Depression Blog.com

Hi. I am a 40 yr old woman who was prescribed Zoloft by my doctor when I told him that I had mild PMS every month. He prescribed Zoloft even when I told him that I was NOT depressed, I just had PMS. He told me that if I smoked, I was depressed. Amazing, I've been smoking since 13 yrs old. Anyway, I was abt 106 lbs before I began taking. For over 1 year I took the Zoloft. I dropped down to 85 lbs because I was constantly sick to my stomach and could barely eat. Every time I went back to doctor and told him, he would say that if I would quit smoking, I would feel better. Finally, thank God, a friend mentioned that someone she knew was prescribed Zoloft and that she was vitally ill and had to quit. It hit me like a freight train realizing that was what had been wrong with me for the past year. I also started smoking Marijuana again (since teen years, ha) because it would let me sleep (I had intense insomnia also) and would settle my stomach so that I could eat something. When my friend told me about the side effects and I checked online, I realized what was literally killing me. I had to wean myself off of the Zoloft because you CAN NOT just quit taking it. It will make you so dizzy that you can not stand if you do not take daily. I slowly (took me 3 months) weaned myself off of the Zoloft. During this time, I was fired because my boss said that my attitude had changed and he no longer liked me. Everyone around me saw the side effects of the Zoloft except me. I was in Happy Land (one side effect is an unrealistic sense of well-being) and did not realize that my attitude had changed or that I looked SO bad. Now, I really am depressed. I cry almost daily and can not seem to get myself back together. I dropped the quack doctor because I figure, hey, he weighed me every time I went in (at least 6 visits during the year that I was on Zoloft) and he supposedly should have known the side effects but continued to let me take this medication. I have had thoughts of suicide (as recently as today) but I will never act on them because I believe that I will go straight to hell. I thought today that it would be sweet to carry a gun up to the bank and let someone else shoot me (but I don't think God would let that slide since I would have done it on purpose anyway). If I got shot, I would just say "Thank You". I would do it myself, but I do not wish to hurt my family OR go to hell. PLEASE, WARN EVERYONE, DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG, DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG, DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG...............

[Moderator response: while some drugs are bad, others are just a bad fit for some people. Misprescribed legal drugs are sometimes far worse than illegal drugs. Your doctor should be ashamed of themselves for not listening to you. If I had a doctor that did not listen to me, I would get a new doctor.]

Zoloft worked or me. I started with Paxil but was worse, so Zoloft. My health care plan at work changed and they suggested a different medication. My doc said for me to come in. He was out of town. So, I've gone with out.I started noticing shock waves and weird feelings. Giddy at one and recently anger....
I've been on Zoloft since February 2002 (paxil first) now I'm worried that I'll never quit it and the anger part is extremely surprising as I am mellow.

Do you know any thing about Zoloft withdrawal and anger management?

After all 9 or 10 days on Zoloft I began to research more of its side effects and opted to try an experiment. The other night I meant to take it, then forgot, but found out I felt better. I was having vision problems, muscle aches, nervous, chest pains, and knew that after having a clean bill of health from even my eye doctor, I wasn't or shouldn't have been having any problems with my eyes. I began to freak out thinking there were problems and there weren't any. I decided to stop taking the Zoloft on my own.

I am willing to go through the withdrawal, and deal with coming off of it, then putting myself through the torment of a drug that was not working. I decided on holistic approaches that have worked for years.

Zoloft might be good for some, but not for me. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody who asks.

Sincerely,
Maria

I was happy to find your web site. i started taking Zoloft six weeks ago for stomach pain ie: functional dyspepsia. i started at 25 mg. and then went to 50mg qd. After about two weeks it started to work wonderfully. My stomach pain is 90% better. However, I have gained 5 pounds although my diet has not changed and I am actually exercising more. The various "official" web sites for Zoloft talk about weight loss but not weight gain as a possible side effect. It was confirming to read from your web site that others have gained weight on Zoloft. I will contact my doctor and perhaps switch to a different ssri. I just want to thank you for this
web site and give my story for others to see.

