Misc tapering of SSRIs and tips to reduce SSRI discontinuation syndrome

[psytaco]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, usuallu just live in AUS drug discussion, so feel free to move mods.

I have been taking zoloft 50mg daily since around August. Over the last few months I believe my depression and anxiety has gone, I have found no need to go to a psychologist anymore, and rarely feel depressed, and my anxiety is very low. I would say I am completely better. I now have a beautiful and supportive girlfriend, have moved away from a very stressful living environment, and am alot more financially secure. Also, I am going to travel around south america for half a year so want to be off them by then.

I want to give up because I feel that it stops me from experiencing a normal range of emotions (both strong happiness and saddness). Also it has killed my sex drive and makes orgasm very hard to reach.

I spoke to a doctor whom I don't normally see (family doctor in my hometown) and she recommended halving my dose to 25mg for a month and then stopping.

I am going to err on the side of caution and try and take about 35mg for 2 weeks then drop to 25mg for a month. From there go down to 12mg for 2 weeks or so and then stop altogether.

My questions are: is this a sensible taper? Is it to fast?
Most doctors have said that zoloft at 50mg is unlikely to cause SSRI discontiunation. Has anyone experienced of this dose? I am a big guy (95kg but in good shape -lift weights alot).
For those cutting back on zoloft what type of symptoms did you have? How long did the symptoms last?
Also, how common are the brain zaps from zoloft at this dose?
Are there any good supplements people would recommend? I take fish oil at the moment, and protein powder for bodybuilding.

I plan to keep eating well, exercising daily, and keeping stress to a minimum. I will also be abstaining from drugs and drinking very little during this time.

thanks for reading all this guys. feel free to share your SSRI discontinuation stories too.

 

[twatnopjkarna]

Man I remember after my mom dying the psyhciatrist throwing klonopin, ambien, and a bucket list of SSRI's. We started with Effexor or w/e it is called, put me in the ER with extremely uncomfortable serotonin syndrome symptoms. We finally settled on Zoloft + benzo/z-drug combo and it worked... mind you im only about 15 here.. I was on Zoloft for 4 months and 3 days, I hate, hate hate hate how emotionally numb it made me feel! I was never happy and never said. I sure as shit wasn't content though. I was on 75mg, every 4 days I lowered my dose in 1/2 until I was taking like literally like 3mg worth of Zoloft. I took 3mg for the last 3 days and jumped off. Didnt bother me a bit, I did this all on my own without my DR's knowledge (was afraid if I quit Zoloft/SSRI treatment she'd take the 6mg of klonopin and 15mg ambien a day away from me) I did have the benzodiazepines to offset some discontinuation symptoms but quite frankly, I was so glad to be able to cry and genuinely get excited and happy about things! I feel like SSRI's are thrown around like candy when you have to really ask yourself is the depression because a true imbalance of chemicals in my brain or just situational depression? SSRI's aren't designed to treat situational depression and most people who find themselves at the pharmacy picking up there Luvox, Zoloft, Prozac are just situationally depressed (in a rut, tough spot, challenging times)... I am starting to ramble, I wouldn't hesitate to start tapering yourself, but... you know your body and situation, I do not, from my personal experience I can tell you I tapered rather quickly off quite a large dose of Zoloft without profound discomfort or trouble. Best of luck, I know exactly how you feel and can totally relate, sorry if I rambled mate.

Best wishes and GL.

 

[twatnopjkarna]

After thinking about it, you could always try switching to something with a bit of a longer half-life and considered somewhat of a 'weaker' SSRI. I am referring to Citalopram (Celexa in the US). It's half-life is about 12 hrs longer than Zoloft and it is much more mild than Zoloft.. (Personal experience again here) I always found Celexa to be rather 'weak' compared to say Zoloft... and especially Paxil etc. I don't know what benzodiazepines are legal in AUS but see if your doctor would prescribe maybe a Z-drug for sleep and long half life benzodiazepine like clonazepam or diazepam. Ideally the RX would only be for say... 10 Ambien and 15 Klonopin/Valium... I don't know how you feel about benzos or how comfortable your doctor feels in RX'ing them but it's an idea.

Again, GL!!!

