Withdrawal: Paxil > Zoloft > Prozac
Looks like the serotonin anti-depressants (ie. SSRIs and agonists) might create physical dependence, and thus can cause some serious withdrawal. Surprise, surprise! This article from the NYT points out that since serotonin is used throughout the body, including in the digestive system, there can be some very strange withdrawal effects. Interesting point about how drugs with a longer half-life produce less severe withdrawal because they leave the system more gradually.
[Edited 11/2006 to rectify incorrect use of addiction-dependence terminology -Neville]
Click Read More for the whole article.
May 25, 2004
THE CONSUMER
How to Stop Depression Medications: Very Slowly
By MARY DUENWALD
Now that the Food and Drug Administration has warned Americans taking antidepressants to be on the lookout for potentially harmful side effects, including severe restlessness and suicidal thinking, some people may end up stopping the drugs. But going off antidepressants can bring its own problems.
Stopping cold turkey can cause an array of troublesome symptoms, the most common being dizziness, which can last for days on end. Flu-like feelings, including nausea, headache and fatigue, are also common, as are intense feelings of anxiety, irritability or sadness. Some patients experience alarming sensations of tingling or burning in various parts of the body; ringing in the ears; blurred vision; or flashing lights before the eyes. Some people even describe a feeling of shock waves pulsing through their arms and legs, as if they had been zapped with a jolt of electricity, a condition sometimes called lightning-bolt syndrome.
“The feeling can be really abrupt, like a quick jerk of the muscle,” said Dr. Richard C. Shelton, a professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University. “It’s not painful, but it can be very frightening to people.”
Internet bulletin boards and Web sites devoted to antidepressant withdrawal chronicle the crying spells, vertigo and nightmares that people sometimes experience.
“I feel like my brain is floating in Jell-O, slamming into the sides of my skull every time I move my head or my eyes,” one person wrote.
Another described palpitations, night sweats and “bloody hideous nightmares.”
To avoid such symptoms, or at least hold them to a minimum, the drugs need to be tapered gradually in most cases, and that means quitting under a doctor’s supervision. Psychiatrists say it is unwise for people who are taking antidepressants simply to quit on their own.
In its warning, issued in March, the F.D.A. urged doctors to closely monitor patients taking antidepressants, especially during the first weeks of therapy or when changing dosage. Signs of trouble, the agency said, could include suicidal thoughts, severe restlessness, anxiety, hostility or insomnia. Though an association between antidepressants and suicidal thinking or behavior has not been proved, unpublished studies suggesting the possibility of such a link in children and adolescents have caused concern. The F.D.A. is still investigating the issue.
The drugs most likely to produce withdrawal symptoms act on the brain chemical serotonin. These drugs work by blocking the action of a protein in the brain that normally transports serotonin out of the synapses, the spaces between brain cells. With the transporter protein blocked, serotonin lingers in the synapses, and that can have a positive effect on mood.
When the drug is taken away, there is suddenly less serotonin in the synapses. Serotonin receptors in the brain, accustomed to a larger supply of the neurotransmitter, may take days or weeks to adjust, said Dr. Ephrain C. Azmitia, a psychopharmacologist at New York University.
“You get a precipitous drop in all the things that serotonin does in the brain, including its effects on appetite, sleep, sensory perception and emotions,” Dr. Shelton said.
Not everyone experiences withdrawal symptoms. Studies suggest that only 10 to 20 percent of patients have significant problems, said Dr. Jerrold F. Rosenbaum, chief of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. And some patients find the effects less intense or bothersome than others.
Doctors say people who have been taking especially large doses of a drug for many years may be somewhat more vulnerable. Which drug a patient is taking also makes a difference. Some are stronger than others, and some are metabolized by the body more quickly.
The longer a drug’s half-life – the time it takes for half the amount of drug in the body to be eliminated – the less likely it is to cause withdrawal problems. Eli Lilly’s Prozac, for example, has a long half-life, remaining in the body for days or even weeks after someone stops taking it. As a result, people who take it are less likely to experience withdrawal effects.
“With Prozac, it can take six weeks for any symptoms to occur,” Dr. Rosenbaum said, and even then the effects are mild, with about 5 to 6 percent of people experiencing mild dizziness.
GlaxoSmithKline’s Paxil, on the other hand, generally leaves the body in a day or two. Effexor, made by Wyeth, disappears faster still.
“When you look at these drugs with a very short half-life, almost everybody who quits abruptly experiences at least some symptoms, some dizziness,” Dr. Shelton said. “And about half of people have more significant symptoms.”
For this reason, psychiatrists advise patients taking antidepressants to avoid skipping doses. People who take Paxil or Effexor sometimes experience withdrawal symptoms when they forget to take their pill for a day or two.
“With Effexor, if you miss your morning dose, you can be in withdrawal by the afternoon,” said Dr. Joseph P. Glenmullen, a psychiatrist at Harvard and the author of “Prozac Backlash.”
Zoloft, made by Pfizer, is somewhere in the middle – more likely than Prozac to cause withdrawal symptoms, but much less likely to do so than Paxil and Effexor. Celexa and Lexapro, antidepressants that are made by Forrest Laboratories and that act on serotonin, are also somewhere in the intermediate range, Dr. Rosenbaum said.
Cymbalta, a new antidepressant from Lilly that is expected to win F.D.A. approval later this year, will probably also fall in the middle, he said.
Wellbutrin, an antidepressant also marketed as Zyban, does not work directly on serotonin in the brain. As a result, doctors say, the drug, made by GlaxoSmithKline, does not seem to cause withdrawal symptoms when patients stop taking it.
The withdrawal symptoms do not mean that antidepressants are addictive, experts say. People who are coming off the drug do not crave it, as addicts might crave heroin or cocaine, and they do not seek higher and higher doses over time.
“There’s a lot of misperception about that,” said Dr. Alan F. Schatzberg, a psychopharmacologist who is chairman of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine.
For that reason, many doctors describe the effects produced by stopping antidepressants as a “discontinuation syndrome” rather than as withdrawal.
Yet the symptoms can be troublesome enough to prompt some patients to go back on their medications.
To help patients stop taking an antidepressant, most doctors use a strategy of gradually tapering the drug over time. With Prozac, stepping down the dosage for a week to 10 days may be enough to get patients off it comfortably, Dr. Shelton said.
With Paxil or Effexor, on the other hand, the process may take many weeks or months. Dr. Shelton said he often brings his patients down from the drugs in five-milligram increments, with each stage lasting from five days to a week. A person taking 50 milligrams of Paxil, for example, would be advised to go down to 45 milligrams for one week, then step down to 40 milligrams, and so on.
The riskiest period, Dr. Schatzberg said, comes at the end, when even small increments of tapering can have a big impact on serotonin.
“The taper at the bottom end often needs to go slower than it does at the top end,” Dr. Schatzberg said.
For people who are having difficulty withdrawing from Paxil or Effexor, doctors sometimes prescribe a three-day dose of Prozac toward the end of the withdrawal period. With its longer half-life, Prozac can ensure that serotonin levels readjust more gradually.
Even when patients are entirely off the drugs, they may still experience some symptoms, but usually only for a few days and rarely for more than two weeks, doctors say.
Sadness and anxiety that persist longer than that may be signs that a patient is experiencing a return of the depression. So it is important to distinguish withdrawal from a relapse of illness.
“Just because you’re stopping a drug,” Dr. Rosenbaum said, “doesn’t mean you don’t need it.”
June 14th, 2004 at 12:46 am
Been on paxil 9 years. started 20 mg. went up to 40 mg. after on a few years. Worked great first 3 years, no depression, no PMS, no CFC, no anxiety. When entering menopause, it didnt help at all. Put on Prempro immediately felt better.
on that 3 years trying to take it 1/2 dose to see if it still workd. Developed last year gall bladder diseasd, had it removed, Had flu shot, got sick in Dec. Wound up with 2 time of mono/cfs. this time I think I have fibromyalgia also, ache awfully. especialy buttocks hi[s shoulders and legs. Was so tired all the time , rial on provigil, seems to help, ut still have CFS;, just don’t fall asloop driving or watching a movie! I stopped cold turkey, after 3 days went into depression again, even though I am now diagnosed with bi-polar depression. Taking 100 mg serequil each day, ent from 50 mg to 25 mg. for dthree weeks. Then 12.5 f or 3 weeks, and try to cut pils in quarters to take 6.5 for a few weeks and hope the seroquil will lkep me sane and not ry all the time.
July 26th, 2004 at 5:03 pm
been on zoloft 100 mg for about 3 years. went to 50 mg a day for 4 days, then stopped on my own.
all i feel now is a little nausea and lips are tingling on and off. anyone experience similar things?
August 14th, 2004 at 2:37 pm
I stopped Zoloft cold turkey about 8 days ago because I felt it contributed to my weight gain. I had been on Celexa for 2 years and my doctor switched me to Zoloft this past Fall.
I have been experiencing light headedness and horrific nightmares. Should I take one every other day and then taper off to 3 a week then 2 etc. Please reply asap as i hate going to sleep.
Elizabeth
August 26th, 2004 at 2:44 pm
Elizabeth,
It’s unfortunate to hear about the side-effects you’re experiencing. Unfortunately, none of us here at Neurodudes are doctors (well, MDs anyways).
This dosage question really sounds like something that you should consult a doctor about. Or look into one of the many online support groups that include the opinions of prescribing doctors, such as this one: http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/Zoloft.html
hope that helps… Neville
October 8th, 2004 at 9:33 pm
I started taking 10 mg of Lexapro for depression about 5 or 6 months ago and was soon thereafter moved up to 20 mg. I eventually decided the medication was proving to be too expensive for me ($70 a month!) to continue taking & it never seemed to help me all that much anyway, so I quit cold turkey about a week ago without a second thought (my pills ran out – no big deal, right?). I had never been warned about any huge withdrawal symptoms from not taking the anymore & thought I would be fine. I didn’t notice anything for about the first 3 days, then it hit me like a ton of bricks. As everyone else has said, the withdrawal is unbearable – extreme dizziness & nausea all the time. It’s only relieved by the few hours of sleep I’m able to get each night when I’m not having hot/cold flashes. Every second of my day I’m reminded of how crappy I feel. I describe it to others as a combination of feeling extremely seasick & hungover. My body feels numb & I can’t exert more then a little energy or I almost fall over. I don’t remember ever feeling like this in my life & I hardly have the strength to do anything. I’m going to see a doctor tomorrow & did not realize until I found this site & others that what I’m feeling is obviously from the side-effects of withdrawal. I’m worried from what I’ve read because these symptoms may go on for quite awhile & I don’t know how I’m going to survive it…what a nightmare.
October 10th, 2004 at 10:45 pm
I have been taking Zoloft for nearly 7 years because every time I tried to stop taking it I thought the withdrawl symptoms were relapses and the doctors did not help at all until this new info was released about withdrawl, now I am trying to stop because of expense and I am feeling like a hungover jello head, with vertigo. This really sucks… Has anyone tried SAM-e for depression or to help withdrawl, just wanted to get some info????? Please let me know if you have. Thanks
November 4th, 2004 at 11:42 am
I have been on Lexapro for one year taking 30 mg a day, then this past July my doctor told me to decrease Lexapro to 15 mg and add Welbutrin 300 mg together. This was supposed to give me more energy and increase my sex drive. About a week and 1/2 ago, I was supposed to pick up my precriptions at the drugstore, however…. to busy and then by the time 4 days had past and I was not taking anything, I thought why should I still continue?? I feel fine!! Well after about 5 days of being completely off both of the medicine’s (cold turkey) I have been SICK!! Total withdrawel symptoms… first 4 days I cried everyday, nausea, diareaha, hot and cold sweats, nightmare’s, and headaches. It now has been a total of two weeks that I have been off the med’s the doctor’s told me it should last for about 2 weeks. I wanted to send this email to let anyone know “Do Not go off ANY antidepressants cold turkey” This has been a horrible experience, I do not need to go back on the medicine’s however the withdrawel symptoms are horrible! And most of all: remember they usually will not start until about 4 to 5 days after you stop taking the meds, so you would not know if you would have withdrawel symptoms until it is too late.
November 4th, 2004 at 2:13 pm
I’ve been on 20 mg Paxil daily for about 5 years. I would like to come off and have been taking 15 mg daily for the last 10 days or so. The last couple of days I feel agitated and I have a heightened sense of awareness of everything I say. I’m sleeping fine and I’m concentrating fine. I’m wondering whether the negative symptoms will go away eventually. I really would like to get off these meds but I’m hoping my quality of life without them will not be like the last couple of days. Does anybody know whether this “discontinuation syndrome” will go away (I went on the meds originally because of tension, irritability, generally high level of anxiety without any particular incident occurring)?
November 7th, 2004 at 6:26 pm
well looks like I am finally accepting that im a temporary phycosis and severe depression. The anxiety medications (Valium ex..) and pain medications (the narcotics) have not helped me at all and only kept me in denial of my real symtoms. My new doctor has just put me on zoloft and seroquil for depression, panic attacks, nerotic thinking and what every else the medications are used for. I just hope they work, so I can get through college and move on with my life. Can anyone tell me if these medications will be helpfull, or am I just waisting money>:D
November 17th, 2004 at 6:21 pm
I am 50, going off Paxil, and have been feeling a blend of sick and crazy. Now I see that it’s not “me”, or my hormones, but the withdrawal. I’ve been doing it gradually over the past months (from 10mg, then every other day just 5, then 5, now every other day none. nausea, dizziness, sweats, heat in my head so bad that now my lips are getting chapped, no sleep because of the sweats and thirst, and feeling dirty. I thought it was the air that was the problem, but now I think it’s a detoxification. I’m drinking thyme herbal tea (just put some springs into boiled h2O, is a lung purifier. But shit. I can’t read on the bus anymore, and of course there are the weird mood swings, like a bizarre pms. Is anyone else out there my age, and withdrawing? I don’t know what’s healthy and what’s not. Thanks.
November 22nd, 2004 at 3:55 am
Been on Prozac 40 mg for 10 yrs with various episodes of trying to stop and failing. Stopped eventually in September 2004 and have been three months without the drug. The first lot of withdrawal symptoms were heinous – flu feelings, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fainting, tinnitus, electric shocks. Now 3 months later I just cry a lot – at everything whether happy or sad. I feel as though my emotions are taking a really high impact exercise class. Frustrating though – everything seems heightened. I would feel safer back on the meds where all is calm.
November 23rd, 2004 at 1:58 am
Hello all,
I feel bad that this discussion is going on here, because I feel like you’re more likely to find other people to talk to in a site specifically dedicated to support groups for this sort of thing. I searched around Google for a little while and found this “BrainTalk” site — it seems to be pretty reputable, as its connected to a Dr. at Massachussets General Hospital. Here’s a link to a Google search for “Zoloft+Withdrawal” on that site:
http://www.google.com/search?q=zoloft+withdrawal+site%3Abrain.hastypastry.net&sourceid=firefox&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
December 3rd, 2004 at 1:14 pm
I have had very bad dizzy spells on & off for years (I have also been on & off various anti-depressants), the spells can last for days, weeks & sometimes months. I have seen a variety of Drs at some of the top medical schools on the East Coast. One Dr felt that there was a strong possibility that Prozac was somehow part of the equation since months of dizzy spells mysteriously dissappeared a short while after starting prozac again. I recently stopped taking Prozac (tapered off as prescribed by a Dr) & the dizzines has returned with a vengeance. My dizziness has been misdiagnosed for years & the Prozac relationship seems to be worth investigating. Any experience with this? Any thoughts?
December 10th, 2004 at 11:33 pm
Anyone feel like this. My neighborhood is very noisey and I want to start to poisen the animals that bark all night and the roosters crow all day. My ears are so senstitive and I was wondering if this is from the medication. I was taking Zoloft with no 100% feeling and then switched to Lexapro for a month now and I went off cold turkey. I’m sick of feeling “not like myself” anymore, and I feel as if the medication is no help at all. So what IS worse….d
December 16th, 2004 at 10:21 pm
I have been taking prozac for a year (10 mg a day) and have stopped it 3 weeks ago because I was overseas and was not able to fill up my prescription. Last week, I have experienced head shocks and have continued up until today. I’ve consulted my psiachiatrist and she’s put me back on prozac, same dosage. I have not taken the pill just yet, I am not sure if I should just endure this head shocks hopefully it may go away in a few weeks or get back on prozac for a few more months and gradually come off it later. Please kindly advise. Thank you.
December 16th, 2004 at 10:40 pm
I have been on paxil for about 6 years now. I have been weening myself off for about 6 months now and boy am i having a hard time. I went from 40 mg to 1 yellow 12.5mg. I did it slowly but i think i really need something else to help get off of it completly. I am not saying i dont need anything but it just seems like paxil is very hard to get out of your system.My Doctor gives me samples of it because i have no insurance.He doesnt even know that im down to 12.5mg.This past week i decided that i was going to stop taking it completely, and i have been a maniac. I have had nightmares terrible. Dizzy all the time, Crying all the time , nausea, feels like my head is 1000000 pounds. Last night I had a panic attack and this morning i went to the doc and picked up my sample. I’m so mad. My doctor still doesnt know he thinks im still taking 40mg. I will fill him in after christmas.But just wanted to chime in on how everyone else feels when weened off meds.I’m a 36 year old maniac. I am going to try a small dose of prozac if i can ever ween off paxil. It’s funny how your whole life seems to be turned upside down when stopping medicines. I don’t remember feeling this psycho before I went on meds.
Does anyone have any suggestions about prozac?
December 18th, 2004 at 7:40 pm
hello
December 18th, 2004 at 7:43 pm
I have weaned off Paxil over the last three weeks, and have basically been to hell and back. However, I recommend running or other intense exercise to alleviate the zaps, hot flashes, dizziness. I also took Sea sickness pills as some days I was convinced I was sailing around Cape Horn. Back in the gutter with depression though, so starting prozac today. I would not even recommend Paxil to my worst enemy after suffering those terrible withdrawals
December 27th, 2004 at 11:46 am
I have gradually weened myself off Paxil, and Welbutrin. Everything was going well until about 5 days past the completion of all the medication.(I took the highest dozage of Paxil daily, and Welbutrin as well for about 10 years.) I am late 50′s. When does this problem ever stop, I mean with depression? I thought when I got older I might see some light. I am having the typical and horrible side effects , crying at everything, even at nothing, so it is not good at this point. Yesterday, I started the crying thing and my spouse asked me to take a lorazapam, a pill for anxiety that I rarely take.. This helps, folks. If you need a half pill or a whole pill, you be the judge, but we can lorazapam to help comfort us somewhat through these hard days of withdrawals from our antidepressants. Lorazapam to me, is like taking an aspirin and I may not need another for another month or so. I have taken it this way for years and it has never been a habit forming product for me, but has been that little life line to getting me through. I hoped I have helped somebody out there. A final comment about these symptomogies, Trazadone is a wonderful drug used for depression but more for restlessness and sleeplessness and the side effects are none existant as I took it when I worked so that I could sleep at night. So for those of us that need some rest while coming off these drugs, Trazadone may be an answer. My physician gives it to his dad. I love the the results as there are no hang overs, just a peaceful night sleep. Good luck.
January 1st, 2005 at 1:13 pm
Have been on Paxil for about 6 years and decided to take myself off the drug, simply because of the addiction to it, and the cost.
Don’t know if withdrawel systems would cause some strangh sensation that radiate to my head at any given time, lasting only a few seconds, but happen at will. Also, been having feeling of cold hands and feet and all over my entire body, and then minutes later feel as though I am on fire. Is anyone out there experiencing these side effects.
January 5th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
I have been on Seroquil for 1 year and have gained alot of weight. Taking 300 mg. a night for sleep. Also taking lexapro for same amount of time.
Feel much better than on prozac, paxil.
Any adult out there with similar stories. What about weight gain.
January 11th, 2005 at 6:24 pm
In the last 3 years i have been to the max on Paxil,Paxil CR, Effexor, without relief but now having good results on 75mg zoloft.I recently decided to start to reduce the dose and hopefully stop altogether.Went from 75mg to 50mg ,after two weeks became sick feeling and had chills that would not leave plus feelings of depression and anxiety started to return.Decided to go back to 75mg and continue with it.I came to the conclusion that if i need to take this drug for the rest of my life to feel normal and healthy than so be it.This does not mean that i will not try to go off meds again at another time just not at this point.I will never forget the way anxiety/depression made me feel and i will not “learn to live with it” as many do just to simply not be taking medication or out of fear of addiction to it.I have been on 75mg Zoloft for about a year and the few side effects i had disappeared in a couple weeks after taking plus the anxiety/depression symptoms are no longer affecting my life.All in all DO NOT LOOK DOWN UPON YOURSELF for taking meds or stop for absurd reasons like fear of addiction or not having the money.Stay healthy and never stop smiling……………….
January 12th, 2005 at 6:38 pm
After an 18 hour blackout about 5 years ago, I was hospitalized, checked for every possible cause and finally told stress related migraines were all that was left. I had begun having migraines due to some serious family dysfunctions and believed that to be a valid diagnosis. Some weeks later, I began having horrific anxiety attacks, went to a physician and was placed on Paxil and Alprazolam. I have done my personal work and identified causes, made effort to correct quality of life threatening situations. Now, after almost five years, with great attention to detail and intelligent effort, I’ve come off the Paxil. Please, let me tell those of you who have not experienced Paxil withdrawal, it is Hell. Please look for other solutions prior to filling your system with a chemical that can easily turn away from helping and into hurting. I’m almost clean of the drug, but urge the medical system to be up front as to possible negative reactions of this drug in the average body. Out of curiosity, go to a search site and look up “Paxil Negative Side Effects” before beginning a long term relationship with the chemical. I bless each of you suffering a need to seek assistance to gain peace and comfort in your lives, but can assure you, long term use of Paxil is not the answer. Be well.
January 12th, 2005 at 9:19 pm
I have been taking Paxil since 1995 (about 9 years) before that, Zoloft since 1992. I am taking 20 mgs per day, and last year the dr. put me on wel… as well to stop smoking (300mg per day – 200 in am and 100 in pm). I also take 15 mg Buspar am, and 15 mg pm. I am 41 – and stopped taking these meds 3 days ago. Reading all of these messages scares me…do these withdrawal symptoms happen to everyone? I really really really want to get off of these medications and feel like myself…it would be nice not to be a bit of a zombie, and to actually care about things and have a sense of urgency about work again, and also to have a normal sex drive – my husband of 15 years would certainly be happier! I am just so tired of feeling just blah all the time… any suggestions to help alleviate symptoms, but to still be able to go cold turkey and not have to take any prescription medications would be appreciated…thanks – and best to all of you dealing with these medications!
January 13th, 2005 at 9:25 am
Dear Melanie,
Re your comments describing your Paxil experience dated Jan. 12th, 2005, 09:19 PM, may I encourage you NOT to attempt cold turkey withdrawal from any of the meds you mention unless under the direct care of a competent physician. I fully support you, and all others attempting to withdraw from such sensory altering drugs. The side effects are hellish, unknown to those of us given the scripts, but required to deal with the physiological and psychological assaults, leading to sensations of discomfort and insanity, that we know not to be true, but we also know to be real. I’ve never had such an evil invasion of my body and am pulling hard to keep my Self intact and urge you to do whatever it takes to do the same. At least until the worst assaults pass and there exists the possibility of a sane horizon somewhere in the future. I KNOW I’m not crazy. I do know I am not “right” and only pray this stage passes soon, for me, and for any other soul so damaged, suffering to survive. I offer endless praise to my Dr. T who is staying calm and nurturing as he attemts to put me back together, where another colleage, with good intention believed the pharmaceutical hype and led me into this living Hell. My best to you, each one. No judgement to anyone exept the greedy and lying pharmaceutical companies. They knew and placed income above integrity. Much love as you suffer back to complete health and sanity.
