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Thinking of coming off Sertraline (Zoloft).No passion, edge or motivation anymore :/

[INFJ]
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21K views 27 replies 16 participants last post by  shyla96706  
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#1 ·
Title says it all really. I have been on Sertraline for about 4 months now, previous i was on Citalopram for about 2 years. Since going on Sertraline, i have noticed i no longer get interest from girls anymore, friends tell me i'm 'Dull' and really miserable, i feel i have no motivation anymore, i feel num, low sex drive, can't remember the last time i cried. Went to help my Dad who suffers from Bipolar yesterday, he was in a bad state, and i felt i wanted to cry, but just couldn't. I don't feel 'myself' anymore. I remember on Citalopram, i would atleast get attention of girls, i would be going on dates etc, now, nothing. Not been with any girls since being on Sertraline. The past 2 days, ive been halfing the tablets, and im starting to feel a 'shock' of dizzyness when i move my head too quick, its hard to explain but its weird and not nice. I'm going to the doctors on Tuesday to discuss it futher with him.

I'm just wondering, is this a side effect of these meds? Am i imagining it? Is this a result of the depression and not the tablets?
 
#2 ·
Yes, that's a known side effect of sertraline. Be careful going off the medicine too quickly--as you've discovered with the dizziness, it can send your body into a sort of withdrawal, and the symptoms of that can be pretty uncomfortable until your body readjusts back to normal.
 
#3 ·
I find it amazing how many of these "approved" drugs increase the risk of suicide. Ask yourself a few questions first man. Do you truly believe you will feel better if you come off them? It could be that you're trying to cut out a factor that may not be a problem at all. It could very well be a side effect. The likes of Prozac have side effects that are a lot worse than what they treat. On the other hand, if it's not a side effect, you could be experiencing a severe depression and thinking "if I cut these meds out, everything will be better". It might just be the way we think. My thinking when I'm in a bad way is "if I was medicated, everything would be better", quite the opposite from you right now. Do what people like us are really best at and think it over a lot. Have a read of my signature too. It's something I heard a while back and for the first time in a long time it made me think being medicated wasn't the answer for me after all.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Thanks. Yes this is what i'm afraid of, i'm not sure so i guess there's only one way to find out really and try to ease off them slowly, see how i feel. Also talk to my doctor about all of this.I do think they have affected my sex drive, numbed me more, i'm just don't feel 'myself'. Plus, i'm not majorly depressed right now, i do get enjoyment out of things, the sunshine, music, friends, good foods etc. I honestly think the only thing this medication does for me is numb me, it numbs the pain of things, but like, really numbs things to the extent that i can't feel anything. I think these are worse than the citalopram i've been on, if i see myself getting worse when i come off these, i'm going to go back on the citalopram, or trying something else i think. I'm just fed up and i feel like i want my old self back but i'm really scared what will happen when i come off them, if i will go worse.

"There’s enormous variation among people when they stop antidepressants. A person whose depression kicked in after a major life tragedy may do OK without drugs once life stabilizes. A person whose depression came out of the blue is likely to be at higher risk of chronic depression. And within all that, there’s basic biology — people react differently to drugs and to withdrawing from drugs."

The reason i started taking the anti depressants in the first place was to calm my neurotic behavour with my then girlfriend. I was overreacting, over emotional, basically struggling to trust but now i realize our personality where just not compatible she couldn't attend to my needs, and i drove her away with the way i was. But i don't remember feeling 'depressed' I was not really majorly happy, but, i was struggling with an on and off girlfriend, problems with my mum, problems with my bi polar dad, being unemployed etc. After i started to take Citalopram, it did give me a sort of jolt to go into finding work, i found a job, but, the problems persisted with my girlfriend until i decided to go upto 20mg. After that, i couldn't feel anything i couldn't overreact or go out stupid girly emotional over stuff because they calmed me down, numbed me. I didn't feel myself thou. With the Setraline, the not feeling myself, has gone worse. I honestly done think the depression i had was 'something wrong with my brain' I was circumstantial, and to do with my personality.
Right now thou, i'm still out of work, which isn't doing me any good mulling over stuff all day. But, i'm just wondering if the anti d's are now affecting that, because, i have zero motivation. My beliefs about work, being in work where different then, that has changed for the better, i now know how much i benefit from being in work, and how important it is for my future and, even, general mental health

I guess the only way to try is giving it a go? Coming off them slowly and see how things change?

I've been on them now for approx 13-14 weeks and having these issues -

Lack of motivation
Sex drive decreased
Lack of appetite
Sleeping for long periods (over 12 hours)
Sad mood
Anxiety
On Edge
OCD symptoms

Depersonalization
Procrastination
Low energy

Now i'm scared of trying anything else, i hate feeling like a Zombie on them. My doctor i feel doesn't really know this medication properly, and what i need
 
Q
#5 ·
Talk to your doctor before you try to do anything different with your meds. Are you getting psychotherapy or do you have someone whom you can talk to about things that can be objective about it? I went through major bouts of chronic depression on and off and I was on Zoloft for most of my teen years. I was an emotionless zombie. Finally I decided to ween myself off the drugs because I think they were hurting more than they were helping(after talking to a doctor about it), and started to try to look at my life and what was the culprit for making me depressed. I found that it was mainly the company I kept, they weren't the right kind of people and they were zapping my energy. They did not fit right with my life and my value system, so I decided to remove those draining people from my life and looked for people who replenished me. I found most of them on the internet, because face it, we INFJs are few and far between. I do still have episodes of melancholia but I found I best overcome them by working it out in my mind, writing things down, talking to someone who understands, and trying to resolve the issue myself the best I can.

