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Consumer Review: When I Quit Taking Zoloft, I Experienced What Only Can Be Described As "Electrical Flashes."
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I took Zoloft for about 9 months for depression. Others noticed a change in my demeanor - a positive change. I was less angry and felt better overall. After taking the medication for some time and noticing improvement, I decided to stop taking the drug. My doctor assisted me with this effort by weaning me off slowly, saying it was better to decrease my dose a bit at a time rather than quitting altogether. I agreed. However, after I had quit taking Zoloft completely by weaning, I began having what I could only describe as "electrical flashes."
This was a sensation in my head, not painful at all - just really annoying. It did not interrupt vision or impair thought or speech. The "flashes" felt like some kind of surge, electrical surge. They were instantaneous, lasting only fractions of a second at a time. They were not multiple and would occur many times a day - even while I slept. My doctor had no explanation for their cause and said other ex-Zoloft patients had experienced the same sensations.
Side note: I experienced these sensations any time I would miss taking a pill for days. I once ran out of my medication and did not refill it for several days - big mistake!
I've been off Zoloft for two years now and do not have the sensations any more. I would say it took about three to four months for the "flashes" to completely stop.
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Response #1
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! While taking Zoloft, I began experiencing these "electrical flashes" as you call them. They seemed to happen between 4-7 o'clock each day, and I found them rather unnerving as this is the time I needed to be most functional for my family (i.e. dinner, kids home from school, etc., etc., etc.).
Anyhow, I spoke to my doctor and she said it was a stress induced reaction. She changed my anti-depressant and suggested I go get a "good" massage to relieve my back tension. She had me stop the "Zoloft" and begin taking "Effexor" two days later. Well, the electrical impulses worsened. It got so bad that I quit taking the "Effexor" thinking perhaps my body was overloaded with chemicals and was beginning to freak out. It still got worse! 24-7 I was having electrical impulses. They remind me of the sound you hear from high tension wires, only I felt them. They were only momentary but they were constant.
Today was the worst. I barely made it through work. I could barely drive myself home from work. By the time my husband came home, I was in tears. I was sure I was losing it, going over the edge, biting the big one. I didn't know where to turn or what to do to stop what had now become incessant electrical impulses.
I turned to the internet, found a site on breathing techniques and decided that indeed this was my problem--I was having panic attacks due to improper breathing. I called my sister to tell her the great news of learning to breathe (she also has been a long time user of Zoloft). She began talking about some of her side effects (she quit taking Zoloft about two weeks ago). She suggested perhaps what I was experiencing was withdrawal.
I then decided to investigate on the internet to see if perhaps others had experienced the same feelings as I. Then I saw this report. BING BANG BOOM! I'm not going insane, I'm not making this up, I'm not going crazy! Somebody else out there has been through the same thing. Maybe not to the extreme that I have, but nonetheless, I am not alone.
Thank you!
I responded to this post (something I have never done before) with the thought that maybe there is someone out there that has experienced this same symptom. If so, I hope this helps to let you know that you are not alone. At last I feel relief knowing and hoping that this too shall pass.
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Response #2
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I did experience withdrawal symptoms when I stopped taking Zoloft. I weaned off of it because it never really worked for me. I went from 150mg to 100 to 50 to 0 in about three weeks.
Ever since I stopped taking it, I've been experiencing light-headedness, dizziness and flashes of sensation similar to the head rush you get when you get up from a couch too quickly. It is almost like being mildly drunk for a fraction of a second. It is not disabling me in any way, but the flashes come more and more often now. I think I will wait to take another antidepressant that my shrink has prescribed me (Celexa).
Based on all the negative stuff that I've read about the current generation of antidepressants, it is really in the patient's best interests to try to stay away from them if possible (or take with caution and only in mild to severe cases of depression) and concentrate on group therapy and counseling.
"Prozac Backlash" is a very good book that describes some extreme cases of withdrawal effects and side effects of antidepressants.
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Response #3
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The descriptions provided about these sensations are right on! I've been trying to describe the weird feeling in my head, and my partner doesn't really get it. He read your descriptions and said, "you know, some people pay for stuff like that" (his way of acknowledging that I'm feeling something outside the norm).
I'm tapering down from 100 mg to 0mg Zoloft after a year of successful treatment for depression. Right now I'm on about 25 mg (trying not to take it every day; really wanna go cold turkey). I'm experiencing mood swings and lapses in concentration--anyone else had these? "Dropping" words, forgetting what I'm going to say...last year my doc said these were anxiety related symptoms. My theory now is that they're withdrawal-related. Anyone else had this?
