Madeleine: tapering Zyprexa (then Zoloft)

[apace41]

First off, Madeleine, congratulations on getting off the Zyprexa.  That's a good drug to have avoided a long-term battle with.  JC is right that you need to be careful and not go too far too fast on the Zoloft taper so soon after getting off the Zxprexa.  As one who went off Clonazapam and immediately started my Zoloft taper (the next month), I wish I had waited to "consolidate my gains" before I started the next taper.  You can never be too safe.

 

22 hours ago, JanCarol said:

When we take the drug for the first time - it changes us.  The drugs make us more sensitive to the things that put us on the drugs in the first place.  There are studies to back this up - but I'm talking off the top of my head right now.   So - if you take an anti-anxiety agent (a benzo) - it makes you sensitive to anxiety.  If you take an antidepressant, it makes you more sensitive to depression.  I think the term is "increases chronicity."  The more drug (time and dose), the more chronic the condition becomes.

 

I did want to respond to this from JC, however, but try to do so without derailing your thread.  I think what is posted here is too simple in a lot of ways.  I think that for some people, taking the meds can lead to chronicity of symptoms, HOWEVER, I'm not aware of any study that demonstrates or suggests chronicity OTHER than in long-term use and, even then, the subject is open to a lot of debate among researchers/experts.  It is also very difficult to parse whether the symptoms that arise are the "underlying anxiety or depression" or simply the effects of withdrawing from the medication.  I think (as is alluded to in the post) that neuroplastic changes will allow some (many?) of the people who suffer from chronic responses to overcome much or all of their responses.  However, the following from JC's post is undoubtedly true:

 

22 hours ago, JanCarol said:

I do believe in neuroplasticity - but I also believe that we have never dealt with anything like these drugs in the history of Humanity.

 

We are indeed the guinea pigs in an experiment of global consequence.  We can't know how any one of us will respond given the vagaries of our brain chemistry, however, we can certainly follow the rules that have benefited others in the hopes of maximizing the likelihood of full recovery.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[JanCarol]

Hey Andy (and Madeleine) - I think the key word here is sensitivity.  

 

Even short term use can increase sensitivity - but you're quite right - the experts are debating while we are living the experiment!

[apace41]

2 minutes ago, JanCarol said:

Hey Andy (and Madeleine) - I think the key word here is sensitivity.  

 

Even short term use can increase sensitivity - but you're quite right - the experts are debating while we are living the experiment!

 

Last post on this point (at least from me!).  

 

There is a fundamental disconnect between "sensitivity" and "chronicity" in my mind.  In other words, I agree with you that any dose of the med changes the brain and increases sensitivity.  The concept of chronicity, however, is the notion that a condition becomes recurrent or continual, i.e., "chronic".  It seems counterintuitive to me to be discussing the notion of "increased chronicity" in the context of "one dose."  Are you more likely to become chronic with the more doses you take -- one would assume so.  However, I would like to think there is a threshold for most if not all people that one can stay below where issues of chronicity are really not on the radar screen.

 

I say this in part so that people who read this discussion don't walk away thinking they are at meaningful risk for chronic anxiety or depression from relatively short-term use of psych meds as the science (to my knowledge) does not support that conclusion.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[JanCarol]

Hey Madeleine (and Andy)

 

I'm sorry if I didn't express myself well.

 

I guess I was saying that - from my experience - what I've seen here on SA, in my own life, and in friends who have come off drugs, is that

 

even with short term use, we are more sensitive to stress than "normal" (whatever that is).  Chronically so (there's the word Andy doesn't like).

We might have been more sensitive (that "normal") to stress before we were drugged, but afterwards, we are super sensitive.  And I say "we" because it's not just me.  I have yet to find someone who is less sensitive to stress after withdrawal.

 

I think you understood what I was saying, and here's the best part - you've been through it - you've come out the other side, and you now know to marshall your resources more carefully, and guard your stress and stress responses.

 

Sorry for nattering on.

 

I hope you see the sun today!

[Iatrogenesis]

Hi!

Oh. My. God. What a story. Tapering off Zoloft for 7 years, then a relapse and the hospitalisation, that must have been absolutely horrible. I admire people like you, who are actually able to taper off for so long, I don't think I could handle it mentally. Glad you've managed to taper off the Olanzapine, I've actually tapered off the same combination of drugs, the Zyprexa after 11 years of taking various antipsychotics, and Olanzapine for the bulk of that time. I think I should consider myself lucky, because I pulled it off relatively painlessly in 10 months, tapering off by 10% of the original dose every 2 weeks.

