Dizziness From Stopping Zoloft?

I took zoloft for about 3 1/2 months. I tapered off for about a week or so, and then just stopped taking them. It’s been over a week since being completely off them – was fine until a couple days ago, when I started getting the “brain shivers”…little electric shock feeling in your head – it’s like your brain gets the chills and you shiver – but your brain shivers, not your body. I took zoloft last year for a few months as well – I got the brain shivers then too. I found the term on the internet when I began to link the shock feeling I was having with discontinuing the zoloft. It really freaked me out at the time, which probably didn’t help. I had no idea if this was just the beginning, or if my health was in danger. But eventually, the brain shivers went away, and I was totally fine. So, I guess what I’m saying is…the brain shivers are nothing more than an annoyance for me. Hopefully, it’ll be the same for you!

Great to hear Brandi! And congrats to getting off Zoloft. I have been on Zoloft for about 9 years for depression and ocd. For the last month I have been slowly weaning myself off and have experienced the “flu-like” feeling and dizzy-brain zapping that everyone is refering to. I have been totally off the meds for 3 days now and I am just hanging in there with the dizziness…I also feel like I am asleep and dreaming everything that I am doing (although I am really awake). Its scary, but it will be well worth it when I am drug-free. Brandi, thanks for sharing your story with us!

Hey can totaly relate. Been on zoloft for 8 years and gradualy went from 100mg to 25mg 25mg increments a month. I went from 25 to nothing at the start of the week and i feel almost every side effect: dizzyness, the shocks, virago, that dreamy feeling…. I cant wait to get off zoloft and live my life!

I ve been on zoloft for 8 months but decided to drop it.I was getting tired of being “uneffected” or noy caring of what was happening around me.so i ve been off of zoloft for 5 days now,not long i know but i’m feeling sapped as far as enegry goes.I havent had brain shivers yet,its good to know they could be comming..The flu like symptoms I can completely attest to!Will these symptoms leave and how long can it take? Mad props for you who are dealing with our issues instead of escaping from them!!!including me.Thank yall for your comments,powerful stuff!

I was on zoloft for 7 months, slowly weaned myself off them 1 week ago. I’m sorry to hear of the wicked side effects, but so happpy to hear its not just me. Zoloft helped with depression but I gained 20 lbs. GRRR I’m going to try and take life one day at a time and count the many many blessings in my life!!! AND pray I never need zoloft again.

I have only been on zoloft for 2 weeks and it’s been hell for me. I can barely walk because I am so dizzy, I have a rash all over me including boils on my chin and I feel worse than before! I am going to get off this med asap and try Wellbutrin I think. Hope everyone else is doing well coming off this drug; it’s nasty!

I took Zoloft for 9 months or so. I went through some stressful times and I thoughtit would help. I got tired of the not caring feeling and lack of interest, not to mention the 20 pound weight gain. So I weaned myself. I have been completely off for almost a week. It is the absolute weirdest thing, the dizziness. I feel like I’m drunk. It happens often, but I deal. Then last night I had a martini and whoa. The martini effect was beyond intensified. I felt SO gone. Like I was in a complete dream-like state. I knew immediately what caused it. I did my research before weaning. So it was frightening, but very odd. I hope this goes away soon. I have pretty bad motion sickness and a couple times a day the “dizziness” makes me feel sick. I refuse to go back on it though. I actually feel like myself and my 2 year old son is thrilled mommy is willing to be crazy again. Hand in there.

Just wanted to thank everyone for leaving their comments. I am having some medical issues which were at first thought to be completely psychiatric, so I was prescribed Zoloft. Of course, now that I have a correct diagnosis, I slowly came off the Zoloft, but these “brain shivers” had me all freaked out! I thought it was a horrible side effect of my illness, and I’m relieved to know it’s probably just the Zoloft. I can’t wait till they go away. I took my last dose on Monday, and here I am on Friday feeling weirder than ever. Your comments made me feel A LOT BETTER. Thanks again.

