Rob66: happy to have found this site :)

[Rob66]

I feel rather excited Today!  Today I graduate to 50% of my original dose.  Whoop whoop!  53 to 50mg Zoloft.  I feel very proud of what I've accomplished so far.  Although I wish I could say that it's been easy, it hasn't.  It's def been a learning experience.  I haven't been on this low of a dose for this long in 20+ years.  I don't know what the future holds, but right now it's pretty good.  Everyone says it gets harder the lower you get.  I feel the road will get rougher, but I'll just keep pecking away.  I wouldn't have made it this far if it wasn't for this site and the fantastic moderators.  Thank you all!

[ChessieCat]

Congratulations!!!  I know that feeling.  It's a combination of excitement and relief.  Well done on being patient.

 

If I remember rightly you were planning to do a longer hold once you got to 50mg which is why you were trying to get to that dose quickly because of the convenience.  I did 3 months at 50mg.

 

If that is what you are going to do, give yourself a break and try not to think about tapering for a while.

[Rob66]

9 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Congratulations!!!  I know that feeling.  It's a combination of excitement and relief.  Well done on being patient.

 

If I remember rightly you were planning to do a longer hold once you got to 50mg which is why you were trying to get to that dose quickly because of the convenience.  I did 3 months at 50mg.

 

If that is what you are going to do, give yourself a break and try not to think about tapering for a while.

Thank you Chessie!  It's been getting easier to not think about it as the newness of the routine is wearing off.  Things are busy with me as of late so that tends to keep my mind off the process.  All the best

[Rob66]

I found out a couple days ago I'm in need of a root canal.  The procedure doesn't bother me since I've had other major work done, but my dentist said I would need to take a antibiotic post procedure.  Anybody been down this road before?  Anybody experience trouble with antibiotics?  So far I'm not sensitive to things so I'm thinking I'll be alright.  Just nervous is all.

[ChessieCat]

There are some topics on SA.  Use google and type in survivingantidepressants.org and try separate terms like antibiotics, dentist or dental, you could even try root canal, surgery.

[Rob66]

44 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

There are some topics on SA.  Use google and type in survivingantidepressants.org and try separate terms like antibiotics, dentist or dental, you could even try root canal, surgery.

Thanks Chessie, that was helpful.

[Rob66]

Went in this past week for my second round of Testosterone pellet therapy.  First one lasted 6+ months.  I was diagnosed with low T years ago.  I can't even begin to tell you how much this has a positive impact on my wellbeing and energy.   My hormones have been low for a long long time and I'm thoroughly convinced that Zoloft has everything to do with it.  For a middle aged guy, getting my Testosterone back to a optimal level makes me feel tons better during the withdrawal process.  I've been tested for everything under the sun and cannot find any other reason for low hormones then the Zoloft.  Of course the doctors won't agree with this theory, but nothing else makes sense at the moment.  Does it make my withdrawal symptoms disappear?  No, but it def improves my mood, energy, sleep, sex drive and even takes away my dry skin issues.  Therapy isn't perfect but it sure is worth it for this guy.  I'm glad I made the decision to do it

[baroquep]

Good to hear you are doing well ... am rooting for you to have a trouble free taper all the way to zero.  Thanks for letting us know how you are doing    

[Rob66]

5 hours ago, baroquep said:

Good to hear you are doing well ... am rooting for you to have a trouble free taper all the way to zero.  Thanks for letting us know how you are doing    

Thank you baroquep!  Yes, things are very good with me right now.  

Best wishes to you also

[Ryder]

Hi Rob, I've been reading over your story as I also take 100mg of Zoloft but am now finding that my body is not finding it tolerable anymore. I'm glad to see that is is possible to work your way down, albiet with some patience and grit.

May I ask what weight scale you are using and/or where did you get it from? The scales I have been ordering online have not been fit for purpose so far as the tablets are so light.

 

I am in my mid-twenties now like you were when you first took the drug and have been on Zoloft for almost 3-years now. I don't want to waste another day. I have also been looking at liquid tapering but I don't want to get the measurements wrong.

 

Sincerely,

Dave.