January 13th, 2005 at 11:39 am
Obviously quitting anti-depressants is very hard to do. You are unlikely to get much support from your doctors either. I recommend the website “paxilprogress” There are tons of people going through the same thing, and they can answer your questions and give support.
January 14th, 2005 at 3:07 pm
Since quitting prozac (generic) almost 2 weeks ago, I have been feeling really dizzy to the point I think I am going to pass out. I suspected it was withdrawal but also thought maybe it was fluid behind the ears from allergies. I have been taking some Sudefed almost the same amount of time with no results. After looking up the idea of this dizziness being related to the withdrawal I am now 99% certain that this dizziness is caused by withdrawal. I had been taking it for over 3 years and since then put on around 70 lbs. The weight gain is why I quit (being a side effect of an antidepressant). I have had no symptoms of depression come back yet.
January 15th, 2005 at 11:04 am
I have been weaning myself off effexor. It has been 15 days now and I am dizzy, cold and a number of other issues. Can anyone tell me how much longer this will last?
January 15th, 2005 at 4:25 pm
I was very depressed last year, was prescribed with LEXAPRO. Started the first week and felt high, could not drive, or function. Got off cold turkey the first week. Explained to the doctor I felt like I was on LSD. No problem, only because it was short week.
I became depressed again. ZOLOFT was prescribed to me. I became feeling so much better, positive, and became functional in life. The crying spells went away.
Because I have become so busy…happy…I forgot to get my next prescription. It has been 5 days, decided to continue without them. I am experiencing dizziness, naseau, palputations and a cold like headache. I have not had any bad dreams, or anything seriously scarey. Changed my eating habits, drink more water,exercise and more sleep. I will tell you my sex drive is coming back
Even with the setback on the withdrawals, I feel 1 million times better than I started off and continuing to build on where the zoloft left me positive. 
February 5th, 2005 at 9:58 am
I’ve been taking 20mg Paxil for 1 year now. Just recently cut doses in 1/2, and now cut out all together. The symptoms I’m experiencing are extreme moments of sadness, electric shocks in my arms/legs, head zaps, and crazy nightmares.
I’m pleased to see others posting this information online, as I was beginning to wonder if I was going nuts. At least I know that these withrawal symptoms are (unfortunately) common.
I’ve started a full detox program to see if the process can be helped along. So far so good… the symptoms are a little scary, but tolerable.
February 5th, 2005 at 12:11 pm
My father has been on Zoloft for 2 -3 years for minor depression. In December 2004 he stopped taking his Zoloft cold turkey and within a few weeks he had a complete mental breakdown. The reason he quit taking the Zoloft is because he felt good about things and decided it was time to get off the drug. As a result of the ensuing breakdown, he was immediately diagnosed as bipolar. He is a highly respected professional who had never shown any symptoms or predispositions for this condition. It’s been three weeks and things are very tough for everyone right now because he is no longer himself. He is slowly getting back some of his memory, personality and ability to interact but it is slow-going on an outpatient basis.
We are convinced that the sudden withdrawal from the Zoloft coupled with typical stress caused this extreme reaction. Has anyone else heard of such a thing? Thanks
February 5th, 2005 at 9:03 pm
I took Paxil for about 7 years. About 4 years into it, the Paxil stopped working and even seemed to make me more anxious, but I was unable to get off it at that time because the withdrawal symptoms were causing me to miss too much work. I kept taking it, and it still wasn?t working for me, and I went through 2-3 years of depression and wondering what life was all about. Then, about 2 years ago, I decided to try SAM-e, not knowing that it is not recommended to take SAM-e when you?re on Paxil. However, the effect on me was positive and dramatic. I suddenly had energy to do things after work and became very bold in expressing my creative side. I was truly excited about life and socially gregarious. However, I wasn?t able to lose weight, and then found from various websites that it could be due to Paxil. So, in November 2004, I started tapering Paxil and was off my 40 mg in three weeks. I know for a fact that being on SAM-e helped ease the symptoms of going off Paxil, as one day I forgot to take SAM-e and it was the worst day, by far, I?ve had since stopping Paxil. Now, 7 weeks after stopping Paxil, I?m still having every single one of the awful withdrawal symptoms everyone talks about. The most helpful hint I?ve read is when symptoms become unbearable, take a chip of Paxil (I take 1/16 of a 40 mg tablet), and within a couple of hours I feel so much better. 1 mg of melatonin has helped me sleep pretty well.
The SAM-e had a very positive effect on me while I was on Paxil–but, again, I have read that this is not recommended–and I am waiting to see if I still have the same great result from SAM-e once my Paxil withdrawal symptoms finally abate.
It?s hard for me to believe that Paxil doesn?t leave toxins in your body, as it leaves so many of us feeling so sick. I can certainly see why many people aren?t able to complete the withdrawal process.
February 28th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
I had taken prozac for 4 years and then stopped suddenly. Fool that I was/am. I was off for 5 months and after taking 20mg. for one week, my dose was upped to 40 mg. On march 09 I will have been on prozac for 2 months and have tremors and still do not feel normal. Some side effects are gone or diminished . Does anyone have any experience along this line and if so how long can it take to start its serotonin thing? I am sick of feeling empty with no joy in my life. Best regards , John
March 5th, 2005 at 2:12 pm
John, There is another big web site where you will find all kinds of help and support from very nice people. Here it is: http://www.paxilprogress.org. They also talk about drugs other than Paxil. Good luck!
[ed.: I fixed the link and removed this text: "I tried to put the address here, but this site wouldn't allow me to send the other web site address" "with spaces added by me and dots removed". sorry about blocking the link. we get a lot of spam advertising Paxil, so we have automated blockers]
March 6th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
I started withdrawal symptoms from trying to wean myself from Zoloft after going through a divorce and then selling and buying a house. I feel (still feel this) as though my head is an elevator, and my mind is crashing through all the floors in a building, and not quite stopping at any one floor. It’s as though I am dropping several levels down, each time, crashing instead of my mind settling at that floor. Sure, I could cry, I could go through a bunch of self-pity. I have made an appt with a therapist and hopefully she won’t put another bandaid on what is already a freakin’ nightmare. I did Seroquel, Luvox, and others, including Paxil, and I don’t know the difference anymore between an SSRI and a MAO or whatever. I just know the doctors don’t give a rat’s f*ck and I am just one more patient to them. A big pain in the rear to them. So, let’s give her a quick-fix – a dose of Zoloft!
March 6th, 2005 at 1:30 pm
I can’t believe I forgot to type this – Benadryl is what made my body relax and I was finally able to go to sleep without feeling I was “out of my skin.” It literally felt like I wanted to crawl out of my body, out of my skin. Not unlike PMS but worse. Some people won’t exhibit any symptoms perhaps. Benadryl, too, has the opposite effect on me (as does most meds, for me) – I was able to take it and feel drowsy, whereas most people might be hyper and not be able to sleep at all. I was able to take Benadryl when I was pregnant years ago due to hives – not sure now if the OB has changed its tack. Anyway, f*ck all these prescriptions that cost you $$ and you must eventually deal with your problems anyway. I *WILL* wean myself off this sh*t and even if I have to take Benadryl to do it!!!!! F*cking doctors don’t give a sh*t. Do you think they care about you – if so, they would be providing their services free of charge to the community. Instead they are getting kickbacks and God knows what else. Don’t make them any richer than they already are; they are human like us, and they have problems, perhaps even more. How can we expect THEM to help us, then.
March 6th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
P.P.S. No one wants to deal with someone who is going thru depression, anxiety, etc., so they label you (bipolar, etc.) and then tell you what you need to do. Do you know that you can’t always tell the diff between someone who is bipolar, and someone who is a crack whore? My brother was diagnosed as such, and he’s behind bars. On Zoloft, he wasn’t ‘himself’ but then again, he has done tons of illegal drugs, period.
March 11th, 2005 at 11:57 am
I have been on Paxil for several years. Began another antidepressant that sounds like Vellbutrin and started tapering off Paxil very gradually. Have been in SEVERE withdrawal for 4 weeks. Having difficulty determining whether the unrelenting depression I have been experiencing is due to depressive illness or Paxil withdrawal. I continue to have the “zaps” but less frequently. I will operate under the assumption that the depression is withdrawal as long as I continue to experience the physical symptoms of Paxil withdrawal.
March 15th, 2005 at 7:29 pm
I have been on every anti-depressant there is out there. My step dad shot him-self 3 years ago. Now the doctors have me on 20 mg of prozac and I’ve tried to come off but I feel nausea, shocks in my head, drunk, depressed, it’s like Im going crazy!!Any suggestions?ASAP please!!!!!!Oh yea, what is SAM-e?
March 21st, 2005 at 9:08 am
Hi, I have been on many anto depressanst for the past 12 years. This past year I tried paxil, it worked well until i started getting daily headaches that i just couldn’t deal with. My Doctor switched me to Effexor Xr.The switch took place 6 days ago and I have never felt withdrawal like this from any anti-depressant.
I dont so much have the my brain is jello feeling but more of the crazy pms I can’t stand anyone or anything feeling! I need someone who has been through this to chat with, Please if you have been through this e-mail me at smuchizshadow@aol.com.
Thanks!
March 21st, 2005 at 2:15 pm
I was taken off Prozac after 10 years cold turkey and put on Zoloft. This should be against the law because I thought I was gonna lose my mind. I had huge, sudden mood swings, murderous and enraging thoughts and feelings, no apetite, severe depression and buzzing anxiety. It took 3 weeks to begin to feel normal.
March 21st, 2005 at 10:04 pm
I took Paxil for about three years, experienced extreme withdrawal within a few hours of missing dosage (20mg per day). Experience dizzienss, nausea, flu like symptoms. My Doctor said that it was not possible, sent me to get checked for Vertigo. Funny how I didn’t have Vertigo before taking anti-depressants. Switched to Wellburtrin, made me xtremely agitated, went to Prozac, oh what a relief it was. Now I feel I am ready to deal on my own, and my doctor thinks so too. Sometimes the Paxil and Prozac would make me feel like I could crawl out of my own skin, and I am irritated by the littlest things. I didn’t have these problems before, and I didn’t have anxiety attacks in the middle of the night. I am going cold turkey, and since I have done withdrawal before from Paxil (cold turkey, but then had to wein off for about three months), I hope it won’t be so rough. I have gotten some natural relaxers like Mellatonin and Valerian to help me relax and get to sleep. I am taking a nutritional product made by Isagenix- check it out! It can naturally help with seretonin levels. Also, Women especially, eat first thing in the morning. Our bodies only have the first two hours of the day to produce seretonin naturally. Take advantage of this small window and eat something to help in the production. Eating properly can also help with leveling moods and keeping your blood sugar levels normal. When blood sugars go to low, it can reek havoc on your system and mind too. So if you are trying to withdraw, be kind to yourself and eat good. Also, Health Direct Collagen Protein brings about a natural healthy sleep pattern. These drugs can deplete your body of vital nutrients, and if you do nothing to replace them, your health will only suffer and you may feel the need to go back on. All of your comments sound so familiar to me and the side effects of what these drugs can do to you. I have suffered night sweats, dizziness, nausea, joint pain, fibermyalgia pain, head aches, weight gain and I believe that these drugs leave us witht the symptoms as a side effect of being on them. For someone like myself, where my depression has been mild, but enough to disrupt my life, it has helped. But I am ready to move on and take a more natural approach to my health. Tapering off is good, keeping yourself informed of the alternatives and discussing them with your doctor is wise also. Maybe it would help to consult a naturpathic to help wein and move in a direction that your body will benefit from in the long run, instead of suffering. I sympathize with you all for what you are going through. I am not a health professional, but I think we have to be proactive in caring for our own bodies. Health care providers do not always have it in our best interest, but the drug companies best interest.
March 24th, 2005 at 2:11 pm
Seven years ago I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and put on prozac. Two months later I tried to commit suicide at the age of 13. I have been on Prozac ever since and I am a regular cutter. Lately I’ve been really moody and im on 40mg of prozac. my doctor is thinking of taking me off it…but im scared. I don’t want to go down the wrong path again…but I’m not happy now…so what do I do? I’m tired of being a nut case.
April 9th, 2005 at 7:04 pm
glad I stumbled onto these posts. was beginning to question whether I’d made a big mistake taking myself off of Zoloft. I had weened myself from 100mg to 50 mg for about 8 weeks, then stopped taking it all together. after 9 years and with all going well I decided to go without. been experiencing irritability and agression, very unlike me when I was medicated, or pre-SSRI for that matter. so i’m relieved to read here and elsewhere that these are symptoms of SSRI withdrawl. i sure hope it passes sooner than later. perhaps I should have halved the halves I was taking before i quit altogether. incidentally, my GP is unaware of my doings. probably not a wise choice. recommend anyone considering stopping their SSRIs to confer with their doctors, and/or at least let those close to them know what’s going on so that any mood changes or withdrawl symptoms manifested are explainable.
April 13th, 2005 at 11:53 pm
My doctor recently prescribed both Zoloft and Prozac. I was under the impression that these were similar drugs. Is this usual or is he crazier than I am?
Thanks
April 24th, 2005 at 1:11 am
THE BAD NEWS!!!!I stopped taking P a x i l 8 days ago. I have the “zaps” where I feel like I may faint for a spit second, it’s really scareing me, at first I didnt know what was happening I was going to go to the ER, I don’t have insurance. This happens all day. Is this dangerous? I have become extemly manic and ball every night, when the smallest things happen I get depressed and then extremly angry and then I get over it. I have to maintain dependant relationships because I am so unstable.
THE GOOD NEWS!!!! I hope all of you are thinking postive, hopefully for many of us it’s only the drugs and we can learn to appreciate the life that will be waiting for us when we get back. I became sort of more depressed while reading these postings, but I am optimistic, I started jogging again, first time in two years and my sex drive is comming back with a vengence. I HAVE THE RECIVING CLERK IN MY BUILDING SCARED CRAZY he wants to know why im so (you know) all the time. I am not functioning right because of the withdrawal but I am not going to put up with this anymore. I’m just not. Paxil took my creativity away from me the most important thing in my life. I havent picked up my camera in a year. I don’t work out, I don’t have sex, blah- Is this how we are going to live our lives? Thats why I quit cold turkey, I’m mad I want my life back and I always get what I want! I knew this was going to suck I don’t care I’m done with it! Screw the a-hole doctors who told me it wasn’t a big deal, I am waiting for their mid-life crisis.
Something that has given me an EXTREME amound of comfort is an essential oil named, HELICHRYSUM, or EVERLASTING, If you are having trouble sleeping please try this, since I have used this, I sleep all night and I wake up in the morning and feel wonderful. I would never have believed someone about this but I have over the years started to wear very thin, and after this experiance with p a x i l I am going to stick to nautral remedies. BECAUSE I STICK TO NATURAL REMIDES MY BODY IS SENSITIVE, IF YOU TAKE SLEEPING PILLS EVERYNIGHT THIS PROBABLY WONT HELP AS FAR AS KNOCKING YOU OUT. I put 5 drops in almond oil and massage it into my skin, oils take anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes to enter your body, sometimes I apply during the day, however a smaller amount so I don’t get tired. It’s really great for girls because it smells so wonderful. But it has very real medicinal properties and I am so glad that I bought it. I bought a 5ml bottle for $30 which seems expensive however only the smallest amount is needed and the the oil is also mixed with the carrier which is inexpensive. I can’t say this will work for everyone but I would really be screwed without it.
I’m not a religious person, however, GODBESS
April 27th, 2005 at 9:26 am
Was on Celexa, weight gain was over 50 pounds in less than a year. Went to Lexapro. First 10 then 20 mg dosage. All was fine but then I found the physical diagnosis for the need for keeping my seratonin levels was wrong. Got that fixed. Cold turkey then off Lexapro. The Lexapro worked great and I felt focused. Now after a week, I am dizzy, lightning bolts in my head,and kinda freaked out about the whole thing.
I have been mostly useless for the last week since coming off the Lexapro. Its a tightrope…do you suffer through the withdrawals and hope it goes away or do you digress and go back on the meds. Or do you start back at a lower dosage and try to taper off?
My docs dont have a clue on that. I dont want to get back on especially after a week of withdrawal symptoms which I may have to just experience again at some point…geezzzzz.
Typing is hard..even after being a writer for 25 years…lots of errors and gaps in my thought patterns. Dizzy to the point I dont want to even get up and walk around much less go out or try to drive. The lightning bolts are horrendous in my head, zap..zap in my ears and the feeling of being on the verge of passing out and out of control physically.
Damn…why doesnt the FDA look into these problems and make some reccomendations based on science to help protect us from these terrible effects…my down time appears to be equal to having to endure recovery from an automobile accident, stroke, or heart surgery…but without anyone telling me this could happen. I dont know how long I may be down with these conditions and I am extremely pissed.
I am functionally useless, for some period of time and it is blatently obvious the system has let us down…the FDA, the manufacturers, the doctors, EVERYONE involved.
God help us.
Sammy
April 27th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
I’ve been on Lexapro for about a year. Two weeks ago I quit cold turkey. I get dizzy every day around 3pm and sometimes nausea too…I am wondering when this will stop?
May 5th, 2005 at 1:08 am
My new girlfriend has been on Paxil for 2 years for depression and anxiety – from what I can make out this manifests itself in violent and negative thought processes that spiral out of control. She hates being on the anti-depressants, thinking that it means she is crazy – when of course she doesn’t want to be crazy. So she has been attempting to get off these drugs under her own steam for the last 6 months or so (with no advice from a GP or a psychiatrist). Then I started going out with her 6 weeks ago – she told me everything, and I suggested she should see a professional for advice. She didn’t want to see a psychiatrist incase he tells her she has natural background mental disorder, rather than a reaction to a traumatic event (which is what she thinks she has). SO I badgered her into seeing somebody, so she went to see a GP who is known to have considerable experience with mental health issues. She told him about trying to cut down the Paxil and get off it – and he recommended she move over to Prozac – due to the longer half life and less severe “withdrawal” symptooms. So last week she moved over to Prozac. This whole week has been pretty bad – with her swinging into fairly deep and sweeping depressions, negative thought spirals about our relationship and the likes. Her sleep pattern is not good, staying up late and staying in bed late. It is disrupting my life too. Last night we had a particularly bad night, and she was very down and irritable and we fell out – I felt at a total loss, as did she. Today we are both down and she vomitted at work. What should she/we do? Up the Prozac dosage? Go back to the doctor? See a psychiatrist? Go back to the Paxil? Stick with the current Prozac dose until she starts to feel better? I just don’t know if our relationship will withstand too much more of this current situation. She is also under a fair bit of stress at work – and has had continuous relationship problems for years, presumably due to the depression/antidepressants. I really like her and would love to make her life better, and to have a healthy relationship with her – but how do I/we do that!?? Any advice gladly received. Has anybody else moved from Paxil straight to Prozac? Any stories/advice? Thanks for reading.
May 6th, 2005 at 1:25 am
I have been on Paxil (20 mg.) I think twice now. First for about 6 mos. then went off. Too expensive out of pocket! Weened off very gradually and didn’t notice any real problems that time. Was off the drug for I guess about a year. Lots of life changes, got anxious and went back on again August 2003. This time Paxil CR which I liked better. Less weight gain it seemed like. After 2 months, was upped to 30 mg of the CR (doctor’s orders). Then didn’t go to that shrink anymore (meds too expensive and so was she). Took myself back down to 20 mg and got on a generic for much less $. Canada. I do not have insurance. This time what I did was lower my dosage the “fast” way: Cold turkey for 5 days until I started getting pretty bad withdrawals, then took broke my 20′s in 1/2. Symptoms went away within about 2 hours of taking the 10 mg. THIS IS CALLED ADDICTION FOLKS! But I’m not gonna lose My sense of humor for nothin’ or no one. Stopped the .5 of clonopin at bedtime (.5 mg.) for sleep and now taking my 10 mg. of Paxil at night instead of in the morning. In between this, I went on Zoloft for about 5 weeks. Now back to Paxil again. I have this gas and bloating and diarhhea everyday (for about 5 days now I guess). I’m trying not to pay too much attention to it. Luckily, I’m on SSDI right now and don’t have to work, so this is my chance to get off the stuff THE RIGHT WAY. Been educating myself on alternative medicine for withdrawals. Cleansings and detoxes will follow soon. The running (jogging) also sounds like an excellent idea. Worked for me like a charm when I quit the nicotine years ago. If I got off cigarettes, I can get off this stuff. “Go back to my old life”? No, I think I’ll try a “brand new life” that includes all my past, the good, the bad and the ugly–without drugs though. One thing I know too, you can never go back! You have to go forward AND differently! Very important. IF I DO WHAT I ALWAYS DID, I’LL GET WHAT I ALWAYS GOT. Right? I don’t believe in quick fixes, Western Medicine/Doctors, pharmaceutical company profts … I question everything and will continue to. One thing I know is I want to have a sex life again and have the “desire” to work out. Be creative again . . . similar too many of your posts. I sympathize with everyone here. THANKS so much for the input. Pain is necessary, but suffering is optional. Don’t match the unpleasantness of withdrawal (and it is HELL, but so what?), with fear that it will never end. Release it! The only WAY OUT IS THROUGH! Believe it. We’ll all make it to the other side. God/Goddess, ALL THAT IS, sees us and cares. Believe it! Trust in your God more than your doctor and perservere. This is withdrawal–it isn’t who were are and it’s not “real”. Believe it. Have faith. Maybe this whole experience we’re having is for the purpose of building this strength and awareness! EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON and has MEANING. Much love and light to each and everyone of you… God Bless our courageous souls.
May 12th, 2005 at 8:09 pm
I have just been put on a high dose of seroquil. I was taking 50 mgs at night but because of a manic episode that is still in effect the shrink raised it to 100 mg in the morning, 100 mgs in the evening and 300 mgs at bedtime. When I take it I experience extreme sleepiness that lasts for about an hour, then I get hyper again. When I take it at night I get itchy and can’t fall asleep because of it. Also since I had the increase I have had this appetite from hell! There isn’t enough food in the house! I just was curious to know if anyone out there has the same symptoms. Also what are the side effects of going off of the seroquil cold turkey?
Thanks Cherie
May 25th, 2005 at 11:29 pm
I was put on Cymbalta about 7 months ago, over 50 lbs later, I decide I am not taking any anti-depressants anymore. I originally went on an anti-depressant when I was living with an abusive husband. We have been divorced 6 years now, and I have decided I need the chance to go off the meds. Cymbalta has horrible withdrawal symptoms, just like Effexor did. When I was weaned off Effexor, Serzone was increased, which helped alittle, but this time I am going off completely. I was taking 30 mg of Cymbalta. I tried to stop cold turkey, I had all of those crappy flu-like symptoms, migrain headaches, electrical surges were driving me nuts, like someone else said, I felt useless. I did not feel well enough to clean the house or be active at anything. So I went back on the med within 4 days, and decided to empty 3/4 of the capusule, put it back together and take it. So I was ONLY taking 1/4 of the medication. I felt wonderful. I was busier, happier, more active than I had been in months. I took only 1/4 of the capsule for a full week, then I thought it would be ok, to stop. Boy am I am going through it all again. I have to be so careful moving my eyes to quickly. I hate this feeling. I am so angry!! I feel like we should have been warned in some way!! Its not fair that once you go on a medication, its nearly impossible to come off of it. I too, want my life back! I am a single 42 year old mom, I have a wonderful 15 year old son to keep up with, I have to earn a living, my beautiful daughter and her husband are getting ready to give me a granddaughter, and they have already given me an adorable grandson. They need me, I need me, and we all deserve me to be feeling something besides these danged withdrawal side effects. If I knew they would only last a week or so, but I have no idea how long this will last. I am ONLY 42!!! I have so much more life to live, I have so much more to give to others. Is anyone else out there dealing with this wonderful new drug called Cymbalta???? I hate it!!