I’ve been using Zoloft for over 10 yrs. I weaned off by taking a month to reduce intake. It’s been about 3 months now and I’m still having flu symptoms. The fatique is terrible, and I’m irritable because I’m feeling sick and tired all the time. How much more of this do I have to take?

Took 7 months to wean off zoloft–has been on since 1991- 100 mg. Today is day #28 drug-free…symptoms subsiding dramatically as of today…long, hard road getting off–tried many times, the slower the better. I get through the symptoms day-by day. Found taking 1/2 Benedryl during withdrawal phase and now is helping.

I was on Zoloft for 6yrs for sever OCD after my second child. Within the last year I have noticed huge weight gain (20lbs), lack of a sex drive, and overall apathetic feeling towards life. A month ago I decided to ween myself of of Zoloft (without the help of a dr — not recommended). I was at 100mg, I cut it in half for a couple of weeks, and then did 25mg for a week. The whole process I think was too fast for my system and I feel awful (dizziness, brain shivers, nauseous, vertigo) but even through all the awfulness I am starting to feel like my old self again!! If I had to do it again I would probably have gone to a dr to be weened off. But I am almost in the home stretch and I will just be happy when it is completely out of my system and I can go on living. I absolutely needed it 6yrs ago but the side-effects of it no longer out way the positives!! Thanks for all the comments I had no idea what I was feeling was normal until I read through them!

I was on Zoloft for 2 years or so, after being on Lexapro for about 3. My husband and I decided we want to have a baby, so I started weaning myself off about 2 months ago.
It’s been 3 days since I had a pill and the dizziness is making me nuts. I can’t concentrate, I get queasy and I can’t wait for this withdrawal to finish!!!!
If I would have known that it would be so hard to come off, I don’t know if I would have started. My bad… I should have researched more thoroughly!

I took Zoloft for about 9 months. At that point I felt like I was numb to feelings. I started Lexapro while I decreased the Zoloft. Fortunately, I had no discontin uation side effects and I had no effects at all from starting and continuing the Lexapro, unlike when I started Lexapro and felt sick for 3 days and continued with the feeling of a band around my head for a while.

Ahh I feel so much better since reading all these posts! I was put on Zoloft about 3 months ago, and just went off of it. I was so freaked out the last few days, it feels like I’m in a constant state of dizziness and the nausea comes and goes. But at least I know I’m not alone

This is awesome that so many people have talked about their experiences. I have been on Zoloft for about 4 years, 50mg, for an anxiety disorder (hyperventilation syndrome) I have been trying to wean off it by taking 25mg…but today I started having the flu-like symptoms. I never knew this was a side effect until I got on here. My doc said you really have to come off it slowly…50mg, then 25mg, every other day, and then 25mg everyday, then 25mg and none every other day…that is a lot to remember, but its probably worth avoiding all these horrible side effects.

HI, glad to read all the comments! I had been on sertraline 200 mgs. for about 7 years for OCD. This spring it was giving me insomnia, so I weaned myself off of it, really quickly, without telling my doctor. I had a hard time coming off of it, but I felt like I couldn’t stand to take another pill! I was done in about 7 days. I felt sick for the first week and for about a month afterwards. It has been about two months since I last took the sertraline. I don’t think it was helping me much. I have lost about 6 pounds, have increased libido, high emotions. I am still afraid to tell my doc because she will just want me to take something else.

Pleased to see the comments so thought id share my experience, been on sertraline 50mg for 18 months, depression and anxiety, did need to go to 100mg for a bit at start but been ok on the 50. tried coming off a few months ago but didnt work, cud feel myself sliding in less than a week so went back on. Tried again a month ago and am off them now, suffered with headaches and dizziness for just over a couple o weeks- those cooling migraine sheets really helped with the headcahes, cudnt do much for the dizziness tho. Feel a bit tired now but not in the same way i have done in the passed, i was worried about maybe having to stay on the drugs permanently, but from reading others experiences and knowing how i felt before taking pills and how i am now, i wouldnt be worried if it turns out i need to go back on them, ill see how it goes. In retrospect i think depression is something i may well have always lived with, but i didnt know any different, but its good to know there is help available out there.
Stay healthy peeps xxx

I too am glad to read these. I was on Zoloft for about 2 years then found out i was pregnant. My doctor told me it is not neccessary to “wean” off Zoloft and just quit taking it. I have had the dizzy spells and queezy feeling for about 2 weeks now. Didn’t know if it was from the pregnancy or from getting off the drug. now I know!! Hoping the symptoms go away soon….can’t handle much more, but I can say I will NEVER use this drug again!!

