Tapering off zoloft correctly avoiding w/d

[shpongle1987]

Ive been taking zoloft for the past 6months and id have to say the drug has had its ups and downs with me but I really dont think i want to take it any more. All my life i have been against taking any form for anti-depressant due to the fact that I think it can hinder your ability to have a normal and healthy brain because your putting a drug into yourself everyday to alter the way you live in this world. OK enough of that..so what would be a good tapering doseage for a person like me who takes 75mg a day. SO im asking how much should i take per day for how long and so on.. thanks for any help

 

[debaser]

Hi, we aren't doctors, and I couldn't tell you a tapering plan for Zoloft as I never took it.

Don't you have a doctor, if you have a Zoloft prescription? Ask him, and work a good tapering plan with him. Good luck

 

[alkap555]

In the realm of SSRI/SNRIs, zoloft (sertraline) is not one you really have to worry about severe withdrawals with. I used to take 100mg and did a rapid taper, halving the dose every 1-2 weeks. No noticeable WD symptoms other than transient irritability.

But everyone's brain chemistry is unique and you may react differently. Try taking half your dose for a week or two, and if you feel fine then continue. If you feel WD symptoms, then increase dose until you are comfortable.

 

[pharm_friendly]

Everyone is different.... don't forget that

But everyone's brain chemistry is unique and you may react differently.

So true... and while I may know a lot about pharms, both textbook and from experience, I am no doctor. From IMO and others around me, Zoloft (Setraline) is one of the 'weaker' (at a lack of better words) anti-depressants, and not as harsh as something like Effexor and isn't working on multiple chemistries in the brain. I have to admit that I'm not a fan of any kind of anti-d with the way it can mess your head about - although would recommend speaking to your doc in tapering down. Some people may feel nothing, and I know of someone who just stopped cold turkey although wouldn't recommend this in the sense of HR. Tapering with pretty much anything that your body has become accustomed to is probably the safest and most comfortable way so your body/brain can return to homeostasis (wiki here re homeostasis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeostasis)

Hope this is of some help!

~pharm_friendly~

 

[likeakite]

When I stopped Zoloft (50mg a day for 1 year strait) I had brain zaps, teeth grinding, insomnia, dizzyness and it took a month to stop. Tapering is a must!