Depression Blog.com

I have been taking Zoloft for anxiety and insomnia for two months now and altough my anxiety is vastly improved and I am generally very happy. Ihave begun drinking daily and smoking (I quit four years ago!). I am concerned and wonder if anyine else has experienced this? will cutting my dose perhaps stop the compulsion to drink?

I guess I have both good and bad things to say about Zoloft. I went on it for panic disorder and mild depression. I have been taking it for about 2 months now, and I notice a drastic change in my emotions and anxiety levels. I haven't had a panic attack since I started the drug, and I handle stressful situations so much better than I used to.

The side effects I've experienced have been more annoying than anything else. My sex drive has noticeably decreased, but not to the point where I have completely lost the desire for sex. It just takes a little longer now. I think the worst side effects I've had are the night sweats and weird, vivid dreams. I keep having dreams about the very things that used to give me panic attacks or the issues I would dwell on when I was depressed. They're not so much disturbing as they are simply odd, and they usually wake me up at night. So other than waking up either sweating to death or freaked out by some strange dream, I really haven't had too bad of a time with Zoloft yet...although it's only been two months. On another note, I've lost most of my desire to go out on the weekends. I've become perfectly content to sit home and watch tv, and I no longer have any desire to drink. I haven't noticed any weird interactions between alcohol and Zoloft, but I just haven't felt like drinking at all ever since I started it (I was a social drinker before).

Overall, I honestly have to say that the good effects of the drug definitely outweigh the minor side effects for me.

I was on Zoloft (25mg) for 9 days and then increased to 50mg. By the next day I developed what at first seemed like a drug rash but in the end seemed more like a bad case of acne. It covered my face, neck, chest & back. I am 40 yrs old and didn't experience anything like this in my teens. Has anyone else experienced this for Zoloft? Maybe this reation was actually some crazy hormonal thing that lasted a couple weeks.

J

I have been taking zoloft--50 ml. per day--and have in the past--I think I've had probelems with depression, as well as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. To the person with the blood pressure problems--I hope you get your blood pressure checked out right away, because, I think that it is really high--from your description--though, I am not a doctor. I haven't had blood pressure problems with zoloft--that I know of--but I have had diarreah on it, and I don't like the way I feel on it. I hate that I don't have a sex drive on it. I don't feel 'right' on it.

It's been 5 Years now since last taking Zoloft
Still no sexual desire or orgasm

Male 43 It's Bad

I had taken 50mg of zoloft for 2 years and recently weaned my self off of it. The withdrawal symptoms have been worse than the depression was in the first place.
As of today I have been 2 weeks and 3 days without the drug. Severe headaches, weird dreams, and uncontrollable crying have stopped the dizziness and ringing in my ears has gotten increasingly worse and is driving me crazy to the point of not being able to sleep. How long will this last???

My experience with Zoloft has been very negative. Tremendous weight gain--27 lbs: 15 pounds while on (100 mg for 3 years) and 12 pounds post-zoloft (7 of those in less than one week!) Everyday is a battle not to put on another pound and I have been off the awful drug for 9 months!!!!

I urge everyone to read any mental health forum to truly understand the devasting effect these drugs have on people's bodies.

I am so furious that NO ONE can tell me "why" I gained this weight and how I can lose it. I am now considered obese and have to shop in plus size stores. Before zoloft, I wore a size 10.

I also had night sweats so bad I had to change my shirt every night, terrible acne which I never even had as a teenager, more dental problems than ever before, good ole weight gain, bowel problems, stomach problems, no libido, tremors, shakings, brain zaps, twitching etc etc.

I feel totally abandoned by everyone. Most Dr. out there truly do not understand all the side effects of these drugs and can't recognize them as the drug company's studies did not go for long enough for all the effects to show up.

I've taken Lustral/Zooloft/Sertraline for nearly two years. I feel I've been in a daze for this period. I'm supposed to be a student, but haven't been able to study. I started smoking again after 5 years. I went cold turkey last week, and became very clear headed, but then the withrawal symptons started!
I must give up soon or my life will be permanently on hold.
Don't let me put anyone off though, as it has got me through some pretty tough times and hopefully I've learnt enough about myself to live without it in the future

been off zoloft a week no side effects went off bc i gained 20 lbs in one year

VERY VERY TIRED! Absolutly caused severe insomnia! Feel very de-personalized.

when i was on zoloft 1 year from p t s at ay rate
when i was useing this drug i did have some side affects but over all it helped my depression my peoblum was when i could no longer afford the drug i was forced to stop cold turkey this experance allmost killed me the horrible affects lasted 6 months it made the depression i was fighting while on the drug was a walk in the park compared to the living hell i suffered coming off it BEWARE COMING OFF OF ZOLOFT IS
VERY DANGERIOUS

I have been taking Zoloft for nearly three years. I have gained approximately 65 pounds(from a size 10 to a size 18W), I have blurred vision, headaches, two episodes when I was hospitalized with possible heart attacks, severe night sweats, high cholestrol, bone loss, loss of hair, no self-confidence, a craving for sweets, loss of balance, severe coughing and sinus problems, and worst of all...no interest in sex. I started taking it because my new husband said I was getting "bitchy".

