Help antidepressant withdrawal

[ghostspace]

My NP and I decided to switch me from 300 mg of Zoloft to 10 mg of Trintellix. I've got the Zoloft down to 200 mg, but it's making me incredibly sick and intensely suicidal. I emailed her and she said to stay on the 200, but nothing about how to cope with how horrible it feels.

Does anyone have similar experiences? I know it's different for everyone, but this *is* going to end, right? It's been several weeks and I've been nauseous, dizzy, and straight up fainting the whole time, along with shakiness, sweating, and relentless headaches. Is there anything that helps? I'm tempted to go back up to 300, but am not sure I want to be on a med that causes such a brutal withdrawal.

It's so dark in my head right now that I can't reach out to my friends because I'm too numb and empty to say much. I've been debating on whether to post on here because I don't know if I'll have the energy to get back to anyone who comments, and that makes me feel terrible.

Any personal experiences with similar situations would help a lot, I never knew antidepressants could mess a person up this much and it's scary being here alone.

Please tell me about how meds have messed you up and how you got through it. I'm terrified it'll never end and my brain is ruined forever.

 

[Brackenshire]

Being weaned off a antidepressant is brutal. It does get better, it is different for everyone. I had sweats, mood swings, suicidal thoughts and sleep problems. Hang in there, im still struggling with it too.

 

[ghostspace]

Being weaned off a antidepressant is brutal. It does get better, it is different for everyone. I had sweats, mood swings, suicidal thoughts and sleep problems. Hang in there, im still struggling with it too.

Thank you so much for replying, it makes me feel better to know I'm not completely alone. I'm sorry you're also struggling with this, it sucks to not feel like yourself and people don't always understand. I hope things get better for you soon.

 

[Final Escape]

meds are so scary

 

[miseryh8scompany]

Ween slower if it's that bad. Most doctors have never actually used psych drugs and don't understand withdrawals. The things doctors told me when I was weening myself off clonazepam....wow

 

[ghostspace]

Ween slower if it's that bad. Most doctors have never actually used psych drugs and don't understand withdrawals. The things doctors told me when I was weening myself off clonazepam....wow

I'm going down by 25 mgs every 2 weeks, I really want to be off it, so I'm tempted to just suck it up and do it all at once, but I know that's risky.

I never thought about that but you're totally right, they really don't have any way to know how bad it feels.

What happened with clonazepam? I'm on that right now, too

 

[your pathologist]

Im on cymbalta and when my dosage is lowered i have trouble sleeping (seemingly no sleep for weeks) currently experiencing this

 

[CynicalHopelessness]

Venlafaxine withdrawal took about 5 weeks to pass for me, even though I tried to gradually lower the dose

 

[catfletcher]

Zoloft is sertraline, right?
I remember coming off it cold turkey years ago and I was so poorly I thought I was dying. Didn't even know SSRI withdrawal was a thing, so didn't make the link at all. Even got diagnosed with labyrinthitis because every time I stood up I was so dizzy I threw up. It was not a good time. The next time I came off it, years later, I was in a therapeutic community and they weaned us off meds so cautiously. I asked why, found out about the withdrawal and put 2 and 2 together at last.
This is one more reason I'm not accepting any of this drug now, no matter how much they go on about it. If I suffered such withdrawal back then, imagine a poor newborn having to go through that. Nope.

 

[miseryh8scompany]

I'm going down by 25 mgs every 2 weeks, I really want to be off it, so I'm tempted to just suck it up and do it all at once, but I know that's risky.

I never thought about that but you're totally right, they really don't have any way to know how bad it feels.

What happened with clonazepam? I'm on that right now, too

I gave myself 6 months to ween off clonazepam. Ended up going back on it at a lower dose though

 

[WhiteDespair]

Everytime I went off an antidepressant I did it cold turkey. The doctors keep telling me it's a bad idea. I keep doing it. 3 days of hell and 2 weeks of feeling down are over fast.

 

[Epsilon0]

I managed to reduce Zoloft from 100 to 25. It took me a looooong time, don't even remember how many months.

The withdrawal was brutal. I understand what you are going through. It's really, really hard. The only thing that helped me was to taper off very slowly. For instance: one day 100 mg, one day 75 mg, and so on; and after a month I did 75 mg each day.

Good luck! You are definitely not the only one who has experienced the hell of Zoloft withdrawal.

 

[flower]

Withdrawing from zoloft is awful. I ran out of meds for a few days and was close to collapsing, cold sweats, brain zaps, all sorts.

