I quit taking Zoloft cold turkey.......HELP!?

Question

I quit taking Zoloft (150 mg) cold turkey about 3-4 wks. ago and got switched to Welbutrin XL a couple days ago. All of a sudden I feel sick, tired, sad, and REALLY irritable and angry. I mean every little thing ticks me off beyond belief!

Are these withdrawl symptoms and when will I start to feel normal again?

I am a HUGE B****

Thanks for all the help!!!

Also getting migranes

Answer 1

I am including a couple of paragraphs from the labeling of Zooloft so that you can see what your doctor should have let you know about before he switched your drug:

"Discontinuation of Treatment with Zoloft During marketing of Zoloft and other SSRIs and SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors), there have been spontaneous reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g. paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, and hypomania. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms.

"Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing treatment with Zoloft. A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate."

Now, cold turkey on the Zoloft may be the cause of your problem, but it could also be that it was treating your mood and your mood is returning. Since I don't know what you were being treated for, I'll let you be the judge of that.

I, too, have had withdrawal symptoms from an SSRI (Celexa), and I lost about 2 months of my life. So no promises on how long it will last.

If you take your old dose of Zoloft and you mood improves in a day or two, you have hit the nail on the head.

Answer 2

You really should not have done that but I'm not one to talk I use to do it all the times when I was on meds. It's really just not safe and it can make you go into a really bad depression one because your not on your meds and two you feel like crap from withdrawls. You should call your Docter and ask him or her what to do or go see your docter. It's not a good Idea for you to start them on your own again your Docter may need to ease you back on it because of the dosage. You will probably feel sick for a few more days.

Answer 3

zoloft is not one of the worst ssris to stop cold turkey (paxil is), but still you might have side effects (serotonin withdrawal syndrome). the symptoms are nausea and vomiting, feeling dizzy, and nystagmus (sorta like double vision/cant keep your eyes open). it's really unpleasant. if it is going to happen, it will be within the first week of stopping. you might want to consider filling the prescription and cutting the dose in half for a few days, then go to 25 for a few days, and then stop. if you get the above symptoms, go back on it, like on 25 or 50 mgs, and then taper.

Answer 4

You never ever stop taking a anti-depressant cold turkey that will put you in a spin like it did. I take Well butrin XL and have for while now I find it one of the better anti depressants You need to give it time to kick in and you'll be doing better soon, You will stop being a ***** too.

Answer 5

You should never stop taking a med like zoloft without speaking to your doctor. They usually wean people off meds like that. The way you are feeling now could be side effects from the wellbutrin. You should call the doctor who prescribed the med. for you.

Answer 6

I DID THAT TOO!! But my symptoms, funny vision and general weird feeling and sickness, happened right away, not three weeks later, so I think it's not related to the Zoloft.

Answer 7

You should never stop cold turkey with those kinds of meds, i had to get weaned off my meds for 2 weeks to not feel like crap. Also you might want to call your doc about this.

Answer 8

this is the problem with so many people...

you need to see a psychiatrist and psychologist when taking antidepressants and keep their numbers in your cell phone...a lot of people just go to their regular G.P. take the Rx and leave w/out making appointments with psychiatrists and psychologist and then complain how the meds aren't working or do what you do and take it upon themselves to quit cold turkey...
go make an appointment with a psychiatrist asap...