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Tapering: Zoloft

13 posts

4 weeks of “severe” withdrawals/update

September 25, 2026··
Hey, hope you are all good! Im now 4 weeks into what I really think is severe withdrawals after a strep infection. That was 2 months after last dose reduction, but its been really hard! Had an appointment with a psychiatrist yesterday that was not sure about this being withdrawals symptoms because im at such a “high” dose and only reducing 1mg. He wanted to either up the dosage to 50mg(from 38) or taper off faster. He also prescribed propranolol and promethazine. These recommendations by him is just the most typical answer by almost any psychiatrist. Increase, taper faster or/and add more drugs. With my knowledge on ssri withdrawals through communities like this one, Dr anders sørensen and Mark horowitz, i know this is real what I feel. But I also wont put too much blame on a senior psychiatrist that learned and has grown into this very bad medical system that almost any country has. He does not know better or hes not willing to go out of his way to learn newer things, but thats usually because of how this medical system works. I’m also wondering if I could be experiencing akathisia. Its this internal dread/discomfort/surge of adrenaline burning sensations. Its always more earlier in the day but tends to lessen during evenings and nights. On top of that I have all the other severe symptoms. I do get windows, usually every other day or so, that lasts couple of hours. Thats usually from afternoon until next day or so. The feelings of a window feel like you will NEVER feel bad again or go in a wave again, but then BOOM!!

5 Replies

A
Anton1h ago
Zoloft
Should I consider updose? The problem is mainly that its been 3 months since my last dose reduction(end of june).
C
Cosmic197350m ago
Mirtazapine · active
Hi Anton, Are things bearable? If yes, hold on and take each day as it comes.

Mirtazapine — 0.2mg — 1 year — actively tapering

Gigi.0809
Gigi.080943m ago
WelcomerZoloft · active
Hey @Anton! I am too new to the game to actually give you any advice on an updose, but since you mentioned Anders Sørensen, it made me think of an email I received from him today. I don't know if you're aware, but he holds live Q&A sessions via Zoom: https://crossingzero.substack.com/p/its-q-and-a-time-live-on-zoom-ddb It's through his Substack, and I guess you have to invest $10 or so, but it might be money really well spent. Unfortunately, it also means you would have to hang on for two more weeks. I don't know if that is an option for you right now, but from what I've heard, giving everything time is usually the way to go (although I know you already have, and man, three months is a lot). But if you can hang in there, it's maybe a great way to get a professional opinion on this. Also, what you said about the strep infection reminded me of something I heard about COVID bringing back symptoms, too. I hate to be so vague, but for the life of me, I can't recall exactly where I heard that. All I know is that it was from one of the experts most of us listen to, like Dr. Josef, Anders Sørensen, or Mark Horowitz. Apparently, stuff like COVID can trigger Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome or withdrawal-like symptoms, even when you continue taking your medication regularly. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12437422/ So it makes total sense that a bad strep infection could also mess with your nervous system. Hold on to those windows 🫂

Withdrawal is not a preview of who you are without the drug.
Zoloft — 10 years, 50 mg — currently 22.5 mg — holding

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Anton33m ago
Zoloft
Thank you for this reply @Gigi.0809 Yes I also recieved this email from him and I’m for sure going to attend this QnA of his. Thanks anyway for this tip/headsup! To be clear on my withdrawals, I’ve only been in this withdrawal state for 4 weeks, not the whole 3 months. I was not feeling bad withdrawals symptoms until 2 months after my last dose reduction or until the strep infection hit me. So now its been 3 months since dose reduction, but “only” 4 weeks of this state im in. This research paper you mentioned is actually very valuable for me. Thanks for that!
Gigi.0809
Gigi.080918m ago
WelcomerZoloft · active
Yep, math is clearly not my strong suit, so all the better that I don't give updose advice! ^^ I'm glad the paper brought a bit of light to your situation. It's funny how sometimes we pick up on stuff that doesn't make much sense to us at the time, but ends up serving someone else later on... good thing places like this exist for us to share pieces of the puzzle.

Withdrawal is not a preview of who you are without the drug.
Zoloft — 10 years, 50 mg — currently 22.5 mg — holding

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