Take a week break, then again take it for 2~3 weeks, then when my body gets used to it, stop. Repeat this until my body is totally detoxified.

I planning to do this, using Zoloft for its dieharea property, for the detoxification of my body. My docter told me, yes, some people take it for the detoxification just like I am going to do.

But here is the problem; after the Zoloft gets used to my body (my body gets adjusted to it after 3~4 weeks), the good bowel movement stops working.
In other words, the detoxification only happens during the period of my body getting used to the Zoloft. After my body is adjusted to the Zoloft, the detoxification stops.

I still have a little more toxins to flush out of my body.

I have asked if it is okay to do it, but it looks like he does not know it for sure.

Thanks for your answers. But the toxin on my body can only be detoxified by the Zoloft ( the lexatives do not work) .

And all I want to know is if it is okay to take Zoloft on and off repeatedly.

Thanks

Answer 1

its dangerous
i take effexor which is many times stronger than zoloft
taking any antidepressnat for a short temr then stopping for 1 or more years is ok but 2 weeks on 2 weeks off is damaging your body
the only way to get off antidepressants is slowly, take a slighlty smaller dose for 1 month then a smaller dose for 1 month, continue until you no longer take it

zoloft does not have a 'dieharea property' if anything you will get constipation

Answer 2

Short answer: No. It is not okay to do what you're describing.

First of all, studies have shown that stopping sertraline (Zoloft) without tapering off the medication gradually can cause a myriad of side effects, such as irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances, anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, and hypomania. (If you aren't sure what some of those terms mean, there is an excellent medical dictionary here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html )

You should never abruptly stop taking sertraline - or any similar drug - unless specifically told to by a physician. And if a physician does tell you to stop the medication abruptly, they should be closely monitoring your condition for adverse effects.

Likewise, when a patient is started on sertraline, they are started at a low dose and it is gradually increased over time. It isn't something you just start and stop the way you're describing.

I'm not sure where you've gotten your information, but it's completely inaccurate. Sertraline has no "detoxification properties." Any detoxification you think is happening when you take it is - no offense - completely imaginary. It's not happening. Unless you consider depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, or other similar psychological disorders to be toxins.

Diarrhea is one possible side effect of taking sertraline, but it is a fairly minor one. It certainly isn't guaranteed to happen to every person that takes the drug. And diarrhea - no matter what is triggering it - does not detoxify the body. Your stomach contents will travel through your body a little faster, but that doesn't mean it's pulling any toxins out of your bloodstream.

I have to say... your post scares me. The idea that such inaccurate information is circulating out there - and that your doctor did nothing to dissuade you - is just appalling. No doctor in the US should even consider prescribing Zoloft for this type of use. That's why drugs like Zoloft require a doctor's prescription.

The whole concept of needing to detoxify your body is unproven at best, but if you feel like you must do something, then try to drink 2-3 liters of water every day, and get a healthy amount of fiber in your diet. Your liver and kidneys can take care of the rest.

Answer 3

My mother takes Zoloft because after her heart surgery she became very depressed. It has really helped her but the Dr. told her not to just stop taking but to consult him first. Zoloft is a mood elevator and I don't think you should use it for anything else. Please check with another Dr. Mom only takes 25 mg. Good luck.

Answer 4

Dude if you want to have the runs to detoxify your body there are other things out there besides zoloft. Try exlax it will clean you out and not alter your mind.

Answer 5

Please excuse my answer yet that's the stupid-est situation I truthfully have ever heard. contain me to the Casbah and that i will feed you ex-lax. LOL LOL Zoloft isn't a drug to play with. It acts on the chemical ingredients on your innovations and you will disenchanted the stability and force your self loopy. LOL

Answer 6

my wife is a chemist and she said that its prob. not a good idea for your body to be under that type of stress, always having to adjust

Answer 7

well i go by what my Dr say but your Dr say it OK to do it maybe you sure go to a differ Dr and tell him the way you talk you sure be on it most of the time