[Rob66]

Hi Ryder,

I've been using the Gemini 20 scale that many others on this site use.  It's a gram scale.  Mg is simply a matter of moving the decimal point.  It's cheap and accurate enough for our purposes.  I got mine through Amazon.  I think when I get down to the tiniest of doses, then I will have to move to a liquid to get enough accuracy.  The scale will get you a long ways though.

I wish you all the best starting your taper.  We're all in this together!

Rob

[Ryder]

Thanks Rob, I have just ordered one in. I will stay with the scale at first. Stick with what I can do as far as I can.

 

Appreciate even just the smallest amount of heads up and advice.

 

Sincerely,

Dave.

[Rob66]

Looks like I'm running out of lines in my signature if I continue to use this format.  Didn't realize at first using one line per dose change I would run out of room so quickly.  I'll have to come up with a different way of doing my signature

[Ryder]

Hi Rob,

 

You can change your size of the font if you look to the right hand side. Highlight text and lower your size.

Also you can use another coloumn if that doesn't fit. So just like a table, you might want to add another coloumn and rows side by side. If all else fails try typing in a sentence.

I.e Nov 1st 50mg. Dec 45Mg. Jan 40Mg, Feb 35Mg Sertraline - if all else fails!

 

Also, I got my Gemini 20 scale today. I want to ask you how you correctly calculated weight. The device gives measurements in g (grams), oz (ounce), ozt (troy ounce), dwt (pennyweight), ct (Carat), gn (Grains). I wanted to ask which is the correct measurement to use and how to calculate this using a 100mg tab of Sert.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated on how to get to my correct dose!

 

Sincerely,

Dave.

 

[Rob66]

15 minutes ago, Ryder said:

Hi Rob,

 

You can change your size of the font if you look to the right hand side. Highlight text and lower your size.

Also you can use another coloumn if that doesn't fit. So just like a table, you might want to add another coloumn and rows side by side. If all else fails try typing in a sentence.

I.e Nov 1st 50mg. Dec 45Mg. Jan 40Mg, Feb 35Mg Sertraline - if all else fails!

 

Also, I got my Gemini 20 scale today. I want to ask you how you correctly calculated weight. The device gives measurements in g (grams), oz (ounce), ozt (troy ounce), dwt (pennyweight), ct (Carat), gn (Grains). I wanted to ask which is the correct measurement to use and how to calculate this using a 100mg tab of Sert.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated on how to get to my correct dose!

 

Sincerely,

Dave.

 

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the tips

Your going to want to use the grams measurement on your scale.  Getting milligrams is just a matter of moving the decimal point over a couple spaces.  Dedicated milligram scales are VERY expensive so this is how we cheat We buy a cheap gram scale and simply move the decimal point.  Sertraline pills have filler in them so it will weigh more than the dose your taking.  100mg dose of Sert will weigh roughly 300mg or .300 grams.  To determine what weight equals what dose, I've been using an excel spreadsheet that I found on this site.  If you go to the Tapering section under "tapering and dosage spreadsheets" you will find some links.  I simply down loaded one of them.  So much easier then doing the math.  For me anyway Hope this helps some.

Ps -To get a good starting dose weight, I weighed several pills and then took the average weight of those.  Not every pill will be exactly the same weight.  Close but not exact.

Rob.

[Rob66]

Dave

One other thing regarding the scale.  If you don't want to use the tiny little pan the scale came with, just tare the scale without it.  I found the pan cumbersome and now weigh all my pills directly on the scale surface.  If your saving pill powder after filing then it would be useful, otherwise it just annoyed me.

[Ryder]

Yes I noticed the pan does seem to move a bid and is flickering the tablet around! Then it switches off if your not quick enough to get your tablets on correctly. May I ask, how many pills did you do in a batch of 100mg? And did you just nail file it or convert it into powder.

 

Many Thanks Rob.

[Ryder]

Rob - Tks for the tip abt. Excel Spreadsheet too.

[Rob66]

3 minutes ago, Ryder said:

Yes I noticed the pan does seem to move a bid and is flickering the tablet around! Then it switches off if your not quick enough to get your tablets on correctly. May I ask, how many pills did you do in a batch of 100mg? And did you just nail file it or convert it into powder.