I'm sorry I don't have advice as I started taking them again and felt better, but what you're experiencing is normal (unfortunately) and it will pass. I've withdrawn from prozac in the past and didn't really have the physical symptoms but definitely felt more anxious and suicidal, but it eventually calmed down. Just waiting it out is brutal.

 

[ghostspace]

I managed to reduce Zoloft from 100 to 25. It took me a looooong time, don't even remember how many months.

The withdrawal was brutal. I understand what you are going through. It's really, really hard. The only thing that helped me was to taper off very slowly. For instance: one day 100 mg, one day 75 mg, and so on; and after a month I did 75 mg each day.

Good luck! You are definitely not the only one who has experienced the hell of Zoloft withdrawal.

That's so terrible, I'm sorry you went through that. I'm trying to get from 300 to 0, my NP said it would take a few *weeks*, but now I'm thinking it's definitely going to be longer, maybe a year.

Thanks for the tapering advice, I'll try that asap.
I feel so much better knowing that I'm not weak and making a big deal out of nothing. I've never had this with any other med before.

Withdrawing from zoloft is awful. I ran out of meds for a few days and was close to collapsing, cold sweats, brain zaps, all sorts.

I'm sorry I don't have advice as I started taking them again and felt better, but what you're experiencing is normal (unfortunately) and it will pass. I've withdrawn from prozac in the past and didn't really have the physical symptoms but definitely felt more anxious and suicidal, but it eventually calmed down. Just waiting it out is brutal.

brain zaps are driving me crazy. maybe I'll try prozac instead, I'm so tempted to start taking zoloft again, but don't want to be physiologically dependent on a medication.

thanks for making me feel less alone ♡

 

[LittleJem]

There are FB groups for withdrawal from Zoloft where there is support and advice. Drs don't always knowknowh

 

[akrasia]

I started taking antidepressants and was prescribed 10 mg fluoxetine. I felt fine 1-3 days after taking it. After a couple of days, I've been getting horrible headache, migraines, I felt dizzy and nauseous. I felt more anxious and suicidal. After 2 weeks of taking it, I decided to stop taking it since I don't want to be dependent on the pills and the side effect was horrible. Also because, I want medication to be my last option and started going to therapy.

 

[IAmJaneDoe012819]

This is kind of late but just letting you know you're not alone,,
I'm being weened off of Lexapro atm and it's not too bad. When I stopped it cold turkey a while ago the brain zaps were brutal and dizziness was hell. I feel your pain,, and yes, it does end. I got through the withdraw symptoms after stopping it cold turkey after about two-three weeks. And towards the end of that they weren't too bad at all. Everyone is different thought, maybe it's longer/shorter for you. Only reason I went back on was because my sister convinced me too,, and called me out on being stupid for stopping it cold turkey.

Best wishes on your journey <3

 

[Scooby-Doo]

I've just been put on sertraline. I'm on 50 at moment but going up to 100 next week. I'm worried now

 

[faust]

Well, that's kind of strange, but withdrawal actually helped me feel better. I was taking sertraline and it was two weeks of a huge depression which I could bear no more. So I decided to stop in an instance. I had outbursts of aggression (I am not aggressive at all), but they disappeared in a few days.

 

[Nem]

My NP and I decided to switch me from 300 mg of Zoloft to 10 mg of Trintellix. I've got the Zoloft down to 200 mg, but it's making me incredibly sick and intensely suicidal. I emailed her and she said to stay on the 200, but nothing about how to cope with how horrible it feels.

Does anyone have similar experiences? I know it's different for everyone, but this *is* going to end, right? It's been several weeks and I've been nauseous, dizzy, and straight up fainting the whole time, along with shakiness, sweating, and relentless headaches. Is there anything that helps? I'm tempted to go back up to 300, but am not sure I want to be on a med that causes such a brutal withdrawal.

It's so dark in my head right now that I can't reach out to my friends because I'm too numb and empty to say much. I've been debating on whether to post on here because I don't know if I'll have the energy to get back to anyone who comments, and that makes me feel terrible.

Any personal experiences with similar situations would help a lot, I never knew antidepressants could mess a person up this much and it's scary being here alone.

Please tell me about how meds have messed you up and how you got through it. I'm terrified it'll never end and my brain is ruined forever.

