[ehc918]

November 11th was the last day I took my Zoloft. I was only on it a few months, and was on Lexapro for several years prior. All told I've been on meds for 15 years. They never worked for me and I decided to stop them. I weaned down over the course of a month (my dr. told me 2 weeks would be fine). Initially I felt good, but lately I feel like I'm going CRAZY!!! I feel so emotional! I'm crying alot and feel very anxious!!! It comes on very suddenly and I'm scared. How do you know if it is withdrawl? Doesn't it take a long time for the effects of withdrawl to wear off? Or does this prove that I need to be on meds, even though I never felt much better on them??? I don't know what to do...

[lizery]

I have been on anti-depressants off and on for over 10 years. Here is what I have personally experienced. Drugs like zoloft and paxil tend to stay in your system longer. I personally weaned OFF zoloft to lexapro almost 3 years ago but I did it over 3 months. What is most likely happening is that because it stays in your system longer, you are now beginning to feel the real withdrawal. Please talk to your DR. He could possibly put you on a short term dosage of Ativan to ease the symptoms. Lexapro and Effexor have a short half life so they exit the body quicker. You know within a day if you have missed a dose. I am trying to wean down off of 40 mg Lexapro right now.. hth.

[Casey55]

Unfortunetly your doctor didn't give you very good advise. Withdrawal from a drug needs to be done over a significant amount of time, slowly reducing the dose slowly over several months. Two weeks, even a month can be way to quick and you can experience some withdrawal symptoms.

>>>Drugs like zoloft and paxil tend to stay in your system longer.>>>

This is not correct either. Paxil has the shortest half life of all the SSRI's and it is out of your systems in a day. Therefore, it has the greatest risk for the worst withdrawal of all the SSRI's. It is often called the Paxil Flu.

Who prescribed your SSRI's, a PCP or a psychiatrist? I am guessing a PCP because a psychiatrist should know better.

Casey

[crazytroubled]

ech918, hello there. Im sorry to hear your having a hard time right now. I cant say when. But dont worry, it will pass! Ive been on ssri's for 13 years now. I remember quiting several anti-deppresants cold turkey. The hardest was paxil. I was also crying all of the time for two months. I was so emotional and depressed it wasnt even funny. for me personally, I had to let it take its course. I often asked the same question. "is this deppression or withdrawls? " Prodominately I would say its withdrawls. I just remember doing the basics like drinking plenty of fluids,etc. If you think you need to dont hesitate to go to the e.r if you are experiencing something horrific. I think you'll be just fine. Give it some time.If you have chronic depression though, it would not hurt to get on another med to ease your suffering.