 

Many Thanks Rob.

Yes, the scale does shut off if it sits idle too long.  Probably a battery saving thing in case you forget to turn it off.

You can make as many as you want at a time.  SA's tapering schedule has you staying at one dose for a minimum of one month.  Typically I would make 30 at a time and then I could simply pop one a day and not worry about having to make more for a month.  Sometimes I would make 15 at a time because I simply didn't have the patience.  Totally up to you.  You'll get faster the more you do it.  

You can use a nail file, but I found 100 grit sandpaper much faster.  Nail file isn't very aggressive.  I would lay a sheet of sandpaper on the counter and rub the pill on it until I got my weight.  I personally didn't save the powder.  Didn't want to deal with lose powder.  Occasionally I would overshoot the weight and would have to toss the pill entirely.  Can't put it back on after you overshoot.  My doc always prescribed a 90 day supply so tossing a pill or two for me was no biggie.  He would prescribe more whenever needed no questions asked.  Guess I'm lucky in that regard.

Best wishes Dave

[Rob66]

Just a quick question.  If my taper has been fantastic up to this point, does this mean the rest of my taper will be just as trouble free if following the same protocol?  Just wondering if anyone experienced this.

Currently 100% symptom free and feeling strong.  Presently holding until the end of the month.

[baroquep]

Hi Robb66, People tend to find that it becomes more difficult as you get lower on your dose ... the following will help to explain the reasons why:

 

Why Taper Paper Demonstrates Importance of Gradual Change in Plasma Concentration
Summary and excerpts from study in the Journals forum of survivingantidepressants

As our member Rhi said:

   On 2014-04-13 at 2:53 PM, Rhi said: 

....
When you open the document go to page 4 and look at the charts. You will see that at lower doses you must taper EXTRA slow, not faster. At higher doses, when you cut 1 mg, it only reduces your receptor occupancy by a small amount; but from 1 mg down to 0 you drop from 20% occupancy straight down to zero!

[Rob66]

Thank you baroquep!  Very interesting and scary at the same time.  In other words, no guarantees the lower you get.

Best wishes!

Rob.

[Rob66]

Completely awful afternoon today.  Completely broke down after getting into a fight with the wife.  My day started out great, but bam! Just like that, I was thrown into a loop.  Had to work 13hrs today, so the notion of missing Thanksgiving was eating at me from the very start.  Wife told me to just get over it since we wouldn't be doing anything anyway if we were both off.  That sort of sparked the fire.  I know we wouldn't be doing anything, but seeing all my friends enjoying their families made me sad and lonely.  I wouldn't let it go and tried to explain why I was feeling the way I was but my wife didn't seem to understand.  Before you know it I got overly frustrated, filled with emotion and rage.  Wife couldnt understand why I was blowing this completely out of proportion.  She told me I need to quit cutting my Zoloft if it's going to make me act this way.  Of course that statement REALLY pissed me off.  By this time I was a mess.  Angry and crying at the same time.  By now I had to leave for work so nothing got resolved.  Very frustrating when those closest to you haven't a clue what your going through and aren't willing to try and understand.  So alone in this.  I feel I have no outlet but here.  Nobody understands.  Took me several hours to calm down.  Still feel a little weepy but manageable.  It's like someone flipped a switch.  One moment your fine, then all of a sudden something triggers the anger and emotion.  I'm considering going back to therapy.  It's helped me in the past.  Things tend to get stuffed down for so long until it eventually comes to a boil like today.  Then I end up making little things like this into a big deal.  Not sure if posting here was wise but I desperately needed somewhere to vent.  Feeling quite fragile at the moment.

[RealMe]

Hi Rob, Hope your day improved and that you are feeling better.  I had a doozy of a day myself.  Today it occurred to me that for years I under-reacted because I was on AD.  Since I found this site, I've come to realize that although some people in my life think I over-react emotionally, I actually am reacting more like myself.  It's not so bad being myself even though others may think I need to be medicated.  I mean, what's so wrong about feeling sad or lonely when the occasion calls for it?  I think it's human to feel our feelings.  I didn't cry for years.  I would know intellectually that something was sad, and I would feel it to a point; but as far as deep feelings, I was incapable.  Of course, I'm still on fluoxetine 10 mg., so I have a long, patient way to go.  I try not to burden my husband with all of my emotions; and because I don't want him to worry, I actually try to put a lid on them somewhat.  He saw what I went through withdrawing from Abilify and Trintellix, so he's glad I'm improving.  I was at the jumping off place with withdrawal syndrome before I found this site.

