Venting Zoloft Ruined My Life

[TheEndofAllThings]

I have had the absolute worst month on Zoloft. I knew it would be difficult, but I had no idea it would be this bad. I don't think it's supposed to be this bad. I feel like I am in hell right now, this has been the most desperate day of my life and the only thing keeping me from killing myself is my animalistic instincts and lack of a favorable method.

I am also trying to prevent myself from going back to the psych ward. I was just there for the same reason but they actually increased my dosage of Zoloft from 25mg to 100mg. Silly me thought surely I would get past the side effect phase and it would start to help me. No, I feel like I am in mental anguish, my heart is beating rapidly, everything in my life feels impossible right now. It's honestly worse than I could ever possibly describe.

I am supposed to be moving my stuff from one apartment to another today, I don't have the energy to do it and my sister and her husband have to move everything for me. I seriously feel so bad but I can't do anything. I am putting my family through so much shit right now.

What should I do? Should I just stop taking it? I seriously can not put myself through any more of this.

 

[noheart]

Stick with it, but also ask your doc to prescribe some benzo's that could help during the adjustment stage for a couple months. I am on 150 zoloft and they gave me lorazepam 2 a day if needed.

 

[Kali_Yuga13]

I couldn't handle Zoloft, especially 100mgs. I wasn't on it that long so I backed off it down to 50, 25 and then splitting the 25s making it 12.5 then skipping days and just stopped altogether. This was over a 2-3 weeks period.

 

[divinemistress36]

Sadly a lot antidepressants make your anxiety worse before better

 

[ForgottenAgain]

Sertraline is a bitch to get into and off of. I've taken it during different points of my life, usually 200mg, and it was never easy. I'm sorry you're getting such horrible side effects.

I wouldn't stop it on my own if you're getting those side effects. Stopping it on our own can be much harder. I did that not long ago and spent weeks so deeply depressed, triggered me a lot into ctb besides giving me nausea, dizziness and sometimes almost making me faint.

Speak with your psychiatrist about those side effects, they may decide to slowly switch you to a different med or at least give you something else to help control the side effects.

 

[EternalHappiness]

Hi - I'm truly sorry you're going through this. Were you on this forum prior to being on SSRIs or did you join after you started taking them? SSRIs can worsen suicidal ideation.
I don't know how thorough of a risk/benefit analysis your doctor provided you - but I wanted to let you know that the only reason I am on this forum is because of a course of SSRIs that I stopped taking 6 years ago. I developed PSSD (Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction), POTS, and ME/CFS, all of which are irreversible when induced by SSRIs and severely disabling. Check out PSSD Network for more information. Just wanted to give you the chance for informed consent.

 

[CantDoIt]

I'm sorry that you're going through this. I know some people have treatment-resistant symptoms and other times there are significant side effects to begin with. I personally had severe insomnia on Zoloft. When I went on Luvox, my anxiety and depression and suicidal ideation became worse and now I'm sure I want to CTB even though I stopped taking it. It's always your choice how to handle it.

 

[TheEndofAllThings]

Hi - I'm truly sorry you're going through this. Were you on this forum prior to being on SSRIs or did you join after you started taking them? SSRIs can worsen suicidal ideation.
I don't know how thorough of a risk/benefit analysis your doctor provided you - but I wanted to let you know that the only reason I am on this forum is because of a course of SSRIs that I stopped taking 6 years ago. I developed PSSD (Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction), POTS, and ME/CFS, all of which are irreversible when induced by SSRIs and severely disabling. Check out PSSD Network for more information. Just wanted to give you the chance for informed consent.

After looking into PSSD I am severely worried I might have developed this condition after taking Abilify and stopping it. My libido went away after I started taking it and I stopped taking it over a month ago and my sexual feelings haven't come back. I was hoping they would return eventually but now I'm afraid they won't.

 

[divinemistress36]

I'm sorry that you're going through this. I know some people have treatment-resistant symptoms and other times there are significant side effects to begin with. I personally had severe insomnia on Zoloft. When I went on Luvox, my anxiety and depression and suicidal ideation became worse and now I'm sure I want to CTB even though I stopped taking it. It's always your choice how to handle it.

Luvox was the worst for me to. Sucidal ideation so bad on it

 

[CantDoIt]

Luvox was the worst for me to. Sucidal ideation so bad on it

Yeah, I started waking up at 4am with insane panic attacks, racing thoughts, hyper concentration on everything I dislike, and wanting to die, lmao

 

[EternalHappiness]

After looking into PSSD I am severely worried I might have developed this condition after taking Abilify and stopping it. My libido went away after I started taking it and I stopped taking it over a month ago and my sexual feelings haven't come back. I was hoping they would return eventually but now I'm afraid they won't.

Don't panic! I think you'll be ok - while some individuals develop PSSD from antipsychotics, it is less common. One month is too early to come to a definitive conclusion, especially since you're still on Zoloft (which causes sexual dysfunction as a side effect).
Do you want to be on this forum? It certainly won't help with suicidal ideation. Do you have anyone in your life (supportive family, friends) you can talk to?
Sending care.

 

[NeedExit]

Don't stop taking them - wean them off gradually. There's a good description on how to do that on survivingantidepressants.org. Then you should be fine

 

[arandomname]

I find it helpful at 25mg, couldn't deal with my brain feeling like it doesn't work (brain fog?) and my sleep became worse than it already was at 50mg.

 

[Overwhelmed52]

Sadly a lot antidepressants make your anxiety worse before better

Yes-- I'm finding this out the hard way.