Well, it wasn't a gradual reduction, as it should have been. Thanks to a complete breakdown with my HMO, (managed ? health care ?) and their inability to process my refills, I was forced to go cold turkey. It's actually been 8 days. I didn't post the message till I made the decision to give this a go. So far, the impact has been a headache, restlessness, trouble sleeping, some agitation, but all the symptoms are lessening each day.
4 1/2 years ago after two trips to the E.R., they finally decided I was suffering from a form of "panic disorder." Horrendous episodes, always in the middle of the night where I thought I was having heart attacks. Pulse rate so high it couldn't be counted, blood pressure through the roof, black outs, sweats, nausea, shakes.... oh, what fun. Scared the shit out of me. Zoloft was the drug that helped and I haven't had an attack in about a year. The panic attacks are classified as "non-situational" and are/were caused by a chemical imbalance in what passes for my brain. They sometimes do cease as suddenly as they begin.
125 - 150 mg. a day maintenance dose. Fairly high dosage, but many folks are on much higher.
I can already tell my sex life is going to improve! Erections were never adversely affected, but orgasms were virtually impossible. I had very wonderful, pleasant sex last night through intercourse, completely to orgasm! Which hasn't happened in I don't remember how long. It didn't take fucking, four hands and power tools to "get there." I am certainly happier with that! So's my partner!
Hope that answers the questions? And in my usual fashion, provided waaaay toooo much information.
Most importantly, I want to thank all of you for the warm wishes, kind words and prayers. It is overwhelming that people who don't really know me, care this much. Thank you.