Zoloft® is an SSRI used to treat depression and anxiety. Withdrawal symptoms include nausea, headaches, fatigue, and anxiety. Gradual dosage reduction is recommended to prevent withdrawal symptoms. SSRIs are effective in treating psychological disorders.
Zoloft® is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of drug used to treat psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. Reducing the dosage or stopping treatment with an SSRI such as Zoloft® can cause adverse side effects. Withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft® most commonly include gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea. Other common ailments are headaches, fatigue and anxiety.
SSRIs such as 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 serotonin to communicate with the neuron for a longer period of time.
Withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft® are similar to the side effects people experience when starting 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 such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Another common side effect is sexual dysfunction.
SSRI withdrawal syndrome, the cause of Zoloft® withdrawal symptoms, occurs when the dose of a drug such as Zoloft® is reduced or stopped. Typically, adverse symptoms occur one to three days after drug discontinuation or tapering and usually persist for less than two weeks. These symptoms are usually mild and short-lived.
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. Serious psychological side effects are rare and typically only occur if a dose is stopped completely.
Withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft® can be caused by missing a dose during a normal course of treatment, so it is important that patients take their medications regularly. SSRIs like Zoloft® can take several weeks to start working, so patients should continue taking their medications even if they see no signs of improvement. Treatment with Zoloft® or another SSRI should never be stopped without consulting a doctor.
To prevent withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft®, physicians should gradually reduce the dose when a patient is ready to stop taking the drug. Doctors may also want to reassure patients that withdrawal symptoms will be relatively mild and won’t last long. It may also be helpful to educate patients about the importance of following the doctor’s instructions with medications such as Zoloft®.
Zoloft® and other SSRIs have been shown to be effective in treating depression and anxiety. They can also be used for other psychological conditions such as eating disorders or OCD. Typically, side effects from stopping an SSRI are mild and are generally not a reason to avoid SSRI medications if a person is depressed.
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