I want to come off my Zoloft! Any success stories coming off meds?

[kaiilyn_23]

I started Zoloft when I was 12 when my emetophobia was so bad that I couldn't function. I'm 16 now, and very functional. I have the occasional anxiety but only when somebody around me is sick. I no longer panic when I hear of somebody suffering a stomach virus, because I know I wasn't with them. I'm finally comfortable with rational thinking and breathing, and it's done me wonders. The Zoloft definitely helped take away some anxiety, too.

But I really don't want to be so dependent on it. The withdrawal is awful; I mean I miss it one night, or even if I'm late, and I feel so terrible. I'm on 100mg now and have been for 2 years. I would like to come off it, but obviously not cold turkey.

However, I'm just nervous that I'll revert to my old ways. That I'll be panicking 24/7, and a complete mess. My thoughts are that maybe I'll slowly come down to 75mg, and eventually 50mg, and after I feel okay, 25mg. I'll come down and hopefully by next year, I can get off of it.

I'm also hoping that after I stop taking it, my weight will become more manageable! I was only 12 when I started it, and naturally thin, and from there it caused about 30 pounds in weight gain! I needed it; I was only about 95 or so, but I can't tone up no matter what I do. It completely changed my hunger and cravings. I hit puberty considerably early so that wasn't really a large factor at the time.

Has anybody successfully come off of an SSRI, or any other anti-anxiety/depressant? I know it's not something I can do quickly, and I need to speak with my doctor. But I always like hearing from people who have actually experienced a similar situation.

[Readynow]

Hi there! I have been off and on paroxitine (paxil) for 6 years. I had to cold turkey this fall when I found out I was pregnant again. I have reflected a lot on these years and I am better now without the med than ever before, even with it. Somehow the panic isn't even as bad as when I was on it. It's definitely possible but it takes lots of hard work to train yourself not to panic. I got into therapy and am working hard to beat this phobia. I think of the medicine as a crutch (for me) and it really prevented me from doing the digging, hurting, and healing that I have now begun.

Definitely talk to your doctor and parents. Be ready for things to get worse before they get better. Some people need the medicine to function, fortunately I am not one of them. I think the potential and power is in every one of us but we have to be ready to work hard and "suffer well," as my husband says. This is my third time quitting the paxil and I'm finally ready to never take another drug like that again.

There is hope. I'm not cured but I can also feel emotions again. I can live life and work through this. You can too! Good luck

[AoD]

You definitely need to discuss this with your doctor, both for the weaning off (they will work with you to create a plan that will be appropriate for you) and for the possible revert to your old ways. Yes, it is possible that you will get anxiety again and it might get bad. Some people need medication to help them lead a "normal" life, if that is the case with you and you realize you did better with the medication, that's not a failure.

[rebecca1976]

I went cold turkey with paroxetine and found it hard going for a couple of days, i wouldnt advise you do this as youre only 16, i was 32 at the time. I had an upset stomach, pins and needles in my arms and legs and the most horrendous nightmares. They were a lifeline for me and I was on them for nearly 8 years before I felt ready to come off of them, if you are sure that you are ready talk to you gp about the best way to do it, good luck!

Ready now, I took paxil all through my pregnancy, my gp thought it would be better for me to carry on taking it as pregnancy hormones were contributing to my panic attacks, baby was born fit and healthy (despite being Down Syndrome) with no withdrawal symptoms after birth, I was taking 20mg a day.

[ashley26]

I was on Zoloft for maybe 3-4 years when i got off it. I did feel a lot better when I started taking it because I was at such a low point in my anxiety and emet and it has certainly helped me and I also gained weight which was good cause I was underweight but I had to start to gain too much! Anyways I was 21 and there were a few bad side effects of taking Zoloft ( gained weight, really bad night sweats, low sex drive) that I decided to get off it and I was also in a really good place and had been for quite some time. So I slowly weaned off and it actually wasn't that bad. I thought it would be worse because like you if I missed one pill I'd feel terrible. But I slowly got off it and I took benedryl to help with the withdrawl symptoms which helped a lot! (Thank god for my bf looking that up for me)
While on Zoloft I never had any type of therapy so although I started to feel better I never really worked out my issues so after I got off Zoloft about 6 months I started to get really bad again but I refused to go back on meds, instead I found a good therapist and that has helped me deal with my anxiety and has taught be so many helpful techniques. It's been about a few years since I've been on any meds and although I'm not completely recovered from emet I must say I'm doing really well!
If thus us something that you really want to do make sure you are seeing a therapist and talking to your doctors, I would hate to see you take a step back like I did but I think if you take the right steps you'll be okay! You do not need to be on medication your whole life! Hope this helped!