Question: I am 25 and am taking Zoloft for anxiety and mild ocd syndrome. I started being cold, stiff body followed by a stiff neck and jaw. I had trouble talking, could not think clearly. I was really dizzy, loopy feeling. My husband described it as acting stoned. I felt very very drugged, like my blood pressure was low, out of breath when tried to talk or walk. My heart rate was about 57. I was so cold I was blueish and was very shaky. It seemed for the for the first couple of days I had a couple of hot flashes. The hot flashes have tapered off to warm flashes. I have a headache in the back of my head all day. In the morning it hurts into my jaw and ears. My dr. thinks that it is the zoloft not working any longer. I am concerned it is something else. When zoloft quits working can it cause these physiological symptoms.

I'd like to correct some things. My mother-in-law was submitting this for me, and there was a misunderstanding in my symptoms and the time frame. So here's the actual story. I'm 25, and I have been taking 50 mg of zoloft for at least a couple years. I started it for postpartum depression, but decided to continue because I was diagnosed as "borderline OCD" at 18, and it does help with the compulsions. About 5 weeks ago, I became irritable, had some nausea, and very tired. I expected this to leave when I had an actual period, which was odd because usually it's more like spotting (i'm on implanon). the symptoms did not go away. I took two pregnancy tests within a week and a half of my period, and they were negative. Approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the first symptoms began, I started an acne medicine, minocycline or something on a friday. That Sunday I had a stomach bug at the same time as my husband. We spent the night throwing up, and the next day were achy and I was chilled and shivering. The day after that, Tuesday, I was shaking visibly and felt like my blood pressure had plummeted. I was turning blue around the mouth and nose and my hands I was so cold. I was also dizzy, and whoozy. I stopped taking the antibiotic thinking it was causing the dizziness and color. the next day I was very stiff all over and my jaw was so stiff I was slurring. I also felt very loopy and couldn't concentrate. Later that day, my temperature was opposite and I had a fever. The rest of the week I had the same symptoms of my body being physically cold, feeling like I was going to pass out, extremely lethargic, shallow breathing, and slightly lower heart rate. My husband did describe my behavior as acting like I was stoned. However, it did seem to ease slightly day by day, and by now I am feeling great other than I'm still cranky, tired, and once in a while nauseaus. During this time I did not interrupt the zoloft. I take it at 8:00 every morning. I have increased it once before around the typical time frame to 100 mg and it had the opposite effect, so I have been back to 50 mg and it has worked very well for a couple years at that dose. Thank you for your patience with this long story.