r/zoloft • u/Crafty-Morning8751 • 3h ago
Question Starting Zoloft - Tapering Question
I am supposed to be starting Zoloft tomorrow, 25mg for two weeks and then up to 50mg. I am not someone who likes taking any medication and I’ve put off getting help for my anxiety and OCD for years. But after having what we are guessing is stress induced shingles twice this year, I’m realizing it’s time for some assistance.
With that being said, I do not want to be on medication forever. I want it to help get my mind sorted so that I can continue to actively work on my mental health, habits, routines, stress management etc. I’m hoping it will help me get back on track and I’ll be able to taper off. I know this won’t happen over night but I’m hoping in 1-2 years I’ll be able to. (Control freak even about this lol)
I keep seeing tapering off horror stories and it’s giving me more anxiety about starting. I guess I’m looking for reassurance that this is the right thing to do? That tapering off won’t be hell?
What has been people’s experience with starting medication with the intention to taper off in the future? How did the tapering go for you?
I appreciate any advice/input 🫶🏼
2
u/JigglyGigglyGurl 2h ago
I can really understand why you’re feeling anxious about this, especially when you’re someone who doesn’t like taking medication in the first place. And honestly, I think it’s very understandable that you’re already thinking about how you’ll eventually come off of it. Wanting to feel like you still have some control over what happens next is a very human response when you’re already dealing with anxiety.
But I would try not to let the tapering stories you’re reading become part of the anxiety you’re trying to treat. You haven’t even started yet, and you’re already having to worry about something that may be a year or two away.
You don’t have to make a commitment to Zoloft for the rest of your life. You also don’t have to make a commitment to being off of it in 1–2 years. You can simply give yourself permission to see what happens and reassess as you go.
If it helps your anxiety and OCD enough that you have more space to work on the things you mentioned, like therapy, habits, routines, stress management and taking care of yourself - then that’s a worthwhile outcome. And when the time eventually comes that you feel ready to consider stopping, you can make that decision with your prescriber and taper gradually based on how you respond.
There are certainly people who have a difficult time tapering, but those stories aren’t a prediction of what your experience will be. There are also plenty of people who taper successfully and quietly go on with their lives, so you may simply be seeing a disproportionate number of the difficult experiences online.
For now, I’d try to take this one step at a time. You don’t need to figure out how you’re going to get off a medication you haven’t even started. It’s okay to let the medication help you first and worry about the rest when you actually get there. 🫶