I would like some feed back. I have been in psycotherapy for a month in a half. I have had symptoms of deprression off in on that is why i went. My appetite decrease,concentration level with down, i am also angry, irratible, and withdrawl from others. I feel extremely sad. I dont know what is wrong because i feel like this for a week or two than it goes away. i hane not been diagnose with anything. Zoloft was recommended. havent taken yet. Should i?

[moderator response: hello Robin

people need to know more than a few sentences of information before they can tell you wether or not its ok to take drugs. i generally believe that one would be better off trying natural alternatives prior to using prescription drugs. often drugs mask problems by treating symptoms.

when i feel like crap i use 5 htp. i also take multivitamins and a b vitamin complex pill.
eating well, exercise, and going after whatever your dreams or goals are will make you feel better.
never underestimate the effects of environment on depression

go after your dreams, try something creative.

if you need an outlet you can set up a free personal journal at blogger
http://www.blogger.com

if you have any more questions or need more help feel free to ask
best of luck
aaron]

i was only on ZOLOFT for 2 days and couldn't believe the side effects i was having!
stomach pain, nausea, out there feeling, shaky, tired problems thinking, with memory and mood shifting from angry to happy .
i quit taking it. i figured if it has only been 2 days what would happen if i took it longer.

I have been on zoloft for 3 years. I stoped cold turkey ,could not stand the tiredness all the time.I would sleep all the time,had no live this made me more depressed.What side effects will i get. And why consult your doctor if you want to quite?

[Reader Comment: Do not suddenly stop taking Zoloft, especially if you've been on it for three years. You need to wean yourself off of it. How long ago did you stop taking it? Within a few days of stopping suddenly, you will experience dizziness, irritability, nausea, headache and just a myriad of very unpleasant sensations. You need to consult with your physician to develop a plan to gradually take yourself off of it. I'd be very surprised if you had no problems coming off of it if stopping abruptly. The effect also depends on how high a dose you've been taking. Good luck.]

My Doc just gave me a 1 month trial dose of this stuff as he says I have "situational anxiety", basically I'm stressed out from a high stress job and my blood pressure is elevated despite taking blood pressure meds.....he says this stuff is good for this and from what I'm reading it is not, I think I'd rather take Xanax and tough it out...any input is appreciated as I seem to remember my sister being put on this stuff a few years ago and it made her weird....

[moderator comment: I would recommend to your doctor that he put himself on the same prescription as he wants to put you on since its just a situational thing. He should be able to come off it just as easily as he expects you to be able to.

If you already know what your problem is (your job) then address it, don't throw a band aid over the problem. Especially a band aid that alters your neurochemistry and your very ability to think clearly. If it has harmed your sister there is no reason to let it harm you too.

I recommend trying natural approaches to getting better before trying those prescription drugs out.

thanks
aaron]

i have been on zoloft for approx8 months and have stopped taking it 3 days ago, my head feels really strange, like i'm drunk but i haven't been drinking, very tired and lathargic. can you please help with any info.

[moderator response: Your mind is adjusting to lower serotonin levels. Many people who go off these sorts of drugs taper off so as to minimize this side effect. It can last for a good while, but you can minimize those side effects by doing things that will aid you in naturally creating serotonin. (exercise, vitamins, healthy diet, and going after doing whatever you were created to do) Exercise such as running really helps me, but activity as simple as chewing gum helps create serotonin. ]

I started on 50mg, with little or no effect, then 100mg, reduced morbid depression but increased anxiety and agitation , then 200mg with further negative effects and very suicidal thoughts.