May 28th, 2005 at 1:58 pm
Prozac, Zoloft, paxil, Results not good.A more natural way would be to use canibus.Man made drugs seem to only mask the ailment with a painful after-effects, addiction to these drugs have destroyed more than should be allowed.
June 10th, 2005 at 8:04 pm
I’ve been taking Zoloft for about 5 years. I finally became tired of all the side effects, (there are many). So I attempted to taper off and quit. BIG MISTAKE! I find it very unsettling that this antidepressant has caused me such terrible withdrawal suffering. This medicine – that was originally billed as having no withdrawal symptoms is anything but!
There is no “magic pill” that will solve your problems. You should exhaust “EVERY” option other than antidepressants before going down this road. Because once you do – YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK. What I thought was a “magic pill” has turned out to be a deal with the devil.
June 14th, 2005 at 11:47 pm
Don’t even THINK of starting Paxil or Wellbutrin. These drugs do temporarily mask depression, anxiety, etc. and that masking may get you though a tough time. However, taking these drugs IS making a deal with the devil (as mentioned above). After taking these drugs for a period of weeks you will become a zombie robot human-like creature with no creative thoughts, no desire for love or sex or intimacy. You will loose your humanity but hey, who needs to be human anyway. Your family, friends and pets will become paper doll-like beings and you will treat them as such; the same goes for the way you will be treating yourself.
The one fun side effect is the INSANELY VIVID dreams you will have. But any wisp of a wild dream life will be erased at the moment you wake up and begin your robotic day as an artificial, soleless non-being.
So after you realize that you stopped listening to music, stopped reading books, stopped working out, stopped having in-depth conversations, stopped being romantic and even stopped masturbating, you might consider weening off both the Paxil and the Wellbutrin or both.
That special moment is when you notice the creepy tenticles of the Devil herself are hugging you and that she doesn’t want to let you go. Try, just try to ween yourself off of these drugs. Take all the time you want. Ween Ween Ween gram by gram by gram until you are eating just the tiniest fragments of the former whole pills and you are eating just one fragment every other week. None of your well planned gradual deprivation will stop the ELECTRIC JOLTS, the FITS OF RAGE, FITS of LAUGHTER, Nausea, Dizziness, emotional flattness or that oddest of odd feeling – as though you just woke up and wonder “what the f**k is this entity I am occupying and who just abandoned me here in this vapid, convusling, mess of an alien who is surrounded by strangers.”
Three months after quitting Paxil and Wellbutrin, you realize that the ride has just begun.
It is not worth it. Better be crazy in real life rather then to trade your life to become a torched, flat, magazine quality likeness of yourself.
Jake14222@hotmail.com
July 25th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
I have been taking zoloft for about 2 and a half years. I am currently trying to ween myself off of the drug. It hasn’t been easy! The biggest thing for me is the horrible insomnia. How long does this last? Oh and terrible night sweats, although this might be just part of pre-menopause, because I’m 38. I’v cut my does in half from 50mg to 25 mg. Does anyone know how long I should continue to half the dosage before completely stopping taking this stuff?
August 21st, 2005 at 1:55 pm
I need help. I have been on prozac for about 10 years. First 20 mg then 40 mg daily.
I decided it was no longer working and asked the doctor to change me to something else.
I am very drug sensitive and prozac was the only anti depressant that did not cause horrible side effects when I began taking it years ago.
So a month ago the doctor put me on wellbutrin along with prozac……I did this only one week. I did not want to be on 2 different kinds of antidepressants at the same time. Then the doctor started me on Effexor starting with one week on the 37 mg dose then upping to the 75 mg dose.
No prozac was taken………I could not sleep on the effeor and had sweats all the time.
I called the doctor back and he put me on wellbutrin only @ 150 mg per day. I have done this for one week and I am feeling horrible. Awful anxiety, sweats, nervousness, agitation. You name it. Unable to sleep. So my problem is this…………should I go back on prozac? Stick with the Wellbutrin or stop everything. I have only been on the Wellbutrin for one week and off prozac for over a month. I don’t have a clue at this point which is causing the side effects.
Stopping prozac, starting Wellbutrin or stopping effexor after being on it for only 2 weeks. Someone please advice……I don’t know what to try at this point. I don’t even know if I am depressed anymore or not. Would a drug free life be best?
Thanks for any help…..
August 22nd, 2005 at 5:28 pm
My understanding is that doctors often ramp people down from antidepressants to curtail some of the withdrawal effects. I would suggest you talk about this option with your doctor, Linda.
September 6th, 2005 at 10:51 pm
I’ve been on Zoloft since December of 2004 after my boyfriend broke up with me. I started at 25mg then 50mg and now 100mg. Anyway, I was sick of being fat from the weight gain from the Zoloft and no sex drive or no way to orgasm so I decided to quit 2 days ago. I’ve been feeling kinda dizzy and it feels like I’m getting electric shocks through my body. Sometimes my vision is screwy and fuzzy. I didn’t wean off of this like I’m sure I’m supposed to. I still feel sad though. It feels like Zoloft is just a mask to cover every emotion that I’m meant to have. I’d rather be mad and sad and angry and happy than just “blah” all the time. I’m only experiencing the beginnings of the withdrawal symptoms, I’m sure, but I’m not going on those drugs again. I can’t sleep any more either. I haven’t been going to bed or waking up….just being here and being awake all day and all night is driving me crazy. I wonder how long this is gonna last. Thanks to everyone who posted on here because I thought I was one of the few and now I see there are just as many people being driven crazy by these anti-depressants than I thought. Now my life is drug free and I’m happy about that. But not much else. I don’t like these electricity feelings shooting through my body though. Why is that?
September 12th, 2005 at 9:30 pm
I started on cymbalta in May of 2005. Started having severe stomach pains and constipation. My doctor thought I may have IBS so he told me to quit taking the cymbalta for 2 weeks then call him back to see if anything had gotten better. If not he would put me on effexor. I asked him if I needed to decrease my dose of cymbalta and he said no that it had a long half life. Well he didn’t know what in the hell he was talking about. After 3 days I felt like I was going to die. I would be driving and almost black out, sleeping all the time, severe pains in my head at times and at other times it felt like a sinus headache. After being off nine days I called my doctor back and told him he was going to have to do something because I couldn’t handle this. He put me on effexor. So today it has been 14 days since I have had any cymbalta. I have now been on effexor for 4 days. I still feel like crap. The headaches and pains in my head are awful. I feel really nauses. Yesterday I was ready just to kill myself. My husband doesn’t understand and is not supportive at all. I guess he thinks I am stupid and crazy. Does anyone else feel like this or is it just me.
September 28th, 2005 at 6:34 am
Hi Stacy,
You’re certainly not crazy. My fiance was put on Cymbalta back in March of this year for depression. He’s bi-polar and a recovering alcoholic/addict. It was pure hell. He had horrible symptoms. Headaches, constipation, etc.. He should have never been put on this medication to begin with because he had Hep.C. His Dr. is a f…. Anyways. I found out about Cymbalta being bad for the liver with people with hep.c on my own via the computer. Thank god I did. This was two months ago. His doctor took him off this horrible medication cold turkey on Aug. 2nd of this year and he’s been very sick ever since. The first month he had terrible headaches, cold sweats, severe nausea and vomiting. It’s been two months now and he’s still sick. The vomiting subsided, but he’s still suffering from moderate to severe nausea, constipation and headaches. Because Cymbalta takes 12 hours to metabolize through the liver in a person who doesn’t have hep. c, it took twice as long for Cymbalta to metabolize through my fiance’s liver which is 36 hours per pill. He was on this medication for four months. So please don’t feel that your crazy. What your experiencing is real and your doctor should have known better and so shouldn’t have my fiance’s doctor. I wish you all the best. Maybe your husband needs to read the stories posted on this web site.
October 17th, 2005 at 10:05 pm
I have been on zoloft for almost a year i have been tapering off 10mg a week only problem i have had is the brain zaps i was on 125mg now on 50mg i have gained 15lbs on this med how long will it take to loose the weight?
thank you
October 26th, 2005 at 2:03 pm
I have been on Seroquil for over a year and have experienced weight gain, memory loss, mild hallucinations which turn into panic to the point I am scared of my own shadow. I got past the hurting legs but now have all these side effects. I need this med because it keeps me fairly calm and grounded and sober. Yes I’m a recovering addict and I couldn’t of done it w/o psych meds. Does anyone know of a non addictive panic medication? PLEASE HELP!!!
November 7th, 2005 at 3:21 am
Been on Zoloft from 97 to 2003 at levels 150 mg and under. Starting in 2004 moved up by 50mg at a time to 200, 250… and was pushed to 300mg! by pyschiatrist in Jan/Feb 2005. Could only stand 300 mg for about 4 days – completely numbed me out. Been working my way down ever since…appeared to be going well until went from 100 to 50.
I thought I was in good hands with a therapist and the pychiastrist (later to be revealed an unscruptulous shrink) and “slowly” working off my meds. Never told of withdrawl symptoms other than dizziness.
As luck had it, I moved down from 100 to 50 while on a cruise of Hawaii…Sept of this year. Since then life has been intolerably miserable. Thought dizziness was motion sickness, continued after I got on the boat; then allergies brought on ear infection to again explain away dizziness. All this masked the fact that my growing irritibility, moodiness, seemingly re-appearance of depression, and a new, never-before experienced symptom – RAGES had an explanation… which I now realize is Zoloft withdrawl. In one of those rages, I said the hell with Zoloft and jumped down to none from 50 mg. Since I’d been as high as 300 and had moved down to 50 in about 6 months, I didn’t see 50 to 0 as a big jump…evidently it is. Too little too late.
Now I’m 2.5 weeks out; 2.5 weeks off Zoloft for the first time in 8 years. I’m a wreak emotionally – crying uncontrollable (again, explained away by grief – my father died May 2005); incredible fits of rage and extreme energy; yelling and screaming at my kids; and the worst, not feeling safe…will I be able to control the rage, the panic attack, the freak-out the next time? I’ve called my husband and a friend afraid of hurting myself and/or my children.
SO far behavior has included such bizarre things are: breaking objects in a fit of rage; rage being relieved by running sprints; feeling like my heart has the shakes or shivers; “restless legs” – jerky, tingly movements of legs (again, misdiagnozed and medicated as a seperate illlness instead of Zoloft-withdrawal); impulsive re-construction (my word)/de-struction ( husband’s word) of major structural parts of house!; sensation that when I turn my head my brain shifts inside of it but doesn’t “keep up” with the external part of my head…lagging behind.
So I sit here…waiting…how long can withdrawal last? I thought Zoloft was “out” of the body in two weeks? It’s been 2 1/2. Will the new pysch dr (to replace unscruptlous one) push me back onto meds? Can I effectively convince medical personell that the drug withdrawal is the problem…NOT that I’m relapsing back into depression? Will the withdrawal ever stop? I told my therapist over and over that I feel MANIC…I’m literally insane…at least now, I can agree with her assessment that I’m not clinically crazy because now I believe in Zoloft withdrawal.
November 18th, 2005 at 8:38 am
My daughter was on a low dosage of Luvox for 4 years. She started tapering very slowly about 7 weeks ago.As predicted by many postings, symptoms kicked in when she was down to 5mg or so. The initial symptom was severe depersonalization followed by dizziness which comes and goes and has continued now for 7 weeks. She had considered trying a few days of 20mg Prozac but the thought of reintroducing anything didn’t feel right. I can’t find anything about just how much longer she can expect to experience dizziness. It is almost, but not quite, debilitating and she is exhausted by the struggle.
November 30th, 2005 at 10:31 pm
Linda,
If you read this leave a message. I have also changed from Prozac to Wellbutrin, and I want to go back. I am not happy with Wellbutrin and feel like I’ve reverted to all of my depressive tendencies. Did you go back to Prozac? Do you feel better?
February 17th, 2006 at 3:02 am
I went off Paxil cold turkey a few weeks ago. I have been using the drug for about 3 years. So far the withdrawl has been rather unpleasant. I feel irritable, tired, paranoid and very anxious. Of course this varies from day to day. I had some problems with my health plan and couldn’t get my prescriptions refilled so I decided to just stay off the medicine. I wanted to see how I would do without it. I’m a graduate student and I was also concerned that the medicine was inhibiting my creativity and thought process. I’m not sure if I’m better on it or off of it. Since I’ve been off it now for a few weeks I’m thinking I’ll go without.
April 20th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
I would love to know if anyone withdrawing from Lexapro has experienced very low blood pressure along with all the other unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. I weaned myself off of 3.5 years of using 10mg per day by lowering my dosage (cutting the pills) over a period of 3 weeks. After reading comments from others I now realize this was too fast and am experiencing withdrawal symptoms which began 3-4 days after no dosage at all. I was happy to hear that others experienced the head “zooms” because I had no idea these were common symptoms….zaps of “woosiness” that only last for seconds, but feel like fleeting moments of near unconsciousness with ear buzzes. I also have the fatique and nausea. The most worrisome thing to me is the very low blood pressure. Has anyone else experienced this? AND…how long will this whole thing last???
May 3rd, 2006 at 12:53 am
hi rosemary,
i tapered off of a six-month run on Lexapro the summer of 2003. i did it on my own without my doc’s advice or supervision, gradually reducing my dosage over a period of about six weeks. i got the wooziness you describe, like suddenly i was walking on ground the consistency of clouds, and my head was all a-swim. i went to an acupuncturist, had one treatment, and never suffered another side-effect.
it’s years later and i’m on 20mg prozac, which i just started in feb. i’m gaining weight and not feeling energized or focused. i can say the suicidal thoughts and pms have faded, however, just distant memories now. reading this site makes me want to get off prozac sooner than later because i don’t think i could stand head zaps and flus and all the other se’s people are discussing.
i wish you all the best in your recovery.
May 14th, 2006 at 7:56 pm
I was on Zoloft for 12 years. I quit cold turkey almost a month ago. I feel great. It’s nice to laugh full-heartedly again. It’s nice to be moved to tears by beauty again. There have been side effects such as VERY vivid dreams. A little dizziness. and (obviously) a wider range of emotions (which at 32 years of age I’m prepared to embrace). something that I have learned in life which has been of monumental usefulness in the transition off the drug (and every other area of my life for that matter) is REALITY EXISTS UNIQUELY FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL, and it is our PERCEPTIONS of events, not the events themselves, that dictate our response to things. I’ll give you an example. I have a cousin who is terrified of birds. He displays what many people would percieve as psychotic anxiety at even the site of a sparrow flying 100 meters away. In his reality, birds are terrifying. In my reality, birds are beautiful and a symbol of freedom. Is my perspective better? NO. Just different. I have found that in my ‘recovery’ from using Zoloft, EMBRACING rather than FEARING or DENYING the side ‘effects’ has made all the difference. I hope my perspective helps
And I am sooooo glad to be FREE and be ME.
May 15th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
I was on Prozac for about 7 years…went on a vacation and forgot to take them with me…decided to come off of them by myself…big mistake…..especially after being prescribed 180 mg a week. Well…I was doing good for about a month, then the bottom dropped out. I had no idea it was from not taking Prozac…I felt like I had mono…achey all over, shoulders, hips, everywhere…and totally exhausted…can’t get enough sleep. Well, that’s been going on about a week now…any ideas from anyone if a painfree life is in site? I hate to go back on it…it’s so expensive…and I really don’t want to be on it anymore since I’ve changed jobs and my life is a little less stressful. Thanks.
May 15th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Forgot to mention that I’ve discovered Melatonin….but I’m afraid I might be getting addicted to it…but wow! It sure helps one get a good night’s sleep. Any ideas?
June 27th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
I’m currently taking Lexapro 20mg, Provigil 200mg, and Effexor XR 75mg daily. My doctor is trying to determine which of these medications best relieves my anxiety, depression, lack of concentration, and short term memory problems. I’ve been taking the Effexor for 3 months and the others for 2 months. I haven’t felt anything but terrible. My bladder feels like its going to explode because its difficult to urinate. I also have problems with erection/ejaculation, lethargy, tremors, shortness of breath, high blood pressure and decreased vision. I was hallucinating early on, but that seems to have subsided. My dreams, however, are so vivid that it often blurs reality. I’m not sharper or focused which is really what I wanted corrected. I believe that my depression is a secondary cause of these symptoms (although I could be wrong, and the reverse could be true). My doctor hasn’t bothered to explain. I want to stop taking these medications altogether. I haven’t been taking them that long, so perhaps I should continue giving them chance. Any thoughts? Also, I would like someone’s input as to what I could expect if I go completely cold turkey. Thank you.
June 29th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
After taking Zoloft for over 4 years, I have decreased the dosage slowly. From 50 mcg I am down to 25mcg. Ever since then I have been having constipation and diarrhea spells. Sometimes I feel achey, weak, and dizzy. My main concern is that my doctor might want to do a colonoscopy because of my stomach troubles. He does not believe these are withdrawal symptoms. Anyone else had this problem?
July 14th, 2006 at 10:12 am
I had been taking 20mg of Paxil for about a year for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Things were okay. I felt like I had no motivation to do or care about anything, so I was put on a regime to quit Paxil. I got off of Paxil after about 2 weeks which was good but came at a price. I was put on Prozac for that time. I was on Prozac for about 3 months when I decided I didn’t want or need to be medicated the rest of my life. I quit my 20mg of Prozac at this time cold turkey. Things have been up and down for the last 3 weeks. I’ve had a lot of vertigo/dizzyness. It seems that when I turn and look a direction while moving in another, my brain says WHAT THE F@%K. This has been happening with a gradual decrease over 3 weeks and I’m just playing the waiting game now. I’d like to see the symptoms stop asap. Since stopping both Paxil and Prozac, I’ve been happier, more energetic, and a happier home life. I can care about things again. I’ve also been losing the 25 pounds I put on during my Paxil/Prozac days. Good luck to you all.
July 22nd, 2006 at 10:39 pm
HI, been on prozac and then zoloft (150mg) for the last ten year. Stopped cold turkey five weeks ago. Never had a single withdrawal problem. I feel the best I have in many years.
August 9th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Don’t come off lexapro by yourself. I did, and I’ve experienced the dizziness, or “lightning bolts in the head”, or “brain in jello slamming into my skull(that’s pretty funny by the way)for 3 days now. This sucks a*s. Thought it would go away, but apparently it won’t. Oh yeah, I’ve been on it for a year and gained over 40 freakin pounds. I can’t afford this crap just like you can’t. I will never let a doctor talk me into going on a medication like this again. Yes, it helped for my anxiety, so it worked. But is all this extra torture worth it? NO! I’m considering another option that is a natural suppliment available at Walgreens called “5 HTP” it is supposed to help with serotonin levels. If I have some luck I’ll let everyone know! more info is available here: http://www.biosynergy.com/5htp.htm
August 16th, 2006 at 11:39 am
5 HTP, while no miracle cure, WORKS! It has not gotten rid of my dizziness, but it has eased the withdrawl symptoms greatly! I can actually tolerate the symptoms and go about my daily routine with relatively little interference. I highly recommend this to anyone who is having trouble concerning withdrawl symptoms.
August 21st, 2006 at 3:23 pm
I started out taking Zoloft 13 years ago for severe PMS and have since changed to Prozac(20-40mg daily, depending on the mood) for the past 3 yrs. I am expecting my second child and have stopped taking the Prozac due to the pregnancy. My OB instructed me to wean myself off by cutting back to 20mg every other day for 7 days then stopping all together. I am in my 4th week of not taking it at all and still feel AWFUL. Of course I feel that the fatigue, achines and nausea are all pregnancy related but I know for a fact that the relentless ringing in my ears and lightning bolts in my head are not caused from that. I read the “jello slamming into my skull” side effect that someone wrote and I thought…Oh my God…that is it! That is what I have been trying to explain to my family except that my jello feels like it has electricity surging through it. Durning my first pregnancy 8 years ago, I did not have these withdraw feelings. I don’t know if it was because it was Zoloft or because I had not been taking it for 13 years. WOW…that sounds so bad when you say it out loud. 13 years of my life have been committed to taking that pill everyday.
Mentally, I feel great! I had a rough week or so in the beginning but now I feel level and calm and I feel confident that I will not go back on Prozac or any antidepressant for that matter ever again. My problem is this horrible feeling in my head. It gets much worse when I am moving or walking. I am really concerned because I thought all the side effects would be gone by now. After reading all the posts on this board, I still have not found where anyone says how long this feeling lasted for them before it went away. Can anyone out there shed some light on this or at least offer a little hope? I want to enjoy my pregnancy and be happy but this is driving me crazy. I can’t imagine being left this way forever…
August 24th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
I have been tapering off of Zoloft for the last three months. I was always on 100 mg and have been lowered to 50mg. First few weeks were hard, I felt very fluish and sick to my stomach. I toughed it out and am feeling great!! Am hoping to get down to 25 mg next month and then off completely. Just try to stay calm and know the horrible feelings will pass. Good luck, my body is so much stronger, more energy and “normal” feeling now that I’ve cut back.
August 25th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Thanks, Susan. I had an appt with my OB/Gyn Tuesday and explained to him what I was going through and of course he just wanted to put me back on the meds regardless of the pregnancy and said that I would always feel this way if I didn’t. I refused to take his advise. I asked him if there was a “natural” way to fight this and he said “NO” which is total bull. I have learned there are numerous natural methods to helping your brain take in Serotonin, unfortunately it isn’t safe to take during pregnancy due to the lack of study. I had an appt today with a psychiatrist’s assistant for a second opinion of how/why the medication has effected me since being off and what the long term prognosis is. I wanted to know if my OB was right in telling me that I would always feel these withdrawal symptoms. She was the first person to EVER explain to me exactly how Prozac works (even though I thought I knew, I learned something) and she also assured me that the withdrawal will go away. There just isn’t an exact answer due to everyones chemistry being different. That advise was a lot easier to swallow! She also said that she would not recommend Prozac in the future if I do indeed HAVE to take something, she suggested Zoloft. I am going to tuff it out during the next 6 months of pregnancy and maybe nursing but then if I feel I need something…it’s off to the health supplement shop for me. I will not continue to pump $$ into the drug makers pockets! Besides, I was never labled “severe” so why was I treated that way?!!!
P.S. I am starting to feel better coincidently. The head zaps aren’t nearly as often or severe as they were on Monday.
August 26th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
I have tapered down to ZERO Zoloft (from 150 to 25 to 12.5 mg over the last year) but this last part has (from the smallest does I could break off to nothing) has been the worst: almost every head shift, zoom, slosh, empty, falling elevator sensation that has been described by others here, as well as increased moodiness that scares me.
I see many people describe these symptoms, and others warn never to use these drugs, etc. I agree and sympathize…but does anyone know if there anything HERBAL or NATURAL that can help these symptoms to cease???
Has anyone made it thorugh this? How long does it take? Thanks
August 29th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
Jesse,
As I said in my previous posting, the length of time that the discontinuation syndrome last depends on the person and also how long you took the medication. I read that St. John’s Wort and like Goerge said above, 5HTP seems to help and is a natural supplement. I have been completely off the meds for about 5 and a half weeks now and am starting to FINALLY feel better. I still have an electric guitar in my ears and feel the head zaps periodically. I feel like I am almost over it though and I have been taking Zoloft/ Prozac for a total of 13 years. Everyones metabolism and make up are different but maybe that will give you some hope because less than 2 weeks ago I thought I was going to lose it due to the withdrawals. I think the most important thing to remember is paying attention to your moods and disposition. No one wants to slip into depression or be moody as hell all the time. I, myself, will try something natural after my pregnancy if I feel I still need something to help out rather than go back on the prescription meds such as Prozac or Zoloft. Good Luck and stay strong.
