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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by geno on July 6, 2002, at 19:52:14
Its been 2 weeks now off zoloft, and remeron, and im still getting these electric shocks through my head and body, like my neurotranmitters are misfiring. Its annoying and scary. I has to do with seratonin, because i took 1mg of klonopin and even seroquel and still the next day the same thing. I should have weaned off zoloft 25mg longer than just 2 weeks. Maybe ill start again, i tried this taking 25mg of zoloft and the electric shocks stopped. What is going on here. Does anywone know if this is permanant or takes months to go away?
its like someone is jolting me inside.
geno
Posted by Kari on July 7, 2002, at 6:06:27
In reply to ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring, posted by geno on July 6, 2002, at 19:52:14
Hi,
Sometimes it takes longer than 2 weeks for these sensations to go away. I had them for a month after stopping luvox. Perhaps if you start taking zoloft again and cut off an eighth of a pill each time, the gradual withdrawal will make things easier for you.
Posted by oracle on July 8, 2002, at 1:22:23
In reply to ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring, posted by geno on July 6, 2002, at 19:52:14
This subject comes up again and again and again here.
There should be lots of info in the archives on how, why and
what you can do to avoid this.
Posted by Lini on July 8, 2002, at 8:48:19
In reply to Re: ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring, posted by oracle on July 8, 2002, at 1:22:23
It's true, this question does come up often, but I also know that it is important for people to get "live" feedback/support, or else they would just surf the web for answers . . .Geno - as someone trying to come off of Zoloft, I know exactly how you're feeling! I have currently cut my 50mg pills into sixths, meaning that I am down to 6.5mg, but I am dreading the end of that dose. I tried quitting cold turkey once and ended up in the hospital! You might try a small dose every other day to allow your body to get used to less and less Zoloft before quitting completely. Seems like it sucks to go off regardless of the amount though, so I don't know. Hang in there!
Anyone else had complete "success" (no unpleasant reactions) coming off Zoloft?
Posted by katekite on July 8, 2002, at 10:12:31
In reply to Re: ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring » oracle, posted by Lini on July 8, 2002, at 8:48:19
I came off zoloft about 8 years ago, before they knew about withdrawal so no tapering. I had no problems at all. Never could tell I had gone off. I was on 150mg/day, not a huge dose but big enough. So not everyone has problems. The only way I knew I'd gone off was my sex drive returned.
Paxil, on the other hand....
Kate
Posted by Lini on July 8, 2002, at 10:42:25
In reply to zoloft » Lini, posted by katekite on July 8, 2002, at 10:12:31
What I wouldn't give for your Zoloft genes! Out of curiousity, did you gain weight while on Zoloft? Maybe reactions from tapering off relate to metabolism?-L
Posted by djmmm on July 8, 2002, at 14:57:25
In reply to ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring, posted by geno on July 6, 2002, at 19:52:14
it is a symptom, or a neuronal response to a lack of serotonin, where serotonin was once in abundance. It is also experienced in Ecstasy (MDMA) users, 2 or 3 days following the use of MDMA, a drug at stimulates the release and depletes serotonin stores. As far a SSRIs are concerned, removing them from the reuptake pump causes a rapid decrease in the amount of serotonin available in the synapse, the result is the sensation. My neurologist describes it as seizure-like activity.
Posted by oracle on July 8, 2002, at 16:57:31
In reply to Re: ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring » oracle, posted by Lini on July 8, 2002, at 8:48:19
>
> It's true, this question does come up often, but I also know that it is important for people to get "live" feedback/support, or else they would just surf the web for answers . . .Many who gave great info on Effexor are no longer here. I take Effexor and have used the archives and found info there by folks I do not see on the boards.
Part of getting well is taking an active roal, I think, and using all resources.
Posted by Lini on July 8, 2002, at 17:17:43
In reply to Re: ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring, posted by oracle on July 8, 2002, at 16:57:31
>>Part of getting well is taking an active roal, I think, and using all resources.
Yes, well defended.
But an empathetic response can be nice too no?
-L
Posted by Lini on July 8, 2002, at 17:21:41
In reply to Re: ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring, posted by djmmm on July 8, 2002, at 14:57:25
Hhhm, interesting, makes sense as an explanation . . . how would you explain those that don't have any symptoms when they stop taking Zoloft? Does their brain adjust quicker? Do they have extra serotonin lying around?This information would support why gradual decrease is important, but do you think the sensation is inevitable? Wondering for my upcoming seizure moments!