 

BTW, what is Vit D3 with K2?  I admire the way you have been tapering from Zoloft.  Amazing.  Good for you.

[AliG]

Hi Rob.  It is probably time to do a long hold at this dose, as sometimes even after careful tapering, the CNS needs a chance to catch up with all the recent changes. It sounds like you were having some neuro-emotions which can lead into an emotional spiral. It's often the little things that can set a spiral off. It's always helpful to document these symptoms.

 

The topic linked below:  is a really good explanation of the problem and ways of dealing with it ~ It is common in withdrawal. Many of us have experienced this and it can be quite baffling at the time, as the emotion seems out of proportion to the initial trigger and it can escalate very quickly.

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/13492-dealing-with-emotional-spirals/

 

I hope you're feeling better now.

Ali

[Rob66]

2 hours ago, RealMe said:

Hi Rob, Hope your day improved and that you are feeling better.  I had a doozy of a day myself.  Today it occurred to me that for years I under-reacted because I was on AD.  Since I found this site, I've come to realize that although some people in my life think I over-react emotionally, I actually am reacting more like myself.  It's not so bad being myself even though others may think I need to be medicated.  I mean, what's so wrong about feeling sad or lonely when the occasion calls for it?  I think it's human to feel our feelings.  I didn't cry for years.  I would know intellectually that something was sad, and I would feel it to a point; but as far as deep feelings, I was incapable.  Of course, I'm still on fluoxetine 10 mg., so I have a long, patient way to go.  I try not to burden my husband with all of my emotions; and because I don't want him to worry, I actually try to put a lid on them somewhat.  He saw what I went through withdrawing from Abilify and Trintellix, so he's glad I'm improving.  I was at the jumping off place with withdrawal syndrome before I found this site.

 

BTW, what is Vit D3 with K2?  I admire the way you have been tapering from Zoloft.  Amazing.  Good for you.

Thank you for your thoughts I do feel back to normal now that I've been at work for 6 hrs.  Yes, I too had been emotionally cut off from feeling anything for a long time.  My wife has never known me without 100mg zoloft and we've been married 19 years.  She already has the attitude that "If it's worked so good this long, why would you want to get off it".  She just doesn't understand nor will she ever.  Very difficult.

[Rob66]

55 minutes ago, AliG said:

Hi Rob.  It is probably time to do a long hold at this dose, as sometimes even after careful tapering, the CNS needs a chance to catch up with all the recent changes. It sounds like you were having some neuro-emotions which can lead into an emotional spiral. It's often the little things that can set a spiral off. It's always helpful to document these symptoms.

 

The topic linked below:  is a really good explanation of the problem and ways of dealing with it ~ It is common in withdrawal. Many of us have experienced this and it can be quite baffling at the time, as the emotion seems out of proportion to the initial trigger and it can escalate very quickly.

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/13492-dealing-with-emotional-spirals/

 

I hope you're feeling better now.

Ali

Thank you AliG! 

I'm feeling much better and calm now.  Those were definitely Neuro emotions, no doubt about it.  I've had these same episodes long before I even started my taper, which is why I believed to have reached tolerance after 22years on the drug.  After several drops my episodes seemed to get less and less, until today when it just happened out of the blue.  I used to define it as "irrational behavior" but now know it as Neuro emotions.  I can identify when it happens, but almost feel completely possessed at the time and unable to help myself.  So difficult.  I Can't think calmly or rationally so any argument ends up unresolved.  Me and my wife are horrible communicators.  We have lots of issues that never get talked about, but that's another long topic not needed here.  Better left for a counselor.  Neuro emotions just end up compounding the problem when arguments pop up.  Thanks for Your reply   

[Rob66]

