From time-to-time, in order to feel better you must use drugs that have side effects that are not wanted. This is the situation when you're making the choice to take Zoloft, which can help with a range of problems such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obviously, no one wants to get headaches from Zoloft, but the benefits often outweigh the side effects. If you're finding that you experience headaches while taking Zoloft, or if you're experiencing headaches after quitting Zoloft, it helps to know what to do.

While on Zoloft

If you're just starting out with Zoloft and experience headaches, the bad news is that there's not much you can do to prevent it; the headaches are your body's reaction to new chemicals in the body. The good news, though, is that once your body grows more accustomed to having the drug in your system, you'll stop experiencing the headaches. So your best bet if you're experiencing headaches while taking Zoloft is to keep whatever headache medicine your doctor recommends around, and to call your doctor if the symptoms persist longer than a few weeks.

While Quitting Zoloft

Unfortunately, headaches are also a common reaction to quitting Zoloft. This drug and others like them often result in withdrawal symptoms, a condition known as SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) discontinuation syndrome. This problem happens for the same reason that you experience headaches from starting Zoloft treatments, because your body is not yet used to the change of chemicals in your bloodstream. Headaches are merely one of a series of other symptoms you might experience while lowering your dosage or quitting Zoloft.

There are a number of things that you can do to help prevent or lessen the effects of headaches from quitting Zoloft. First, it's best to attempt to ease out of the drug than stop it altogether. Ask your doctor to prescribe dosages specifically aimed at weaning you off the drug. If he can't or won't, then your best bet is to get a pill cutter and cut the pills yourself, so that you can ease out of the dosages you're taking. Taking supplements, such as B-complex vitamins, choline, and lecithin, will help lessen the severity of SSRI discontinuation syndrome.

A Final Warning

One thing to remember when currently on Zoloft is that headaches can be triggered easily by missing dosages, so it's important to take your dosages regularly. Zoloft has what is known as a short half-life, which means that your body will flush it out of its system faster than other drugs, which can trigger the symptoms of SSRI discontinuation syndrome. So if you're currently taking Zoloft and experiencing headaches, be sure to make sure that you're taking the dosages at regular times and not running to adverse effects due to waiting too long to take the drug. With all this information in mind, don't be afraid to take the drug you need to be healthy, and you'll stay happier and healthier.