Bettoben

Tapering: Zoloft

43 posts

Spain

7th Zoloft Update - 5,7mg - Story 3

March 8, 2026··

taper update

As expected, the double reductions I made now are giving me gastrointestinal discomfort (it seems serotonin also affects this; it happened to me before), along with more zaps, fatigue… physical discomfort, irritability, and a sensation like having a cold with nasal congestion, although it isn’t actually a cold. But, as is already known, there’s no choice but to endure it. I know I felt worse, but then better spells come, hoping it doesn’t escalate so I can remain functional… Continuing my story for context: Despite everything, taking three doses of Klonopin along with 100mg left me in a foggy, clouded state. I still couldn’t workm, my concentration was low, and I was overly relaxed. I spent a few months in that calm state, but stopping Klonopin was complicated. I would start feeling restless and anxious, and sometimes when I finally managed to relax, it was too much, I couldn’t even go to the bathroom because my heart rate would spike, which scared me even more. Still, after several months, I managed to stop Klonopin with patience. I saw multiple psychologists who didn’t find anything “wrong” with me, just unexplained nervousness. They still ran cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions, where my behavior seemed normal, and eventually they stopped scheduling appointments, forcing me to change psychologists. After almost two years, I shared my psychologist’s report with my psychiatrist, which stated that everything was fine. I suggested that it might be a good idea to taper off Zoloft. He agreed, and we reduced the dose to 50mg that day. Six months later, I finished the remaining pills in the box, splitting them in half. At the time, I didn’t realize that this might have been too fast, since the box didn’t have many pills left. By the summer of 2023, I thought I was free from all of this, but, in fact, it was quite the opposite…

Bettoben’s taper progress

View full journey →

Dose (mg)

Mood (/10)

Sertraline/Zoloft:
▸1/2021>100mg, ▸11/22>50mg ▸6/23>25mg (Psychiatrist told me to take half the pills until I finished the box)
✘ Clean 3 Month till massive fall
▸9/23>100mg, ▸1/24>50mg, (I started tapering on my own, because the intention was to have me on 100mg for 5 years) ▸9/24>25mg, ▸7/25>12mg,(starting parabolic with tablet dissolution in water) ▸10/25>11,5mg, ▸11/25>10,3mg, ▸12/25>8,7mg, ▸1/26>8mg, ▸2/26>6,9mg ▸3/26>5,967mg ▸4/26>4,8mg ▸5/26>3,73mg ▸6/26>3,53mg
7/26 back to 50mg

9 Replies

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CatinaStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

That was a very fast taper. Most doctors aren't trained in safe deprescribing. I tapered Effexor too fast and now I'm only able to reduce bead by tiny bead. It can be excruciatingly slow, but it's best to allow our brain to adjust as we taper down. Have you read any of the education module yet? There is lots of helpful information in there.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Bettoben5mo ago

Trusted VoiceZoloft

"Most doctors aren't trained in safe deprescribing." — @Catina

and I asked him expressly, does this have an abstinence effect? and he told me not at all...

"Have you read any of the education module yet?" — @Catina

in Learn? yes it is wonderful! I'm already quite aware of everything, but that section is wonderful!

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CatinaStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"and I asked him expressly, does this have an abstinence effect? and he told me not at all..." — @Bettoben

🤨 🤔

"it is wonderful! I'm already quite aware of everything, but that section is wonderful!" — @Bettoben

Yeah, Based Psychiatrist did a really great job with everything. I went through the entire module the other day. 👍

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Based PsychiatristStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"d he told me not at all..." — @Bettoben

Usual suspects

"Based Psychiatrist did a really great job with everything. I went through the entire module the other day." — @Catina

Thanks! Glad its useful Great check ins Bettoben. Really valuable info in there, lots of people will benefit from your notes.

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Bettoben5mo ago

Trusted VoiceZoloft

"Yeah, Based Psychiatrist did a really great job with everything. I went through the entire module the other day. 👍" — @Catina

One of these days when I have time I'm going to give it a thorough review; I've skimmed it and I was surprised that it covers topics that took me a long time to find!

"Really valuable info in there, lots of people will benefit from your notes." — @Based Psychiatrist

Thanks, boss. I wanted to let you know that when I search the forum, for example, if I type "PVC" or certain other words, it shows 0 results, even though I've used that word in some posts. I don't know how difficult it is to fix this, but on forums and Reddit, I relied on the search panel to find answers to my concerns.

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CatinaStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I relied on the search panel to find answers to my concerns." — @Bettoben

This is a great suggestion! I think it would help to have a "search" box at the top of the site.

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Based PsychiatristStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"I don't know how difficult it is to fix this, but on forums and Reddit, I relied on the search panel to find answers to my concerns." — @Bettoben

Hmmmmm very good idea. This would allow you to find everything mentioned when you search something, that would be very cool. Ill look into it. Hopefully its not too hard to get going. Thanks for the suggestion!

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

Bettoben5mo ago

Trusted VoiceZoloft

"This would allow you to find everything mentioned when you search something" — @Based Psychiatrist

you already have the search engine in the forum, but it does not show me results on the contents themselves

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CatinaStaff5mo ago

Community AnchorEffexor

"you already have the search engine in the forum, but it does not show me results on the contents themselves" — @Bettoben

I'm seeing that it does have a search function. Why did that not register in my brain before? Thanks! I'm sure BP will work on getting that resolved.

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