I quit taking BuSpar a couple of weeks ago (hadn't been very diligent about taking it 2x/day anyway) and haven't noticed any side effects, but I'm starting to worry that I should continue it because it was so effective against the anxiety. I haven't been in contact with my doc about decreasing meds because I'm embarrassed to talk with her. I was SO severely depressed and debilitated last year and fought her SO hard on the diagnosis, that now that I'm feeling better I just wanna fade quietly out of her practice. We have a fine relationship, but my feelings toward her are colored by my fear of judgment for being so messed up. I'm also a health care professional, and I understand she doesn't/shouldn't judge me, but this goes beyond rationality...so I'm online asking for opinions from people who don't know me (laugh). Feel free to post any comments/suggestions/advice.
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Response #4
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After having read Prozac Backlash (and having been on the antidepressants Prozac and then Zoloft for a total of five years), I decided to try life without antidepressants for awhile. I have not taken Zoloft for about six weeks now, having tapered off rather quickly on my own. I have had the lightheadedness on occasion that another of your writers described. I am hoping to lose some weight--one of the side effects from the Prozac was quick and significant weight gain (30 pounds in the first two months on the drug, followed by weaning and switching to Zoloft, a six-pound weight loss and another 25 pounds gained). I have been doing physical therapy to remedy a back problem that would be helped significantly if I lost weight, but as long as I took antidepressants, no matter how I changed my diet and exercise regimen, my weight has stubbornly remained at 210 pounds.
My husband and coworkers report that I am more reactive and emotional off the Zoloft, to them not a good thing! But it feels pretty good to me to feel again. I have noticed, though, that my irritable bowel has been acting up since stopping the meds. On a good note, I no longer need the frequent naps I was taking because I sleep better off the Zoloft, and I'm not sleepy all day long anymore. My GP would probably be mad at me for stopping the meds on my own, but honestly pills were all he could offer. Our HMO really limits any other sorts of therapy. So, I am much better off than I was five years ago physically, and I am reading, exercising, doing physical therapy, playing with my dogs, and trying to enjoy my work and family. But, the IBS is pretty annoying. Can anyone else out there identify with me?
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Response #5
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Hi. 20/20 or nightline or one of those shows had a segment this evening about the withdrawal symptoms of paxil. Since I take zoloft, I became concerned, so I checked "zoloft withdrawal" on the internet, as one of the interviewees had checked "paxil withdrawal." So, thank you for being here.
Apparently, zoloft has a longer half life than paxil, which would indicate that the zoloft withdrawal symptoms might be less severe than paxil withdrawal symptoms. Still, within the last year, I had an electrical overload response like what you all have described. It was scary. It was so severe that it woke me out of a sound sleep. I thought it must be what epileptics experience.
I've recently begun to investigate alternative healing practices at a wellness center in suburban Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. I'm trying bio-meridian testing to try to find the underlying cause of my depression, rather than only treating the symptoms, or suppressing it with zoloft.
Thanks again. I hope you've found something useful in my message as well. Take care.
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Response #6
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! I honestly thought I was losing my mind. I have been on Zoloft for two years. While it has substantially helped my depression symptoms, I have not had total success on it. Last year, my life conditions significantly improved, and when my prescription ran out, I felt secure that I could "handle" it. WRONG! Within 10 days off Zoloft, I was a psychotic maniac. I told my husband I felt as if demons were possessing my body. I had electrical sensations through my extremities, and truly thought I was going insane.
I was a nervous wreck trying to get a refill. When I started again, I felt "normal" within 24 hours. I do not like the feeling of being dependent, but it sure as hell beats depression and the withdrawal symptoms.
I have also put on nearly 30 pounds in the two years that I have taken Zoloft. This is EXTREMELY frustrating, as I am an aerobic instructor and know I'm doing the "right" things. My doctor wants me to come off the Zoloft and try Celexa starting next week. I hope to see some results! Thanks for all of the comments - I now know I'm not losing it.
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Response #7
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I found this site on accident, but the experiences you all have shared is good info. I was prescribed Zoloft from my gynecologist because I was complaining of extreme PMS. All I wanted was something to get me over the edge during this time, but he insisted that I take 50mg every day for 6 months. I felt great. It did make me gain about 10 pounds, but I was felling good about myself. I decided to stop taking it 9 months later because I felt that it had done the job, so I went cold turkey. Terrible mistake!!
I developed the worst dizzy spells, electrical impulses, light- headedness, shortness of breath, etc. At first, it was only every once in a while, then it gradually worsened where all I would have to do is turn my head and I would almost pass out. I couldn't do anything for about a week. I went to my internist and she said that I should have never let my gynecologist prescribe something that he obviously knew little about. I bet you some drug rep told him to give it to patients complaining of PMS. She said that it was a severe withdrawal reaction. Whatever the case, I will never take another drug similar to Zoloft again. I'll probably try St. John's Wort the next time I go through the blues.
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