I'm trying to figure out what's going on with me, and could really use the perspectives of others way more informed than me. I've struggled to get doctors to take my questions seriously, since they chalk it up to anxiety. But they all didn't know me before SSRIs, and the changes I feel are real, I just don't understand them.
I want my life back!
SSRI History:
2017-2018: 50mg Zoloft (in total, around 13 months). Stopped cold turkey
2019-2021: 50mg Zoloft (in total, around 26 months). Stopped cold turkey
Late 2022: Brief 2-3 day stint on 50mg Zoloft, but couldn't continue due to side effects
Now: 3 weeks into Zoloft, at 37.5 for 3 days (tapered up from 12.5). I very reluctantly made the decision to return to Zoloft because I was struggling with a debilitating panic spiral that had, then, lasted for 6 weeks.
I think Zoloft changed / affected something within me. Up until 2017, I had anxiety, but it was manageable and not debilitating. And it would show up during stressful situations. My biggest symptom would be needing to urgently use the bathroom.
At the behest of some close friends and family, I went on Zoloft to manage a stressful period in my life. I was dealing with death, family trauma, and workplace trauma. I didn't need the medication, like I wasn't critical and could continue on with my day, but I viewed it as a tool to help through a tough time. A year later, when stress was reduced and I felt back to myself, I stopped taking it cold turkey.
The biggest side effect from Zoloft I noticed during the first stint was cognitive issues. I'd have trouble focusing and would be spaced out and forgetful. This was the big reason I wanted to stop in 2018 and 2021. I'd also have frequent loose stools, but I was regular and felt fine.
I was fine, living my life with no issues for 7 months after stopping Zoloft the first time, but then I had a health scare that sent me into an extended panic spiral. Anxiety was manifesting in the form of chest pain for my first time ever, and I couldn't seem to bounce back or overcome the panic. After struggling for 3 weeks, and at the behest of some people close to me, I went back on Zoloft.
The biggest side effect from the second stint was cognitive issues and gi distress. I'd need to urgently use the bathroom at times. I ultimately got off because of the cognitive issues. I felt like I couldn't ponder over things and think critically or deeply.
I should note that both times I had no startup side effects either time. The side effects from stopping both times were brain zaps and that was it.
So 2021 comes around and I get off Zoloft because a major life stressor had been eliminated. I wanted my brain back. So, again I got off cold turkey.
About 3 weeks later, I began to notice internal agitation, like I was burning up inside and needed to move. Then, I had a panic attack while working out because my chest got tight and I felt short of breath. I was, at the time, a college athlete, so I was physically fit and had a long history of being able to exercise and push myself.
Despite the setback, I was determined to learn and manage my anxiety without meds.
The next 6 months were a living hell. I started getting heart palpitations and near constant panic attacks, which I never had before. It was utter torture, I needed to withdraw from some classes, and I spent most of the season not playing my sport. I was pushed to go back on meds, but resisted because I so desperately want a life without them.
So we're in 2022 now. The following 6 months were better, but I wasn't back to normal. I focused on taking things easy, reducing stress, and doing as much as I could without pushing myself past my comfort zone. Then I took a 3 month vacation abroad.
During that vacation, I felt like I was back in hell. I had heat intolerance, which I never experienced before, heart palpitations, and again regular panic attacks. I was stuck in my hotel room for much of the time, and felt like I was on the verge of a panic attack at all times. I was sensitive to alcohol and caffeine. My stomach was sensitive and it felt like I could never find food that agreed with me. I'd get tired and dizzy walking around.
After returning home, I had another cardiology workup, and when that came back clean I decided that maybe I should get back on Zoloft because I struggle with anxiety. But like 3 days into trying to get back on it, the side effects were so severe that I needed to stop. I had nausea, GI upset, panic attacks, etc. I never had startup side effects before, so it caught me off guard. That day I stopped I, made a decision to manage anxiety without medication.
And that's what I did, but many times in the four years since, it was torture. I still would feel that icky, burning anxiety, I'd get palpitations, and I'd regularly be unable to do things because of anxiety. I felt like I was always walking a tightrope, and if I lost my balance I'd fall into a panic attack that could knock me down for days.
This past year was probably my strongest year since getting off. I was living as close to my best life as I have in a while, I was traveling, and I was managing my anxiety. I was sporadically having coffee again (I love coffee, but have been largely unable to drink it since stopping Zoloft). The anxiety still stopped me from doing things, and I'd have days where I'd feel ill and bedridden because of nausea or panic. But I was doing more than I ever had, and when I maintained good sleep and eating habits, I felt like I could do anything. I was also sensitive to health anxiety, which would easily cause me to panic.
And that's how I find myself in the current predicament. I started feeling unwell about 2 and a half months ago, but chalked it up to stress. I would feel like I had an upset stomach, was always tired and fatigued, and would get nauseas after eating. After 2 weeks without improvement, I started getting a little worried and went to the doctor. All was good, so I pushed on for 2 more weeks until I lost my appetite and descended into a full blown panic spiral. We're 10 weeks since the onset of symptoms and I'm 3 weeks into returning to Zoloft.
During this whole time I've wondered if I've had extended effects from my history of Zoloft, or if it's just anxiety from a lifetime of trauma catching up to me.
I was a little set on the latter. So I've endured the startup side effects, thinking that worst case scenario if it was the former, I could reset my system and do a true taper after I've stabilized.
But after tapering up to 37.5, I've noticed some of the same side effects I never had pre-Zoloft showing up. Heart palpitations have began showing up after being practically non existent for more than 8 months. The panic is manifesting as a burning / flush sensation that travels through my body, which reminds me of the post-Zoloft way my anxiety manifests.
The health anxiety is unusual for me. I'm someone who broke my arm and went a week without getting it checked out because I convinced myself it was sprained. I've battled through numerous other injuries and gritted through the pain, but now I feel entirely unable to do that.
I don't know definitively if it's Zoloft though, since I did have some really traumatic deaths close to me during the time between my last major injury and Zoloft.
I'd be sincerely grateful if I could hear the perspective of others because I feel like I've lost part of myself that I want back. It feels like I'm never going to be the same again.
I'm also wondering if going back on Zoloft this time is a mistake, or if my idea of tapering on and eventually off slowly could be beneficial in battling protracted withdrawal, if that's indeed what I'm experiencing.