Side Effects After the Discontinuation of Sertraline
- Zoloft withdrawal can cause diarrhea, anxiety, nightmares, dizziness and fatigue.
- Stopping sertraline can cause paresthesias, a prickling, tightening sensation in the skin. Some people describe paresthesias as a "zapping" sensation in the scalp and/or brain.
- Zoloft has a half-life of one day, so the levels of sertraline remaining in the body drop by half approximately every 24 hours.
- R.E.M. Behavior Disorder is a potentially serious side effect some people suffer during Zoloft withdrawal. R.E.M. Behavior Disorder causes the eyes to move too quickly, which simulates R.E.M. sleep while awake and can cause hallucinations.
- The typical time frame for Zoloft withdrawal lasts about two weeks, but some people experience withdrawal symptoms for weeks, or even months, after stopping sertraline.