September 7th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
I was on Zoloft for about 6 months after an extreme case of panic attacks wreaked havoc on my life after I tried to quit smoking cold turkey. It has now been 7 years since I’ve taken Zoloft, and I have some unfortunate news for some people on here. I still have constant loud ringing in my ears (tinnitus) and still, even after all these years, if I am extremely tired, I’ll get that crazy brain zap shooting through me every once in a while. I may be an extreme case, but I don’t think it ever goes away.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
I was offered Paxil by my Dr.s assistant about 10 months ago. I told her that I didn’t feel like I was depressed , just very tired, there is a strong family history of hypothyroidism, cfs, and very sedentery people with low energy levels. She said that I might really like it anyway and why not give it a shot? I liked it very much at first, even though I was still tired all the time I felt really mellow and content with Paxil. But a few monthes ago I noticed that if I was late taking paxil that I felt very dizzy and my head felt weird like my brain was rattling around and my ears would ring. Then my tiredness turned to total fatigue and my happy mellow feeling went away raising the dose to 40 mg. only made it worse.I tried taking less and I still felt like crap, Today is day 3 of going COLD TURKEY. Ears ringing, nausea, headache, hot and cold chills, sweating, nervous, can’t go to work, I can actually hear myself BLINK and when I move I get the most horrible sensations in my head. Typing this on the keyboard is giving me pains and chills that I just can’t describe, with jolts and nausea and sweating. The only thing that is good is the dreams, when I do sleep the dreams are fabulous. Like a technicolor fantasy world, even though I wake up tossing and turning and sweating profusely. Sexy dreams, friendly dreams,dreams about cute little animals. I wish I could sleep through this terrible Paxil withdrawl, then it would be just fine :p The only thing that is keeping my from taking the Paxil again (and I have a new bottle) is that I don’t want this to go on indefinatly. I guess I could get some Klonapin but I don’t want to drive 25 miles to get the Rx. Wish me luck friends….
September 8th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
… In my previous posting I forgot to mention the burning eyes and sensitivity to light, also the startled sensations from smells, like the peppermint essential oil that I sniff to relieve all the other symptoms, It does give me a momentary clarity of thought. The muscles in my legs feel so weak, this really sucks… HELP!!!
September 14th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Yes zoloft withdrawal is hard, effexor even harder, but I am coming off 50 mg of zoloft for about 6 months down to 25, felt nausea, gas, severe muscle soreness especially shoulders and neck, and mosly was in bed for about 7 days, then all gone. Now trying 25 every second day, if that is worse (I’ll live through the same just to get off this yucky stuff, I absolutly discourage anyone from taking any SSRI EVER) I’ll take a 12mg instead just to make it a bit less hard, but I will get off! I am Bipolar and am also on Wellburin (which I don’t consider an SSRI at all, but a wonder drug, perhaps only for the biplolar person, but certainly no zombie, lots of sex drive, and no more extra fat)and a mood stabalizer with antidepressant properties called Lamactil, which has also changed my life for the WAY better, but again, not everyone may say so, although I’ve heard much more good than bad about that one. Wellbutrin does not make me moody, or if it does the Lamactil helps I guess, but SSRI’s are the devils handiwork, I have to agree. No brain zaps off zoloft, but lots off effexor and worse.
September 17th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
Well, I am still on 25mg zoloft. I tried going down to 12.5mg, but no luck. Started having horriblw muscle aches, felt very dizzy and sick in general. My left arm and leg felt numb. Now I am back on 25mg, just couldn’t handle all the pain. I couldn’t go to work, couldn’t go to school. What is this drug doing to me? Am I ever going to be able to get off of it? I felt like I was going to have a heart attack.
September 19th, 2006 at 5:10 am
Hey Gang:) Well it’s been 10 days since my last posting and I’m still alive. I got some Prozac to help me w/ the withdraw symptoms of the Paxil…HELPS ALOT!!!! Like 80 %.But I’m still pretty sick. I’m taking 20 mg a day and I feel like I’m gonna be SSRI free soon (I hope) I’ve been taking it for about a week and from what I’ve read it doesn’t have much withdraw… But the Paxil withdraw period has to be over before I can stop. I tried missing a dose and that “ol’ paxil feelin’” started to creep up.. Dizziness… Nausea… Ringing in my ears like F%*@ing Crazy. Chills, sweating. It really sucks that Dr.s care more about kickbacks from drug companies than their patients. In my case though I think that she just didn’t know. She probably believed all of their bullcrap and propaganda. And Paxil does feel very nice in the beginning… PAXIL IS THE DEVIL.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
I love Cymbalta, but I decided to save some money and I quit cold turkey. Clean for about 2 weeks and my symptoms, fatigue and brain zaps are disappearing. Good thing I am not working currently because I imagine I would be non-productive. Anyway depression is for the idle rich I think. When the bucks start coming in again, I must just go back on to it.
September 27th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
After it was confirmed that Anna Nicole Smith’s son died from a lethal drug combination of zoloft, lexapro, and methadone, do we have anything to worry about? Are antidepressants safe? Or should we just get off them as soon as possible?
October 12th, 2006 at 10:26 am
My opinion is this…in some cases the antidepressants can be very helpful and may be the last resort for some people. Being stuck taking the drugs has to better than suicide, right? Just as long as people are aware of the difficulty of discontinuing them. That is where my anger came from; not ever being told that these drugs are near impossible to stop taking and the doctors keep pumping out the prescriptions like candy! Our lives change and the bad times that put most of us on these pills usually fades with time and we try to take back our lives, that’s where the problem starts. It has been about 8 weeks since I last posted and I feel 100% back to my normal self. All the pain is gone and the head zaps are just a bad memory. I still have the ringing in my ears but I already had that, it was just much worse during the withdrawals. Preganancy is now a wonderful thing and I am happy to be Prozac/ Paxil free!
About Anna Nicole’s son…he was taking methadone…that is synthetic heroin. Basically it is the legal stuff the govt gives you when you are a heroin addict to supposedly help you through the withdrawals. I have been around someone while they were going through heroin withdraws and the scary thing is is that it is very similar to what we all felt or are still feeling, while coming off the SSRI’s. The Govt think it’s better to be on their version than the street stuff. Both are horrible. Methadone alone can kill someone if they take too much but mixing them with some pretty strong SSRI’s I can only imagine throws your system into a shock. I don’t think the antidepressants killed the guy…the methadone is most likely the cause. I personally know someone who died in his sleep after taking only methadone. It isn’t any better than the street stuff in my opinion.
I do think that if your situation isn’t severe (like suicidal) you should get off the antidepressants and try something else to get through your battles instead of the “magic pills” that are so quickly shoved down our throats these days.
I wish all of you the best of luck in your journey and appreciate everyones input and experiences. It really helped me through one of the most difficult things I have ever been through.
Stay Strong!
October 13th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
I am trying again. After taking 12.5mg of Zoloft every other day for a week, I stopped taking it completely 13 days ago. So far I feel fine, even better than when I was on the medicine. I am just afraid that the withdrawal symptoms will start. Or are they not going to start, because it’s already been almost two weeks. What do you guys think?
October 15th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
I recently went off Paxil cold turkey, due to the fact that their was a problem with my medical insurance, and I got dropped..so meanwhile, I can’t afford what it costs to pay the cost for the pills outright. However, I can see why they don’t reccomend quitting this way! I know its bad, but I don’t have much choice until my new insurance goes through. I’m experiencing being tired, lack of appetite from time to time, headaches, nervousness, depression, the “wanting to stay in”..and not do anything, like I used to, out of nowhere crying, sadness, confusion..etc..etc..
So I say this as a warning to people, be careful because you don’t want to go through this…
I’m scared right now as of what will happen next…I just can’t wait for this insurance to go through so that I decide to continue it or go off..but go off properly so its safe.
October 16th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
I have been on every antidepressent you can name as well as Lithium but weaned myself off of the Wellbutrin and Lithium as I only took that a few weeks. The Prozac is another story. I was on 20MG for a year and when I stopped cold turkey (which I seriously DONT advise) I experienced horrific migraines and stomach aches. I started taking half of the dosage and got less headaches. This is a nightmare…I feel like I dont need the drugs at all. I feel the drugs are what is driving me MORE nuts than I have ever been and I want to crawl under a rock and sleep forever. I hate feeling this way and it makes me mad that all the Docs want to do is shove a pill down your throat. Its insane. No one should have to suffer this way. Now Im irritable, yell at family and friends, and still want to eat everything in sight because I feel this will help my stomach aches. Please help….the headaches get worse and worse and my migraine meds dont help at all. What side effects have you had coming off of Prozac and how did you correct the problem???
October 25th, 2006 at 10:34 am
I like others have tried most antidepressents on the market.When I felt that one was not working after a couple of months,I would just stop taking them. I had all the withdrawal symptoms mentioned.And would just put up with them. I worked in Iraq for the military for 12 mo.and because of the nature of the mission I was just a working zombie.And when I returned home I had lost all desire to do anything but work.No joy,no hope no emotion.I started on Zoloft to try and atleast get some of my life back.And then maybe I can take over. But anything has to be better than this kind of suffering! Good luck to everyone and may God help us.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:05 pm
I started taking Zoloft 2 years ago, 1st 50 mg but it was cut to 25 mg because I would experience migranes, a few weeks ago my doctor switched me to a generic brand of Zoloft and I was fine. In the middle of last week I started getting so tired, like a tired I’ve never experienced before, and I go to bed at 9:30 and get up at 6-8, depending on if it’s a weekend or week day, and I sleep undisturbed throughout the night.Then I would start feeling sick off and on and I couldn’t read without feeling dizzy/sick even while sitting on the couch. I’ve been having headaches, my hair is easy to pullout(but not like just falling out, it just doesnt hurt to yank one out), and just randomly I find trouble breathing. This has never happened since I’m a all-year ’round athlete and I’m keep in shape. I also feel very sad even when I’m happy and I’m very irritable, I just want to know if this is because of my medication switch or what because I’m sick of this
Thank you
November 2nd, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Well, I think I have some good news. It’s been exactly 33 days since I have come off Zoloft completely and I have not had one withdrawal symptom!!! As you can read in my other posts, while I was lowering the dosage I had some horrible withdrawal symptons and even increase the dosage for a few weeks. Then I got so mad about this drug controlling my life, I decided to quit. I took 12.5mg every other day for one week and then stopped completely. I’m fine and feel better than ever. So don’t give up! I thought the symptoms would get worse once I am off the drug completely, but they disappeared. So, keep your hopes up!
November 29th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Hey,
I AM an MD, and I don’t know why other doctors don’t offer this:
I can simply call any pharmacy and have them compound any SSRI into ANY strength (eg. 1 mg capsules) so that people can taper by 1-2 mg at a time and get no side effects (eg. go from 20 mg x 3 days to 18 mg x 3 days, etc). Ask you doctor (TELL your doctor) to try this.
BTW, I take an SSRI myself, and I’m fully aware of what it feels like when I forget a day or two; I know exactly what patients are talking about bc I’ve had the zapping sensation myself. One thing people seem to forget – yes, it’s a pain to get off these drugs, but they’ve helped a lot of people (including me). Maybe you didn’t need to be on it in the first place if you’ve forgotten this. It is not an exaggeration to say that these drugs have saved countless lives.
You are WRONG in stating that SSRIs are “addictive.” They certainly do cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped, but that is not the same thing as saying something is addictive. Likewise, people are not “addicted” to coffee – they’re physically dependent on it. Addiction properly refers to the compulsive use of something despite negative consequences (eg. taking drugs despite the fact that doing so is destroying your marriage or your job or getting you arrested). It involves thinking about the drug an inordinate amount of time, going to great lengths to obtain it, etc. Is that how you feel about your Prozac? So please watch your terminology – language like that is responsible for a lot of fear in the public and if you’re going to have a website and call yourself a neuro-anything, it behooves you to write about what you know about, and not say things carelessly.
Thanks for considering this.
November 29th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Oh my God.
I just read TK1′s opinions and I had to write again.
First: depression isn’t caused by “bad times” that eventually get better, OK? Maybe that’s what you thought depression was, but you’re wrong. It’s a disease that can affect people when absolutely nothing in their life is wrong and it doesn’t “pass” as things pick up. I’m glad you’re life picked up and you don’t need the drugs anymore, but it isn’t your place to tell others what they need.
Second: methadone has saved thousands upon thousands of lives and kept many would-be drug-addicts employed, married and leading basically normal lives without contracting HIV or Hep C – the big two of IV drug use. Please educate yourself. BTW: If you think coming off an SSRI is “similar” to coming off heroin, I pray to God that you never have to come off heroin – you haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.
“The Government” doesn’t think it’s better to be on the methadone than the street stuff – in fact, “the government” is very suspicious about methadone for exactly the reasons you are – because they don’t know any better. So stop talking about “they” “them” “the government” as though there is a conspiracy going on and that methadone is “the goverment’s stuff.” What a load of malarky.
Lots of people take methadone and SSRIs and do fine. Yes, methadone call kill – as can many drugs including acetaminophen (Tylenol) – one of the most lethal and horrible overdoses you will ever see. It’s fine to discuss your own experiences and even your opinions, but if they aren’t educated opinions, you’re doing people more harm than good.
November 29th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
Louis- Thanks for pointing out the correct use of “addiction” (in contrast to “physical dependence”). We’ve changed the text above to reflect the correction.
December 1st, 2006 at 3:27 pm
All,
I was on 50mg per day of Zoloft for two years while going through a divorce. It helped me get through the rough times, no doubt. However, after a little soul-searching, I decided that I wanted to experience life again to it’s fullest. My experience (I would imagine they are all different from person to person) was that Zoloft suppresses life’s “highs” as well as it’s “lows”, making it very hard to stay motivated and experience true emotion.
Withdrawal Side Effects: I didn’t taper off the drug as so many people suggest. I just started taking the drug every other day for about two weeks, then went cold-turkey about a week ago. irregular heartbeat lasted about four days then stopped; Next, the dizziness — still happens occasionally , but less frequently than at first. much, much worse when tired . hardly notice it during the day.
Benefits of being off the drug: energy! huge amounts of energy. don’t know if i felt this way before starting the drug, but it feels just great. sexual libido increased; much, much easier to orgasm too — more powerful orgasms as well. next, i can actually feel emotions again. i laugh harder than i have in two years. i haven’t had any intense feelings of sadness either — just what i would consider normal sadness.
Summary: while i’ve only been off the drug a week i’m very happy i stopped. i know eventually the dizziness will go away. i feel like i have my personality back. my life back. my feelings back. again, this is my own personal experience — may be different from others’.
December 3rd, 2006 at 2:10 am
I curse the day I was prescribed Paxil by an over the hill, clueless, psychiatrist whose primary method of finding the right medication was what he had in storage provided to him courtesy of drug reps. I have a long history of anxiety and depression. It took me a long time to admit it to myself (ironically enough I work as a mental health practitionar) and to get the courage to do something about it. I’ve been on Paxil (no other psychotropic meds) for a little over seven years now. The only benefits of this horrible pill has been on my ability to focus and attend to involved work. Paxil has made me detached, emotionally flat, and has taken away the desire to be sociable and active. I hate what I’ve become and feel like I’ve wasted the past seven years of my life. I’ve tried to quit this, “cold turkey” style or gradual withdrawal, without success and with a lot of agony. When I try to taper off of it, I get dizzy, go through crying spells, have bizzare hallucinations during periods of semi-conscious states when I’m half asleep, get weird electrical like zaps in my head, feel sick to my stomach and just about all over, etc. I haven’t been able to quit this damn medication. For the past six and a half years, I’ve been getting fixes from my primary physician (internist). I have told him that I want to quit Paxil, but, I don’t think he really has an appreciate of what a horrible effect this has had on me and he probably thinks I’m just being neurotic. Even if the withdrawal effects weren’t so horrendeous, I am afraid to quit Paxil because I know I will still have depression. Any input would be very appreciated.
December 10th, 2006 at 6:06 am
Hey NeuroDudes,
I stopped taking Prozac(80mg)about 5 or 6 weeks ago and have had some pretty intense vivid dreams these past few days. I went off Prozac “cold turkey” and I’m not sure if this has an effect on the onset of these vivid dreams. (I know that it is unsafe to go off meds but w/e.) Some issues have been coming up in therapy so I’m not sure if this is the cause for the dreams or if it’s strictly a Prozac withdrawal symptom. (BTW, The dreams aren’t about the pst issues.) Any input would be great!! Thanks:)
December 16th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
I took SSRIs for 9 years and stopped cold turkey. I went for 7 months pretty good and then it all started to go downhill. I am now considering trying to start back on Prozac and maybe attempt a long taper later if able to. My only reasoning there is that maybe Prozac would be possible to do a good taper with, I don’t know. Do many people come off of this stuff and stay off? It seems that for most some form of depression and or anxiety returns downline. Is it that we don’t see the ones who don’t have any trouble on these blogs and would they be more in the norm? I cannot believe how far down I’ve gone and that I’m looking at the start all over again. I don’t know how else to keep going without picking them back up! It’s been almost one year and 5 months of this has been a living hell. The thing is I don’t really recall any real withdrawals in the first 7 months! I really don’t know if cold turkey has had that much to do with this or not. It seems that many who taper end up hitting bottom also. Philip
December 19th, 2006 at 11:17 am
HELP, I’ve been on Prozac on and off since it first came out. It stops working for me and I try other meds, but they never work as well. I’m currently taking Effexor, which isn’t working at all. I’ve tried Cymbalta, Lexapro – you name it! Anyway, I’d like to try Prozac again. How should I go about the change. I am so depressed – I think I’m also starting to start menopause, which isn’t helping. Anyone have any good ideas???
December 21st, 2006 at 5:56 pm
WHAT A HORRIFIC JOURNEY! MY 22YR OLD DAUGHTER WEANED FROM ZOLOFT AFTER 6 YRS ON THE DRUG. THE WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS, ALSO KNOWN AS DISCONTINUATION SYNDROME HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, WHICH LANDED HER IN THE ER 2 DAYS AGO. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THE WITHDRAWL CAN LAST MORE THAN A MONTH OR TWO. SHE HAS BEEN OFF ZOLOFT COMPLETELY FOR OVER TWO MONTHS NOW AND IS EXPERIENCING CONSTANT NAUSEA, DIARRHEA, TINGLING IN HER FACE AND ARMS, ANXIETY, ELEVATED BP AND HEART RATE, DIZZINESS, BODY ACHES AND FATIGUE. THE DOCTORS REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT IT’S ABOUT THE ZOLOFT. I AM SO DISGUSTED WITH THE DRUG PUSHING DOCTORS AND DRUG COMPANIES…THEY CARE ABOUT PROFIT…PERIOD. I WAS OUTRAGED WHEN THEY SUGGESTED SHE START ANOTHER ANTI DEPRESSANT UPON DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL. WE FLAT OUT REFUSED!!!! I DID ALOT OF RESEARCH AND GAVE MY DAUGHTER SAM-E, WHICH HAS LESSENED THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF HER SYMPTOMS. WE NOW KNOW IT WILL TAKE TIME BUT THERE’S NO GOING BACK. SHE HAS ALSO LOST ABOUT 10LBS IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS…PROBABLY MORE FROM THE NAUSEA, BUT SHE HAD GAINED ALOT OF WEIGHT WHILE TAKING ZOLOFT. I AM HOPEFUL THAT EVENTUALLY SHE WILL BE THE HAPPY HEALTHY YOUNG WOMAN I USED TO KNOW. PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THAT DRUGS ARE FOREIGN TO OUR BODIES AND ANY NATURAL TREATMENT IS WORTH A LOOK BEFORE TAKING ANY DRUG!!
December 23rd, 2006 at 11:52 pm
Hi … just a quick story… ALot of events happend in my life this year in 2006
to a point that I needed to speak with a counsellor about my situation. I was told Paxil
was the best and greatest anti-depressant out there. I was told I could feel normal again
and think clearly again.
So i tried calling my doctor with no response (I should of went on the Internet first to
check out everything about paxil, but I trusted my counsellor and I walked into a walking
clinic and asked for Paxil.
I was given 2 sample boxes of 10 MG Paxil CR and 25 MG CR. I went on them for the first little while and it seem to work. Made an appointment with my doctor shortley afterwards to let him
know I was now on Paxil CR 25 mg. He was surprissed, but said it was fine. Got new
prescription and sayed on Paxil CR 25 mg for a few weeks. Things went from good to bad
shortly afterwards. I was given an alternative to try to switch to Wellbutrin so I did.
I was taking Paxil 25 CR on top of Wellnutrin for a short while and became like a non-existant
person. Went back to my doctor and was removed from Wellbutrin all-together. Took two weeks to start feeling good again. Then all of the sudden I had all the symptoms immaginable.
I asked to be put on Paxil 20 mg Paroxetine Tablets instead of the Control Release, so
I could break them in smaller pieces and try to tapper off of them.
That worked for a few days but, then it effected my blood pressure where it went up from
120/80 to 165/110. I went back to my Doctor and was told I should try 30 MG of Paxil. I tried
it for 3 days and that was the worst thing of all times. I wan’t describe all the symtoms but
it was not nice. So I decided to start tapering of paxil 5 Mg at a time every week. I was then
at 10 mg after a few weeks. I told my doctor about it and stayed on 10 mg for a few days.
Tried to make another appointment again due to some side effects. Could’nt get through
so I decided to cut cold turkey. The first few days were okay but, then it got bad.
DON’T EVER TRY TO CUT COLD TURKEY AFTER 10 MG because it’s pure hell with no sleep. Had
to take leave of absense from work to get through this. I managed to stay clean of paxil
for 1 month with allot of side effects (crying, no sleep, my hands trembling and my vision
being effected as well as loosing my memory on and off. Then I remembered about 5-HTP from
a year ago and I decided to start taking it ASAP. 5-HTP Herbal has worked for me. In Ontario
Canada the herbal is purchased only at a health food store. My life changed from bad to great
now. I’m not saying 5-HTP is for everyone… but it worked for me… just like it worked for
George (Aug 16, 2006) from up above on this site.
Anyway, I’m not cutting down Doctor’s because there’s so much medication out there today
that it’s hard for them to keep track off and all their effects. I blame the manufactures
for not totally advising the doctors of all the possible side effects.
Before a prescription is given to an individual at a doctor’s office or a walk-in-clinic
it should be made absolutly clear that the individual understands all the potential side
effects or the prescription is not handed over the counter.
P.S … Always … always check the potential side effects before taking them… That’s where I went wrong.
I’m not telling anyone what to do or what to buy, just that in my case, 5-HTP is working well for me now.
December 24th, 2006 at 1:12 am
I have been on 20 mg. of Paxil for several years and tried to go off a couple of times. Then, I did some research and discovered that it takes about a month for Paxil to hit its stride in the brain. So, I decided to come down in 1 to 2 month increments. First, I split the medication in half and took 10 mg. in am and 10 mg. in pm for a month. The next month I dropped the pm dosage to 5 mg. and kept the 10 mg. am dosage. I had some minor fizzing in my head – kind of like having a bad head cold with some other oddities – like nosebleeds (not terrible). I did not change the dosage again until I went several days without any fizzing, or zapping. Then I cut the pm dose out altogether, but still take the total 10 mg. in the am.
So far, this is working well. The first thing that stopped was the damn gnawing hunger that seemed to have nothing to do with food. My caloric intact dropped dramatically and I stopped craving sweets.
When all is settled again, I will split the am dose in two (5 mg. in am’5 mg. in pm) for a month and again work out of the pm dose.
From what I can establish through research is that it could take as long as six months to come off Paxil safely. This business of dropping the dose by 5 mg. every week or so is too much too soon. If you don’t get the full effect of Paxil for 4 to 5 weeks; it has to take that long to adjust to the lower dosage each time.
December 27th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
After eight years of Prozac and its generic I began tapering off about a month and a half ago. For three weeks I went from two 20mg caps a day to one on the odd days and 2 on the even days. Then just one a day for about 2 weeks and then about a week ago stopped entirely.
I have had the brain zips but not too bad. The most recent change seems to be in my dreams. I won’t have to go to the movies for quite awhile. They are quite vivid and complex in story. Very different from anything I can remember.