I'm so happy that I finally found other people who feel my pain (and anger!) I wasn't extremely depressed at all, just quite sad, but my doctor said Zoloft would definately help. When I went on it (for a year and 1/2), I was the same when I was happy. But as soon as I got angry, I got ridiculously out of line. When it was happening, I couldn't stop it. I knew how I was acting, but I couldn't stop. I would throw things, scream, and storm out (in work! how embarrassing) No one knew what to do. I finally went off of it because it wasn't worth losing respect over it. I weaned off of it, following my doctors orders. What a mistake. I got even worse for a month straight. I cried every night, over any little thing. When I shut my eyes I heard glass breaking, and when I turned my head to either side, my vision turned black. It was very scary. I got even more angry because I tried to explain to everyone that it was the Zoloft, but no one believed me because why would an ANTI-depressant do that? I'm over all those side-effects, but I now have NO libido what-so-ever. It's been 2 years. I'm so sorry that I ever went on Zoloft. It's about time that people are speaking out about it!

I've been taking Zoloft for three weeks now (25 mg), after two weeks on Paxil CR. Since I've been taking the Zoloft, I've been tired all of the time, and have noticed a decrease in appetite. I also feel pretty much emotionless, and have no drive or ambition to do anything whatsoever. I feel like my personality has been sucked out of me. On the positive side, I haven't had the urge to "do myself in" (with the exception of one occasion), and I'm not miserable anymore. I don't feel much of anything. So I'm not sure which is better....being miserable, or not feeling anything at all.

So I've been on Zoloft now for four months for depression. A few weeks after I started it my symptoms, or depressive ones at least, disappeared. Now I don't obsess about things and have more energy. The only think I hate is the fact that I have absolutely no emotion. I would be mad at that, but it's like I've lost the ability to feel anything at all, positive or negative. I recently got off the Zoloft two days ago. I don't know how long it takes for the shit to get out of your system, but I hope my feelings come back soon. I just feel like a lazy piece of wasted space.

Okay, I know this is a-lot to read, but it’s important that you right back because I need your help---I’m going crazy. So it started when I was having the worst day of my life, basically my best friend (only person a care about, girl who got me depression help) got in a fight, and she ditched me, so I didn’t eat any lunch. and thought I was meant to die then. It wasn't just my BFF, other causes like going to principles office, and being mad at mom, too. So instead of taking my pills normally (before then i was just taking one a day), then I took all 30 at once. That's 3000 mgs. So that night (i took them all at 3). About, 7 pbly, I started hallucinating people I knew, but they weren't there, and I would hear weird noises coming to attack me, my legs shock in fear, I had to lay there all night with the light on. To me it was all so real, I have never been that scared. And most of the time I had my eyes closed, and just heard sounds.
The next morning I woke up and couldn't move at all, my head was so dizzy that I couldn't walk or see. My hands shook so It took my at least 20 minutes to get my contacts somewhat-in. And all the little sounds every sound were loudly heard by me, I was freaked out, I was really jumpy and jumped when to toaster popped, or when my mom talked. My sister even asked me if I was on drugs, and no I;m not. This is all true. Almost all my main muscles hurt- still do- and that scares me; neck, top-part of arm, center bending part of my arm(really bad, lower back stomach, calves. My eyes were really big and sparkly, and my whole mouth was numb, my lip was like three times bigger. My voice was very horse. I woke up all drenched in sweat.
It has been 3days since then, and I'm feeling just a little better. I've been drinking a-lot of water, sleeping all day, and icing my muscles; I went to the bathroom a-lot and have clear pee. I have lost a lot of weight. Some important facts that you might want to know is I'm 16, severely depressed, have been on normal medication for one month, weigh 110, now am really tipsy and have no balance, imagine shadow, am really slow and confused, tired, and have a "ghost friend" who lives in my room. Yeah... this is weirder than that too, he turns on my light, started the back massacre, and radio in the night all by himself. And even when I unplugged it, music was still on and it was static, we communicate by reading each others minds, he is clear though so I never see him, but hear his footsteps. I don’t think it’s all in my mind, I just hurt all over. It is real to me, help me feel better...I’m glad I got that out of my mind, and no I’m not lying. Write your ideas on this please...

