Mental Health Question about Zoloft

[bluesteyes]

I've been taking Zoloft for about 3 months right now. 2 months at 25mg, 1 month at 50mg. I was hesitant to go up to 50mg because of a number of crazy side effects include never wanting to get out bed, all the usual sexual problems, sore nipples (getting this checked out thru blood test). Just a general apathy towards life, and more importantly, vivid nightmares involving my parents and abandonment issues (which stem from childhood). But I decided to go up to 50mg, but I am still having the same issues. So I have decided to stop using this med. My doc didn't think there would be any problems with just stopping them cold, but after a day and a half of not taking a pill, I felt shaky, anxious and sweaty. Like I was going thru withdrawals. So I took a 25mg pill, and that seemed to abate most of the symptoms.

50mg is not that much of a therapeutic does for this med, so I was surprised by my reaction. I haven't even taken them 6 months. Do you think if I took 25mg for 7 days and then stop that this might stop the withdrawals??

Also, I just seem to have misery on SSRI's. One of the reasons why we were excited about Zoloft is that it doesn't dry my mouth out (which causes dental problems for me), and it doesn't make me feel like I am on speed. Meds like Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, etc. all do this. I even tried a newer drug called Viibryd, and it did the same thing. No saliva, up for 48 hours straight without sleep. My family suffers from GAD and depression, and so do I. I am losing faith that there is a med that can help me. I also realize that I need to totally stop drinking. I only drink beer. It helps me go to sleep, but it is to my understanding that it is awful for people who suffer from depression. The chemical properties in booze make the depression worse. Thank God I hate hard liquor or I would be in worse shape.

I should also mention that I am on subuxone to relieve chronic pain and to also get off of opiate painkillers. I suffer from fibromyalgia. I haven't had an opiate since June. I don't know if the subuxone could be contributing to my depression, but it does help my chronic pain. Unfortunately, it also causes me edema in my legs.

 

[truenamebrand]

I was on Zoloft about 15 years ago. Horrible experience. Complete and total apathy and ability to have sex was non-existent. It didn't help me one bit. My feelings towards SSRIs is that they are all basically terrible and probably serve more of a nefarious purpose than anything.

The discomfort I experienced coming off Zoloft was less than that of other antidepressants. That's about the only good thing I can say about it. If I were you I'd say to hell with the taper and just drop it. It doesn't sound like its going to make you feel much worse than you already do, and it won't last long.

Good luck

 

[mortuaryscience]

Agree. It's poison. Slow taper off before you lose your sexual abilities permanently. Don't believe me? Google "PSSD".

 

[Overcoming]

Taper as quick as you can, but slow if it needs to be. You get what I am trying to say. No point in screwing yourself up with discontinuation syndrome, which I now believe is written on the label.