This is my first day off my 50mg of zoloft. Been taking it since last June. What can I expect?

Question

At first it helped with a deep depression. After Xmas, however, I found myself in more of a state, I told the GP it wasn't working, he said continue it. On the advice of others who've gone through the merry go round of these meds, I stopped today and wanted to see what happened. Nothing dramatic, just tired. I am also on a long acting sedative (clonopin) which I felt I should have been on from the outset (my first experience with ssris was celexa with clonopin and eventually I just stopped taking the celexa after 2 or so months with no ill effects.) Point is I am really seriously depressed about things in my life now; and for some reason I don't think the med is working. Any advice from someone who's been through this. I don't feel like switching SSRIs (I never trusted them to begin with), it feels like it hit its peak and stopped working.

Answer 1

True, Zoloft does not work for everybody, and those who use it successfully do not all take the same dose. 50mg. is a small dose for this medication. What you really need to do is to ask your GP to refer you to a psychiatrist (most of their work is to evaluate medications for people experiencing problems functioning.)

Who are you trusting your mind and body to? Some people who have different problems and different body chemistry from you? -- Or some one who knows how the body works and why and what medications are and how to correctly use them, a Dr. Some GP's do prescribe anti-depressants, but they are GPs, They are not specialists / psychiatrists.

To answer your question, stopping your Zoloft for one day will be barely noticable. However, if you do not resume taking it, and your body is not making the missing chemicals for itself, you will definately know in about 2 or 3 weeks. Your body will likely return to what it was before beginning medication.

If, and when you stop a medication like this, do exactly as your Dr says, taper off the dosage over a few weeks, by cutting the pills in half, at first, then gradually lessening the amount by taking those halves every second or third day, to wean your body gradually. It will be less of a sudden shock to the system.

Answer 2

I Do Not Believe In Medications MySelf! Since You Are On Medications You May Be Using The Wrong Type! It Can Take Up To 1 Full Year To Find The Right Anti-Depressant For You. This Is So Sad That you Have To Feel this Way until The Doctors Really Find The Right Drug For Your Chemistry! You Can Really Put On Some Weight While The Doctors Are Trying. Try To Go For A Walk/Church/Volunteer. Find Positive People, And Hang Around Them! Negative People Will Only Make You Worse! Try To Find What Is Really Causing You To Have Depression And Work On It YourSelf! I Do Not Think This Is A Diease! I Think Something Causes The Chemicals To Imbalance! Also Ask Your Doctor To Check For Diabetes And Thyroid. Even Men Can Be Affected By These Two Dieases! Remember You CAN Have Seizures With These Types Of Medications If The Doctor Raises The Levels TOO High! This Can Happen To ANYONE!!!!! Call 911 If You Feel Seizure Activity Fast!

Answer 3

It matters I was on the smallest dose of Celxa I think it was and I had after effects from it for over a month and only took it a week. Everyone is different. Took Zoloft when I was younger and made me a zombie change me a person for a year. What people dont get is all meds do is mask your depression or issues. I have been through hospitals theropy tons of meds everything. Then one day I dropped all my meds and qwit being such a sissy at theropy and spoke up about my issues worked out everything. THAT helped. Zoloft ew god no. Try a GOOD excersise regimine for 4 weeks. I know 90% of Americans dont have time to work out so they pop a pill to be happy. Get off the meds do yourself a favor seriously. I have been there they just hide my issues when I stopped them my issues were still there.

Answer 4

I would strongly advise that you speak with your Doctor before just quitting your medication. I can't imagine that they would want you to just suddenly stop taking it versus lowering the dosage a little bit at a time. It will be a 2 or 3 days before you start to with drawl from it. There are numerous anti-depression medications out there, and it may take time to find the one that works for you.
Please be sure that you have a Doctor that is very familiar with these types of meds. When they aren't it can wreak havoc on your life. These are serious medications.
Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong with speaking with a counselor. This life of ours can really deal us some rough cards from time to time. I think it takes more guts to go to a counselor and work through things so that life can become better for you. You only have so many hours and minutes on this earth........so please take care of you.

PS: I have heard that some of the following supplements can help with depression
Omega 3 (Webmd.com has info on this)
Flax seeds and flax seed oil contains this

Foliate & Vitamin B12

Vit. D (any brand that says cholcalciferol & offers 400 IUS

Answer 5

You probably won't notice any difference with not taking the Zoloft -- it's a low dose. But you should cut it down by 50% for a week.

Klonipin, ativan, any benzodiazepine is highly addictive and don't ever just stop taking it. You will go through horrible withdrawal. Mine was not voluntary. My doctor wouldn't renew my scrip until I saw him and I went through withdrawal for four days. Then he had the nerve to put in my chart that I was a drug abuser when he was the one who put me on it to begin with!

I no longer see him.

Just be careful. Don't make all these decisions without your doctor. Good luck.

Answer 6

Zoloft does not work for everyone- I took 50mg for 4 years and then it just stopped working--the Doc upped my dosage to 100mg. You will probably not notice any difference until about 3 days. Have you thought about therapy along with meds? You should never stop taking any med without your doc's approval