I know what it's like to be out of work and feel like you don't have a direction in life. I feel that way now in fact, but I think INFJs are resilient and we always come out okay in the end. Keep your head up and don't give up on yourself. Eventually you'll get a sign and know what to do to turn things around. Good Luck :)
 
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#7 ·
Thanks mate. Yeah that's what i feeling i'm looking for, a sign, the right help, a AHAH moment I think i've just had that tbo today, i've released these are not working for me, i need off, or on something else. So a visit back to the doctor is in order. I'm only seeing a doctor, i don't think hes very well trained with anti d's so i'm going to have to maybe just do trial and error until i find the right one, or, im coming off them completely
 
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#6 ·
Huh, it's funny. I've just recently been put on Sertraline as well, and it sure is one hell of a drug. I feel numb all the time, but unlike you my passion for things has grown immensely, like some ravenous hunger taking over my body. I'm always wanting to try new things, do new things, and experience. I'm naturally a pretty numb, put-up-a-wall-and-block-out-your-feelings kind of person anyway. But it's been a bit worse on the drug.

I suggest you talk to your doctor before doing anything, coming off of medicine can have some gnarly side effects.
 
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#21 ·
Just be careful you don't feel too buoyant. Some medicine can trigger hypomania in certain individuals.

killerB said:
BTW a common side effect, in males is difficulty with orgasm, so it is prescribed often for premature ejaculators. Also, it does affect a males sex drive over all, it does not seem to be as much of an issue in females. It is also used off lable for women to help with hot flashes. SSRIs seem to help with this.
Click to expand...
It can happen with women too. The fact that my medication killed my physical urges was one major reason why I have weaned off.


I was on Escitalopram for 6 months first on a small dosage and then higher. It made me much calmer and able to sleep and as I was having such high anxiety and could not sleep it was a relief, though my depression did not budge. As the anxiety subsided my hopelessness about the future increased so I did end up scoring just as badly on my "depression points".
I was also very tired on it and the lack of a sex drive, or any drive was notable. I also became less active and couldn't take care of my chores. Ironically anxiety made me keep the house clean and the house run on a consistent daily rhythm. On the drugs i just did not care and it looks like it.

My psychologist, doctor and myself decided to try Venlafaxin next after that on a lower and then higher dose.
It did not suit me one bit! I had nearly all of the side effects possible. Vertigo, no sex drive, nausea,constant low fever, tiredness in my muscles, hot waves, moments of confusion and extreme sleepiness. I could not function ....and I was still severely depressed!
I had a talk with the doctor and pretty much told them I was coming off the drugs. Period. Lol. Between getting lost in my thought and shaking and yawning that is...
I have a prescription for a third SSRI but I have not felt a need to get the pills yet. It's early days but after being zombified I feel so vigorous and full of life. My moods have improved. This may also be due to a change in my life situations and a new goal in life.
And psychotherapy I have been receiving is beginning to incite change in my unhealthy beliefs about myself. Since our country is one of the "welfare states" ie has a strong societal safety net it's been really a lifesaver. Getting subsidies when unable to work due to the illness etc.
I am going on a recovery program engineered with the unemployment soon to take time off to get well and that plus the therapy will hopefully make a difference. I have had chronic depression since childhood and episodes of major depression-I.e. occasional double depression and many people like myself are often put on early retirement. I just slipped through the system until I got pregnant and "got caught" in the mandatory PPD prevention questionnaire. :) glad I did.
 
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#8 ·
the dizzy feeling is referred to as vertigo. I'm on paxil and it does that to me also when I forget a pill.

like they said, realize it REALLY messes with you when you come off them. Paxil for instance takes 6 weeks before it does much of anything, and about 3 days and you are really messed up.

if you do decide to come off them, maybe start with taking a full pill one day, half pill every other day for a week, then half a pill, etc.

wean off sloooooowly. the crash off this crap is where people get totally bummed out, and are worse off then when they started.

i really lucked out. I had a smart doctor, who guessed a good drug for me right off. I've been on paxil for 10 years. It does have side effects, but it has really made my life much better.
 
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M
#9 ·
You might need a different type of anti-depressant there are lots of different types. Go to your doctor and tell him because they all work in different ways. I found sertraline worked well for me but they can give nasty side effects when coming off them. Dont just stop taking them because you need to ween yourself off them slowly in quarters or halves at a time or you get grouchy.
If its the anti depressant route you need to take it might be a trial of different types before you find the right one for you. But you need a quality of life and if your drugs are reducing them they arent the ones for you.
 