 

[psytaco]

^cheers mate. thats some comforting advice. i can get benzos from my doctor without too many problems. she has given me valium before as a sleep aid. I just have to be very careful with taking them as I had an addiction to them at one time, and coming off benzos is something I never want to experience again.

yeah the emotional numbness and not giving a fuck about anything is one of my biggest dislikes of zoloft. I literally don't care about much anymore. Its way better than depression, but no where near as good as having the normal range of emotions. The other thing that really annoys me is how it has killed my sex drive and I have alot of difficulty cumming. My girlfriend has a very high sex drive (I used to before zoloft also), so me being on it has been a bit frustrating for her.

Glad to hear you didn't have much in the way of withdrawal symptoms. and I agree SSRIs are really overprescribed, and I probably just needed to sort a few things out in my life then all is good again. One thing that annoys me is doctors don't warn you about the increased risk of suicide or the mania when you start taking them, or the withdrawals when you come of them.

So you think the taper is at about at the right pace? I'd like to be completely off them two months before going to latin america. just to make sure my depression doesn't return before the trip.

 

[Cptorangutang]

I tapered my self off zoloft because i wanted to make the most out of a shroom\ MDMA trip i had planned in a couple weeks. I was prescribed 75 mg/day sertraline hcl, the tapering wasn't hard at all I simply dropped my dosage 25 mg every 3-4 days until I was off. 50 mg daily is a relatively low dose - My father is prescribed around 150mg/day, last I checked. Your doctor's advice is sound and i suggest you take it if you really wish to quit your therapy, personally I find it helpful to my state of being, but to each his own.
To answer your question about supplements i suggest L- Theanine, 5HT(hydroxytryptophan), and melatonin. They should all be available in Australia, as they are here in Canada.

 

[Lopez]

i stopped zoloft (25 mg though) abruptly and only noticed slight eye jitters and boredom, as opposed to effexor (75 mg abruptly) which gave me heat flashes, inability to concentrate eyes, dysphoria, and drove me on the edge of mild delirium (disorganized thoughts and distorted perceptions).

you should take the doc's advice after all the withdrawal is rather minor.

 

[suessmayr]

After thinking about it, you could always try switching to something with a bit of a longer half-life and considered somewhat of a 'weaker' SSRI. I am referring to Citalopram (Celexa in the US). It's half-life is about 12 hrs longer than Zoloft and it is much more mild than Zoloft.. (Personal experience again here) I always found Celexa to be rather 'weak' compared to say Zoloft... and especially Paxil etc. I don't know what benzodiazepines are legal in AUS but see if your doctor would prescribe maybe a Z-drug for sleep and long half life benzodiazepine like clonazepam or diazepam. Ideally the RX would only be for say... 10 Ambien and 15 Klonopin/Valium... I don't know how you feel about benzos or how comfortable your doctor feels in RX'ing them but it's an idea.

Again, GL!!!

Citalopram is absolutely not 'milder' than zoloft. Zoloft is probably THE mildest anti-depressant available. Seriously first-line treatment.

 

[regfairfield]

a solid like 2 months of tapering is money...google.com for that shit i know i saw a schedule somewhere

 

[rickolasnice]

I stopped citalopram cold turkey after using it for 7 months.. didn't notice a change atall xP

I'd recommend stopping and only taking a dose if needed.. if it turns out you actually feel like you need to continue.. to taper.. Try going a few days though and keep yourself active in that time.

 

[muvolution]

That sounds good. My taper was to reduce by 25% every three weeks, so 100mg to 75mg, 75mg to 56.25mg (55mg) then to 41.25 (40mg) then to 30mg, etc... It worked well for me. If you feel like you are doing OK you can accelerate it, but the last thing you want is rebound symptoms. Also, i've found it helps to have some benzos on hand for short-term relief. I tapered off Zoloft also and it's really not that bad, just don't do it all at once, ya know?

You'll be good, just don't get anxious about it which will add to your anxiety and depression.

 

[Issac Sinclair]

Citalopram is absolutely not 'milder' than zoloft. Zoloft is probably THE mildest anti-depressant available. Seriously first-line treatment.

Just because its first line doesn't make it the mildest, from what I read, Lexapro is better, and my own doctor says Prozac is milder.