December 28th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
Hi everyone…
I’ve been off paxil over a month now and life is wonderfull again. My sex drive is back
and my memory is fully restored. My side effects are now gone except for the odd vivid
dream. I can now laugh again and do the things That make me happy again. My kids are really
glad I got off the stuff and so am I. Never again will I have go on any anti-depresants.
Too dangerous for the mind. Thanks to 5-HTP which I use at night before bed time to help
my body create serotonin. In the morning I take RELORA capsules for stress reduction
related items. These two products are herbals are natural sources from “NATURAL SOURCES”
and “NOW”. I never had so much fun over the Christmas Holiday. Thanks to 5-HTP and RELORA.
These two herbals gave me no side effects and do work 100% for me. Just thought I should
share my story.
December 30th, 2006 at 10:17 am
This will be my last time posting to this site and I wish the very best
to everyone.
Just one final note to Lois Castle of Item 109: I agree with what your
saying; however, in my case I was on Paxil for less than 3 months and
using 5-HTP the last two weeks of coming off Paxil all together. I’m
still using 5-HTP on a daily basis to help create serotonin and it’s
working great.
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Hey all i am 17 and depressed so i was prescribed 20mg prozac its only been 3 weeks since i have been on them and they are helping i feel ok. I was wondering what is the best way to get of prozac? so i can avoid all the withdrawal effects. Shall i go down to 10mg for months then just gradually get of it. It was more my choice to go on the anti-depressent as i was having suicidal thoughts. I just want to get of it as i feel fine and feel i can cope without it, and i realise im not that depressed compared to many. Being on 20mg and then getting of will i have loads of withdrawal effects.
Can someone help on what is best to do, thanks appreciated
January 13th, 2007 at 2:37 am
Is there anyone out there who is on a low dosage of paxil and has managed to get pregnant? If so, I would love to hear how you have handled this situation.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Zoloft relieved my anxiety and i felt it was such a wonderful help. I had been taking the drug for over a year and recently I have decided to wean myself off and see how i am doing without the medication. i reduced 25mg to every other day and then started taking 12.5mg everyday for 2 weeks and then 2 weeks of 12.5 every other day then every 2 days until finished , which took all together 4 weeks. i am now off of the medication and I have been experiencing body aches sort of like having the flu. My sex drive is coming back which is nice and i think i am losing water weight gain but maybe I’m just drinking more water??? Any way i am a little less social for right now but i think it is part of the adjustment to being off the medication. I haven’t had brain ZAPS and hope that won’t start happening any time soon.
January 24th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I was on zoloft for 4 years and fortunately I didn’t have bad withdrawal effects. But I was wondering if anyone out there can answer this one. I’m on paxil cr 37.5 and I am also on buspar. I have been on them for a while now and all of a sudden I am getting the zaps in my brain, arms hands and sometimes legs.
Believe me, I know what everyone is going thru with these “electric shock sensations”. I was once on effexor and I thought that I was going to have to sleep forever to make the feeling go away.
Well, I have been trying to figure out for the past 2 days now why I am going thru this again. I have not stopped any medication and I am doing nothing different than I usually do.
If anyone out there can help me, I would appreciate it forever.
And about the girl on paxil who is pregnant… GET OFF THE PAXIL.
February 18th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Hey I just wanted to say that I was taking Zoloft 100mg for three years. It started at 50mgs and moved up. Well my anxiety and depression was under control. I left my husband and moved on. I have been off now for three weeks. I gradually stopped. from 100 to 50 then to 25 for a week of each. My doctor said I would be FINE… Well I have never felt so strange. My finger tips tingle as if I am being shocked. My toes tingle. My vision is horrible in the mornings and my eyes are extremely sensitive to light. My neck and body aches. I get sudden shooting tingle feelings with sudden movement even when I blink my eyes I get some tingling in my arms and hands. Its freaking crazy. I cant sleep a full nights sleep. I am MOODY, SAD, and most of all upset that I took that medicine for soooooo long and now it has done this to me. I dont know what to do actually. I dont want to go back on Zoloft. I find myself very sad and very emotional. I cry over the dumbest things. I dont want to be so emotional. I truly feel that its a bad side effect that will not go away until other medicines take care of that. But then there I will be…. Lapsing OVER and OVER again taking medications to cure my symptoms that I am having due to another medicine. WHY do I feel like this. Its horrible. I just hope that if you are considering going on Zoloft THINK first. Talk to a therapist and yes they will probably throw you samples of Zoloft stating it will help, AND YES it did help me VERY much but the side effects were not and will never be worth it. I would prefer to be completely normal body wise and feel a bit of sadness then to go through this possibly LONG term. I hope and pray to god that its not a permanent feeling. I just would say to whom ever is thinking of taking some depression meds to check on it, read it, figure out if you are going to be on this long term, take precations and be careful taking whatever your Doctor throws at you….. Good luck. I hope that I have helped answer someones questions and or concerns….. Take care and god bless you all.
February 19th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Hi Ashley & Leeann,
I said It would be my last time responding but, I do monitor this site once in a
while to see how people are doing. I was in a bad situation (very bad with all the
side effects) as everyone is going through. I chose to tapper off several months ago
and have been off anti-depressants since the start of last December. Why don’t you
ask your Doctor about 5-HTP before bed time and Ginkgo Biloba in the morning. They
are not anti-depressants and I still use them every day. They are Herbal products from
plant extracts and are not prescribed medication. 5-HTP actually works… why don’t you
look it up for yourself on the internet then tell your doctor about it. My Doc did’nt
know anything about 5-HTP. I Hope I can help because I went through hell with
Anti-depressants and now my life is back to normal again. My biggest fear was my
memory and it’s now back again. Talk to your doctor first before deciding anything.
February 21st, 2007 at 12:15 am
I was on lexapro for a month and it worsen my depression. I was more depressed with absolutely no appetite and higher anxiety. So my doctor switched me to prozac today. I was researching on prozac and read all of these withdrawal sypmtoms. It scares me.. I don’t know if I should start to take it or not even start it..
February 26th, 2007 at 12:58 am
Just to let you know, I am coming off of Prozac very slowly, even though it has a longer 1/2 life than the other SSRI’s.. I have been on it for 15 mos, 40 mg a day and am flat… I don’t want to leave my house unless absolutely necessary, no sex drive etc. I am a single working mom in college and I am going to try the natural route, I hear that Omega 3 oils actually help with serotonin production in the brain, and am taking Gingko biloba and coq10 and starting a stress vitamin to give me some energy. Here’s the deal, I think you just have to live life, things are going to happen to us ALL, and we truly just have to deal with them. I have been on Zoloft, Paxil, EffexorSR, Prozac, Wellbutrin and I am sick of the lot of them. I think if we put more natural things in our life, instead of trusting drug companies who granted, help with research, but truly do want to make the big bucks, and trust ourselves and work on us and the crap that we are dealing with, that it’s all going to be OK!!! I spread out the 20 mg, one in the am and one at noon, and am now on the every other day I only take 20 mg… I am not sleeping, and can’t seem to study, but I have to do this… We all truly know what we have to do to be happy, it’s just doing it that is the hard part… Lets’do it everyone, lets be the best “me” that we can!!! (sorry, but I have to be optimistic)
February 28th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I’ve been trying to go off my Zoloft/setraline for about 2 weeks now. I was on 100 mg for depression and anxiety, however the issues causing my depression and anxiety are now elminated and my doctor said it’d be a good idea to try to go off the Zoloft if I felt ready for it. So I did fine going down to 50mg for a week and then went to 25 mg. Then I accidentally missed a day of my 25 but I tried to just go down to the 12.5 the next day, that was a bad idea. I’ve gone back to 25mg again because I was horribly nauseated and exhausted yesterday. I felt like I had vertigo all day long as well. I still don’t feel quite right today, really exhausted and just kind of slightly nauseated still, but a little better. My mother experienced similar withdrawal symptoms as well so at least I have somone at home to support me and related to me.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:31 am
Wish me luck as I wean myself off of my prozac. This will be my second time. The first time I did cold turkey. I was a complete BITCH!!! Every noise I heard irratated the Hell out of me. I was freezing, and shaking non stop. I also take Xanax so that diffently helps with the withdrawal symptons. I have faith that it is possible to feel normal again. Good luck everybody.
March 9th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Has anyone taken Paxil and gained weight ? I did. i gained 25 pounds in 7 months. I feel really bad for gaining the weight. Is there something eles that i Can take. The dr. wrote me prescription for Prozac 10mg. I have heard so many bad things about it i’m scared to take it. Anyone with feed back would help me alot.
March 11th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I have been on prozac and everything else you care to name so I have to show you how I managed to turn my life around. I was depressed, agaraphobic and so anxious I could barely move. The Doctor put me onto XANAX, PROZAC and sleeping pills which I tool religiously for over 5 years. When i decided I had enough I tried cold turked and got the sweats, palpitations etc., had to go back onto it. I was determined so I began to look into the reason for my agarophobia, anxiety and constant panic attacks. I decided I had tried the medical route so I wanted to try alternative medicine…got some St John’s Worth for depression, and guess what, I was the one in ten thousand who got neuralgia…my face was so sore I had to hold it with both hands and squeeze it together to get rid of some of the pain.
So, now to the optimistic bit. I was at the lowest level in my life and thought “what’s the point?”… but thank god I rallied again and began to really look at my lifestyle and why my panic disorder was taking over my life. I was disgusted that I could not put my foot outside the door as the terror overtook me…was I going mad.
I began to investigate myself and bought a book called WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS from http://www.amazon.com – jeez this was the key to my salvation. This book is now so popular that amazon can not keep it in stock so if you are interested just go to http://www.sunbooks.com. I learned so much about myself and my panic disorder from this and it gave me the courage to push through the nausea etc.,. I am now drug free ( i hate that term) for over a year and I have a full life with a wonderful social life and best of all, i am free from prozac…zimovane…xanax….etc…etc..
God bless and please know that you can do it. It may take a while but there are millions of people who are going through the same thing as you…so help yourself.
March 20th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I have been on Zoloft (100 mgs) for almost five months and would like to taper off the medication. Am I less likely to experience side effects since I have only been on Zoloft for a few months? I have been on Zoloft in the past for longer periods of time and I do vaguely remember feeling some body shocks when going off it before. I am eager to wean myself off of the medication as the side effects that I am having (teeth grinding, continued weight gain, hair loss, lethargy and disgestive issues) while on the medication put me more on edge.
March 21st, 2007 at 2:28 pm
I was on Zoloft for 8 years at 100mg most of the time. Worked pretty good and the side effects were not too bad except for being tired all the time. i did gain about 15 pounds on the drug. I weaned off last year starting in may and went from 100 to 50 for 2 months then 50 to 25 for 2 months then 12,5 for a month and 6 for a month. I was totally off for 3 weeks when the anxiety and what i call 2 second fainting spells hit. I was shocked. I gave it only about a week but i worked myself up so bad again that i caved and went and got 25mg refill to start again. I have been back on now for almost 6 weeks…first week 25mg then 16days at 50 then 100mg for about 2 weeks now….the anxiety has somewhat subsided but i still dry heave alot but im not sure the zoloft is going to get me there again. i am so upset that i caved into the withdrawal but i feel like im losing my mind and am gonig to die. My psych wants me to do 100mg for another 14 days and take it to 150 for 2 weeks after that before we decide if maybe switching. I dont wanto go up to 150. i think i feel same as i did on 50 i would rather go down. I am considering lexapro…i am diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder but when untreated leads me into depression. …i have no clue what to do…right now i cant even work…..apppreciate any input….how is prozac for anxiety…i would change to something easier to get off of because thats the ultimate goal but i need to feel better before i take another run at it
March 22nd, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I’m coming off Prozac and have been ok on the reduction part but now that I’m not taking any (around 2 weeks) I’m starting to feel like every bone in my body is aching. My muscles are so tense and have had nasty headache for days now. Am also experiencing that electric shock type thing but guess what? Despite crying over silly things (something that should never have been supressed at all) am not feeling depressed. In fact feel so happy in myself as know I never needed the nasty stuff in the first place ( been on it for 10 years ). Does anyone know how I can reduce the physical ill effects? To all who are going through similar: You’re not alone. Sending light and love to you all. We can do this!!!!!
March 28th, 2007 at 7:18 am
I have been off prozac for a little over a month now. How long does it take for the aches an pains to co away?
March 31st, 2007 at 10:53 pm
I was on prozac for 5 years, (Prozac 40 mg) ever since I was 13 till about 2mths ago an my doctor switch me to paxil (30 mg), and I have notice the change. That I feel better, But I feel like a zombie.. I dont want to do anything but sleep. I think my doctor should switch me back to the prozac, because at least i had my energy and I felt like I could go on during the day.. But i still had my crying spells..But when i started my paxil, it was from the start where all i wanted to do is sleep, and thats not normal for me, Cause Im adhd.. Well I have been coldturkey off my paxil for a couple days, I’ve been sick an throwing up and doing nothing but hugging the tolit and sleeping… I wish i could find something that would help me feel better, besides make me worse
April 6th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Well after reading all this, I feel like chucking it all in and throwing myself in front of a train.
I took Effexor 150mg for three or four years and gained 10kgs. I tried to taper off a few weeks ago and the symptoms were making me crazy. After three days off effexor a psychiatrist put me onto 50mg of Zoloft, which immediately got rid of the symptoms.
But now I have read Zoloft causes weight gain as well, and is a nightmare to get off.
It is the weight gain that is making me depressed!!!!!! I feel sick every time I look in the mirror and none of my clothes fit and I feel like a big fat pig.
I have only been on Zoloft for five days, and I am going to taper off and finish it over the next week. F**k the symptoms – they have to stop eventually. I am just going to live with them.
I read Benadryl helps, but the websites I read that on are American I think, and in Australia Benadryl does not have the ingredient that does the trick, I think it is diphenhydramine. My GP gave me valium, but I did some research and found that just makes it worse.
I am just going to do it and to hell with the consequences of withdrawal. My weight gain is causing me far more grief than anything else is.
I’m so angry. I know anti-depressants save lives, they helped me a lot. BUT, and this is a very big BUT – why the hell can’t the pharmaceutical companies find a way to manufacture the drug to not have such horrible withdrawal effects, or come up with something that helps ease the withdrawal effects.
So sick of it all.
April 8th, 2007 at 4:03 am
The half-life of Zoloft is quite short, I have read – within 24 hours it drops by 50%. I’ve been taking 150 mg a day for about seven years, and now I find if I even miss one dose, I feel it the next day – what they call mild “lightning zaps” or “brain zaps” – e.g., a feeling like a mild electrical shock, very brief light-headedness. I remember when I first noticed these “brain zaps,” I looked it up on the web, and other people were reporting the same thing, yet at that time neither Pfizer nor the medical community admitted that there was any such thing. Now it comes from the pharmacy with a “may cause dizziness” sticker.
I’ve had two episodes with major depression in my life, the first before the SSRIs were available, and the second when they were. Zoloft has helped me, but like other individuals I’ve read about here – the weight gain pisses me off. I mean, it’s great to not be depressed, but when you have a sedentary job, you’re getting older (I’m 44), it’s a potent mixture for turning you into a blob. Fortunately, I’m tall (6’3″), so I carry it “better” than a shorter person, but I’ve still got a “Zoloft gut, and my waste size has increased by 4 sizes.
Anyway, who knows what will turn out to be the very long-term effects of the SSRIs? I admit that I need it, but for all I know, my brain may turn to jelly when I hit 60.
As for the withdrawals. I tried simply to cut back on my dosage, in 12.5 mg increments, and even that was intolerable. Understand that I was addicted to benzodiazapenes, and tapered off of them with no problem at all. So, is Zoloft more physically addicting that VALIUM? Jesus H. Christ.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
first i was on prozac, then zoloft, then lexapro. all i remember is trying to get off all three of them. they say that prozac has a long half-life, but i still had the worst withdrawal from that. after taking medication for so long i got used to the straight-line personality, then after getting off them i realized that i like being moody sometimes. (even though now i cry for the stupidest reasons) i really with i would have just not gone on any, lexapro was the only one that really helped. i’m so against them now…
April 18th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Karen says:
After 9/11, everything went wrong, loss of our jobs, car repos etc. About 6 months after that I started having severe pain in my right middle back. I went to the doctor with this complaint, and she said “okay, I will give you a blood workup but right now I am giving you a prescription for Prozac, 10mg that I want you to fill on Wednesday after the results are negative. HMMM. The results indeed were negative and I filled the prescription. It’s so amazing how depression can be so physical? I had also gained 25 pounds. A month or so later the pain went away, but not enough so I went to 20mgs a day, became a zombie, went back down to 15mg/day but still some weird physical symptoms so I went up to 17.5 mg/ day. That worked well for about 3 years until my hair started to fall out in gobs, my skin was always infected (IF a bug bites me, I am in the ER with a red streak to my heart in 24hrs) look it up, it is a side effect. Not to mention my sex drive, none. When I would go in for my pap smears and talk to the P.A, she would tell me it had nothing to do with the Prozac, it was menapause. I am now 51.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Karen says: I have to say the previous blog was what I was experiencing
w hile on Prozac.
After researching all of the side effects and talking to my doctor about getting off prozac he recommended a very aggressive weaning program. I knew after 5 years of dependency that I would wean slower. I started weaning on 2/4/07 by 10./15 etc. I got down to finally 10/5 every other day and I started to feel really weird, like I couldn’t stay focused on anything. Maybe because my inlaws were here for Easter, I don’t know. But I am, at this time, at a holding pattern at 10 mg/day because I have been feeling other wierd things like numbness in my left shoulder. No, it’s not a stroke or heart attack. I will keep you posted, I am feeling sexual again and my hair isn’t falling out anymore? I had lost 3/4 of it and my dermatologist said it was because of my root canal and foot sugery. No other reason……
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I have been taking Paxil on & off for about 5 years now. I probably gained about 20lbs. each time. This is my 3rd or 4th time I have tried to get off Paxil. They (meaning drug companies) make it so you can’t or it’s extremely hard to come off these meds. I have had nausea, diahrea, unknown crying spells, and the last few days I have had “head zaps”. I cannot take these side effects anymore!! I’m dizzy all the time & cannot even focus at work. I’ve called out more than ever because of these symptoms. I even got so mad today that I wrote Paxil an email. It really is a shame that these drug companies get away with this. If I didnt have certain people around me, I would have commited suicide already….anybody reading this please DO NOT take PAXIL or PAXIL CR.
April 26th, 2007 at 5:58 am
To Louis(99 &100)
Here is the dictionary definition for “being addicted”:
“physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse effects.”
I don’t think you can judge anyone’s oppinion as “uneducated” here.
FYI: YOU CAN BE ADDICTED TO SSRI, AND YOU CAN BE ADDICTED TO CAFFEINE.
April 28th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Well I’m STILL suffering from Paxil withdrawal. The head zaps are so overwhelming and they have traveled into my arms & hands now and sometimes even my tongue…this is so scary. I’m always losing my balance & dizzy. I’m very confused most of the time, like I don’t know what I’m doing. I feel that by afternoon I’m ready to crash for a nap because I’m so tired & delerious. I’m constantly thirsty. I’ve been trying to just drink plenty of water and herbal teas (specifically chamomile or tension tamer) these help a little. I am ALWAYS hot & sweaty even @ work when they have the air on. I wake up soaked every morning. My dreams are so vivid & crazy that I am scared to go to sleep @ night. Is anyone experiencing or have experienced any of these symptoms & how long do they last? I feel that sometimes I just can’t deal with this anymore.
April 29th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I was on Paxil years ago, and was told by my doctor that I had one of the worst withdrawal cases she has ever seen. Unfortunately, this went on for weeks for me. Probably four to six weeks. For the first couple of weeks, I was so sick I was in bed for most of it.
I’ve now been on Cymbalta for the last couple of years and had TERRIBLE side effects from this drug. Including swollen lymph nodes throughout my neck. I had to have surgery to have one removed and then tested for lymphoma and other cancers. No one ever connected this was a rare but serious side effect of Cymbalta.
So, my doctor took me off Cymbalta when I made the connection and found a website with this information (WebMD). He put me on Prozac which I’ve used successfully before. I made the switch immediately. Stopped Cymbalta…started Prozac same day. I’ve been having horrible withdrawal from the Cymbalta, even with the Prozac which is said to assist in the withdrawing. Mostly, brain zaps, severe nausea and stomach ache, sweating one minute and chills the next. Plus, I have this incredible depression and sadness. I’m on day 3 of no Cymbalta and the only thing I’ve noticed a slight improvement in is the brain zaps. However, I had brain zaps when I was on Cymbalta too.
All of these drugs are very scary. I think when we’re suffering from depression or anxiety, we are so desperate for help, and the drugs do help, we will do anything including put a chemical in our body everyday not knowing long term, or even short term, side effects. They build up over time and we then suffer while trying to get off. If you need something, which I know I do, Prozac seems to work best for me with little to no side effects, plus if you need to come off, there were withdrawal symptoms for me.
It is really common to be scared while going through withdrawal. The best advice I have after this experience and my previous one is to remember that IT WILL GET BETTER! This horrible overall feeling sick will go away. Everyone is different. There are no two people that seem to have the exact same reaction to the drugs or coming off the drugs. Definitely talk with your doctor about using Prozac in the interim to help with the withdrawal. I’ve heard hundreds of good things about that.
If you’re going through this withdrawal, hang in there. I promise, I’ve lived through it twice now and survived. You certainly will appreciate your good health once it is over.
April 30th, 2007 at 12:40 am
One other thing. I use Dramamine for the zaps/dizziness and nausea and it seems to help during withdrawal. I’ve also heard benedry works, but I haven’t tried it yet. I seem better tonight than I did yesterday or earlier today, so may, knock on wood, the Prozac will stop me from having a severe withdrawal this time.
Also, if you don’t want to be a rat lab anymore for every medication on the market, do the research yourself. Many of these doctors use what their drug reps bring them and convince them is the greatest product out there. Even the psychiatrists don’t know what’s going to work best for each peron that comes into their office. Then, they tend to put you on an additional medication or two to counteract the one’s you are already taking. No more for me! I will never take anotehr pill without researching all the side effects. No just the common ones, because I seem to get even the more rare ones. If I ended up having surgery and having a lymph node removed and thinking I was going to die from lymphoma for three weeks, I swear, Cymbalta WILL get a letter from me!
Sorry for being so long. But after going through this severely twice in my life, it’s becomeing quite a focal point in my life!
May 1st, 2007 at 1:12 am
i have been taking 100mg zoloft for a year, but not consistently. often i would take 50 mg, miss days,etc. working and 2 small kids and not time to see a therapist. recently decided i was taking the medication so inconsistently i might as well quit. after about a week i have insomnia, sad and disorienting feeling of being separate/isolated physically, headaches, and lots of rage at my husband, who frustrates me in general. worst of all i have had some intrusive thoughts which are the reason i went on zoloft in the first place (took it for 8 months after sudden onset of post-partum anxiety with intrusive thoughts and then since my daughter’s birth to prevent another episode of anxiety/obsessive and intrusive thoughts). so, i want to know how to tease out the withdrawal symptoms from what i am afraid of–that i have a lot of anxiety and depression symptoms that have not gone away but have been masked by the zoloft. i had a great therapist who moved out of state and feel like i need help with this but there is no time. would appreciate any suggestions. tonight i took 25 of zoloft just because i was scared of the intrusive thoughts but i would really like to be done with medication.