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#12 ·
This is my forth day on 25mg of Sertraline from 50mg, i feel slightly weird and dizzy, nothing major. Feel a bit happier, less depressed and more myself. Am i coming off them too quick thou? Should i take atleast 2 50mgs for 2 days of 5? Then 25mg for the remaining 5 days out of a week?
 
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#13 ·
I weened myself off from 200mg per day i did it with quarters every 5-7 days. You will get the dizzy feeling as your brain adjusts itself. I judged it on how i felt. You could try leaving it a few more days then biting the 25mg in half ( if you can lol )
If you start feeling rubbish go see the doc x
 
#14 ·
Ok i've been on citalopram before on and off which worked wonders for me. I then came off them (suspect weight gain) and went on Sertraline which did nothing for me at all. Went on Prozac which sent me agitated and angry. Finally went back on Citalopram, which once again does wonders for me. All anecdotal of course, but you get the point: find a med that works for you. You really can react differently to each despite all of the above being SSRIs.

Can I ask, why did you switch from Citalopram to Sertraline?
 
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#16 ·
My younger brother (who's also been typed as an INFJ) described the same issue with feeling passionless and numb when he began taking Zoloft. He described it as feeling alert, even peppy yet completely empty, emotionless and almost husk-like. However, as it turns out, this is really common with some anti-depressants...and unfortunately when the medicine doesn't work immediately a lot of people who may have benefited from it stop taking it. So my brother continued on it and thankfully did great on the first medication he tried but he also meets regularly with a psychologist.

Currently he's going through the process of being weaned off of it, because for the most part taking these sorts of medications is to reach a point where you can finally not rely on them. As someone who has been on and off anti-depressants for the majority of my life, I totally understand the frustration of feeling like either way you're not happy or "yourself"! So I truly hope that you find something that really works for you :)
 
#17 ·
#18 ·
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#19 ·
@Targus28
For me I found Citalopram made me feel worse, as if I reacted badly to SSRI effects but Fluoxetine has proved more helpful for me, feeling more able to function freely (with SSRIs I felt my clarity of though was too conditional on serotonin-dopamine rebalancing while Fluoxetine seems to have far fewer side effects; mostly only noticed a rush of energy, disjointed self, and quickening hyperactive thought akin to sugar rush). I did find I had to double the fluoxetine dosage to 40mg and take at night though to maintain anti depressant effects; in the early morning dosages I found it was not working for up to an hour after taking though.
 
K
#20 ·
I've been on it for over 5 years and have had good results. I do notice if I skip several days, then I get very very emotionally unstable, angry easily and cry lots. I take it for GAD(generalized anxiety disorder) and it has helped greatly. I was on Paxil and Prozac
but they caused me to not be able to orgasm, no matter HOW long I went at it. It was frustrating, but I have no such problems with Zoloft, and it has not affected my sex drive at all. My doctor suggested I take it at night, or the largest dose then.

BTW a common side effect, in males is difficulty with orgasm, so it is prescribed often for premature ejaculators. Also, it does affect a males sex drive over all, it does not seem to be as much of an issue in females. It is also used off lable for women to help with hot flashes. SSRIs seem to help with this.
 
D
#23 ·
Talking can help, knowing others are out there can help. I have said before it is like a vicious cycle, and figuring out you are IN the cycle can help a lot.
If you can break the cycle, find sources to help you, more power to you. It takes a lot of work, and a lot of effort, and a lot of TRY.

For me, I found an SSRI which helps me, and seems to be working long term.
 
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#25 ·
I wouldn't make any changes without talking to your doctor first. Since you seem to have negative side effects from your prescription, ask your doctor to write you a prescription for a different medication. You can also ask your pharmacist for some advice.

Also, your medication is not the cause of girls lacking romantic interest in you. External factors do not validate or define you.

I do relate to the numbness you're referring to. I just took myself off hormonal birth control and I can feel emotions again! I think it made me depressed. That's a different situation from yours though.
 
#27 ·
Targus28 said:
Is this a result of the depression and not the tablets?
Click to expand...
It's a mixture of two. Please support your wellbeing with running or weightlifting. Strategically planned physical challenges have an amazing effect on your brain chemistry and mindset. Don't rely on prescribed drugs only, so many people wasting years with expecting miracles from couple of pills.
 
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#28 ·
I used to be severely depressed. I suffer from bipolar 1 disorder and I've been hospitalized twice for severe mania. I stopped taking anti depressants a while ago. It made me feel... Funny. I didn't like it. I learned that anti depressants are actually really bad for you. But of course doctors won't say that because they tell the public what they learn in med school.. I see a therapist and that has helped me a lot. It helped me work out my issues. The reason I was so depressed was because I had deep rooted problems because of things that has happened in my past. Also bipolar runs in my family. Among other feelings, I felt a lot of guilt and shame. Once I talked about it and got past that, and learned to cope with it, I felt like I had more control over my depression. I still go through phases of depression but I feel that I can get out of it a lot quicker. Another thing that really helped me is prayer. I don't know if you are religious, but I know God is there and loves us, and will help us through any trial.
 
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