Zoloft has ruined me (I want to feel normal again)

[Edd Welch]

ok let me explain this a bit. I have never taken meds my entire life and I was having alot of anxiety and panic attacks in the course of 7 months but unsure why. I dont have any insurance right now I am trying to get some through wifes work so about 5 months ago a friend gave me there Zoloft which are 25mg and 100mg pills. I started on 25mg. for awhile then when I felt better I quit. then started 25mg again down the road and just never felt right this time so after 2 weeks I stopped using the meds. I took 25mg everyday which I know is NOT alot but I just always felt awful being on them so I quit them cold turkey. Now here lies my problem

3 weeks ago I woke up and felt lightheaded all day long which I am still having 3 weeks later. Over the course of this 3 week period I have experienced an insane amount of issues which ill list below.

Lightheadedness (ongoing for 3 weeks now)
severe confusion (seems to have passed now) Last 1 week
Brain Blanks (seems that my brain has shut down then restarted) Happened alot seems to have passed
depersonalization (had a really hard time focusing on life, friends, family, myself, my kids and more)
Unfocused (felt as if I was there but I just could not focused on anything, felt like I was blanking out)
fatigue
headaches (daily)
Extreme loss of appetite and I have lost alot of weight
Sex drive has been lost IMO (rarely ever think about it anymore)

Now for the scary ones (depression got worse then I have ever experience & let me tell you I have absolutely ZERO intention on doing any harm to myself I love life but this past week has been HELL. All day long all I could do was think about depression and suicide. I was starting to get scared because I have NEVER thought about suicide ever. This morning was pretty awful as usual, Wake up lightheaded immediately with suicidal thoughts and depression.) This has faded today throughout the day. I havent thought about suicide pretty much at all today after this morning.

This Zoloft shit is for the birds and I HATE it. I just want to feel normal again but im scaring myself that I will never feel the same. I took Zoloft on and off for 5 months and I seem to have every damn withdrawl symptom. Before taking meds I didnt know what Zoloft was and I did not know your supposed to TAPER off them. I basically thought it was a once and done med. you have anxiety/panic attack take a pill and your good then you can quit.

Im just looking for reassurance this will end 3 weeks of HELL IMO

[Kirk]

Can you get some type of medical assistance or the like so you can see a physician who should be able to help you through this difficult time?

[Nowuccas]

Hey Edd,

It seems to me that you have a few options:

"WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ALREADY IN WITHDRAWAL
OR QUIT YOUR MEDICATION COLD TURKEY

Roughly 80% of the people who begin The Road Back Program have already started to taper off their medication or have gone off their medication abruptly and are experiencing withdrawal side effects. The recommendations or suggestions offered in this chapter come from years of experience assisting these individuals." Read more ... http://theroadback.org

Zoloft / sertraline is a SSRI which should be weaned off slowly, reducing by 10% weekly for most SSRIs. You could also try replacing the Zoloft with a similar dose of Prozac; another SSRI (the original), stabilise for a week or so, then wean off at a 25% weekly reduction.

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A previous post of mine about Zoloft may be viewed at http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/topic/104007-starting-zoloft-my-first-prescription-for-depression/

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SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION: ANTIDEPRESSANTS:

Credit goes to Opester, for most of this: Sexual dysfunction is very common on any of the SSRI's-Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Luvox, etc.
You can try a couple things to resolve it:
1) Try Periactin (Cyproheptadine) a few hours prior to having relations-it's an antihistamine that is generic and inexpensive, but I believe it requires a Rx. It works for some people, but not all. You need about 4mg usually.
2) Ask your doc to add Wellbutrin-it often is prescribed to help with this side effect and is usually effective, but can add some other side effects (like sweating) but not everyone gets side effects.
3) Reduce the dosage or try a drug holiday occasionally, but check with your doc before decreasing.
4) Men can try Yohimbine [*POSSIBLE URINARY TRACT IRRITANT] or Viagra [*OLDER; POSSIBLY RISKIER]/Cialis/*LEVITRA if not otherwise contraindicated.
5) Try another SSRI-not all produce the side effect in every person. You can also try Cymbalta or Effexor which are both combined SSRI/SNRI and tend to diminish this side effect (similar to adding Wellbutrin).

Source(s): Psychotherapist for 20 years - very familiar with this side effect ~~~ switching to a different antidepressant with a lower reported incidence of sexual dysfunction, such as bupropion or mirtazapine. [ ABOVE MATERIAL IN CAPITALISATION IS MINE]. "Unlike the SSRIs, nefazodone - which exerts significant inhibitory effects on serotonin uptake - does not seem to cause an adverse effect on sexual drive and function" - http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedi... Check out medications first at: http://www.drugs.com/ & http://www.iguard.org/ & http://www.rxlist.com/ & http://crazymeds.us/ & http://www.askapatient.com/ ~~~ change to buproprion as there are not any sex side effects with this

also buproprion added to any ssri usually reverses the sexual side effects of the ssri. ~~~ Try taking damiana, or Horny Goat Weed (from pharmacies, or Google supplies). Watermelon: One-pound slice = $0.59 On a hot, summer day, who can resist a big, juicy slice of watermelon at the family picnic?

As it turns out, this universally loved melon has health benefits as well, and it won’t break the bank. Like berries, watermelon is loaded with phytochemicals, including lycopene, beta-carotene, and citrulline. When citrulline is consumed, it is converted to arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that has beneficial effects on the heart and circulatory system, as well as the immune system. Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, leading to another beneficial side benefit of watermelon ... a Viagra-like effect without the hazards of a toxic drug! Watermelon -- an aphrodisiac? Who knew?Arginine also helps the urea cycle by removing ammonia and other toxic compounds from your body. View: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/04/7-foods-for-better-sex.aspx

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My previous post about depression may be viewed at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?32707-has-this-happend-to-you&p=216510#post216510

ANXIETY or PANIC ATTACKS: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34755-Panic-attacks-that-last-for-hours

DEPERSONALISATION / DEREALIZATION: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34597-Here-we-go-again-chronic-hyperventilating-feeling-hopeless-and-helpless

In my opinion you would be much better off learning, becoming proficient in, and employing appropriate techniques, than relying on medications, with their risks and side effects.

Hoping something in the above helps.

[Ponder]

Yep - many of these medication make people feel worse. There is a honey moon period for most, but in the end, they either up their doses or switch meds.

Just eat healthy, exercise and seek positive experiences. Easier siad than done in a toxic world designed to make us depended on chemical solutions.

At least you know the meds are not what they make them out to be.
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Yes - getting of that shit will soon end your pain.

[Kirk]

I am not particularly a medication fan myself, but sometimes we may need a prescription, whether it be for a bacterial infection, high blood pressure, etc.
Many years ago, I had a reaction to Amoxicillin, which I had taken before with no issues. My hands and genital area began to itch terribly. I told my physician
about it and he said he would no longer prescribe that for me. My wife who is a pharmacist always tells her customers never stop taking any medicine without
consulting with your physicain first. She also tells them to report all side effects to their physician immediately. I hope you feel better soon and I am sure
your symptoms will subside over time.

[Ponder]

Here you go my good freind:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/going-off-antidepressants

I hope that helps. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to stopping meds.

[Kirk]

Of course it is never a good idea to take someone elses medicine and their is no shame in taking medicine if you truly need it to function.
I don't like to make blanket statements that say one should not take a medcine, as I am not a physician or pharmacist who have the
necessary experience and training to make such statements.