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Jamie, Today is my first day of feeling okay after a week of being off of Cymbalta. The withdrawing is horrible, and all your symptoms are normal. My doctor gave me Prozac to help with the withdrawal. It WORKED! I had to take 40mg a day in order to get through it and still had symptoms, but they are so much better now. You might want to think about using it if your doctor gives the okay. I have taken Prozac before and because of the very short half-life, there are no withdrawal symptoms. I never had any anyway, so when you get throught the withdrawal you’re going through, you can get off the Prozac easily if that’s what you want to do. I’m sure I’ll stay on it though. I’ve learned I need an SSRI to get through my seasonal depression and my anxiety. I own my own business, have three children and a husband that’s a pilot and gone 50% of the time. Life is too complicated for me to make it without a little help. Someday maybe I’ll try it with nothing…. Think about the Prozac, I used it for post-partum and not only did it help with the horrible thoughts and feelings, but I lost weight, which is a nice and unusual side effect of SSRIs!
Lisa
May 6th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
I was on Paxil 20mg for 3 1/2 years. I was experiencing disorientaion, panic, migraines, dizziness, etc. etc. After being admitted to the hospital for a week I was diagnosed with hypertension and complicated migraines. From day one I was not happy about being medicated, but I had come to the point of not leaving home without the dreadful fear of “freaking out”. Until I convinced myself that there was nothing wrong with me I was better off on Paxil. After 3 years I decided that I wanted my life back. I wanted to be me and the emotional person I once was. I knew there were many horror stories of Paxil withdrawal, but I also knew that those of us on Paxil are a bit obsessive to begin with. If we think something is going to go wrong it will. I have decided that there is nothing wrong and I am not going back to the way things once were before Paxil. My doctor cut my dosage in 1/2 to 10 mg for 2 months and then I came off completely. I even stopped 2 days early just because I was ready to be myself again on my terms. It has been 4 days and I have yet to feel any different then I had a week ago. Taking the time to prepare myself and convince myself that there is nothing wrong with me, I am not going to withdrawal, and even if I do I will be fine. The crazy pace and pressures that we put upon ourselves is why we got ourselves into such a panic in the first place. There is that little annoying voice that pops up every so often saying “you’re going to panic and lose it again”, but I welcome that voice and just laugh it off. There are 10′s of thousands of us all in this boat together and we will all get through this together. All my good thoughts go out to anyone who is having any difficulties with being on meds, getting off them, or lifes troubles in general. It is your life. You have to love yourself and make yourself happy. Don’t read too much into the withdrawal symptoms others are having. The mind can convince the body things are happening that truly aren’t. There is nothing wrong with us. We just need to be strong and love ourselves for who we are including our anxiety and emotions.
May 9th, 2007 at 5:55 am
I was on Paxil, then Paxil CR for a total of 6 years. Tried going off of it three times using the taping off method, with too many crying, crazy anger bouts. Finally got so tired of the lack of energy and weight from the Paxil that I went off cold turkey a month ago. I knew about the buzzing feeling..had it before from withdrawal. Now that I’ve gone off it cold turkey, my symptoms are horrible. My feet and ankles and legs swelled to a painful size and couldn’t wear any of my shoes, so had to go out and buy a huge pair of new shoes. Finally after a month the swelling in my feet and ankles have gone down, but the pain in my legs and all over, and the irritable and lack of sleep are making me MISERABLE. My primary phsician doesn’t have a clue what to do for me. He doesn’t think it has anything to do with going off of paxil. The dr who prescribed the paxil knows that it’s because of the paxil withdrawal, but I hesitate to go see her about this because she always put me on a higher and higher dose every time I’d see her re: complaints about the paxil. Drs are so worthless sometimes.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I was on paxil 20 mg for 10 years for anxiety and panic attacks. Tried 4 times to get off of it and couldn’t. Anxiety was too much and dr. convinced me that it was relapse. I now know that it was withdrawal. Makes me angry that I did not know then what I know now. I switched to prozac 20mg for three weeks (no tapering off paxil) and am now 3 weeks medication free. I have no anxiety or panic but many other symptoms. I take it hour by hour because that is how fast it changes. Hoping I’m through the worst. If I remain married or have any friends left after all this is over it will be a miracle. Prozac is the reason I am now medication free. And I owe that to the people who sent in their stories certainly not my doctor. There are natural ways to cure anxiety, panic and depression. These drugs are evil and should be banned!!
May 18th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Well..hi all… Ive just read thru most of the messages here. Its all very sad and scary reading! Ive been on and off prozac 20mg a day for years and years, but i dont want to take them ANYMORE!!! The side effects for me from prozac far outweigh the reason im on them i reckon. I have absolutely no libido anymore! and little to no sexual “feeling” down below. an embarrassing subject i know but i dont feel like a woman anymore!!! I have no energy, no motivation and guess what? i think they have stopped working. the only thing i reckon they do is stop the almost permanent crying sessions. I also suffer terribly with memory loss which is probably unrelated but it drives me insane!!! so whats the point in taking prozac when i have still got all these other issues to deal with.? so ive decided to taper of, one tablet every other day for a while then see how that goes.. i started that this week… gradually im gonna stop. i have stopped cold turkey before, mainly because i kept forgetting to take it anyway, and i decided whats the point?? but my depression sneaked back up on me and i went back on them.. wish i hadnt! I dont recall any major problems from stopping, and over the last year have had worse episodes ON prozac than OFF it! one time i took 3 after a whole heap of alcohol and ended up vomitting all the next day and very ill!! I recommend nobody try that in a hurry!! It was awful! and all this while i was ON prozac, i felt suicidal! I still have suicidal thoughts but i darent tell my doctor! how stupid is THAT? i blame Prozac for these thoughts as i didnt have them before!!!! SO, im QUITTING! i hope that it’ll be fairly stress free, but i hate the side effects so much more than any benefit that prozac may or may not be having! I do have one question if you havent fallen asleep reading this, are the serotonin production/levels etc permanently screwed by prozac? does anyone know? good luck to u all.. and to me! lol!
May 20th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
be carefull withdrawing from multiple medicines that include anti depressants, for example two meds. such as buspar, triliphon, and prozac, from personal experience the first two[downers] won’t help your speed or intelligence but will stop the prozac from rocketing a person one way or another. the tricky problem is the the first two drugs seem to wear off a lot faster than prozac, so whats left is prozac still in the system like a semi going a steep grade without brakes. just come off the drugs[garbage] very slow and never ever see a psychiatrist[quacks] again. mental health is a pathetic scam.
May 20th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I have now officially hit 100 pound weight gain with Paxil. If you eat right and exercise the weight still comes and it is even worse if you have a treat now and then. It is like the weight can be put on but does not come off. I started 9 years ago on 20 mg/day Paxil and I think it has really helped me put some things in my life in order. But, the weight gain is out of this world. I have always been an exerciser but nothing has worked. For the past week I have been walking 3 1/2 miles per day and have only been eating 1300-1400 calories per day (low carb in addition) and NOTHING has changed on the scale. Talk about frustrating! I am down to 5 mg/day after weening slowly for about 3 months. Can anyone share if they were successful in EVENTUALLY getting their weight off?! Do I need to be completely off of the Paxil for my metabolism to get back to “normal” or what!!! HELP!
May 28th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I’m currently coming off temazapam and having a lot of trouble. I am too very sensitive to meds and herbal remedies. I was on Paxil for two years because i started having a lot of anxiety. So, being a too trusting person, I trusted my doctor. Came off of it cold turkey on accident because forgot when I went on vacation. It was horrible. I did not sleep for days!! SO I started Lexapro and took for two years. I decided to get off because I felt I wanted a more natural approach. I went to a naturopath and he made me a concoction of different herbs and I had little trouble coming off. However, whether I still have bouts of depression, anxiety and bad insomnia, makes me think I should have never started in the first place. Over the past few months I have been self medicating with L tryptophan and definately seemed to help. But, got anxious because I started working two jobs and started the temazapam, and then hell again. I think sleeping pills can certainly make depression/anxiety worse. I’m having faith though that the l tryptophan will work again. I do recommend going to a naturopath for getting off antidepressants. I do strongly believe in natural remedies, but you just have to be more patient and do lots of research. THere is a test that is $400 at a place called The Bright Spot for Health in Wichita that measures the neurotransmitters in your brain. It is expensive,but could be worth it in the long run. Maybe then you can find hopefully a solution without so much trial and error. I just had the test and am trying to remain hopeful. I do highly recommend this place. No phonies there.
June 5th, 2007 at 5:40 am
well im now 2 weeks off prozac… and so far so good, in fact its been easy. but maybe thats cos i never took them properly anyway, always forgot the odd one or two. no nasty side effects, no aches and pains etc.. none! my temper is quick to flare up but thats something i am going to try and control au naturale.. im managing also to control my alcohol intake.. so its all good… i felt positively perky this weekend, so im hoping things will go from strength to strength! im sure there will be lows that hit me but isnt that normal? life throws crap at us all the time, i want to deal with it, instead of not giving a sh@t!!!
June 5th, 2007 at 5:40 am
well im now 2 weeks off prozac… and so far so good, in fact its been easy. but maybe thats cos i never took them properly anyway, always forgot the odd one or two. no nasty side effects, no aches and pains etc.. none! my temper is quick to flare up but thats something i am going to try and control au naturale.. im managing also to control my alcohol intake.. so its all good… i felt positively perky this weekend, so im hoping things will go from strength to strength! im sure there will be lows that hit me but isnt that normal? life throws crap at us all the time, i want to deal with it, instead of not giving a sh@t!!!
June 18th, 2007 at 11:27 am
i,ve been on a number of anti depressants since i quit drinking in1994. i am now on zoloft and have been since about 70r8 years. i also take clonazepam to help me sleep. nothing is working lately, i,m going thru menopause and really don,t know what is normal all i know is that i want off all these drugs. my mom and dad never took anything but a baby aspirin, and they have great health. how do i just stop. the last time i tried i had these electrical shocks going thru my body, for about 2 weeks until i finally went back to the zoloft.somebody please help.
June 23rd, 2007 at 5:47 am
Hi there, I have been on huge dose of Zoloft, 200mg daily since June 06. I was weened off over 5 days and today is my first day without any. In two days,I will be going on to Avanza. I kept telling my husband that I can’t sit next to the computer anymore, because I thought I was getting zapped. I felt like I was standing under an electricity station. Zap, zap and more. Things keep catching my attention in my peripheral vision, but realised it’s sparkles. I feel enraged with my poor kids. My ears are ringing these zaps as well. I feel like I want to vomit.
I have severe clinical depression after being left with complications after a hysterectomy. I have been left with huge opperations in front of me and have already had 5 since Feb 06. I am left with a semi-permanent catheter, ( which I’ve had since Feb 06 ) through my belly and am waiting on further surgery to make this SPC into a bag and a stoma. Very permanent! I live from infection to infection. On so many meds for bladder, bowels, pain, depression, antibiotics ( 230 tabs weekly! ) I am 36 yrs old female. I have never had a day off antibiotics since Feb 06. I have no immune. I am in hosp every Weds for over a year now and have to have hosp IV or injection antibiotics ( Gentamicin ) as now immune to less strength. I have never had any medical problems before hysterectomy
What are Avanza anti-depressants like? Any one know? I have had an incredibilly fast weaning off Zoloft 200mg. I will have in total one week of weaning, to starting Avanza.
While on Zoloft, I haven’t slept well and lost all my appetite to drop to 46kgs.
I’m glad I’ve found your site. Kaz
June 23rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I have been off Paxil for 2 and half days. Its hard for me to keep food down because I get so nauseous. I’ve been feeling weird zaps throughout my face and body. It isn’t painful, just a strange feeling. Its really hard to focus because my mind is so groggy. The dreams I am experiencing are very intense and vivid. Some of the worst nightmares I have had were last night. My mood swings are severe. I can go from wanting to fight someone to laughing about nothing in a matter of minutes. Sometimes I just want to cry. I am not trying to quit, I just misplaced my pills and now I have to wait another two days until they’re refilled. But after these past two days, and reading about other peoples withdrawal symptomes, I am going to talk to my Dr. to get off this stuff. I feel kind of scared and I can’t believe my Dr. never told me about all the negative side effects. Take care
July 1st, 2007 at 12:20 am
I’ve been on Luvox since I was 8 years old. 2 years ago I changed to Zoloft. However, I have been unable to feel any emotions. It is as if I am numb to the world. Thankfully, my girlfriend was able to open my eyes to this. I am now on day 2 after going cold turkey, and I got to say it SUX! Although its not that bad, its worth it. When I was on Zoloft, I had horrific insomnia and constant night sweats. I also suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. The worst was not being able to care about anything or feel emotion. When my grandmother died, I tried SO hard to cry, but I just couldn’t. It made me so depressed. After being off of Zoloft for a few days, I have begun to feel the random jolts and nausea. Thankfully, I have been able to get a hard on, but I’m not fully recovered yet. I was wondering if anyone knew how long these withdrawl symptoms stay, and if anyone knows of any herbal supplements that i can take.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:47 am
I was on seroxat for about 10 years, i was given prozac to get off the seroxat and took the two for 3 days then cut the seroxat out. I was on the prozac for 7 weeks in all, after about 5 weeks i was having every side effect going, so the dr. said, and told me to cut the prozac out by taking it 6 hours on each day. i didnt feel too bad for the first month but since then i have had nausea, aches and pains, indigestion, wind, headache, noise in my ears, plus hearing my heart beat in my ears and dizzyness. I cant do very much at all and spend a lot of time in bed. I have now been off the pills for 7 months and it is not getting any better. has anyone else been this bad for so long, and will it ever end.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Hi all. I have been on Zoloft for about 3-4 years, due to high blood pressure and doc thinking it was pre-menopause drop in serotonin levels. Now off for one month. Having feelings of rage, darkness, wanting to hurt myself, deep emotional frustration and some depression. Dizzy spells still linger and I wonder what is what. Zoloft.. will my brain adapt to a healthy pattern without it? How long will it take? Doc says I’m bi-polar but it seems everyone is bi-polar these days. It is hard to diagnose what is what when it comes to our spiritual, physical and emotional selves.
Wish I had an answer.
July 14th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Have been off Paxil for 7 weeks or more, and still have the nauseau, and irritability and crying jags.Has anyone had these side effects from withdrawal for this length of time? I was on 20 mg for 5 yers, and weaned myself off in about three weeks time.This is much worse than when I went on for depression.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:39 am
I had been taking 60 ml of Prozac for about 9 months and I had to stop taking the medication because I lost my job and no longer had insurance to go to the doctor or pay for the perscription .I have experience the night sweats , extreme fatigue , diziness and sometimes sadness .THE PLUS IS MY SEX DRIVE IS COMING BACK AND HOPEFULLY I WILL GET RID OF THE 12 POUNDS I GAINED .Im going to purchase some vitamins that could hopefully help me get some energy back .
Any advice on some good vitamins ?
August 4th, 2007 at 10:15 am
i was no zoloft for 2 weeks only with 50 mg daily but i cant continue with zoloft because of the side effect of it…so is there will be any withdraw and how long it will be??
August 5th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Was on Cymbalta 90mg for a couple of months. Decided to go off of it so I tapered myself down over the course of 2 weeks to nothing. Ever since that last dose i have had hellish brain shivers. How i make it thru work is short of a miracle. It feels like a migraine, but never had one last this long. I foud Dramamine works to relieve some symptoms. I am just wondering how long it will take my body to recover.
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:20 am
i have been on zoloft for 2 weeks only of 50 mg dose….its now 3 weeks i am oof the drug completly..but i have some withdrawal symptoms ,like fast heart beat and tremor..if any one can advice me,if this is withdrawal symptoms or i have an anxity??
August 28th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I had the unfortunate luck of finding out that my prescription was short of my usual 30 day supply. Of coarse, I find this out when I was 5 pills short!!!!! I even looked at the bottle in misbelief wondering how the heck this happened when I took my usual one pill of 40mg a day. Anyway, I will definitely count ALL my pills before leaving the pharmacy counter next time.
Let me tell you, this has been complete HELL! Dizziness, nausea, and feeling like my head is off in space somewhere. Needless to say, I have completely overeaten this week to try and get rid of this feeling. I heard that Benadryl may work a little, so I took that today. At this point, I will try anything. Just wanted to let everyone know to count your pills. Unless you want to be this miserable. Believe me, it was not my intention to go cold turkey. I guess the only good thing is the craze dreams. I never dream when on Paxil, so it has been an interesting week.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:16 am
I am weaning off Zoloft. I began taking it in Nov. 2001 because I knew I would have post-partum depression since I had it with my first two. Zoloft changed my life so much for the better. That was almost 6 years ago. The past year I have decided that I can do w/o Zoloft. One, because I’ve learned how to choose to be happy. Two, because I don’t like being addicted to a pill. I know I’m addicted (or somewhat addicted to) because if I forgot to take the pill, several hours later, I would get weird feelings, like when I turn my head and move my eyes at the same time, a weird slightly dizzy feeling.
Here’s how I did it. In May and June, I took a whole pill (50 mg) every other day and every other day I took half a pill. That’s 2 months of that. Then, July and August, I took a half a pill EVERY day. Now that it’s Sept., I’m taking a half a pill every other day and NO pill every other day. I must say, this has been the hardest. It’s just 4 days into Sept. and I’m having those weird sensations a lot. My toes and fingers are tingly, too. I’m planning on doing this for 2 months and then I will skip 2 days and then take a half pill. I hope to be off by Christmas or Jan. 2008.
Now, if I get too many really sad days, I will consider going back on. But I’ve done really well so far. I know that God is helping me. He can lick it; I can’t. I have had just a handful of occasions where I was told something slightly disturbing or something happened to me that was slightly upsetting and it got me down, but only for the rest of that day. AND, I gave it to God and let Him deal with it. He wants to take care of my problems; He doesn’t want me worrying about it. I know that medicine like Zoloft may be the answer and if that is what I ultimately do, then I’ll just continue leave it to Him. I hope this helps someone.
September 8th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I have been on prozac for 14yrs. The last four years I have tapered down. I am currently one month prozac free. The hardest time was near the end when I was taking 5mg every other day, was feeling anxious, confused, dizzy, head rushes, I could not go out in public much during this time, I would rush home and then feel a little better. I almost went back on a higher dose, I came so close! What I did instead, on days when I thought I was going to lose my mind, I would chip off half of my 5mg tablet and that helped right away. (1,2,3mg tablets would of been nice!) This lasted about 2 weeks. Then quit altogether. I was so scared, but then I started gradually feeling less anxious, less disoriented in public, less dizzy, etc. As I said above, I am now one month totally off of prozac.My main concern now is extremely vivid dreams, I wake up very scared. Does anyone know if these dreams decrease over time? My sex drive is slowly coming back. I have started slowly losing weight. I am feeling ok. At least I am having feelings again, some bad, some good. I FEEL ALIVE. Thats what matters I know everyone will understand that. I do not know what 2 months, 3 months, etc, prozac free will bring? Advise from anyone would help me alot. I am going to post monthly on my progress. I hope this will help someone. I had a hard time finding help when I was going of my prozac. I will talk to you in one month. Please pray for me. Thank you. I feel like I am going off to war or something. I guess I kinda am.
September 17th, 2007 at 2:41 am
i thought i would check in. anybody prozac free longer than a month out there? really need some help? still haven’t taken any prozac, things are steady but slow. having anxiety flare-ups here and there but so far am able to handle. still the nightmares. i just feel so alone and scared.is there anybody out there? please reply.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I have been on Zoloft for about 12 years, anywhere from 50mgs to 200mgs. I have quit twice – first time, about 9 years ago, cold turkey. And it was ugly – all the classic withdrawal symptoms – driving me back to the drug. The second time I got my nerve up was about 4 years ago. I did a very short taper period, like, 50mgs for several days, then 25mgs, then nada. I took Dramamine and Benadryl and together, they alleviated the severity of the symptoms, but they will make you sort of drowsy.
The other VERY helpful thing was this: Running. Or jogging, really. Sometimes just walking fast, but do this – whether outside or on a treadmill. I know you probably hate to hear that, as it is hard to start an exercise program, but if you get your heart rate up and keep it there for 20 minutes – it naturally releases dopamine and other “feel good” chemicals and I swear it will also help you get rid of the drug you’re trying to quit – whether it’s Zoloft or whatever – faster.
I am no excercise nut and I had to force myself to do this the first week or so, but then I realized how much it was helping and as I look back, there was no way I could have done it without the excercise.
I got derailed two years ago. Big life problems, depression hit. I was desperate and went back to Zoloft. Boom! 25 pounds. I didn’t gain that much the first time I was on it – some, but not that much. I function so much better mentally, but overall, the weight makes me feel terrible about myself. Recently, I was so desperate to lose I reduced my caloric intake to like 600 cals a day and excercised 3x a week. Nothing. Not an ounce budged.
So folks – it’s that time again. I’m quitting the Zoloft. I’m going to do it the same way I did last time and maybe add in the 5-HTP and Flax Seed Oil as well as a B Vitamin complex. Wish me luck… God bless all.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:31 pm
i had seritonin toxicity waning symptoms ie, just the beginning symptoms. unfortunately i was on prozac 20 mg and initrex 50 mg and the two are dangerous together as the fda outlined in june 2006. none of my doctors wanted to diagnose me with this as it is so rare. after so many scares and er visits, urgent care visits etc, it came to a head and a toxicologist and er dr finally diagnosed me. my doctors still refuted it. i decided to refuse my prozac and discontinue cold turkey as seritonin toxicity is life threatening. i was told to see a psychiatrist as i had stress and anxiety not seritonin syndrome. well after 5 months off prozac-cold turkey no er urgent care visits and all my tocxicity symptoms vanished.finally the dr.s said, maybe you were sensitive to the seritonin . the initres greatly enhances the seritonin of the prozac. i was taking 3-4 50 mg. imitrex every 10-14 days. mu prozac withdrawals were horrible. every week they lessened. i had the normal electric zaps, stephen king nightmares, nausea, dizziness, depression, jello brain, brain hiccups, brain shivers you name it i had it. just getting through the day was an accomplishment. i kept a calendar of my symptoms. i still take imitres and i’m realizing the imitrex, would stall if you will, my withdrawal symptoms from the prozac. the imitrex gives me a small boost of seritonin so for a few days the symptoms are less. recently i have started taking a herbal hormone su[pplement that has taken my migraines down to once a month. less imitres, less seritonin, more withdrawal symptoms. keep in mind i came off of prozac may 5 2007. i would say i’m 80% better. sometimes i revert back to being scared that these symptoms are something else since they’ve gone on for so long. but given the above explanation i believe my brain is till getting used to my new brain chemistry. i was on the 2 meds i mentioned 13 years. the doctor’s dont help me. per them, i really shouldn’t have any withdrawal symptoms since my prozac dose was quote unquote so low. i know i have withdrawal symptoms, and i know they will continue to get better. i never had these symptoms until may 11 and the symptoms are the same just less sever.. the nightmares are gone. mainly now i feel dizzy, have jello head especially when i’m tired. this was long but i have wanted to write in case i can help someone. be careful with ssri’s and migraine medicines. the commercials on television for antidepressants like cymbalta are even warning out loud that they should not be combined with migraine meds. be careful. kim
October 4th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Just picked up a prescription for prozac-generic 10mg for depression and anxiety. Came home to look it up online and now I am scared to start it. Used to be on Paxil about 8 years ago and switched later to lexapro? howver not for very long. Weened myself off when I lost insurance 5 years ago. Do not remember any side effects. Feel as if I am suffering from depression and social anxiety agian. anyone take prozac and not gain weight or feel wierd? Should I not start taking these pills?