Decided I'm going to hold for a couple months even though things are fairly stable.  Past couple days I feel like I've entered a mild wave of sorts.  I think a few things have contributed to this.  Had a root canal done a couple weeks ago.  Post treatment required me to take antibiotics.  4 days after taking antibiotics I came down with a cold.  First one in 2 1/2 years.  I quit taking antibiotics after the 4 days even though I was instructed to go 10 days.  Don't know if the Amoxicillin affected me negatively or what.  Ever since the fight with my wife last Wednesday I haven't felt the same since.  Not horrible, but rather "off".  I think my CNS has been a little taxed lately is all.  Not about to start tapering again if things are a little unsettled. I'll wait another time to resume tapering.

Rob.

[ChessieCat]

45 minutes ago, Rob66 said:

Decided I'm going to hold for a couple months ...  Not about to start tapering again if things are a little unsettled. I'll wait another time to resume tapering.

 

Good idea.

[Rob66]

Came down with a mild head cold yesterday.  Back to back colds, yippee!  Took a antihistamine before bed last night because my sinuses were bothering me to no end.  Slept like a rock all night but woke up feeling very out of it.  Mood wise I'm feeling fantastic but I could tell there was still some residual effects from the antihistamine today.   Additional brain fog and tiredness that wasn't there before my cold.  No more antihistamines for me, didn't like the way it made me feel.  Otherwise I continue to feel great during this hold.

[Rob66]

I've come to the conclusion that Zoloft has contributed to my elevated Cholesterol over the years.  For the life of me I cannot find any other reason.  Even my doctor is baffled why my Triglycerides are high since I eat a very healthy low carb diet.  I should have a medical degree by now with all the research and testing I've done trying to rule out reasons for my cholesterol issues.  I'm a picture perfect example of a healthy adult, yet my cholesterol is somehow out of whack.  Nothing serious, just out of the ordinary.  Anyone else find this to be the case?

[Rob66]

Just an update..

Things are still going well in taper land.  Down to 40.5mg Zoloft as of Jan 5th.  Things are still very stable with me.  Only had one bad day in the last month due to a stressful afternoon.  Things got the best of me and some Neuro emotions popped out of nowhere.  Been feeling fine since.  I've been really busy with work and my favorite winter hobby has kept my mind off tapering.

My last two cuts seemed to feel a little stronger then the others before them but I've still been stabilizing fine after a week into it and feeling back to normal after 3/4weeks.  Planning on holding longer this time to give my CNS a well deserved rest.  Don't want to push things.  Wishing everyone the strength to keep pushing forward.

Rob.

 

[Rob66]

Haven't checked in here for a while.  Things are still going really well.  Down to 38.5mg Zoloft.  Last cut was a month ago but I'm going to hold for an additional month and resume tapering in April sometime.  I feel really good right now but I have a ton of training at work this month and a weeks vacation first part of April.  Don't want to mess with all the learning I have to do and potentially sabotage my fun vacation with a cut.  I'll wait until my life schedule settles down to resume tapering.  My last cut took slightly longer to feel normal again so I think it's a sign to do a longer hold now.  Prayers for everyone! 

[ChessieCat]

38 minutes ago, Rob66 said:

I'm going to hold for an additional month and resume tapering in April sometime.  I feel really good right now but I have a ton of training at work this month and a weeks vacation first part of April.

 

Excellent idea.  I hope you learn lots and get to have fun on your holiday.  Please remember that your CNS is vulnerable to both good and bad stresses.  That includes foods and drinks.  

[doxxigirl]

On 5/3/2017 at 5:52 PM, Rob66 said:

Hi everyone!