-L
Posted by oracle on July 8, 2002, at 23:30:28
In reply to ELECTRIC SHOCK SENSATIONS*** what is occurring, posted by geno on July 6, 2002, at 19:52:14
Shocks, hmmm, lets ask the monograph:
In man, following oral once-daily dosing over the range of 50 to 200 mg for
14 days, mean peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of sertraline occurred between 4.5 to 8.4 hours
post-dosing. The average terminal elimination half-life of plasma sertraline is about 26 hours. Based on
this pharmacokinetic parameter, steady-state sertraline plasma levels should be achieved after
approximately one week of once-daily dosing. Linear dose-proportional pharmacokinetics were
demonstrated in a single dose study in which the Cmax and area under the plasma concentration time
curve (AUC) of sertraline were proportional to dose over a range of 50 to 200 mg.
N-desmethylsertraline to be substantially less active than sertraline. Both sertraline and
N-desmethylsertraline undergo oxidative deamination and subsequent reduction, hydroxylation, and
glucuronide conjugation. In a study of radiolabeled sertraline involving two healthy male subjects,
sertraline accounted for less than 5% of the plasma radioactivity. About 40-45% of the administered
radioactivity was recovered in urine in 9 days. Unchanged sertraline was not detectable in the urine. For
the same period, about 40-45% of the administered radioactivity was accounted for in feces, including
12-14% unchanged sertraline.
<end monograph>(Oracle note: "oxidative deamination and subsequent reduction, hydroxylation, and
glucuronide conjugation" Try doing that in the lab some time ! The liver does it with no sweat.)So as AD's go ZOLOFT(sertraline) hangs around for days, unlike many other
AD's (like Prozac) that take weeks to clear. Effexor is even faster
acting, it clears in hours. Effexor is well known
for the shocks, more so than any other AD. The length of action is
in direct relation to the discontinuance effects.Taper, taper, taper. As long as it takes. If you start having problems
you are tapering too fast. I take Effexor and get the shocks if I forget a dose.
I am used to them. Atavin stops them dead. Since the shocks last at best a day
with me, Atavin is my choice.Many seem to think that mental illness is about
a lack of NT's. It does not work this way. It is really about
regulation of these NT's. AD's, after all, regulate
the amount of NT kept around (at the gap), before the MAO
process happens (NT's are deactivated). This is why
supplements of the building blocks for NT's don't work.
The body indicates this as if you take in excess precursors
that are passed, unused. the building blocks are the aminos,
they are very abundant in all foods.So if one stops cold from the shorter acting AD's
it is a given that there will be problems. If one did taper
and is still having problems, a slower taper is indicated.
As slow as it takes to keep the problems at bay.One dose of Prozac can end all this (shocks,ect)as it will
slowly leave you body over a month. A very slow and even taper.
Withdrawal methods are mentioned here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/psycho-babble-tips/links/Effexor_and_Effexor__000963295972/
What works for Effexor is worth considering for ZOLOFT.
Cam is a poster who is not here now. He is a pharmacist
with special interests in psyco meds. He also has mental illness,
and was treated with Effexor. Well worth reading.
You can read what he has said (2000-2001) here:
http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/xv/search.plUse this format, match all terms
poster:Cam shocks zoloftHe posted over 300 times about Effexor and shocks,
so take a look at those also.Short answer: AD's that are allowed to leave the body too
quickly shock your nervous system. It took a month for the meds
to regulate your neurology so it is only fair to take whatever time is needed
to slowly let things readjust. If not, expect problems.Happy hunting !
If you find something you want to try, do ask
your doc first.
Posted by katekite on July 9, 2002, at 9:13:54
In reply to Re: zoloft » katekite, posted by Lini on July 8, 2002, at 10:42:25
nope no weight gain. If I am remembering right the only effect I was sure was from zoloft was waking up with a bad taste in my mouth. So strange how individual differences are so important.
Posted by Lini on July 9, 2002, at 9:13:58
In reply to Re: long, posted by oracle on July 8, 2002, at 23:30:28
Thanks Oracle!Luckily, I have some prozac left over, so I will be sure to take one of those as I taper taper taper down this Zoloft. Great explanation, finally, I understand!
-L
Posted by Shawn. T. on July 15, 2002, at 17:09:22
In reply to Re: long » oracle, posted by Lini on July 9, 2002, at 9:13:58
Using Prozac to withdraw from an SSRI of Effexor is a terrific idea! Nice job.
Shawn
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