 

The Zoloft withdrawal though, has been a completely different story, and the akathisia messed me up too, towards the end of the withdrawal. It caused such a horrible insomnia I had to take 80 mg of hydroxyzine, a surgical dose, to be able to fall asleep again. That being said, I can't imagine doing this if I had to support myself financially, and so I guess you have to factor that in considering how quickly to withdraw. 1 week after stopping, I'm still being hit by the strangest of symptoms, like having a sudden bout of sleepiness 10 hours in my day, feeling half-conscious.

 

I really hope you can do it quicker this time, I suppose the biggest problem is you can't really know how sensitive your brain is, and whether going on about it trying to minimise all pain is the way to go, or if allowing some pain still can lead to a successful withdrawal in the log run.

[Madeleine]

20 minutes ago, SpecialAgentDaleCooper said:

Hi!

Oh. My. God. What a story. Tapering off Zoloft for 7 years, then a relapse and the hospitalisation, that must have been absolutely horrible. I admire people like you, who are actually able to taper off for so long

s.

 

I really hope you can do it quicker this time, I suppose the biggest problem is you can't really know how sensitive your brain is, and whether going on about it trying to minimise all pain is the way to go, or if allowing some pain still can lead to a successful withdrawal in the log run.

 Special agent: Thanks for visiting my thread. I read your too recently as I noticed we were both on the same drugs. I hope the symptoms you are having go  away soon. 

 

I will I'll be reading your updates. 

 

Yes, I am going to try to taper off a bit faster this time as the last couple of years I was only on 25 mgs.  I'm thinking maybe 2 years? But will see how it goes. 

 

 

 

[Iatrogenesis]

Nice! A mistake has crept in - I actually did 5% of the original dose every two weeks, roughly 10 months.

 

 

[Madeleine]

Update: starting week 3 of my taper. Cutting 2.5 mg a week or 5 percent a month. Now at 92.5 mg from starting point of 200

 

so far so good.  Most annoying thing is I wake up in sweat at around 3 am but thankfully fall asleep again so do not feel tired Not sure if it's withdrawal or hormones or both. When I have been tapering Zoloft for 1 month . I will hold for 2 weeks as brass monkey did, and will see if sleep improves. Anyone else who wants to share their experiences re: waking up please do. Would be happy to hear your experiences. 

[Plshelp]

On 6/6/2017 at 3:26 PM, Madeleine said:

Hi Plshelp: Thanks for stopping by my thread.  I finished the zyprexa taper 3 weeks and 2 days ago.  The original dose I was on was 10 mg. I was on that dose for just over a month -- so not very long at all, which is why I think I could taper a bit quicker thant he 10  % every month recommendation.  I started tapering (dry cutting the pills) by 1.25 mg every 2 weeks. Once I got down to 2.5 mg, I tapered by .6 mg.  

I felt better once I got to lower doses, about 3.75 downwards, above that I felt very drugged as if my mind was in slow motion, and I had all sorts of twitches.    My sleep is not 100%, unfortunately, but much better than at the beginning of the taper. 

Madeline, 

Congrats on getting off the zyprexa. I'm still confused on how you did it. And you were only on the 10mg for one month? Is that correct? Have you been doing anything for your sleep? I know I'm experiencing some slight insomnia. It's not fun. I'm taking magnesium supplements and I wanted to take melatonin, but was cautioned about serotonin syndrome, so I'm holding off of that. 

[Madeleine]

14 hours ago, Plshelp said:

Madeline, 

Congrats on getting off the zyprexa. I'm still confused on how you did it. And you were only on the 10mg for one month? Is that correct? Have you been doing anything for your sleep? I know I'm experiencing some slight insomnia. It's not fun. I'm taking magnesium supplements and I wanted to take melatonin, but was cautioned about serotonin syndrome, so I'm holding off of that. 

Yes, correct about the length of time I was on 10 mg for a total of about 1 month. It's a bit of a blur as I was hospital and within about week they ramped me up to 10 mg zyprexa. I stayed in hospital for another week on 10 mg then was an out patient day hospital and for the first 2 weeks or so was on 10 mg then started tapering down. I had a combination of pills/tablets. I cut off about 1.25 mg off the total every 2 weeks. When I got down to 2.5 I cut the pill into quarters using a razor blade and cut off a quarter until I got to 0. It was not 100 percent accurate but it worked for me. 