if i have been taking zoloft for only two days, can i get off of it? and how should i do so. i have taken 50mg two nights in a row. it seems to make me feel worse

Now I wonder about myself and dont understand why I feel the way I do but I use to take zoloft and I told the doctor that I felt worse taking it then if I didnt take the zoloft. Hr told me to take it at night right before I went to sleep and I would feel better in the morning. Haven't tryed that yet! And I am afraid too. It's funny I only went on this site to see if I was able to overdose on zoloft without having to really cause a lot of pain other wise as far as using a weapon. I strongly feel I want to cause harm to myself and this has been strong for the last 2 days now and I am going crazy. I have been off of Zoloft now for some time but the drpression comes and goes and at times it comes very strongly at that. PMS sure doesnt help neither and a very self centered husband just makes you want to do it more when he says that he wants to divorce you when you dont work and going to school. But anyway, I feel no hope and all I do is fight it everyday and the bad thing about it too I can picture it so clearly in my mind that I am doing harm to myself too. I would get help but i dont want to be put into a mental hospital because they say that I am nuts when I am not and take my son away from me too. No I dont think I would tell no one to take Zoloft and I am glad to find thsi site.

Good luck to everyone

I started on Zoloft 25mg. and after two weeks I have decided it is not for me. I need to know if after only two weeks if I can have withdrawl symtoms. If yes, I will go back to the Dr. - But please give me some idea if I will be experiencing some or any at all :)

Thank you for your time,
Elly

I want to stop Zoloft. I've been on 50 mgs. for 3 yrs. for anxiety and depression. I no longer feel it is helping, in fact I feel depressed. The dr. wanted to increase dose and add Welbutrin last fall. I stopped the Welbutrin after Christmas as I didn't like the physical symptoms and I didn't think I was feeling much better. I am decreasing dosage by 50 mgs. per week and I feel like a zombee. I am doing this without a dr. as I fear he will only tell me I need more meds., as before. I want to know what to expect as I withdraw. What is normal and how long and what to expect. Can someone who's whose been there please advise??? Help! Thanks, Sue

I just recently tapered off zoloft, according to my doctors directions. Since then I have been having weird feelings in my head and being lightheaded. I couldn't explain it, so I kept these symptons to myself. I felt noone would understand. Then I wondered if I could be having zoloft withdrawal. I didn't even know if their was such a thing. I was so happy to find this sight, now I know I'm not going mad and what I have been experiencing is shockwaves to the head. I don't know how long it will last. But at one time I thought I needed to go back on zoloft again. But that will never happen.

Can someone please tell me how long the shockwaves in your head will last?

I recently took a 3 week trip to Asia with my family. I was very good about taking my zoloft every day while I was there, but when I came back, my sleep pattern was so random that I forgot many days to take my zoloft. I began having huge headaches and not being able to sleep; then, I couldn't keep any food down and got so dizzy standing or walking that I couldn't do anything for 3 days. It dawned on me that I hadn't been taking the zoloft... which is nearly as high a dose as you can take... for about the amount of time that I'd been feeling so ill. I hope that after this week of taking the zoloft, I will be back to "normal." This experience has sure been a good reminder to take my meds. I have never felt so awful. I know zoloft might not work for everyone, but it has been great for me. I highly recommend giving it a try.

I've been on Zoloft for about six weeks and am up to 200 mg. I like the way it lessens the OCD, but I am experiencing hair loss, as well as blurred vision. I was previously on Lexapro for about 3 years and will probably begin taking it again as I gradually go off the Zoloft. I started taking it by taking 50 mg. for a week, then 150 etc. until I was up to 200 mg. So I'm going off it the same way-cutting down by 50 mg. per week and gradually adding back the Lexapro.

Has anyone else experienced hair loss, and if so, did your hair grow back when you went off the med?

