[S.Costello]

So I quit Zoloft (was on 100mg) cold turkey. While I did plan on quitting it eventually because it makes me sweat like a hog, that's not why I stopped. I ran out of refills and took too long making an appointment with my psychiatrist. I've since made an appointment (coming up in over a week), and he said if I needed any medication between now and then I could have my pharmacy contact him for refills, but I figure since I planned on quitting anyway I'd just ride out the withdrawal effects.

These withdrawal effects are kinda weirding me out. Naturally there's irritability, but I also started experiencing this weird feeling where I'll stand up or be walking and I'll feel like I'm in a car going down a steeper hill. The feeling only lasts a second or two. First it started exclusively with my head, but now my whole body is doing it. It sorta feels like I'm drunk or something.

Has anyone ever experienced this before? Is it a common occurrence when you quit Zoloft suddenly? I plan on asking my psychiatrist more about this when I see him next weekend, but in the meantime, I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar withdrawal effect (assuming it is one).

[TheatreKid]

I tapered pretty quickly off of Zoloft because it made it very hard for me to urinate, and I remember feeling pretty disoriented. I got the dreaded "brain zaps" and I felt like you said, almost like I was drunk. I remember going shopping with my brother and just needing to sit down because I felt so disoriented.

Make sure you tell your psychiatrist you're going off something cold turkey.

[Daylelynn]

I don't want to scare you but I don't think going off cold turkey is a good idea. I was on 150ml of zoloft and went off cold turkey. I had lots of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that lasted a long time. Please taper off slowly. Never discontinue a drug cold turkey. Although everyone is different and you may be ok.

Unless there is a life-threatening side effect no psych med should be stopped cold turkey. If you do so, of course you're going to become very sick.

[Feelinwobbly]

I agree with Sister Rags. I came of 100mgZoloft per day. I reduced the amount slowly under Pdoc supervision. I had brain zaps, vertigo, the driving down the hill in the car feeling. I cant imagine doing that 'cold turkey'

It is definitely not common for people to just 'stop' Zoloft. I would suggest getting a refill and talking to your pdoc about weaning off.

Good luck...

[iheartjacques]

Yes, I had that horrible feeling, and brain zaps, irritability, tears and feeling like I was coming down with the flu. I harder to wean off 100mg over 9 days to start a new med. never want to go through that again! Only thing is now I worry because my current med is notoriously difficult to wean off. Ugh!