I think it worked for me as I wasn't on it long. 

 

Im taking magnesium too but nothing else. Sometimes I'll have camomile tea in the evening. I find if I don't go on computer or phone in evening that helps.  I've been going to therapy to learn how not to worry and that helps. It's costly though but has helped a lot.  Finally I have blinds in my bedroom but some light still gets through. I now put up a blanket over the blinds and it's pitch dark. I find I sleep better when it's really dark, sleep is deeper. My sleep is slowly improving... even though I've now started tapering the Zoloft. I have a long road ahead with the Zoloft....  

[Plshelp]

8 hours ago, Madeleine said:

Yes, correct about the length of time I was on 10 mg for a total of about 1 month. It's a bit of a blur as I was hospital and within about week they ramped me up to 10 mg zyprexa. I stayed in hospital for another week on 10 mg then was an out patient day hospital and for the first 2 weeks or so was on 10 mg then started tapering down. I had a combination of pills/tablets. I cut off about 1.25 mg off the total every 2 weeks. When I got down to 2.5 I cut the pill into quarters using a razor blade and cut off a quarter until I got to 0. It was not 100 percent accurate but it worked for me. 

I think it worked for me as I wasn't on it long. 

 

Im taking magnesium too but nothing else. Sometimes I'll have camomile tea in the evening. I find if I don't go on computer or phone in evening that helps.  I've been going to therapy to learn how not to worry and that helps. It's costly though but has helped a lot.  Finally I have blinds in my bedroom but some light still gets through. I now put up a blanket over the blinds and it's pitch dark. I find I sleep better when it's really dark, sleep is deeper. My sleep is slowly improving... even though I've now started tapering the Zoloft. I have a long road ahead with the Zoloft....  

Madeline. That's crazy that you are only on it for a month. I wish I had been on it for only a month! So you pretty much quartered your pills to get off. Did your experience any withdrawal symptoms when you were almost off? Did you have to reinstate at all? 

 

Are you learning CBT or DBT for therapy? I could suggest to you some things that help for worrying if you'd like. Is it just anxiety that you're having? 

 

You sound like you have a great sleep hygiene schedule. If I go on my phone, I have a blue light filter on it so that doesn't disrupt the melatonin production. But I think that's screwed from the zyprexa, no serotonin = no melatonin. I hope I can regulate my sleep as I'm tapering and after also. I don't have deep sleeps. So you're lucky in that regard. I don't feel tired and I don't feel rested. It's messed up from these drugs.

 

What dose of Zoloft are you on?  

[Madeleine]

14 hours ago, Plshelp said:

Madeline. That's crazy that you are only on it for a month. I wish I had been on it for only a month! So you pretty much quartered your pills to get off. Did your experience any withdrawal symptoms when you were almost off? Did you have to reinstate at all? 

 

Are you learning CBT or DBT for therapy? I could suggest to you some things that help for worrying if you'd like. Is it just anxiety that you're having? 

 

You sound like you have a great sleep hygiene schedule. If I go on my phone, I have a blue light filter on it so that doesn't disrupt the melatonin production. But I think that's screwed from the zyprexa, no serotonin = no melatonin. I hope I can regulate my sleep as I'm tapering and after also. I don't have deep sleeps. So you're lucky in that regard. I don't feel tired and I don't feel rested. It's messed up from these drugs.

 

What dose of Zoloft are you on?  

Well, I'm not really that lucky if you consider my story in totality and consider its my second time taperingI'm doing cbt . If you have any tips feel free to share The therapist I go to is super. It's helped so much that I think that going forward if I have withdrawal I will be able to deal with it better. 

 

Yes, I basically quartered  the pills. First I quartered the pills but I had 7.5 mg plus 2.5 pills and then two 5 mg pills then used 2.5s so I had a combination of different denominations I could work with as I tapered down. My doctor was willing to prescribe them based on where I was in the taper. 

 

Im on a huge dose of Zoloft.  I went up to 200 mg and I now think that it and the zyprexa is what gave me really bad akithasia or however you spell it. But it settled down. At first falling asleep was very difficult as I was so agitated. It settled down after I was on the drugs for a while and it is improving while I have been tapering though I know I have to keep the tapering slow and steady so sleep doesn't get worse. 

