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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by my_own_feet on April 20, 2004, at 12:33:11
Hi everyone... To re-cap a little about me. I was on Zoloft for a little over eight years and have weened off the drug and have been drug free for a little over four weeks now. A few days after I was totally off the drug, I immediately started to experience the brain zaps, irritation and nightmares. After about two weeks I have noticed that these withdrawl symptoms are mostly gone and the worst of everything was over. Another two weeks have passed since I have been off the drug and have experienced something totally new. Three days ago I was lying on the couch relaxing and watching tv and noticed the back of my legs were sarting to annoy me with a tingling that was making me agitated and restless. I thought it would pass but didn't and persisted as i went to bed and tried to sleep. This eventually led to feelings of anxiety and panic and flared some small anxiety/panic attacks while I was lying in bed freaking out over this. I was able to calm myself down and eventually fall asleep but after day three from the first one I am still experiencing this restless, irritating leg tingle and its very strong to a point where I just want to smash the back of my legs to make it stop or I want to get up and walk forever just to make it stop. I am not sure what to expect now and am noticing it is getting worse. Another withdrawl symptom???
I do hope it is and will go away like the others. I will keep you posted. Other feedback from long term users suffering or have suffered from withdrawl symptoms would be greatly appreciated.Thanks
Posted by CareBear04 on April 20, 2004, at 20:16:15
In reply to Zoloft Withdrawls by long term users, posted by my_own_feet on April 20, 2004, at 12:33:11
hi there,
sorry, i've only been on zoloft for a little over six months, so i don't have any answers to your questions, but i'm in the process of tapering off and have some questions, too. i've been on 50mg. on thursday and friday, i don't think i took any zoloft. on saturday and sunday, i took 25mg. by monday, i felt like a mess. i was lethargic and tired and had a headache. emotionally, i felt really edgy and irritable and constantly on the verge of tears. i'm never like this usually. i've had to go back up to the 50mg, which is disappointing b/c i really want to be off zoloft. my dr. says that there aren't supposed to be withdrawal side effects, but i think that's not true. does anyone know by experience?
Posted by my_own_feet on April 20, 2004, at 22:20:46
In reply to Re: Zoloft Withdrawls by long term users » my_own_feet, posted by CareBear04 on April 20, 2004, at 20:16:15
Hi there. First of all, don't worry about the side effects you felt when you tried to come off the Zoloft. They are very real and are experienced by mostly everyone when they come off the drug, however the way you taper will determine how severe these withdrawal side effects will be. From my vast research of people coming off this drug, including myself, all are real withdrawal symptoms and most doctors are totally unaware of them nor do they want to even acknowledge they exist when a patient complains about it. They are going by what the manufacuturing companies of the drugs write. With that being said, take comfort in knowing you are not alone and mostly all of us are having withdrawal problems and are dealing with them. There are lots of other symtoms you may experience as the weeks go by. I was on 150 mg for about 8 years and weened myself down to 100 after three weeks ,, then 50 after another three weeks and then finally none. Even that was way too drastic. From what I have been reading , it is better to taper off as SLOWLY as you can and be patient because tapering is way better then experiencing the intensity of those side effects. Now that you are back on 50mg again, let yourself stabalize and read more of the posts on this same site that are under "withdrawal symptoms coming off zoloft". Read this particular post about a good taper regime "taper slowly to avoid symptoms coming off zoloft » BostonBill cleareyes 2/24/04." If your Zoloft is in a pill form that you can break into smaller pieces or if you have small doses like 25 mg than it will be much easier for you to do that taper. There are lots of posts describing symptoms and stuff you can read and understand in case you experience other ones as you taper down. Let me know if your having problems gettting to those posts i mentioned above or in undersanding that taper program that is talked about by clear eyes. Im here if you have any more questions.
This is the end of the thread.
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