 

Just found this site weeks ago while browsing the net regarding AD withdrawal.  Sounds like you all have more insight to AD's then any doctor I've ever seen.  It's reassuring there are others like me who have had many years of AD use.  I'll be 47 years young next month and have been taking Zoloft/Sertraline since the early 90's.  It's been a looooong time!  22 years I believe.  Matter of fact, there wasn't even a generic available for Zoloft when I started taking it, it's been so long.  I've been on 100mg/day since the beginning.  I've tried 50mg/day for a while and been as high as 150mg/day but only for a short period.  Currently still on 100mg/day, seems to be my sweet spot.  Anyway, like many people out there, I was diagnosed with Dysthymia in my 20's and was promptly put on Zoloft while having a major depressive episode.  I sought therapy during that time and they thought Zoloft would be an excellent option for me during that gloomy year.  Fast forward 20+ years and I think it was the worst option they could have suggested during that time.  Hindsight is always 20/20 they say.  It is what it is now.  I was an excellent responder to Zoloft.  After a small adjustment to the med life was really excellent for a long long time.  I had probably 15 good years on this AD with very few side effects.  Things like emotional blunting, mild anorgasmia, foggy head syndrome were just a few sides that have persisted thoughout the years.  As I get older, these side effects have seemed to get worse despite living a very healthy lifestyle.  Many of the doctors I've seen over the years all have said that I could expect to be on Zoloft for the rest of my life and that it's ok that I am.  Not so sure I agree with that.  

 

I've been married for 19 years to the same wonderful supportive woman.  I've been at my same job for 25 years, make a decent income and have very few external stressors.  I have nothing to complain about in my life.  So I keep asking myself why am I still on an AD?  I think some of it has been complacency.  If zoloft is working so good then why quit taking it, right?  It did work wonders for a long long time, so basically for a while I wrote it off as something I would be on forever and just live with the side effects until the day I die.  I guess I could live with that and go on with my life.  But what happens when the same drug you have been taking for 22 years starts to lose it's effectiveness?  That's what seems to be happening over the last few years now.  Many years ago I tried to wean of zoloft without any luck.  Back then I had no idea what I was doing and neither did the doctor I was seeing.  I look back and think about the 50% weaning schedule my doctor had suggested and just shake my head.  No wonder it was so horrible.  Needless to say I quickly reinstated and went on with my life.  From all the reading I've been doing I now know that was the worst thing I could have done.  A few months ago I found a really excellent doctor that specializes in integrative health.  Although he doesn't specialize in Psychiatry, he really "gets it"  compared to other doctors that simply want to push pills on you.  He really understands how weaning works and also suggested the 10% weaning schedule you all advocate as well.  I think I'm a pivotal point in my life regarding my AD.  I don't think it's working very good anymore.  I can detect very small withdrawal symptoms while on the same dose I've had for years.  I think this tells me it's pooping out on me.  My life circumstances are as stable as they will ever be so I feel this is a good time to start my journey.  I know it will be really difficult and I'm willing to accept the fact that there is no deadline to finish my taper.  I'll take it one day at a time.  Hopefully with your support I can some day successfully be free from AD's forever.  I Hope to get to know some of you on the forum.  My intro was a little long so if you made it to the bottom thanks for listening

All the best,

Rob

Hi Rob66.  I am very inspired by your story.  You have made remarkable progress!  I have been on Zoloft for about 15 years and mine has lost it's effectiveness as well.  I didn't dare switch to another drug, because I think it is very risky and didn't want to end up in a worse position.  I am trying to taper off very, very slowly.  Of course, I made a mistake on my liquid and accidentally did a significant up dose.  I really hope that as I get lower in dose I will feel some of myself come back.  Happy and healing tapering!  Doxxi

[Rob66]

52 minutes ago, doxxigirl said:

Hi Rob66.  I am very inspired by your story.  You have made remarkable progress!  I have been on Zoloft for about 15 years and mine has lost it's effectiveness as well.  I didn't dare switch to another drug, because I think it is very risky and didn't want to end up in a worse position.  I am trying to taper off very, very slowly.  Of course, I made a mistake on my liquid and accidentally did a significant up dose.  I really hope that as I get lower in dose I will feel some of myself come back.  Happy and healing tapering!  Doxxi

Hi Doxxi,

Thank you for the compliment.  I read your story and it sounds remarkably similar to mine.  We both found this site before we started tapering and did our homework ahead of time.  I think we set ourselves up for success by finding this site early on.  I was very stable and in a good position before I started tapering.  Slow and steady is def the way to victory.  I've followed all the advice from this site and so far have had a relatively smooth taper.  I'm hoping your taper goes as well as mine.  We're all in this together.  I wish you peace and strength.

 

Rob