I have been off of the medication for four days and feel better already...sleeping through the night, without sweating, the sinus problems have cleared up, as have the coughing spells. My appetite seems to be returning to normal, and I don't crave sweets constantly.

I have an appointment with my doctor, and I plan on approaching the cardiologist who took care of me with my theory. I really feel, after close examination that Zoloft almost killed me(twice) and that it has diminished my quality of life greatly.

I hope that my experience will help others to evaluate their situation BEFORE taking this drug!

I have

My experience with Zoloft was like a vicious cycle. See, I started taking Zoloft for obsessive-compulsive behaviors and depression. I guess you could say it was starting to work. Well, the first night, I actually felt euphoric when I took it. See, the problem is, it also caused me to be very restless and anxiety prone. This also cause me sleeplessness. So at night, I would have to force myself to sleep. I think this is where the problems arose. I feel that forcing myself to sleep for countless months and years actually altered my brain chemistry, for the worse. Now i'm more depressed, compulsive, and socia-phobic than ever. I'm even borderline suicidal. So if anyone shares these same symptoms, or knows any Zoloft-reversal techniques, please E-mail me. I'd love to know.

I had to be evaluated for dizzy spells and I have BPPV my Dr wants me off Zoloft.
I took 100mg per day for 10+ years.
My last dose was Sunday Sept 11th 2004.

I feel great, no bad withdrawel symptoms, except for a strange feeling in my head, feels like a ZAP or shock that occurs through out the day. Is this normal and how long will it last ?
Hope someone can tell me as I don't want to go back on the Zoloft..
Thanks CMN

I'm on Lustral(Zoloft)several months now.I get awful nightmares,have started smoking and drinking,developed a rash on my neck and upper body.I'm on 100mg daily but still feel very sad,although the suicidal feelings have gone. My kids tell me I've started sleepwalking some nights.I get terrible headaches if I miss a pill or if I forget to take one.my mother has disowned me...she says I've changed a lot since starting this medication,but I'm afraid if I stop taking it,the thoughts of commiting suicide will return.

I was prescribed zoloft for at least 3 months. I have only taken it for 30 days. The reason why I stopped was because I have no insurance,and it costs about $76 a fill. I guess you can say I experienced weirdness in the begining when I started, then I thought I was getting better. I was put on for anxiety. I am a very speedy person as it is anyway, just naturally. My therapist thought this would be good help for me. However after stopping the medicine only for about a week now, I've been experiencing HELL! Massive headaches than I've ever gotten before, these electrical shocks in my brain, hyper-sensitivity, super emotional, hot flashes like I'm going through menopause. I'm only 27 years old and haven't been on any prescription drugs before except the birth control pill. my boyfriend was worried about me taking Zoloft when I told him what was up. He was mad because I didn't consider the side effects or what happens when I stop. Now I see why. All I have to say is that I've been looking into natural remedies for what can replace drugs,because I do NOT belive in them. They're a scam! They make you feel like you want to die when you come off of them! That's not a cure to our problem! Our doctors and psychiatrists are shoving drugs and bills down our throats promising us "a new life" and renowned hope for how we were before these drugs. Well let me tell you my friends, I was attacking my boyfriend, having night sweats, irritibility beyond control and these CRAZY electrical shocks in my head! I was scared that I would have to consult a neurosurgeon, afraid I would have a brain anyrism or something. Only to find on help websites that other people were experiencing my troubles! How absurd, these doctors and they're control with drugs! What happen 100 years ago when herbs and natural therapies took place and there were no drugs like today. Or, what about the all too familiar Chinese-medicine and what the Indians believed in. Forget this synthetic crap. I am opting for what seemed to have worked before these money hungry, greedy doctors that don't even have your best interest of health towards you except that their high-end fancy car payments are being made! After my final days of these crazy side effects I'm looking into the book, "Handbook for Herbal Healing, A Concise Guide to Herbal Products", by Christopher Hobbs. If anyone is interested in some good ol' fashioned solutions to our problems instead of creating more, pick up one of these guides and go with your intuition. Thank you for reading.