 

Your sleep will improve too. 

[Madeleine]

Just thought I'd post an update. I cut down another 2.5 mg to 180 mg of zoloft on July 9.  So far so good. 

[TikkiTikki]

HI Madeleine,

 

Just reading over your thread again. You know, I had a similar reaction to Zoloft reinstatement about 11 years ago, with extreme vomiting as well, and just couldn't continue. I'm sure my pdocs thought it was all in my head when I said it was the Zoloft making me worse, but we went for Citalopram and the initial period went a little smoother.

I had been on Zoloft for 3-4 months at a time about 3 times in the four years leading up to the reinstatement, dosing up and down without much issue that I recall. But then i was pregnant, and trying to reinstate because Zoloft had always worked in the past, and everything just got worse and worse. Extreme anxiety and crying and just devastating nausea - could not keep water down. 

I thought that something had changed in me because I was pregnant (I was pretty sick with pregnancy nausea), and just could not tolerate Zoloft anymore. Docs just thought it was pregnancy sickness, didn't really believe the connection with Zoloft. But I am so sure it was - every time I took it I became extremely ill, no matter how small the dose. I eventually just said no, we have to try something else.

It's so curious how these drugs interact with our bodies differently at different times. 

[RachelSusan]

Madeline,

I thought I would drop in and see how you are doing. It looks like you Zoloft tapering is going fairly well. Any WD symptoms from you last cut?  I hope all is well.

RS

[scallywag]

Madeleine, I'm going to answer your question about compounding pharmacies here in your thread.

 

I found a compounding pharmacy through a web search.  I talked with a pharmacist at this compounding pharmacy; they may be willing to answer your questions in a phone call.  In the end I didn't go the route of getting prescriptions for compounded doses because my calculations showed my supply had enough beads to get to the end.

 

Zoloft and generic sertraline are available in 50 mg and 25 mg "denominations".

 

Often pharmacists must follow the exact formulation written on the prescription; it depends on laws of the state or province where you live. If there are limitations, you can't take a scrip for ninety 100 mg capsules (a total of 9,000 mg) and substitute ninety 50 mg caps (4,500 mg total) and one-hundred-eighty 25 mg caps (4,500 mg total). Your doctor has to write the scrip explicitly as 90 @ 50 mg caps and 180 @ 25 mg caps.

 

Is your doctor working with you on your taper or is s/he in the dark, so to speak?

Edited August 6, 2017 by scallywag

[TryingToHoldOn]

Hi.  I saw you posted on someone else's thread that you had to taper an AP a few years ago.  I was wondering how long you were on it and how long it took you to taper.  Also, did you experience WD symptoms?

 

Unfortunately, I did everything the wrong way (i.e. following doctor's orders).  I was on sertraline for 2.5 yrs for postpartum depression (50mg then 75mg for 1.5 yrs).  My pdoc instructed me to wean off over 6 weeks.  I jumped at 25mg because that's what I was instructed to do.  Then Pdoc added Latuda (atypical AP) and I had an adverse reaction after 4 months when my dose was upped.  I weaned over 6 weeks and jumped at 20mg. Again instructed to do so by my pdoc.  Six months after I stopped the sertraline and two weeks after I stopped the latuda I crashed and checked myself into the hospital.  There I was CTed off lamictal 100mg which I had been on 3 months.

 

I know that I was in WD from the sertraline because I felt so much better when the hospital reinstated it, but it was too high of a dose and I ended up with serotonin syndrome.  My fear is trying to recover from AD, an AP and a mood stabilizer.

 

My situation is so different than yours, but you're so calm and rational that I had to reach out to you.  If I recall correctly, you said you recovered from the first AP you took several years ago.  How long did it take and do you recall the symptoms you had?

 

Thank you so much for listening!

 

 

[Madeleine]

On 2017-07-30 at 2:27 AM, RachelSusan said:

Madeline,

I thought I would drop in and see how you are doing. It looks like you Zoloft tapering is going fairly well. Any WD symptoms from you last cut?  I hope all is well.

RS

Thanks for stopping by my thread. Taper is going okay. I felt some anxiety a few days after last cut as ibut it went away and I also tried various relaxation techniques do I think that helped. 

