Zoloft? a drug addiction? you wouldn't think so!
Lordy lord-- this drug saved my life after I had baby girl, I was quickly diagnosed with a severe case of PPD so I NEEDED it. However...it's now become impossible to get off of.
You can see my PPD story *HERE*
I was put on the generic form of Zoloft, Sertraline. A low dose of 50mg I took once a day. It was like a light switch, it totally saved me. I was told I was required to be on it at least 3 months otherwise I would have a very likely chance of relapse.
Those little blue pills saved me. But, its very bitter sweet.
After my 3 month mark I decided to wean off. For a few reasons:
1. I had no insurance so it would be $25 every month for it
2. My Rx had run out (convienent) and my OB will only renew it if I come in to see her, which would cost me $78 out of pocket.
3. I eventually want to have another child, and there are TONS of studies on birth defects because of taking zoloft while pregnant.
4. I've never consistently been on meds and never really wanted to be.
So I decided to wean. It is a 4 week process (recommended by my OB)
Week 1 : take a pill every day
Week 2: take a pill every 2nd day
Weeks 3: take a pill every 3rd day
Week 4: NO MORE PILLS
I have failed, miserably...twice. The side affects are unbearable. For me they consist of the following:
Dizziness
Racing heart
Nausea
The 'shutters'
All flu like symptoms
It was impossible to go through all this while being at work, then coming home to my family. I was worthless. At one point I literally laid on the damn floor in my office, and I did NOT care who saw me. You know when you were in college and would get super drunk, and the room would be spinning? and it would be worse when you closed your eyes? and the only cure was the 'wall trick' where you'd lay down, close your eyes, and put your hand flat against a wall? No..? Was that just me? (well p.s. it totally works!) THAT was how bad I felt, and I totally did the wall trick.
I think I've probably messed myself up even more by trying to get off of it twice, back to back. My chemicals are probably all kinds of imbalanced! I called my OB and spoke to her and a nurse, asking for help/suggestions...I was told I was doing it the right way and I just needed to suffer through it. amazing.
So my game plan now? Get back on it. Dish out the money for me to go in, see OB, get her to give me a little piece of paper and be on my way. Frustrating! BUT I think I need a break from the weaning business. Its too awful to keep feeling this bad all the time- been dealing with it for 2 months with zero success! I'll stay on it for a while before trying to wean again, but I really do want to get off of it eventually.
Don't get me wrong, Zoloft saved me from my PPD and I'll forever be grateful for that. If you need it, its a wonderful thing! Just be prepared to be on it for life, or go through hell trying to get off of it. I know people who have been on it for YEARS because they haven't been able to wean off of it. Sad story.
If anyone HAS tips to wean, do share- I'd love to hear them! In the meantime...heres' to my addiction ;)