I suffered kidney, nervous system damage, muscle damage and other damage. Meds are a bad scene and often the damage is permanent, I can guarantee you (this is not a guarantee) that the CEO's of big pharma companies would never allow their children to take these poisons. Look at some of the fines these companies have faced (they're in the billions) and they test their own products behind closed doors and the fda takes the results at face value.
The fda is one of the most corrupt organizations on earth, they've taken bribes and admitted it.major side effects are not noted and drs are too stupid to realize it's a fucked up system
Peace/hugs

 

[faust]

I suffered kidney, nervous system damage, muscle damage and other damage. Meds are a bad scene and often the damage is permanent, I can guarantee you (this is not a guarantee) that the CEO's of big pharma companies would never allow their children to take these poisons. Look at some of the fines these companies have faced (they're in the billions) and they test their own products behind closed doors and the fda takes the results at face value.
The fda is one of the most corrupt organizations on earth, they've taken bribes and admitted it.major side effects are not noted and drs are too stupid to realize it's a fucked up system
Peace/hugs

My friend was telling me exactly the same, I did not listen. But he is a trader, not a medic. He gave me his conclusion based on observations (he was observing Teva company)

 

[Nem]

My friend was telling me exactly the same, I did not listen. But he is a trader, not a medic. He gave me his conclusion based on observations (he was observing Teva company)

Hugs. Teva is a very corrupt company and that's saying something when they stand out from other corrupt companies
Peace/hugs

 

[JustLosingMyself]

I only used Paroxetine for 3 months when I decided to quit cold turkey.
Headaches, restlessness, rage and extremely violent behaviour - as if all my inhibitions were stripped away - , anxiety and I literally went suicidal nuts for 6 months.
Current charlatan, sorry, psychiatrist is trying to persuade me to try another med (epilim chrono). Not a f####ing chance.
Not going through that again

 

[faust]

I only used Paroxetine for 3 months when I decided to quit cold turkey.
Headaches, restlessness, rage and extremely violent behaviour - as if all my inhibitions were stripped away - , anxiety and I literally went suicidal nuts for 6 months.
Current charlatan, sorry, psychiatrist is trying to persuade me to try another med (epilim chrono). Not a f####ing chance.
Not going through that again

Once I changed medication and ended up in emergency department.

 

[flower]

I just wanna add that meds are not evil and not everyone will have a bad time on them. Prozac literally saved me from ctb when I was 17, until it stopped working about 5 years later then I had to find something else.

Meds are definitely not for everyone, but I don't want some people to be scared of trying something that could really turn things around.

 

[Nem]

I just wanna add that meds are not evil and not everyone will have a bad time on them. Prozac literally saved me from ctb when I was 17, until it stopped working about 5 years later then I had to find something else.

Meds are definitely not for everyone, but I don't want some people to be scared of trying something that could really turn things around.

Meds might not be evil but the companies that produce them are corrupt

 

[catfletcher]

Seriously, with all the side effects of withdrawal that we can list here, I'm shocked that they are trying so hard to get me to take it at 30 weeks pregnant. This poor baby would be born and immediately go cold turkey. It baffles me that they think this is a good idea and I am definitely going to continue to refuse to take it.

I was also "reassured" that they don't even monitor babies born who have been exposed to it, because the chance of any problems is so low... um... they might want to read these reports then.

 

[WhiteDespair]

@catfletcher thanks for being one of the good women.

 

[catfletcher]

@WhiteDespair I wouldn't describe myself that way, but I just wouldn't wish SSRI withdrawal on anyone, least of all a tiny person who has to get used to so much already. Plus, selfishly, why would I want to have to deal with extra sleep disturbance and crying as well as trouble feeding (I always breastfeed).

 

[seafarer]

Withdrawer is bad and weening should be done as a matter of just common sense by the doctor and over a period that may take longer than you want but it's the safest way. It's a bit different but I'm on mirtazapine and they forgot me script a few months back someone day without was ok ,day 2 I had shivers and prickly feeling skin and fuzzy head,by day 3 I had all the above plus when trying to sleep was having weird dlnightmares that I carried on seeing once I had woke up like seeing loads of spiders hanging from webd over my bed and when I went to get out of bed there was no floor just blackness. It was craaazy so I just put my covers over my head and tried to go back to bed got cript next morning took one and then everything went back to normal...well normal for me. But I was hallucinating and has like about of body feeling all day,got knows what night 4 would have been like. And I have been threw bad H withdrawal and tho H felt slot sicker and unwell the mirtazapine withdrawal effects were more mental and terrifying in parts. So no way would I try going cold turkey on my anti depressants.