Thanks,
E

I am 30 yrs old and recently have experience of panic attacks in MAy. I have procrastinated from May until now to tkae medicine for it. The doctor is treating me for depression and anxiety disorder. I am taking Zoloft 25mg for 5 nights now and dont like the feeling. The anxiety is gone but I feel in a cloud and EXHAUSTED. Now I am afraid to stop it because of the withdrawls I read. SOMEONE PLESE HELP!!!

I am 30 yrs old and recently have experience of panic attacks in MAy. I have procrastinated from May until now to tkae medicine for it. The doctor is treating me for depression and anxiety disorder. I am taking Zoloft 25mg for 5 nights now and dont like the feeling. The anxiety is gone but I feel in a cloud and EXHAUSTED. Now I am afraid to stop it because of the withdrawls I read. SOMEONE PLESE HELP!!!

I've been on Zoloft for about 3 or 4 years (lost track). I have been trying to get off zoloft by weaning myself off. I have noticed that when I am on zoloft, I like myself and everyone around me. But when I am coming off of it, watch out. I am moody, mean, and I cant stand myself. I want to get off this stuff because of the side effects. I feel sharper when I am not taking it, but the down side is it's hard to get off.

I cut my dose in half for about three weeks, and then stopped taking it altogether. But my husband and family were ready to kick me out. So, I started taking a half dose again.

I notice the change in me even with a half dose...but it is at least endurable.

How long will it take? Or what can I do to get off of this. I started taking it because of OCD, and it has really helped me. If the lack of libido side effect wasnt so intense, I wouldnt mind staying on it.

I've been on Zoloft for 4 years. Stared with 25mg then 50mg then 100mg. I decided to leave it for many reasons: lack of libido, dependebility..,hate how scared I used to get if I missed a day,hate the comments of others (because I did not have the rights to get sad or upset) "why you're upset today!,did you take your med? or " Oooh, boy! take your med!!"(meaning Zoloft)... So I decided to stop taking ZOLOFT 2 months ago. I'm down on 25mg. It's hard!! The side effects are horrible:from confusing my golden retriever with a lion..,from swets to chills..,insecured..,my hair looks like a brum...EXHAUSTED,can't stand my family can't stand my self..,cant stand my job.BUt the worst: Can't stand docs that prescribes ZOLOFT.

Hi all! I have been on Zoloft for 13 months due to anxiety attacks. I feel like I am ready to come off of it now and have recently started taking .5 mg. of Ativan at night. I was on 100mg. and have weaned myself down to 50mg. The past two night I have started taking 25mg. how long should I wait until I come off completely? I feel a little anxious now that I am on 25mg. but it's not so bad that I feel that I have to increase it again.

So I recently got switched from 100mg of the generic Zoloft to 10mg of Lexapro. I have had a rough past few days, (details we wont mention) and I ended up taking the twenty some leftover 100mg zoloft. I haven't been able to sleep at all since. PLEASE respond ASAP. Do i need to go to the hospital/doctors?

Hi everyone,
I have been taking zoloft for 5 years, I am 19 yearsold and suffer from serious anxiety and panic attacks, I am a hypercontriact and often feel depressed and anxious from worrying all the time about my health.
When I was 15 I started to worry about my health so I started taking 50 mg of zoloft, last year I went up to 100 and to be honest all of this anxiety has been happening since I've been on zoloft...I get chest pulpitations, can't sleep, cry over tiny things, can go from being really happy to be really sad or mad quickly, shakes, panics, panic attacks, worry about my health constantly, low self esteem, moodiness etc.
I am still taking zoloft at the moment basically due to the fact I'm too scared to go off it, theres been times where Ive stopped having it because I ran out for a few days and have felt better and happier...I'm confused and don't know what to do or who to turn to.
I am so shocked and kind of relived to see I'm not the only person who suffers...I am thinking of trying to natural medicines, seeing a counsellour and weaning off zoloft but I'm just so afraid.
If anyone is the same please email me...