October 6th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
What a helpful site for us all. I have been on Zoloft for 4 years, and for the past year plus have been taking 150 mg per day. In April, I decided to start weaning from the drug by cutting down 12.5 mgs per MONTH (a 1-year plan to wean). So, May 1 I went to 137.5, June 1 to 125, July 1 to 112.5, etc… It is now October 6th and I’m on my 6th day at 75mg. I have noticed that on about the 6th through 9th or 10th day after each drop, I get irritable with some slight depression. BTW, I originally went on Zoloft for bad panic attacks (don’t want those again). My plate was too full. My goal is to be Zoloft-free come April 1st, 2008. Ah crap, that’s April Fools’ Day!!! I never thought of that. In short, I am glad that I have decided to do this, and I am very glad that I am doing it very slowly. Celebrate the small wins, and don’t rush to be off of it. As others have said, embrace the emotional changes. If you wean slowly, I think you will minimize their impact. Best of luck to all of us! I’ll post again in one month.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:47 am
i am feeling much better this month. like kim said above my nightmares are not so severe anymore.i have noticed in my second month my memory is getting better. no more prozac fog. i just feel more aware of whats going on now.(some people took advantage of this) i can concentrate better. i am talking more now. when on prozac, did not have much to say. i guess there is life after prozac. i was really beginning to think different a couple months ago. JJ and Kim, thank you for advice, i work in a school cafeteria, lots of exercise, sometimes too much, i have started taking walks at night with my puppy, Alex that has really helped my anxiety. so does omega-3 fish oil. i have been taking omega-3 since i quit prozac. i know it works because i stopped taking it a couple weeks ago and my anxiety came back. now am i hooked on fish oil? oh well at least its natural. i hope you guys are feeling better too, thanks again for helping, i don’t feel so alone anymore. it gives me hope. sue
October 22nd, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I am 19 years old and I started Cymbalta a little over a year ago. I was taking 60 mgs the whole time. I have been in agonizing withdrawal for 3 full weeks now. I made the decision to get off of the medication after reading forums and articles quite like this. It terrifies me that NO ONE ever mentioned to me how dangerous and horrible this drug is. Tell everyone you know NOT to take it. Yeah, i know it works for some people, but its not worth trying. Getting off of this medication has been hell for me. My life has been put on hold. I can’t work and can hardly leave my apartment due to extreme dizziness, constant “brain zaps”, nauseau and stomach cramps, severe anxiety, intense emotions ranging from deep sadness and crying spells to anger and irritability. And those aren’t even all of the symptoms I’ve been experiencing. Being on the drug at first was fine, then the ridiculous side effects started to really bother me so I went to my doctor to taper off. Actually being on the drug caused me to sweat profusely and overheat during mild activities (you can FORGET working out), dizziness and lightheadedness throughout the day, fatigue, and 30 pound weight gain, just to name a few. I went down by half (30 mgs) for 2 weeks, and now I’ve been cold turkey for 1 week. The withdrawal was still horrible at 30, and only got worse. They only make 60, 30 and 20 mg pills so i figured i wouldn’t bother with the 20 since i still felt like shit at 30. I am absolutely fed up and broken about this. I can’t wait to start my life again. I have suffered from clinical hereditary depression my entire adolescence, and this is the worst drug I have ever taken. Lesson learned: find out everything you can about the medications your doctor puts you on. They don’t even know what the effects of Cymbalta on the body are after 10 years, and our understanding of the brain is still in its infancy. Be careful. Everytime I see the commercial I want to punch someone because I think about all the people who are suffering from depression and think Cymbalta will help, only for a large percentage of them to become WORSE!!!
October 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I took Paxil and Klonopin for 6 years after the birth of my son. I was having terrible anxiety attacks and couldn’t sleep. I was desperate for sleep, so I took the advice of the doctors. Something I will never do again without research first. I stopped taking it in May of 2004. I was VERY SICK for several months. Almost unable to function. Severe dizziness, severe anxiety (worse than a normal panic attack) unable to sleep, strange sensations from head to toe, feeling of jumping out of my skin, crying, suicidal thoughts. 8 months later, I lost the site in my left eye which came back very distorted and with NO peripheral vision at all in that eye. It was called Optic Neuritis. I don’t have MS, no tumor, no stroke. They don’t know why. After reading after market studies about Paxil, Optic Neuritis is on the list of possible rare side effects. Shocker, ey? It is October 2007 and I am still not the person I was before this awful drug. I have chronic fatigue and dizziness still to this day. Most of the time I feel like I’m walking around in water. And this is good compared to how I was 2 years ago! I am improving, but have seeing a homeopathic doctor since July 2005. He saved my life with his treatment. Thank God. And I mean thank God! I have a feeling this is going to take quite a while to get over this. My sister has been experiencing similar problems since stopping Wellbutrin in 2004. She took it for 3 years. She has Fibromyalgia ever since. Coincidence? I think not. Anyone want to get together and sue the socks off of these companies. Let me know. They ruined my life while they padded their pockets.
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:04 am
Hello fellow sufferers, whether taking Prozac or not.
Had several episodes over the past 10 years. Diagnosed with mild depression by GP in a matter of minutes. Stopped cold turkey again. Suffer mostly with anxiety attacks on a regular basis, but try to overcome with a bit of will power. Still suffering so can’t decide whether or not to pick up Prozac again. Any thoughts anyone.
November 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Hi. I’m glad to find this website. I’ve been taking antidepressants for about 15 years now (I think I’ve been on almost all of them). I’ve tried several times unsuccessfully to stop. Now I’m trying again… the last time I tried go down from Effexor, and it was such a nightmare I ended up trying other meds, which all had side effects…finally I went back on Prozac, which I had originally been on years ago. But this time it made me so incredibly cloudy, I decided I needed to try to get off of it, and I don’t have the energy to try other meds, so my goal is to get off completely it at all possible. So, it’s been 2 months since I went down from 30 to 20 mg, and my mood is very variable… slightly less cloudy, but I’m still not thinking things through the way I should, and I definitely have more crying times than I did before. Has anyone had withdrawal last this long with the Prozac? I can’t tell if I’m just getting depressed again and I should just try another med. Sue, how much fish oil are you taking? My psychiatrist actually recommended that to me and I’ve been taking it, but I’m not sure if it’s helping. Thanks everyone, and happy Thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2007 at 12:23 pm
My 17 yr old son, John, has been anxious and depressed (alternating) for two months. We’ve been seeing a counselor and finally decided he may need the support of an SSRI. Went to the psychiatrist – prescribed 10 mg prozac. Within 4 days, John was feeling and acting a LOT better during the day. Laughing, happy, relaxed, engaged, and no depression. HOWEVER, he was not sleeping until 5 am and feeling more anxious than ever at night. Insomnia for 4 nights now. The Dr. said make sure he takes his 10 mg of prozac in the morning (7 to 8 am). This didn’t help. Last night, he had a full blown anxiety attack. Now the Dr. says, stop taking Prozac. But I’m wondering, shouldn’t John maybe try 5 mg or prozac first? Its only been 6 days. Maybe he will get adjusted to it. I’m scared to death for him to try Zoloft, which is the next thing the Dr. wants to try. My sister was on it, and when she stopped, her withdrawal symptoms were an Absolute nightmare for 3-4 months! My feeling is, drugs are experimental at best. Does anyone think John should stay on Prozac and that the anxious feelings and insomonia will subside in a few more days/weeks? My son is so sad – he just wants to feel “normal”.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
i am so glad I am not alone in gaining weight. I had ovarian cancer and a hysterectomy. The lack of estrogen effects my moods, causes depression. I am on hrt (estrogen replacement) and zoloft and I feel like a stuffed pig. I weigh as much as I did when I was pregnant. I used to be size 8 and now I am 12 or 14. I am eating the same as always and I am excercizing. Talk about depression. I want to quit the 100 mg cold turkey, Any advise about natural supplements for either estrogen or seratonin?
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:41 am
Thanks to everyone who submits to this web site. I have been on prozac since my dad died in 2005. It was to help me keep going cause I wanted to shut down. I’m worried though because when I tried to go off it, my temper is frightening to everyone including myself, and that’s not me. So I am going to give it up forever, and reading all these experiences is going to help me tremendously. Also another point, did I ever really deal with my grief? I think this world is so stressful to ALL of us that we sometimes need to do anything we can just to keep putting one foot in front of the other without falling down. I want to learn to do that without my bottle of pills. Pray for me. Love you all really for wanting to share your experiences. Good luck all. Dayle
December 21st, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Laurie I just wanted to tell you, I know exactly what you were talking about when you said you feel like a whole different person and you had alot of axiety attacks for about 3 weeks until you felt things were getting better; I just had to go to the emergency room for a panic attack last Sat.. I felt so embarassed but I knew there was nothing I could do, I couldnt control this overwhelming feeling I had where I felt I could not put my 2 feet on the ground!! (Jell-O Head) and its definetly a laughing matter….Its very scary, Im fighting this though and hopefully everything is going to turn out fine. I think my life would have just been fine without it! ~Cassie xoxo
P.S went on it in the first place cause I thought I had anxiety.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Sorry NO laughing matter!
January 9th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Hello All,
I just stumbled on this site, as I recently weaned off of Prozac (20 mg/day) – have been taking Prozac for the past 14 years…Lots of dizziness, one major headache with throwing up, some flashing lights in my eyes, and LOTS of dreams……..From what I’ve been reading (here and other sites), I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms…..Quite frankly, I wanted to stop taking it, because I don’t believe it really helped, and, my insurance is crazy…
Just thought I’d share my 2 cents!
Best regards, Jane
March 1st, 2008 at 8:59 am
I think this entire SSRI withdrawal is a bunch of malarkey especially if these people have been “suffering” withdrawal more than a month or 3. It doesnt tak that much time to get a drug, any drug out of your system.
I have never experienced withdrawal for longer than a week or 2 and then it was because I slowly tapered off.
These people who think they know more than the Dr.s’ themselves are doing a diss-service to themselves and others who are legitimately looking for help without being so melodramatic about taking psych meds.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I would like to tell everyone about my experience with taking Paxil. I am doing this so that you may make an informed decision should you decide to take this drug. I was not given that option because certain side effects, though known, have not been disclosed to the FDA, physicians, or consumers.
I was prescribed Paxil by my doctor during an especially stressful time in my life. I had no history of mental illness nor was I diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I took this medicine, actually a very low dose, from 2001 – 2005. When I decided to stop taking it, I cut my dose back gradually and weaned myself off of it entirely.
I began having gastric distress. This began as I was cutting back on the Paxil and continued long after I quit taking it. I had diarrhea every day for 2-1/2 years. Just about everything I ate went right through me. This lasted all day long, every day. From my research, I have since learned that most of the serotonin in your body is located in your intestines, so it makes sense that if you take something that adjusts that serotonin level, then your intestines would be affected.
I will try to tell you how this has changed my life. It affects everything that I do, from what kind of job I have, where I go, vacations, where and what I can eat. I have had many tests run by specialists and there is no other cause for the diarrhea. I can also tell you that there have been some very embarrassing moments because of this.
About 2 months ago, as an experiment, I started taking the Paxil again. And guess what? The diarrhea stopped almost immediately. I found a blog called Paxil Progress, which is a blog for people who are trying to wean off of Paxil and it seems that my story is not unique at all. This drug causes bowel incontinence, bloating, horrible gas and pain along with the chronic diarrhea.
I wish I had known what this drug would do to me before I started taking it. Please do your homework. The doctors will not tell you about the side effects and withdrawal symptoms, nor will GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Paxil. Can you guess why they don’t tell you? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
August 27th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I’ve been on 20 mg Prozac almost a year now (for depression). I used to have those severe “black hole” feelings, suicidal, kept having days off work because I just couldn’t bring myself to get up, constantly felt like I was going to break down and start sobbing in public. The pills were amazing, within a month I felt infinitely better – but noticed it’s definitely blunted positive emotions as well as the negative, and have tended to feel a bit spaced out and made some poor decisions, for example, not properly assessing the risk in a new business venture. I asked my doc to take me off it recently, and he tapered me to 15 mg for a month and now I’m down to 10 mg for the next month, then 5 mg after that for a month.
For the last week I’ve been incredibly moody, feeling worthless, and extremely irritable and angry. It only just occurred to me that this could be related to my lowered dose, so have been surfing the web. I’ve read that withdrawal side effects can occur in 10-15% of people, usually start about 1-3 weeks after reducing dosage, and may last for 2-4 weeks. (Apparently if it lasts longer than that, it’s likely to be the old problem returning.)
I’m seeing my doc next week to see what he thinks, but at the moment I feel like I’m going crazy! Hopefully will pass in another week or two before I kill myself or someone else!
Anyway, just sharing my personal experience for what it’s worth. Will check in again in a couple of weeks and write an update.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I have been on Paxil for 2 & a half years – 40mgs. I have quit cold turkey. It is day 6. It has been one hell of a ride. One of the major & many reasons I quit was my newly found, super human tolerance to alchohol which caused lots of problems. My Dr. never told me what a “little slice of heaven” it was to discontinue this drug. Not excusing him, I’m sure the pharma reps told him it was “non addictive”. Technically they are truthful. Addiction by definition is when you continue to do something you know is harmful. Physical dependence – like coffee, nicotene & Paxil is the case here. Bloggers use the terminology responsibly. I don’t doubt antidepressants have saved countless lives, but I am furious at my irresponsible Dr. & the deceptive, scumbag pharmaceutical companies for not letting me know up front what the F— I was getting myself into. It’s all about the $ as usual. Where is our morally bankrupt FDA on this one? I thought I had the “magic pill” but in reality made a deal with the devil. Have fun folks. God bless. You’ll need him.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Marianne C. – With all due respect, you’re ignorant.
I have been on 10mg of Prozac for many years, and got the classic delayed-withdrawal response. No lightning flashes, but vertigo/dizziness galore (kind of like when you first wake up in the morning, and scrunch your eyes together, and get that not-unpleasant buzzing in your ears). And I have been feeling and crying more. The feeling part is great – shows me that a side effect of prozac is robbing the patient of deep emotions. But the irritability and sadness is difficult to deal with. As a grown, heavy man, 10mg is a very small dose indeed. Many a doctor has advised me to quit it entirely, not believing the side effects I’ve described could be so debilitating at a dose of just 10mg (for my body weight of 250lb)
But I can tell you, oh Marianne, this blog would not be so full of comments if there weren’t “somefin to it”.
My withdrawal has been going on for 4 weeks now; I hope it settles down soon. I will stick it out.
October 9th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Ive taken all kinds of these meds. Helped a little, but not enough to deal with the side effects. After I couldnt stand the depression any more, went back on paxil. I had been on it before and had ok results, felt better, less withdrawn. After starting again, discovered couldnt stop eating when full, couldnt stop drinking when drunk. And craved alchohol. Alchoholism in a pill! As if I didnt have enough problems! Even bought a bottle for my locker at work to sip at end of the day before going home. Had some bad drinking episodes, fell down, passed out etc. Never been like that before. Been tapering down, drinking problem is gone.
I am having the zaps. Anyone discovered something for that? Maybe herbal supplement or something?
October 9th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Just started 10 mg of Prozac yesterday. I feel okay I guess….I definitely have more patience with my children which is the main reason I’m doing this. I don’t like how angry I get at them and the rage that comes out of me over crumbs hitting the floor. For that reason alone I want this to work, but I don’t know. I don’t want to be in that fog, which I definitely feel. I tried zoloft for 2 days once..had massive panic attacks. Then Lexapro for 2 days, heard what sounded like a radio being tuned in my ear and had no motivation and I am an artist…I have to feel creative! But not motivated to do anything really, clean house, wash clohes, take care of family, etc. I just hate pills period but I feel like I would rather my kids have a calm, slightly detached mom, than a crazy, emotional mom. I was considering taking it every other day or just the week b/f my period when my anxiety seems to be the worst. Anyone else take it like this?
October 19th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
because of serious financial problems (including unemployment) i was forced to run out of my zoloft. i was taking 150mg nightly. I feel completely helpless. I have all the known side affects of withdrawal. Sever dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, sadness, despair, suicidal thoughts, ETC…. My doctor will not renew my prescription without my one year exam. Which I can not afford. and even if I could, I can not afford to pay for the prescription. Of course my health insurance has been canceled. I am not getting any support from loved ones. By support I mean sensitivity or understanding. In fact I am receiving just the opposite. I am expected to continue on my selfless ways and be the layed back, doting, and “happy” lover. I am DRAINED. Nobody cares. I don’t want to be selfish, but dammit, I am having some serious issues right now! I can’t get a break. I actually feeling guilty for having withdrawals. Any suggestions? by the way, I must mention that because of my sudden stop in sertraline treatment and the way I am treated in my relationship I am starting to become convinced that I am a terrible companion and my complaining and pain is all in my head. As if everything I feel or say is not legitimate, is not accepted. I am just another crazy person that is totally delusional. (and one step away from homelessness). I’m sure if I don’t put myself, my opinions, my behaviors aside, I will be kicked out on the streets. I HATE my life.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:59 am
To Shel (and others),
I have taken Prozac or some form of fluoxetine for 14 years (after experiencing panic attacks and depression). I have also been in therapy. I am now weaning myself off of the medication, and it has been very difficult, much as described above. Part of what has helped me to be able to get off of the medicine is to realize that the burdens and responsibilities that I have felt I had in my life have kept me from taking care of my “self”, listening to my”self”, and my own intuition about what I’ve needed. For example, Shel, the care that we give to our children (and to others-family members, friends, significant others, bosses, etc.) is a demand on ourselves, yet if we love them, or try to care for them, or please them, we do what we have to do (often our own guilty feeling are involved). It is a conflict with what we need to do for ourselves, and it causes us to be anxious (conflict) and depressed (burdened.) Try organizing what you have to do for others, but pay attention to what you need to do for yourself. If that means getting some help with things around the house, find a way to do it by aksing for help in some form (I don’t know how old your children are, Shel, but even if everyone in the family has to pitch in somehow, it can be helpful to you. One strategy is to try to organize a family meeting, so eveyone knows they have responsibiities, but you do it in a way that the kids don’t feel like you’re beating up on them, it’s just family cooperation. You could ask a friend or family member for help as well.) If you do what you need to do for yourself: creative time that you miss so much, take some time to eat right, exercise, relax and have fun for yourself (even in very small doses) it will help you. I know this is hard to do with small children, but if you start treating yourself like the human being that you are, you will start to feel less conflict and burden, which will lead you ro have more patience with yor children, family, etc. Once I learned to do that, I have been doing better. This strategy applies to all of our burdens in our life.
In addition, check with your doctor to be sure you don’t have another medical condition. For me, I had anti-thryoid antibodies (thyroid peroxidase AB and thyoglobulin AB), which cannot be detected with a regular thyroid blood test panel. I needed some thryoid medication, which helped both anxiety and depression. Also, when you do blood tests, aside from anti thyroid anitbodies, check Free T-3 and Free T4, not T-3 and T-4. A doctor will know what this means. They are the thyroid hormones available for you to use in your bloodstream-not bound to proteins in the blood.)
For those who cannot afford medication, and need it, try the generic form (rather than the brand name), which is much less expensive. There are clinics that you can go to at most major teaching hospitals that may be able to help you with affordng the medicine. Therapy is also available there. In addition, there is probably a mental health organization that can help you afford the medcation or therapy. I have also found the following to be helpful (#1-5 is very important, after that, take your pick): 1) Eating right is very important to nourish yourself.
There is a book called Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis Balch, which suggests more natural methods for treating anxiety and depression. Take a look at that as well as some of the other books in the bookstore. 9) Alternative therapies like biofeedback, accupuncture, meditation are helpful. 10) Enjoying and appeciating nature is helpful. 11) Being part of any healthy community of people is helpful for normalcy and support.
2) Sleeping at night is important. 3) Exercise is important (which helps raise seratonin levels) Do something you like to do. I have found that yoga, chi gong, walking, water exercise and dancing, help balance and are not too hard on the body. Sleeping at night is important. 4) Taking basic vitamins is helpful. I have taken a multi, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids, which are being found to help depression. I take food based vitamins when possible, because they are less harsh on the stomach. Alpha lipoic acid and Co-Q 10 are also helpful. 5) Having fun, following yor interests, and laughing (alone or with others, if possible, is important. 6) Massage is helpful. 7) Faith, if you have it, is helpful.
When anxious or deppressed, it is not easy to think of taking care of what you need to do for yourself. But if you start to do this slowly, it will work, and sometimes- better than a pill. I hope this helps.
I hope all of this helps
October 25th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Regarding withdrawal from the medicine, you can withdraw in smaller doses by cutting up the tablet form of the medication (brand or generic)or taking the liquid form of the medication. reducing the dose even one miligram at a time. A highly reputable MD/complementary medcine doctor advised taking 2,000 mg. of Omega 3 as a support for depression. Research has supported this (Carlson and Nordic Naturals are good brands of Omega 3). Also, if you have access to such a doctor, they will consult with a compounding pharmacist with you to discuss other options for support for anxiety/depression. (Again, A combination of such support along with a healthy varied lifestyle (food, exercise, doing what you lile to do for leisure, in addition to life’s responsibilities is necessary to achieve balance.)
October 28th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Just went to the walk-in yesterday and as I sat there dizzy and fingers starting to tingle…I got scared, because I also have CAD a block in my artery. I told the receptionist I wasn’t sure if I was in the right place waiting an hr and 1\2 there or go to the hospital. I called Telehealth on the recomend from my daughter and ended up at the Emerg. after being there 3 hrs (they told us we wouldn’t be seen for another 4 hrs) we could go home if we felt like it but they first wanted to check on our blood work. I felt like I needed to go home, my blood work checked out ok, diabetes levels ok and a heart cardigraph ok. I then talked to my daughter who had been combing the internet and she told me she felt all my symptoms of dizzyness, hunger, crying, whole body soreness, numbness and tingling, waking in the night etc was probably the cause of my weaning down from and stopping Prozac 2 weeks ago. I was blown away to say the least and starting my own research. This is down right scary….I’m not sure how long I will try this my pharmacist thinks going back on 10mg a day and then evenually alternating every other day would help. I still don’t know. I hate feeling depressed again and I’m not free yet or if ever. My daughter has been diagnosed with Bi-polar and I have an aging Mom with memory problems and lost my Dad 1.4 yrs ago, care for my 4 yr old granddaughter. Everyone has problems just not sure how I’ll cope with out meds and these darn symptoms. I wish someone could REALLY help me make a decision. Thanks for listening.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Speak to a compounding pharmacist and MD/complementary medicine doctor about taking 5HTP, a precursor of seratonin, to support you during the withdrawal from the medication. SSRI’s block the seratonin receptors, leaving more available beween synapses. 5HTP helps to support the production of seratonin, so it will help you to reduce the medication with less side effects.
November 1st, 2008 at 8:03 pm
i have been taking prozac for 2 months and stoped taking it for about a week i am tired all the time i have severe tremors ,weak emotinall, feeling all alone even though im not but im just sad cant work cause my body does not feel right i get diahrrea i dont know what to to with myself.and on top of all that i suffer from panick attack i fell like im stuck in life i know ther is hope for me but then again i dont know.IM SCARRED cause all the doctors want to do is keep putting me on more drugs im a 32 year old single parent of an 11 year old girl and i dint know what to do for myself and i got to be strong for my daughter.GOD HELP ME
November 18th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I’ve been on Paxil, went through all those side effects,got through it and was on it for 5 yrs.It stopped working and my depression & anziety came back.Then the Dr put me on Wellbutrin which I had no real side effects from and am still on it.I’m having allot of stress in my life right now,plus menopause/ hot flashes.I was then put on Efexxor………that was horrible,terrible side effects…..went off of it. My Dr. now has me on Zoloft which started out ok,was on a low dose…think 10 mg? then she upped it to 100…….I felt horrible, terrible side effects,heart burn,gas,stomach aches,asthma trouble,you name it…… I didn’t take it today which I’m down to 25 mg, but still have heartburn. I feel shakey, tired,blurred vision. Don’t take this,it’s nasty.I don’t know what to do……………if you have any suggestions I’d appreciate it. Thanks
I get terrible panic attacks and wish they would stop…………help ………… : /
November 30th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I am currently on 200mg of Zoloft and have been for about a year. Before that I was on 80mg of prozac. I have been so extremely tired on zoloft sometimes needing 15 hours of sleep. It has been this way for a year since I switched medicines. Could this be because my body is still wanting prozac? Would it be ok to take both drugs at the same time, but with lower doses? Would that maybe solve the chronic tiredness and still make me feel ok? thanks
December 6th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I have been on 100 mg. Zoloft for about 6 years now and also 15 mg. I was bad about taking it for a while (skipping doses, and sometimes a few days in a row). I got the flu for a few days and realized I hadn’t taken anything for a week. I am hoping to get pregnant in about 9 months and wanted to try it without meds. It’s been almost a month that I have been off. I notice I am alot more irritable than usual and a little weepy. I was never irritable before the meds.
