how do i properly stop taking zoloft?

Question:

Ive been taking zoloft 50 mg for about 6 months and want to discontinue. What would be the best way to stop it dosage wise and time wise?

Answers:
First thing. If you are under the care of a physician who has been prescribing you the zoloft, you should discuss the taper with him/her.
I can tell you how I do it with my patients. OK. You have been on 50 mg for six months. What I would do (after you talk to your doctor) is break the 50 mg (blue tabs) in half and take 25 mg daily starting now for two weeks. After that, you can get the 25 mg tabs (green tabs), break them in half and take them for one week. Then take one every other day for one week, then go off completely. That gives you a month of tapering. This will help minimize the horrendous side effects of stopping one of these serotonergic drugs abruptly. Patients of mine have had palpitations, headaches, diarrhea, rebound depression, panic attack, anxiety, nausea, vertigo, electric shock feelings in their arms and legs. Whatever you do, do not go off abruptly.
Again, like I said, I would discuss your desire to go off your anti-depressant with your doctor. If you have had more than one bout of depression and have been on meds before, then minimum the second time being on a medication is 12 months. If more than 3 episodes in the past, then generally it is a lifetime of medication. That is the standard of care in treating affective disorders.
I hope this helped answer your question and alleviate some of your concerns.
Regards,
Warren Shaffer, M.D.

Other Answers:
That would be to pick up the phone and speak with your doctor..the one who prescribed the meds..please..please don't get psychotic :)

dont ever stop a medication without your dr knowing and he/she will advise you on how to wean yourself off of zoloft ( does nothing for you either huh) you should really stop taking it by decreasing your dosage little by little. maybe cut down to 25 mg for a couple of weeks, then try 25 mg every other day.then maybe 25 mg every 3 days etc. it isnt a drug you should stop taking abruptly.

You would need to speak to your doc about that, I am going thru that at the moment and you do get strange withdrawal type symptoms. Speak to your doc.

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how do i properly stop taking zoloft?

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