[Madeleine]

5 hours ago, TryingToHoldOn said:

Hi.  I saw you posted on someone else's thread that you had to taper an AP a few years ago.  I was wondering how long you were on it and how long it took you to taper.  Also, did you experience WD symptoms?

 

Unfortunately, I did everything the wrong way (i.e. following doctor's orders).  I was on sertraline for 2.5 yrs for postpartum depression (50mg then 75mg for 1.5 yrs).  My pdoc instructed me to wean off over 6 weeks.  I jumped at 25mg because that's what I was instructed to do.  Then Pdoc added Latuda (atypical AP) and I had an adverse reaction after 4 months when my dose was upped.  I weaned over 6 weeks and jumped at 20mg. Again instructed to do so by my pdoc.  Six months after I stopped the sertraline and two weeks after I stopped the latuda I crashed and checked myself into the hospital.  There I was CTed off lamictal 100mg which I had been on 3 months.

 

I know that I was in WD from the sertraline because I felt so much better when the hospital reinstated it, but it was too high of a dose and I ended up with serotonin syndrome.  My fear is trying to recover from AD, an AP and a mood stabilizer.

 

My situation is so different than yours, but you're so calm and rational that I had to reach out to you.  If I recall correctly, you said you recovered from the first AP you took several years ago.  How long did it take and do you recall the symptoms you had?

 

Thank you so much for listening!

 

 

Sorry I do not remember a lot of the details. I think my mind is blocking it out but I had a breakdown, ended up on hospital and was in a very very bad state and was on a sedative, 2 benzodiazepines, antipsychotic and antidepressant.  I don't remember how long I was on zyprexa the anti psychotic but it was at least half a year to a year it more as I tapered the benzodiazepines first. Then the zyprexa. It's hard to say what symptoms I has as I was on so many drugs so hard to say what causes what but I had twitcher and anxiety.  I tapered all the drugs slowly but I think the Zoloft I should have tapered even slower at end

 

i try to stay calm as I've been doing cbt and learned that if you worry and panic you start a cycle of panic and anxiety ramps up and gets worse. Also I try to put things into God's  hands. I pray and try to accept I can't control everything just do my best and try to accept things as they come. 

[Madeleine]

This latest time I was on zyprexa much less time before I started tapering it and since I wasn't in long I teoeres fairly quickly every : weeks made a cut over a few months

[TryingToHoldOn]

Thank you for the i information!  I am very glad that you are doing so well on all your tapers.

[Madeleine]

Yes,  I am glad that so far I am ok and able to function during my taper. I don't know what the future will hold but for now I'm okay and I try not to worry about future and to just live in the present.  I have a hunch that people do not post often when their taper is going okay but come much more often when they are having problems. And this is very scary for people just starting to the taper as mostly what they read here is of people having a very hard time.  So I'm making an effort to post when I am okay too to give a balance. If I feel lousy at some point I will post then too but so far so good.....

[Madeleine]

Hello all: 
I'm down to 155 mg zoloft (started tapering June 12, 2017 from 200 mg).  When I get to 150 I am going to hold for a while, at least 2 months or more.  Was feeling a tiny bit shaky so think I need to slow down for a while.  I'm using 2x100s.  Taking 1 x100 capsule, and dissolving the other 100 in 100 ml water -- and taking out required amount with syringe.  When I get to 150, I will take one 100, and then, half the other 100 on one day (i.e. 50) and half the other day.

There is a long road ahead for me with this taper 

So far functioning quite well.

Best wishes too everyone,

M.

[Madeleine]

Well, now at week 12 of tapering, i.e. 3 months, and am at 146 mg zoloft. So far so good...

[Martina23]

So great, Madeleine!

[Madeleine]

Down to 140 mg this past weekend. Feeling & functioning OK.  Now on week 15 of  zoloft taper, so almost 4 months.

[RachelSusan]

That's great Madeline.  I hope you continue to feel good.

RS

[Martina23]

Congratulations Madeleine! I am happy that everything is well with you!

[Madeleine]

Just an update.  I am now down to 130 zoloft. So far, so good.

[Altostrata]

Great to hear this, Madeleine.

[Miko789]

Hi Madeleine

 

Congrats on getting off the zyprexa, I read that you quartered the pills that is 2,5mg. that way worked out I guess.