I'm on Zoloft for severe depression, suicidal thoughts, social anxiety, and severe stress. I have been on it for a couple of months now, and I'm experiencing some very difficult side-effects. I am very regular on taking my pill, I have never missed taking it once. I am very careful to take it the same time every single day, but I am still having very difficult side-effects. I am experiencing night-time sweats, dizziness, severe headaches, upset stomach, weird and disgusting nightmares, continued depression and suicidal thoughts, and insomnia. I have had very little help from Zoloft, but I know the difficulties of coming off of it, so I am reluctant to do so. I had been on Effexor several years back for severe depression, and when I came off of it, I experienced a lot of the listed side-effects for coming off of it.

I honestly don't recommend anti-depressants for anybody. They just mess a person up.

I have DID(Disociative Identity Disorder)as well as severe anxiety and depression and have been on Zoloft for two years and have done pretty well on it. Recently my dosage was increased from 200 mlgs to 250 mlgs and I started to experience severe nightsweats, fatigue and analyzing things to the point where i get too emotionally high and risk getting severly depressed(crashing)>though I find my head is cleare and it is easier to focus as well as use my coping tools, still this alarms me because i thought Iwas alone and that I was Crazy. Please E-mail me. Thanks. J

I have depression and my zoloft was increased-I have experienced some bad side effects. I'm tired most of the time,my depression has gotten worse,I sweat a lot,find it hard to concentrate,have no desire to cook(one of the things I love to do, it has made my agoraphobia worse, and I can't sleep well at night.I'm thinking of decreasing my dose back to 200 milligrams(I'm at 250 now).I'm scared to get off it completely. E-maill me

does it cause shortness of breath

I have been taking Zoloft for about three years now going on 4 for depression. When i first started it was great. I was happy and stressless than I pevously had been. But about 2 years into it i have been feeling the the same way i had been before I started. I take two 25mg tablets two times a day and it makes me feel no different than I did before. I am 17 years old now my grades were great after i started zoloft but now i am 4 credits short of graduating. I lost my job and my freinds becasue they say i am just not the same anymore. I was very popular. NOw my dodctor never told me how long i have to take it but it has been 3 olmost 4 years. Am i going to waste money buying a expencive drug that doesn't work? Am i amune to it or am i just not taking enough? I dont know what to do any more i am getting suiside thought again. I'm scared.

I was prescribed Zoloft about 3 months ago to help stabilize some IBS symptoms I was having difficulty managing. I wasn't able to keep weight on so the doctor said this might help. For fear of becoming addicted, I took myself off of Zoloft about 2 weeks ago. Anxiousness has returned, depression, crazy headaches, restless nights, & when I am able to get to sleep I have such terrible nightmares. They make me wish I'd never tried to sleep at all. If anyone knows any Zoloft-reversal techniques, please E-mail me. I'd love to know as well.

Thanks

I was on Zoloft for a total of about three years (of and on...mostly on for two years straight) and I am going through hell now that I stopped it "cold turkey" (as my doctor advised me to do). Mind you, I was on other drugs too, all of which I stopped recently. I had been diagnosed as bipolar, and they had me on antipsychotics, which I also stopped abruptly. It is pure hell. I have crying spells, I get hysterical because I am scared that I won't get better even though everyone assures me I am getting better. My head "buzzes", I have been up all day working and yet I feel this alert sensation in my head and I can not sleep. I wish to God I had been diagnosed properly--I'm not bipolar. I have unipolar depression. I wish I had stayed away from psychological drugs. I don't advise them for anyone but the most severely depressed--then they may be worth a shot.

My husband has been taking Zoloft for 4 months. At first he started behaving strangely after 2 weeks, Ingorning my phone calls, being very distant and wanting to be alone. The Dr. said that he just needed time for the drug to get into his system. Now after 4 months, I never kniw who is coming home. One week he is affectionate(although no interest in sex) and then next week, he is hateful and starts arguements. He goes off to be alone and ignores our children. His friends notice this so it is just not me. He likes the drug, because it makes him feel less tense at work. I am wondering why he is on this pill and not just a nerve pill??! I hate this drug and what it is doing to our marriage. I feel I may be divorced becaause of this drug..yet he takes it like gold. Anyone feel like this or has a sopouse taking this?

