Is it possible to get off zoloft

These episodes have physical symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness, and nausea. Fear of future episodes is also part of panic disorder. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD occurs when a person experiences the following symptoms at the same time:. Symptoms include:. They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options.

Do not stop taking sertraline, even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Depression is also a part of bipolar illness. People with bipolar disorder who take antidepressants may be at risk for "switching" from depression into mania. Symptoms of mania include "high" or irritable mood, very high self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, pressure to keep talking, racing thoughts, being easily distracted, frequently involved in activities with a large risk for bad consequences for example, excessive buying sprees.

Medical attention should be sought if serotonin syndrome is suspected. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications. People living with MDD who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. Untreated MDD has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers.

For women who take antidepressant medications during weeks 13 through the end of their pregnancy second and third trimesters , there is a risk that the baby can be born before it is fully developed before 37 weeks. This is a potentially fatal condition that is associated with use of the antidepressant in the second half of pregnancy. However, women who discontinued antidepressant therapy were five times more likely to have a depression relapse than those who continued their antidepressant.

If you are pregnant, please discuss the risks and benefits of antidepressant use with your health care provider. Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks. The dose usually ranges from 50 mg to mg. Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you. If you are taking it for PMDD, sertraline can be taken once daily everyday or intermittently usually starting 14 days prior to menstruation through the first full day of menses of each cycle.

The liquid should be measured with an oral syringe or dropper which you can get from your pharmacy. It should not be mixed in advance. Consider using a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. Port Townsend, WA. Kelowna, BC. Spokane Valley, WA. Sebastopol, CA. Calistoga, CA. Nampa, ID. San Rafael, CA.

Sunol, CA. Scotts Valley, CA. Pocatello, ID. Salt Lake City, UT. Northridge, CA. Los Angeles, CA. Call A treatment facility paid to have their center promoted here. Learn more about how to be featured in a paid listing. Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center.

Chats will be received and answered by one of treatment providers listed below, each of which is a paid advertiser:. Although it's generally safe and effective, people can misuse the medication or suffer an overdose. Patients should always follow medical directions when they take Zoloft. There are also many options for treatment for people who need help with overcoming Zoloft dependence. Start the road to recovery. Get a Call. Questions about treatment?

Call now for: Access to top treatment centers Caring, supportive guidance Financial assistance options Addiction Center is not affiliated with any insurance. How Do I Prepare for Rehab? How Long Does Detox Take? These side effects were reported with long-term use of antidepressants and could worsen with age.

Antidepressants can cause sexual side effects that range from lessened sexual desire to difficulty achieving orgasm. An estimated 25 to 80 percent of people who take antidepressants will experience some change in their sexual function within the first 2 to 6 weeks after starting an antidepressant.

Symptoms will usually go away by week 12 of antidepressant use for about 30 percent of those who experience sexual side effects. Many people who take antidepressants report gaining weight. However, those who take the antidepressant bupropion Wellbutrin may also experience weight loss. If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants.

On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping antidepressants, you may also lose weight. Some medications can affect your ability to feel emotions for example, make you feel numb.

Someone may also be at greater risk for experiencing withdrawal or discontinuation symptoms the longer they take the medication. This can vary based on the medication s being taken. If you suddenly stop taking antidepressants, you may experience discontinuation symptoms, which is similar to withdrawal symptoms , but refers to stopping the use of medication rather than addictive agents. You may notice a rapid onset with some medications, such as paroxetine Paxil , while other medications may take a few days for symptoms to arise.

This can be true too if you skip doses, or refrain from taking full doses. These include:. Most healthcare providers will recommend gradually tapering antidepressant doses over the course of several weeks. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant treatment discontinuation syndrome: a review of the clinical evidence and the possible mechanisms involved. Front Pharmacol. Published Apr Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is Discontinuation Syndrome? Discontinuation Tips. An Overview of Discontinuation Syndrome.

Stopping Antidepressants? Why You May Feel Fluish. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.