Health
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are the Different Zoloft® Withdrawal Symptoms?

Sarah Kay Moll
Sarah Kay Moll

Zoloft® is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of drug used to treat psychological disorders like depression and anxiety. Reducing the dosage or stopping treatment with an SSRI like Zoloft® can cause adverse side effects. Zoloft® withdrawal symptoms most commonly include gastrointestinal side effects like nausea. Other common complaints are headache, fatigue, and anxiety.

SSRIs like Zoloft® are the most common medical treatment for depression. They work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, into brain cells called neurons. This forces the serotonin to communicate with the neuron for a longer period of time.

Zoloft withdrawal symptoms are similar to the side effects people experience when they first start treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Zoloft withdrawal symptoms are similar to the side effects people experience when they first start treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Zoloft® withdrawal symptoms are similar to the side effects people experience when they first start treatment with an SSRI. There is a significant amount of serotonin in the digestive system, so starting or stopping an SSRI can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Another common side effect is sexual dysfunction.

SSRI discontinuation syndrome, the cause of Zoloft® withdrawal symptoms, happens when the dose of a medication like Zoloft® is reduced or stopped. Typically, the adverse symptoms occur one to three days after stopping or reducing the medication, and they usually persist for less than two weeks. These symptoms are usually mild and short lived.

The withdrawal symptoms of Zoloft typically start within one to three days after a missed dose.
The withdrawal symptoms of Zoloft typically start within one to three days after a missed dose.

The most common Zoloft® withdrawal symptoms are dizziness, nausea and vomiting, headache, and lethargy. Psychological symptoms such as anxiety and irritability may also be present. Severe psychological side effects are rare and typically only occur if a dose is stopped entirely.

Zoloft® withdrawal symptoms can be caused by missing a dose during a regular course of treatment, so it’s important for patients to take their medication regularly. SSRIs like Zoloft® can take several weeks to start working, so patients should continue taking their medication even if they don’t see signs of improvement. Treatment with Zoloft® or another SSRI should never be stopped without consulting a physician.

Nausea is a common withdrawal symptom of Zoloft.
Nausea is a common withdrawal symptom of Zoloft.

To prevent Zoloft® withdrawal symptoms, physicians should taper the dose gradually when a patient is ready to stop taking the medication. Physicians may also want to reassure patients that the withdrawal symptoms will be relatively mild and will not last long. Educating patients about the importance of following physician instructions with medications such as Zoloft® may also help.

Lethargy and dizziness are two possible complications of Zoloft® withdrawal.
Lethargy and dizziness are two possible complications of Zoloft® withdrawal.

Zoloft® and other SSRIs have been proven effective at treating depression and anxiety. They may also be used for other psychological conditions such as eating disorders or obsessive compulsive disorder. Typically, the side effects from discontinuing an SSRI are mild, and are generally not a reason to avoid SSRI drugs if a person is depressed.

Discussion Comments

Laotionne

With any type of antidepressant or anxiety medication, you have to be willing to stick with it long enough to see whether your body is going to be able to adjust. My aunt took her current anxiety pills for almost a year before she felt like they were not making her sick. She now feels much better than she did before she started taking the pills.

Animandel

It's strange that many of the Zoloft withdrawal symptoms are the same as the side effects associated with using the drug. I know several people who are taking or have taken the drug and they complain about how it makes them sick to their stomachs.

I have one friend who said she was throwing up what seemed like all of the time even after she had been on the drug for a while. And she felt like she was always in a daze, and she had no energy. Without the drug she was anxious, but with it she just felt exhausted.

mobilian33

I have a friend who is on Zoloft, but she wants to stop taking the medication even though her doctors say she should continue to use the drug. She has been a nervous person most of her life. Ever since I have known her she has been anxious and she worries and over thinks every situation.

She is also a very fun person to be around most of the time. She is full of life and energy and she enjoys doing exciting things and just having fun. When she started taking the drug, she says she didn't like the way it made her feel, but she continued to take it because her doctors and her family felt she should.

Now she has decided she wants to at least switch to another medication. Though, she would rather take nothing. She knows antidepressant withdrawal symptoms can be difficult, but she is definitely ready to make a change, and she is hopeful that she will find some medication that agrees with her better than what she is currently taking.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Zoloft withdrawal symptoms are similar to the side effects people experience when they first start treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
      By: snyggg.de
      Zoloft withdrawal symptoms are similar to the side effects people experience when they first start treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
    • The withdrawal symptoms of Zoloft typically start within one to three days after a missed dose.
      By: themalni
      The withdrawal symptoms of Zoloft typically start within one to three days after a missed dose.
    • Nausea is a common withdrawal symptom of Zoloft.
      By: Piotr Marcinski
      Nausea is a common withdrawal symptom of Zoloft.
    • Lethargy and dizziness are two possible complications of Zoloft® withdrawal.
      By: Coka
      Lethargy and dizziness are two possible complications of Zoloft® withdrawal.
    • Patients who take Zoloft® should not discontinue its use without consulting a physician.
      By: LoloStock
      Patients who take Zoloft® should not discontinue its use without consulting a physician.
    • Exercise may help allay anxiety without the adverse side effects that come with most antidepressant drugs.
      By: Ana Blazic Pavlovic
      Exercise may help allay anxiety without the adverse side effects that come with most antidepressant drugs.
    • A headache and dizziness are among the most common symptoms of Zoloft withdrawal.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      A headache and dizziness are among the most common symptoms of Zoloft withdrawal.
    • Zoloft and other SSRIs are the most common treatment for depression.
      By: Kaspars Grinvalds
      Zoloft and other SSRIs are the most common treatment for depression.