Now that I have read so many stories similar to mine, here's my story.
When I was 19 years old, I went to the doctor because I felt like I was having these weird breathing problems and twitching when I would sleep. He diagnosed me with anxiety and depression, and put me on 50mg of Zoloft. For the first couple of years, I thought that this drug was a miracle.
I had been very depressed and suicidal all through highschool and directly after, and was prone to abuse OTC drugs because I felt like I HAD to.
Once the Zoloft had established itself in my system, I was a very happy-go-lucky person. But when I look at the big picture, I realized that I had turned into this zombie that didn't care about anyone or anything.
I used to be very careful with my money, and never paid a bill late. After Zoloft, I could care less about paying my bills ontime... if I paid them at all.
Although I am still a caring person, many people have told me that I have changed into a bit of an 'unthoughtful' person. To define this further, my personality has changed from 'caring and worrying about what other people thought of me' to a personality of 'I don't really care what other people think, as long as I am happy'.
Furthermore, I used to obsess about how I looked. I always had to have the perfect body, clothes, hair, makeup, etc.... Now I am overweight (having not lost weight after a pregnancy), I don't hardly wear makeup anymore, I barely style my hair, and my clothes are just "whatever". When I really think about it, I am most happy when I know that I've put the effort into looking great, rather just being plain.
So all-in-all, Zoloft has turned me into a someone who just floats through life.
Other side-effects that I have experience on this medication are terrible, vivid nightmares that leave me feeling 'out-of-body' and fatigued when I wake up in the morning. I also have a consistant buzzing in my ears, which I've gotten so used to, that I really only realized the buzzing when I am in a quiet environment. And recently I have come to relate my memory loss to Zoloft as well. I've always been an intelligent person, but since being on Zoloft, I often have lapses in memory and judgement. I forget small details and conversations that I have had in the past. This is something that bothers my husband the most! He just feels like I am being 'dumb', but it's something that I can't help. Adding to the list of things my husband doesn't like, would have to be my lack of sex drive. We are newly-weds (married less than a year), and the love-life just isn't there. I usually just don't feel like engaging in sex, or if I think I want to, then orgasm is very difficult for me to achieve.
It seems that I could write a book on all of the negatives of being on Zoloft, doesn't it? Another symptom that popped into my head is my lowered 'wanting' to constantly be doing something. If an exciting situation comes up, most of the time I am just like, "Eh, I really don't feel like doing anything." I used to always be up for hanging with friends as much as possible, or going out, or whatever. It's not that I am avoiding social situations... that doesn't bother me. It's just the lack of "wanting" that is there, and wasn't previously there during my "pre-Zoloft" days.
I would really like to come off of Zoloft, but as most people in my situation know, the withdrawl is like HELL! Even just missing one whole day of the medication, I become extremely irritable, nauseous, have headaches, and the worse feeling... the 'electric zaps'!!! I can't stand that dizzy feeling that I get in my head and body from not having the medicine in my body.
I am going to be meeting with my doctor soon to talk about going off of Zoloft. I am considering staying off of prescription anti-depression/anti-anxiety meds, and trying the herbal remedy, "Valerian Root".

If anyone is interested in talking to me about this, please find me on MySpace.com and we'll chat: www.myspace.com/ashleighsmilf

I was on Z from 1995-1997. During that time I had just about every single side effect mentioned on this and every page of side effects. My formerly involved, consciencious self became uninvolved and careless. I began shoplifting compulsively and was finally arrested. I was a law enforcement officer with an untarnished record with the department. I couldn't have cared less about what I was doing. After my arrest, I could only cared about whether or not I'd get Zoloft in jail. Going off the meds. was tough, but the zapping and the hyper-emotionalism finally went away. My life as I knew it was destroyed and I moved to another state and started reassembling me. It's been ten years. It will only be a matter of time before the SSRI horror we've unleashed on ourselves is understood and accepted. SSRI's as we know them will one day be remembered as the dark ages of psychiatry. Good old coping skills like exercise, living right according to the conscience God gave you and working hard will win out as the vehicle to mental health (the exception being that those who are truly, morbidly mental disturbed can and do truly benefit from these medications)

It's amazing how many of these stories relate to mine. My doctor decided to take me off of Effexor (Venlafaxine), and put me on Zoloft about five months ago. Since I have been on Zoloft, I have had depressing/suicidal thoughts, nightmares, night sweats and anxiety. I have also gone up two pant sizes since starting the drug. My sex drive is non-existent, and I recently had a horrible drug interaction with the painkiller Tramadol for broken fingers, and a Serotonin Syndrome scare related to the medication mixture. I have also picked up smoking, which I never had the desire to do in the past.

The side effects have been so persistent, I stopped taking the drug cold turkey after my prescription was gone. I am currently experiencing horrid withdrawal symptoms such as "brain zaps", headaches and bowel problems. I would not recommend this antidepressant to anyone!!!!