I have been taking 25 milligrams (mg) of Zoloft for a year and just quit cold turkey. I have been experiencing light-headedness and nausea for a few days now. Are these withdrawal symptoms from quitting cold turkey, and, if so, how long will these feelings last?
Many antidepressants, including most of the newer ones, are associated with withdrawal reactions. Symptoms may occur when the drug is stopped, especially if the stopping is abrupt, the drug is one that is rapidly eliminated, and the course of treatment has been long. The symptoms, which usually last a few days to a week, include dizziness, jerking, strange sensory disturbances (burning, tingling, blurring of vision, electric shock-like sensations), nausea, fatigue, insomnia, and vivid dreams or nightmares. Symptoms can be relieved by reintroducing the antidepressant.
Withdrawal symptoms have long been known to occur with the older tricyclic drugs (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs.) Now evidence is accumulating on reactions from newer drugs. Clomipromine (Anafranil) seems to have the highest rate of reactions. Among the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, paroxetine (Paxil), which is rapidly metabolized, is associated with the most difficulties, while fluoxetine (Prozac), a slowly metabolized drug, has little or no tendency to produce reactions. Flovoxamine (Luvox) and setraline (Zoloft) fall in the middle. Discontinuing Venlafaxine (Effexor) can cause bothersome symptoms after short administration, while nefazadone (Serzone) seems free of problems.
The fact that a person has withdrawal symptoms doesn’t mean he or she has become addicted to the antidepressant. A person can’t build up a tolerance (needing higher and higher doses) nor does he or she crave the drug. When someone takes a drug, his or her body accommodates that drug to a certain extent. When the drug is stopped, accommodating reactions are unopposed and can create symptoms. It is generally a good idea to stop drugs, even longer-acting drugs like fluoxetine, slowly. Sometimes, even with precautions, withdrawal reactions occur. They are pretty much self-limiting and transient and not a cause for alarm.