How long is it common to experience withdraw symptoms? Should I start back up on the meds or give it a few more weeks? I’d really like to be med free, but not if it means I want to scream at everyone. Also I’m having more nightmares than I do when I’m on the meds and lots of headaches, but then headaches are pretty common for me. I have migraines, sinus headaches, stress….
Thanks!!!
December 16th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION THAN COMMENT. I HAVE A 26 YR OLD DAUGTHER WHO IS INCARCERATED. SHES BEEN LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT 3 YRS. SHE WAS A HEROIN ADDICT WHEN LOCKED UP BUT IS CLEAN FOR THE TIME SHES BEEN THERE. SHE IS GOING THROUGH ANXIETY AND PANIC. THE PRISON MEDICAL STAFF HAS HAD HER ON WELBUTRIN. SHE DIDNT COPE WELL WITH THAT. SHE HAS JUST RECENTLY STARTED ON PROZAC. HER QUESTION: WILL THE FACT THAT SHE IS A RECOVERING ADDICT HAVE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS WITH THE PROZAC? WILL THE PROZAC HAVE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON “STAYING CLEAN”? DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE IN PRISON, BUT SHE STAYS AWAY FROM THAT ENVIRONMENT AND INTENDS TO LEAVE THAT LIFE STYLE BEHIND HER WHEN SHE GETS OUT, BUT WONDERS HOW CLOSELY THE ANXIETY IS LINKED WITH THE “RECOVERING” AND THE EFFECTS OF THE PROZAC. ANY IDEAS, ANY EXPERIENCE.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Steve: Re: Incarcerated daughter.
Congratulations to your daughter for getting clean and sober from a drug that is hard to kick for more reasons than we have time here to review. Trust her when she says that kicking it ‘hurts’ as heroin targets and regulates the human areas of the experience of pain. So, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is in her long term sobriety to remind her and yourself of that fact when times get hard.
Wellbutin is an excellent drug for folks struggling with substance abuse and addiction symptoms, too bad that didn’t settle with her body chemistry. Prozac acts on a different part of the nerve cell and not comparable to Wellbutin (probably why she’s tolerating it). So, Prozac. Great drug for s/s of anxiety and panic, which by the way is an all together form of ‘living hell’ if you’ve never been through an episode. If we keep the discussion strictly to “I have a diagnosis of Anxiety, is it a good choice?” Yes.
But that’s not the issue, nor is it generally most folks issue. We are a complicated species, creating all manner of lifestyle choices and being in the wrong place at the right time scenarios. So, Prozac and the recovering addict. I’ll make a list of things for you to consider, and leave it at that:
1. Any safe and regulated medication, meditation, alternative support, or otherwise, undertaken by someone in recovery to strengthen and maintain their sobriety as “components of a comprehensive program uniquely created to fit each person” is a good thing.
2. Your daughter’s unique chemical composition, rate of healing at the cellular level to her heroin use, emotional reaction and regulation to social and environmental factors when released from incarceration, will tell whether or not she will have adverse reactions at all.
3. She needs a compassionate, trained addiction medical practitioner that specializes in ‘medical and health care in the recovering individual.’ They exist and they are worth a million. Total body medical health care is a known factor estimating long term sobriety; a trusting and confidential person to talk to and know s/s of medical disease v. addiction. So, for me, it’s not whether or not a specific drug will/not have effects on your daughter’s sobriety, but what is her commitment to finding and working closely with a medical practitioner that will see her addiction history in a much, much, MUCH larger context than, “I’m a female recovering heroin addict that was recently released from prison…oh, yeah, I’m on Prozac.”
4. Re: Anxiety symptoms now, vs. when using, vs. while incarcerated, vs. initial release, vs. forever. See #3.
Finally, my heart and wishes go out to you, mostly. It’s more empowering to initiate life changes from within–grab the knob, turn the handle and walk through the door–than being the person observing on the outside. Add to that the parent-factor and you may find that you need Prozac. Why wait for a sentinal event? Attend a couple of different AlaNon support groups, even a couple of NA meetings, until you find one that speaks to your heart. You are her safety net, clearly, and modeling for her how to take care of yourself is yet another way you can gift life lessons to your daughter.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I’ve been on 20mg of Prozac for a year for fibromyalgia, and it has done nothing for any of my symptoms including the depression, and mood swings that go along with the FM. I stopped taking it 3 days ago, and am feeling really strange, like i’m a bystander just watching my life from a distance. Reading the stuff on this site is really scaring me, I don’t want to feel like this for months, but I don’t want to go back on the Prozac. Recently had to start going to a different doctor who is really not helpful. Please tell me this feeling will go away.
April 10th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I’ve been on Zoloft since ’95 or ’96 doses ranging from 25-200mg. I’ve been on 50mg for the past 2, 3 years. I used to have those brain zaps that people talked about but I havnt felt that in a long time and I hope they dont ever come back. I’ve quit twice and the times that i actually quit I didnt feel much of the withdrawl symptoms. I quit cold turkey 4 days ago. (I decided to quit because a week ago my stupid family doctor put me on Celebrex and there was some very unpleasant interactions. Celebrex is a NSAID and it is also a CYP450 2D6 inhibitor. CYP450 2D6 metablizes zoloft, thus by inhibiting it, blood concentration of zoloft increases and creates “mild” serotonin symdrome. Mild meaning that I had chills,uncontrollable tremors and anxiety attack for 20hrs. Imaging if I was on a higher dose I could have bleeding, drop in BP, and coma.) I swear most doctors are idiots!! I was in the emergrency. Later, my doctor looked at his out-dated software and said there was no interaction. I explained the whole mechanism to him then he apologized. I suggest that anyone to start a new drug to look up online for drug interactions even if your doctor prescribed to you because doctors do make mistakes and once can kill you! Anyways, after that experience I decided to quit zoloft all together. Drugs are dangerous and I hate them!! I threw away all my xanax, ativan, and zoloft.
I might be depressed 15 years ago but I havnt felt that way for years since I quit drinking and started exercising. Life just has its ups and downs. Somtimes we just have to go through the hurdles and tough it out. Since quitting cold turkey few days ago I felt light-headed, nausea, insomnia and anxiety but I told myself to stay away from ativan or xanax. I went to see my TCM(traditional chinese medicine) doctor yesterday and had accupunture. She was also a western medical doctor in China so she would have a more comprehensive knowledge on things. This morning I woke up, my heart papitation went away and the symptoms has gotten 80% better. i still feel a bit light-headed but I know it will pass eventually. I am also taking 100mg of 5-HTP a day along with multi-vitamins, omega 3, Q10. It’s only day 4 but I know I will fine soon. I can still recall back in ’98 my shrink(dude worked at Beverly Hills and charged me $100 for 15 min of consult) told me that zoloft has no withdraw symptoms. I feel like a guine pig because I was probably one of the very first people to be put on zoloft. The whole pharmaceutical industry will get cracked down one day just like the financial industry. All the dirt and secrets will get revealed!
For people who are going through withdrawl, just keep in mind that all the symptoms will pass. Being scared of them will only cause anxiety. Some will go through them faster, some will be slower. Exerice and taking supplements definitely help. Dont exceed 100 mg of 5-HTP since overdose on 5-HTP will cause serotonin symdrome. If the symptoms are so intolerable, see if you can find a good TCM who specializes in internal balance(There are TCMs who are good at external stuff. I go to another TCM for my shoulder pain). Also, It’s important to know that it is ok to have a bit of mood swings. We are all different and we have to stop seeking for that emotional perfectionism. Who said who all have to be nice and plesant? We would just all end up as zombies and robots.
April 11th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I have been on prozac for years and recently – with the supervision of a psychiatrist – tried tapering down my dose. I went from 20 to 10 and then to 10 mg 6 days a week and none 1 day of the week. I have been going through a horrendous amount of stress in my life. Then a few days ago I began experiencing vertigo – a sensation of going up and down, particularly when walking. This was exacerbated by a plane ride I took though I believe the sensations started before the plane ride.
I went through a similar situation a few years ago during a period of stress – I think I had also decreased my prozac dose at about the same time.
I am back to 20 mg daily of prozac. It’s been a week and the symptoms are still there. I am really hoping they subside soon. I’m not 100% sure that they are due to the SSRI withdrawal, but I think that there’s a good chance.
May 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Im a 22 year old who’s been on paxil for a month.I’m getting head throbbs lack of sleep and im dreaming every night.Is dat normal to dream every night?It’s most definitely the paxil,should I stop? I’m feeling so bad.I think I would want to deal with trying to mamange my own feelings by breathing and relaxing.Im taking half of 40 mg,It still seem to take over my body I need help!! Im so irritated can sumbody give me advice please……
May 11th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Janae,
Why were you put on Paxil in the first place? Speak with your doctor immediately about the side effects.
After had been on the meds for over 13 years, my advise is that if you can tough out the depression or anxiety or find some natural ways of dealing then do that instead.
I quit zoloft for almost 5 wks now. I am still alive!! I’ve been keeping a log of my symptoms everyday since day 1. Things do get better. I occasionally still get anxious but I would go for a walk and then it will get better. My left eyelid has been twitching for a week and I dont know if thats a withdrawal symptom or from something else. Besides that, I have not gotten any brain zaps at all(I used to get them when I was on high dosages comings down. My sleep started getting better about 2 wks ago. I havnt had any nightmares. I used to have night sweats but that has been gone completely eversince I quit. I used to get the wooshing feeling in my head a lot whenever I move my eyeballs or turn my head but that has been decreasing in frequency as well. I havnt felt depressed at all.
I’ll post in another month or so and see I am back to normal or no.
May 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
I found this website by googling abrupt withdrawal of Zoloft. I am shocked at what I have read. I was on Zoloft 5omg a day for about 3 months and got this excruciating head pain on one side of my head. I went to the ER, and told them I was on Zoloft 50mg daily. They did a CT scan, drug screen, and blood work. Everything was normal. That day I stopped taking the Zoloft. Two days later I started feeling nauseated,dizzy,and light headed every time I got up or moved around, started having numbness and tingling in my face and lips, brain zaps, fast heartbeat (120-130) when I just stood up, thinking I saw things out the corners of my eyes, blurry vision to the point I could not wear my glasses, and like the inside of my head just had thick clouds or jello in it. Have followed up with my Dr. twice and his “Clinical Diagnosis” as of 2 days ago is “Multiple Sclerosis” and am scheduled to see a neurologist in the next 3 wks.- now if I had health insurance I am sure I would have had an appt. sooner, but anyway….I am a nurse and had no idea about these withdrawals being this severe until reading the stories on here. I will never take another one of these types of drugs. Today is the best I have felt in the last 3 wks, only couple of episodes of dizziness and face tingling that left as quick as it came. I do intend to contact my Dr. next wk, because I have a strong suspicion his diagnosis of “MS” is actually Zoloft withdrawal. I am and always have been fairly healthy with the exception of being overweight, and there is no history of any family member ever having MS-not that there would have to be. The FDA needs to be reading these stories and so should the Dr.’s prescribing these meds, because I can’t imagine my Dr. would prescribe this med if he knew how severe the withdrawals were. I wonder if anyone has ever filed complaints with the FDA?
May 26th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Been off PROZAC for 7weeks not had a nasty time coming off this time.
Tried coming off in the past and symptoms of the illness forced me to run to the WONDER DRUG and lets face it the wonders of this drug are totally life enhansing, and a life saver on many many occasions.
Hopefully tho I will one day be able to put the illness behind me and its treatment but if I really cant and my symptoms return to dog my life then I will be the first in the que to sing aloud its praises.
Thankyou PROZAC for all you have done to save and improve my life so far.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
My twitching in the eyelid was pretty much all gone since I quit the nicotine losenge which I had been on for 3 years since qiutting smoking. I started having ringing in my left ear and that whooshing feeling in the head came back along with it 10 days ago. I emailed DR. shipko, who is an expert in SSRI’s, Benzo withdrawls,and panic/anxiety attacks, he said that withdrawl symptoms can come in waves and are self-limiting with time. He said most people are out of the withdrawl within 3 months but some can last up to a year or more. I hope I am not the unlucky one. Even if that’s the case, I am just going to tough it out because there is no way to turn back. Restarting the SSRI can cause new side effects.
I also want to say that everyone is different. Many people gained weight during the ssri’s but I remembered that I lost a bit of weight when I first started it. In fact, the last couple of months I’ve gained at least 5 lbs with the same level of activity and eating. Either way, I am gonna have to deal with the weight thing after I am feeling completely well.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Today is the 59th day off zoloft and to be honest with you, I am not sure if I am still having withdrawl or I am done. I still having ringing in my ear but my mom has that too and she’s never had 1 zoloft in her life. I sleep pretty ok most of the time and out of the past 30 days there were 7 days that I didnt sleep well. 2 days I woke up having anxious dreams(not nightmares, but unpleaasnt dreams)but didnt have any anxiety attacks. Havnt been depressed, if anything, people around me think I have been amazingly strong considering I have been suffering from chronic shoulder pain for a year.
All in all, no doubt the withdrawl process has been hard. I am not sure that if I am close to being done or have a long way to go. I think a lot of times we just might focus too much on the symptoms themselves. Coming down on the dosages were not that hard for me because I was just busy with other things.
If you have something/someone that you love, just hold on to that thought and maybe that will pull you through it. Good luck to all.
June 13th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I started reading Paxilprogress.org and I think it’s terrible. There are a lot of people on there who have been suffering from withdrawls for more than 2 years. I am sure some people are like that but I also found that some people are so discouraging. There was one guy who got through w/d within 1 wk or so after being on 7 years of Paxil. Wasnt that a great? I found other people attacking him saying that “oh, you will get it in a month or so.” and some people saying that,”oh, you must not be human”. I personally know someone who came out of withdrawl in 3,4 wks and it’s been 4 years and hes totally fine.
The terrible stuff people talked about could happpen but you dont know their living habits like alchohol, illegal drugs, other meds, and exercise habits. I’ve also noticed that a lot of people are taking many other meds along with SSRI’s. Maybe the person did heroin or drank on a regular basis. What i know for sure is that if I was still drinking like how I was before(half bottle of wine to a bottle a night), there’s no way I couldve pulled out of this. There are so many variables and online posts can only be as good as those lavalife ads. Things can be exaggerated and omitted. Who knows?
I just know that if there’s a determination and the right cause, we can do it.
August 16th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
What an eye opener this has been. I was put on Lexipro because of mild anxiety/depression. A year later, I was experiencing fatigue, nausia, mood intability, night sweats, etc. Finally out of desperation I went to my local urgent care for fatigue. They found my thyroid was low. After taking the thyroid meds, it seemed to help for a while. After the thereputic level was reached my other symptions came back, with a vengence. It was summer, being a teacher, I thought maybe the stress was too much so summer should take care of that. Things continued to get worse until I thought I had reach my limit. My doc said to double my Lexipro to 20mg because the lower dose must not be working. From there it has been a black spiril downward. After taking 20mg I was with some dear friends for a vacation we have done every year for the last 11 years. I cried off and on the whole trip. They were great about saying, cry when you need to, we are ok with it. When we came home from vacation, my husband looked up just night sweats. One of the leading causes-Lexipro. He looked up the side effects. Of the major 10 I hit 11! What damage I have been doing to myself because, in the am I would hurry up and take my Lexipro to think it would get me through the day. Today is the first day I am cutting back to 10mg. I feel like hell. Why did I think this was a good idea in the first place? This hell is worse than anything I have ever experienced. I can barely hold it together. My mother came over with a bottle of wine. Having a glass has calmed enough to write and not just cry. How am I going to teach? The fear and responsibility is overwhelming. I will continue this week with 10mg then down to five, and so on. I don’t want to trade one dependance for another. I know that wine is not the answer, I just can’t seem to get it together. I am exausted from the nightly sweats. I have three changes setting out at night, this is my routine. How can this be normal? I feel some hope from reading others coming through this. Right now, this just sucks. I will never be dependent on a SSRI again.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
It’s been 4 months and half since I had my last zoloft. I’ve been keeping a log of my symptoms everyday. It also includes how I sleep, and how my mood is that day. I have not had any caffein, nicotine, or alcohol. Although I have been suffering from shoulder pain, I havnt taken any pain meds that contain codein either. I am getting my sugery next week and I am quite nervous. I have been having some anxiety symptoms the past couple of days.
The ringing in my ear reduced down to only when I first wake up and when I go to sleep a month ago. Since I got a noisy aquarium installed a couple of weeks ago, I dont hear the ringing anymore at all. My eyelid twitching came back twice. Last time it lasted for a week. This time about the same and I am not too worried about it because I know it will go away again. So those were the physical symptoms that are still there.
Emotionally, I started feeling depressed because of my shoulder. It’s been debilitating and painful. I am not sure if it was withdrawl or not. I feel like I might still have a bit of ways to go to be completely fine. The symptoms get milder and milder though.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
One of the leading causes-Lexipro. He looked up the side effects. Of the major 10 I hit 11! What damage I have been doing to myself because, in the am I would hurry up and take my Lexipro to think it would get me through the day. Today is the first day I am cutting back to 10mg. I feel like hell. Why did I think this was a good idea in the first place? This hell is worse than anything I have ever experienced. I can barely hold it together. My mother came over with a bottle of wine. Having a glass has calmed enough to write and not just cry. How am I going to teach? The fear and responsibility is overwhelming. I will continue this week with 10mg then down to five, and so on. I don’t want to trade one dependance for another.http//www.bodypaintcostarica.com
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I have been off prozac 20 mg cold turkey now for 9 days. I was gaining weight and feeling no sex drive for the last 3 years. The only side effect I am noticing is itchy skin. All day and all night with no relief from lotions or benadryl. Is this common has anyone else experienced this side effect? Also I have upped my garlic, Vit D 3 and multiple vitamin and started walking more.
tam
December 1st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I have been taking the generic prozac for a week, and I just am overcome with nervousness, interrupted sleep, NO appetite, as well as diarhhea, although there is nothing left inside me to poop! I am wondering if I will have any withdrawals after taking it for only one week?? I just don’t think it’s right for me, and I am worse off now than when I started taking it. Please reply if you have an answer for me!
December 11th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I didn’t read all of the posts since this blog started in 2004, but I’m glad to see it’s still going in 2009.
Brief background: I had a stroke just over 2 years ago and began 10 mg Lexapro for severe depression about a month after the stroke. After about 5 months of Lexapro (and major life changes…), I talked to my doc about feeling like it wasn’t working well anymore, so he doubled the dosage. I ended up in the hospital. I saw a neurologist in the hospital who transitioned me from Lexapro to 75 mg of Zoloft. That was about 1 1/2 years ago.
Over the past year and 1/2, I have generally been lethargic and have had an extremely difficult time concentrating. I guess the best description is that my mind was muddled. I assumed it was a result of the stroke.
So, I began doing some research on my own and found that about 90% of the symptoms I was experiencing matched up with side effects of Zoloft. I decided it was time for a change so, like a good boy, I talked to my doc about going off the med. Although he was not absolutely against the idea, he advised against it and suggested that the symptoms I was experiencing were a result of the stroke. (I provided him with a list of side effects and the things I was experiencing.)
The bottom line is that I decided to taper off the med anyway, which I have been doing in increments over the past month or so. I got to the point of taking the last of the med about 3 days ago.
The major symptom I’ve experienced has been a “pinging” in my brain, which seems to be associated with vertigo. I’m hopeful that this will end before long. Although I still have bouts of lethargy, the cloudiness in my brain is much better.
I guess the bottom line for me is questioning what role the medical folks play in all of this. To tell you the truth, I’m not too sure about the docs’ understanding of the impact of antidepressants and, at least in my case, don’t seem to be dialed into what I have been experiencing. As I scanned the posts, I noticed one person who was diagnosed with MS and wonder if the doc has even pursued the thought that her experience may a result of the antidepressant.
As I was told, I consulted my doc about discontinuing the med. I was being told not to “self-medicate” or, in my case, not to self un-medicate, but I’m not real sure what the alternative is. Any recommendations are certainly appreciated! The knowledge I have about the side effects of antidepressants and withdrawal (say what you want, but I still call it withdrawal…), not to mention stroke, has come from reading on the Internet. So, if that is “self-medicating”, then so be it.
OK, I’ve vented now. I’m still “in process” but feeling much better, thank you.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I had seratonin syndrome twice from zoloft and paxil. Had to stop taking it and quit cold turkey. doctor did not monitor me, and now i am having sever muscle loss from discontinuation syndrome. anyone know when this will stop?
February 7th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I was on Effexor XR for a month or so and my symptoms started to worsen so my Doc switched me to Paxil. I was on Paxil for 22 days, and I stopped taking it cold turkey. WARNING: PAXIL IS THE DEVIL. I have been having the worst zaps all over my body, all hours of the day and night. Trouble sleeping and a heightened sense of awareness of everything around me round out my withdrawal symptoms. I started taking the drugs because I am going through a nasty divorce and my anxiety and depression were affecting everything I did. Trust me, I’d rather have the anxiety and depression than these withdrawal symptoms!
April 9th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
MMY WIFE HAS BEEN SUFFERING FOR YEARS FROM WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS FROM ZOLOFT. ONE OF HER WORST SYMPTOMS IS EYE DIZZINESS AND PAIN BEHIND HER EYE WHEN SHE TRIES TO FOCUS ON A DETAIL ITEM. HAS ANY ONE HAD THIS AND HOW LONG HAS IT LASTED?
May 7th, 2010 at 8:28 am
I have been taking these horrible pills for too many yrs. I recommend that everyone get a detox kit and take plenty of vitamin B12 and D-3 research the effects of vitamins like B12 and D3 on line and you will find out why you have depression. Good luck to everyone.
October 16th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
I’ve been taking prozac for 15 years and stopped about 5 months ago because I thought I didn’t need them anymore. I also was experiencing tremors & nightmares, so I thought there was no need to
continue them, was I wrong!!! It took time for the old me to come back, but the depression, emptyness, and total lack of joy and increase in anxiety – all the things I thought were gone
are back with a vengence. I now know, I need this medication to live like others need water to live
life without prozac is just too painful to endure, so my fellow readers I go back on prozac again
because even though I couldn’t enjoy sex life on prozac without prozac I am completely uninterested
and not very appealing, so tremors & nightmares, here I come again
November 30th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
To start I have been on Paxil for almost 8 years I was put on Paxil 20mg for anxiety and mood swings which I now believe was caused from my anxiety.
After years of my family asking me to get off of Paxil because I was a Zombie with no sex drive the pill was not letting me be me a mom, wife, family member and friend I have gained wieght that I cant lose because I dont even have the motivation to get out of bed or get off the couch I have no drive for all the things I once did laughing crying anything all I do is sleep or stay awake for days and then nobody can wake me up once I fall asleep.
So after getting over the fear of withdrawls and really seeing how much I was actually being affected by the medication I have decided to Quit with help from my doctor I am on day 3 on 10mg for one week so far all I am experiencing is anxiety wich I think is more mental then anything because I am antisipating the day I will actually go thru withdrawls. So in the mean time I have been going for walks cleaning house cupboards and all LoL grocery shopping any thing to keep busy and my mind off the whole thing.
I will be writing on this site every day for a way to express my self and read back on later. I have a great support system with family friends and a great doctor who said she doesnt care what time of day it is call her with out all of this I dont think I could have started my journey to a new life!