I have been on Sertraline (Zoloft generic) for about 6 years and am now at a place in my life where I want to do it on my own. I have been trying for 3 weeks and seem to be experiencing every side effect on the books. I have had dizziness, nausea, jolting electric “zaps”, vivid dreams, heavy & foggy eyes, vertigo, and the weirdest one of an extreme sulfur taste in my mouth and nose. Honestly, this is one of the hardest things I have ever done. At the beginning of this week, week 4, I was as sick as a dog. I was nauseous and everything going right through me. I am feeling less nauseous but would love to get rid of the sulfur experience. Can’t wait until I feel like I’m physically off a spinning amusement park ride.

I am just beginning my journey into the world of dizziness, lightheaded, and flu like symptoms. I just spoke with my dr. about not taking zoloft. After reading all the comments I know I have to be strong and get off these once and for ever. I already have the vivid dreams and it has only been 3 days……………..

i was wondering if any of you guys have had a weried feeling in your heart like flush feeling hard to explane i have been on zoloft for 2 years and now i am on celexa not sure if i like this one at all .i do not know if its from zoloft or what my dr stoped me all at once not sure please let me know….

I was on Zoloft for 10 years for anxiety and panic attacks. I tried to come off of it three times… and became very depressed (this, in itself, pissed me off, considering i wasn’t taking Zoloft for depression. Anyway, my husband and I are looking to have a baby… so for the last month… I have been weening myself off. I was on 50 mg. I cut to 25 for two weeks and now am on approximately 15 mg. (breaking the pills so this is a guesstimate). I have only experienced insomnia (sometimes) and mood swings. I also have slight flu symptoms,…. which are completely tolerable. One thing I can say… I am a wee-bit worried about the final weeks… when I start to ween to almost nothing. I ALSO FEEL LIKE MYSELF — IN A GOOD WAY. I FEEL CLEAR-HEADED AND HAPPIER. I felt like i was in a fog for 10 years. I also felt much moodier and my PMS was horrible while on zoloft. I just went through a PMS… which was smooth and uneventful… LOL

I cannot wait to be rid of this drug. It is horrible. I really wish we could sue for the horrible side effects some people have from this withdrawal.

I have learned that exercise and meditation help. Oh, also I gained a lot of weight on Zoloft (whether I ate or not…. and I am very active). When I went on zoloft I was 145 … and now I am 209. I had two children prior to Zoloft and was this weight when I delivered them at 9 months. I am a diva fashionista and the final straw besides wanting to conceive… was the fact that no nice clothes fit me any more. For those that don’t believe Zoloft causes weight gain… google it!

Anyway… good luck to all… YOU CAN DO IT. Try some of the other non-medication methods of assiting with your withdrawal. Exercise… and maintaining a good diet. And remember — when you are experiencing some of these symptoms… keeping telling yourself its from the Zoloft…and you WILL FEEL BETTER SOON.

God Bless !

I was prescribed Lexapro today, which seems to be very similar to Zoloft, they are both SSRI’s. I asked my doctor if it was addictive or there are any side effects, & even if when I stop if I will have to ween myself off. He said ‘oh no, this is a nice drug’ & also said there’s no side effects. After reading all these comments, I don’t think I will even fill the prescription! I feel like sometimes I can’t take the anxiety attacks anymore & something needs to be done, but I don’t want to go on something that sounds worse than what I’m going through right now.

Has anyone tried anything else that has worked? I’ve tried MANY different herbal pills, they seem to work for a couple months, then it’s like my body gets used to them & they have no effect anymore. I would love some advise if anyone has any…..
Thanks!