 

About the zoloft going slow will help reduce the chance of w/d symptoms..

 

 

[Madeleine]

As of Nov. 5th, I am down to 122 zoloft. So far so good...

(My updates right now are a bit boring, -- thankfully for me -- but I want to document the good periods of this process, and not only the bad, as I think many of us get very frightened as people tend to post only during the bad times. This is only natural as it's when we need support, encouragement and to vent.  However, I figure if we also post the good times, it will help all of us not be so afraid of this process.).

[Madeleine]

Just updating:  I'm now on 112.5 mg zoloft now.   Have been making tiny cuts every week on Sunday, so as to make total cuts of 10% a month. This week, thought, was not feeling ready to cut, so have decided to hold this week.   Will try another cut this Sunday.

Went on a trip to a warm destination for a few days at the end of last month -- it went fine, actually, it was great :-)  so that was a victory.  Still seems like such a long road ahead, but moving forward....

M.

[RachelSusan]

Hi Madeline,

I thought I would stop by and cheer you on. It looks like you are doing great with your tapering. Good for you. Thanks for keeping us updated. I've had my ups and downs with my tapering, but over all doing better.

RS

[samanthaelizabeth]

Oh Madeline!  Just wanted to say hello.  I see that you are on the same dose as I am of Zoloft.  I am planning my taper right now.  Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.  How are you feeling now?

[samanthaelizabeth]

On 6/2/2017 at 9:26 AM, Madeleine said:

Hi Everyone:

I've been posting on everyone else's thread and have not updated mine for almost 3 months. So here goes:  I've finished the zoloft zyprexa (corrected as per Madeleine's post) taper almost 3 weeks ago. So far, the only "symptom" is waking up around 3 a.m., but mostly I can go back to sleep.

I am still on 200 mg zoloft.  I had tapered off that amount over 7 years!!!  The last 2 years I was on 25 or less.   I got down to 12.5, but then there was a death in the family, and I went up to 25 mg again, then tapered down slowly again. 

But then last December 2016, about 5-6 months after getting off totally I I had an "episode" after a lot of stress, maybe it was a panic attack?, with a great deal of anxiety, crying, etc. maybe, or probably/very likely it was delayed withdrawal and I should have ridden through it.  My taper had been very smooth.  I tapered progressively, approximately 10 per cent at a time, and held according to symptoms. But there were no really bad symptoms of note to complain about at all.  A bit of sleeplessness now and then, a bit of anxiety, etc. But I was totally functional.  So, I might have gotten over that wave in fairly quickly.  But, instead,  I panicked and took one 25 mg of zoloft and my anxiety did not get better, but worse, and I went to the hospital.  In hindsight a mistake, but that's what happened, and there I was given zoloft, and got extremely agitated. I mean extremely, and could not sleep and was pacing, couldn't sit still, couldn't read, etc. etc. I guess it's called akasthasia?  

 

And, so they kept upping the zoloft thinking that would help, when it more than likely made me worse -- it was increased extremely rapidly, from 0 - 200 in just a few weeks.  If only I had read on this site that one should reinstate at a low dose, I likely would have not gotten so agitated, and I wouldn't be in the position that I am now, having to start from square one tapering off such a high dose.  But, that's water under the bridge. Anyway, since I was so agitated. they gave me zyprexa, up to 10 mg, in the hospital and then a benzo too, which thankfully I stopped soon after I got out of the hospital.

I was in the hospital for 2 weeks, and on the 10 mg zyprexa about 6 weeks, before I started tapering it downwards. Since I was on it only a bit over a month, I went down bit faster than recommended on this site.  But, now I sam still on zoloft.  I've been on it 6 months now. 

I don't want to take 7 years again! Especially since the latter years I'd only been on 25 mg, and I had been on the highest dose for only a small portion of the entire time I was on it.  Perhaps I must go this slow this time around, and I know it's not good to put a timeframe on it, but I hope I can get off within 2 years.   What do you think? I am scared though, of the process, of having delayed withdrawal. It was really horrible last time in the hospital, but this time I will know if I feel bad, that it's likely delayed withdrawal and will ride it through.  

This is discouraging.  You tapered off in 7 years time and still ended up in the hospital?  How long were you on zoloft originally?  I have been on it for 19 years and just contemplating tapering.  I don't think I will ever fully go off of it, but at least bring it down to the minimum effective dose.