Zoloft Withdrawal

Zoloft Withdrawal Symptoms may include but not limited to:

Zoloft taperingaggression, anxiety, balance issues , blurred vision , brain zaps, concentration impairment, constipation, crying spells, depersonalization, diarrhea, dizziness. electric shock sensations, fatigue, flatulence, flu-like symptoms, hallucinations, hostility, highly emotional, indigestion, irritability, impaired speech, insomnia, jumpy nerves, lack of coordination, lethargy, migraine headaches / increased headaches, nausea, nervousness, over-reacting to situations, paranoia, repetitive thoughts or songs, sensory & sleep disturbances, severe internal restlessness (akathasia), stomach cramps, tremors, tinnitus (ear ringing or buzzing), tingling sensations, troubling thoughts, visual hallucinations / illusions, vivid dreams, speech visual changes, worsened depression

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Zoloft Tapering

Affordable tapering programs to help withdrawal from Zoloft and other antidepressants and ssris. More...

 

Zoloft

(Lustral, Sertraline, Serlain)

ZOLOFT is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

SSRIs mechanism of action is on Serotonin, a hormone also called 5-hydroxytrptamine, found in the pineal gland, blood platelets, digestive tract and the brain. Serotonin acts as both a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells and causes the blood vessels to narrow.  Serotonin makes blood clots form and is a muscle as well as a vasoconstrictor, but it also plays an important role in sleep, appetite, memory, aggression, sexual behavior, cardiovascular activity, respiratory activity, motor output, neuroendocrine and sensory function, and perception. According to Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, an increase in Serotonin produces rushes of insulin that drops blood sugar levels and can create a chemically induces hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Additionally, too much Serotonin damages blood vessels, particularly in the lungs and may adversely affect heart valves. This is because Serotonin is a powerful vasoconstrictor (narrows the blood vessels).

Consistently elevating Serotonin levels causes the stress hormones Cortisol and Adrenaline (Epinephrine) in the body and brain to be triggered by the adrenal glands. This natural reaction is the body’s way to combat the excessive Serotonin levels. This boost produces a euphoric state and can be viewed as a lessening of depression. However, prolonged increases in Serotonin can cause adrenal exhaustion, where the Adrenals lose their efficiency, causing adrenaline to fall while Cortisol rises. Ultimately the Cortisol levels fall and lead to fatigue. Many SSRI users report fatigue, and it can take time for the Adrenal Glands to restore normal adrenaline levels after stopping antidepressants.

The eyes have significant levels of Melatonin, and the precursor to Melatonin is Serotonin, which is derived from the amino acid tryptophan, which converts to 5-HTP first and then to Serotonin. Within the pineal gland, Serotonin is used to yield melatonin. Therefore, Serotonin also dramatically alters the sleep-wake cycle since Serotonin activity gradually decreases as one becomes drowsy and enters slow wave sleep (non-REM sleep). During REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement), or dream sleep, Serotonin activity falls completely silent. It returns to its basic level several seconds prior to the end of REM sleep, which occurs in 90-100 minute cycles. REM alternates with Non-REM about 4-5 times during the night.  During non-REM sleep, there is a lot of movement, but during REM sleep, only the eye muscles move. This may explain why so many SSRI users report bizarre, vivid dreams.

It is estimated that 95% of our Serotonin is produced in the gut region, where it triggers digestion. Nerve cells in the gut also use Serotonin to signal back to the brain, where it trains us not to eat certain foods by communicating pain and gas. This second brain is an independent network of over 100 billion neurons that signals our bodies to stress, but can also cause illness if the stomach is unhealthy, since the majority of our immune cells line the gut walls. The high concentration of Serotonin in the stomach region is why antidepressants commonly have side effects that include nausea, weight gain and stomach upset.

People We've Helped

  • My sincere wish and hope is that the public becomes more aware of the danger of the drugs and also as many people as possible can get out of the ever endless hell of drug addiction safely and continue to feel great. - Mayu T., California (ZOLOFT, LORAZEPAM) more...
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Zoloft Side Effects

Symptoms may include but not limited to:

abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, constipation, decreased sex drive, diarrhea or loose stools, difficulty with ejaculation, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, gas, headache, decreased appetite, increased sweating, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, pain, rash, sleepiness, sore throat, tingling or pins and needles, tremor, vision problems, vomiting, Acne, allergic reaction, altered taste, back pain, blindness, breast development in males, breast pain or enlargement, breathing difficulties, bruise-like marks on the skin, cataracts, changeable emotions, chest pain, cold, clammy skin, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), coughing, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, double vision, dry eyes, eye pain, fainting, feeling faint upon arising from a sitting or lying position, feeling of illness, female and male sexual problems, fever, fluid retention, flushing, frequent urination, hair loss, heart attack, hemorrhoids, hiccups, high blood pressure, high pressure within the eye (glaucoma), hearing problems, hot flushes, impotence, inability to stay seated, increased appetite, increased salivation, increased sex drive, inflamed nasal passages, inflammation of the penis, intolerance to light, irregular heartbeat, itching, joint pains, kidney failure, lack of coordination, lack of sensation, leg cramps, menstrual problems, low blood pressure, migraine, movement problems, muscle cramps or weakness, need to urinate during the night, nosebleed, pain upon urination, prolonged erection, purplish spots on the skin, racing heartbeat, rectal hemorrhage, respiratory infection/lung problems, ringing in the ears, rolling eyes, sensitivity to light, sinus inflammation, skin eruptions or inflammation, sleepwalking, sores on tongue, speech problems, stomach and intestinal inflammation, swelling of the face and throat, swollen wrists and ankles, thirst, throbbing heartbeat, twitching, vaginal inflammation, hemorrhage or discharge, yawning, Abnormal dreams or thoughts, aggressiveness, exaggerated feeling of well-being, depersonalization ("unreal" feeling), hallucinations, impaired concentration, memory loss, paranoia, rapid mood shifts, suicidal thoughts, tooth-grinding, worsened depression.In a few people, Zoloft may trigger the grandiose, inappropriate, out-of-control behavior called mania or the similar, but less dramatic, "hyper" state called hypomania

*While great care has been taken in organizing and presenting the material throughout this website, please note that it is provided for informational purposes only and should not be taken as Medical Advice. More...