Zoloft
If you or someone you know has had a problem with Zoloft feel free to call the advertising section of FDA at (301) 827-2828. Also fill out the Medwatch form and also call FDA at 1-800-FDA 1088 press 0 or call (301) 443-1240.
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.
Posted by: MP at August 17, 2004 10:02 PMI 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
Posted by: J at August 25, 2004 3:46 PMI 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.
Posted by: joey at August 28, 2004 2:41 AMIt'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.
Posted by: Drew at September 1, 2004 1:45 AMI'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
Posted by: debbie at September 3, 2004 5:55 PMVERY VERY TIRED! Absolutly caused severe insomnia! Feel very de-personalized.
Posted by: Aaron at September 4, 2004 2:51 AMwhen 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
Posted by: Cheryl at September 13, 2004 9:54 PMMy 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.
Posted by: Sam at September 18, 2004 9:58 PMI 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.
Posted by: karen at April 17, 2006 5:23 AMI 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.
Posted by: brandy lee at June 11, 2006 11:31 AMI'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.
Posted by: poem at July 31, 2006 12:42 PMI 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
Posted by: Jude at August 23, 2006 11:47 PMI 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
Posted by: Jude at September 7, 2006 3:28 PMdoes it cause shortness of breath
Posted by: carolvance at September 26, 2006 2:05 PMI 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.
Posted by: Patrick at October 6, 2006 12:29 PMI 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
Posted by: Aretha at October 17, 2006 2:20 PMI 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.
Posted by: Christina at October 24, 2006 12:05 AMMy 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?
Posted by: sc at February 23, 2007 7:44 AMNow 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
Posted by: Crystal at February 26, 2007 2:39 PMI 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)
Posted by: john at December 18, 2007 12:29 PMIt'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!!!!
Posted by: Ashley at January 1, 2008 11:15 PMI have been taking Zoloft for 1year and a half now since having my first child. I have found that i have gained 15-20kg in that time and have totally disconnected from my Son and have been reckless and out of control!! I go on w/e benders and am not the same person at all anymore!! I havnt concerntrated at work cant put my energys into anything. 4 days ago i have a decress in appetite and im feeling rushes and sweats and my heart beating really fast then slow im a little worried?? any advice?
Posted by: Lauren at May 19, 2008 7:49 PMIs there anyone out there who has noticed a problem taking Zoloft and birth control pills at the same time of the day? I was ok until I did so, and now am bleeding, cramping every day. Please help if you are out there. Am I crazy?
Posted by: Kathie at July 10, 2008 11:33 AMI had been on zoloft for 6 1/2 years, and had gained 20 pounds almost immediately. I also developed a hoarse voice. I was told it was due to my underactive thyroid that had gone undiagnosed for several years and that my voice would always be this way due to the damage that had already been done. I was taken off zoloft and put on pristiq, within three weeks my voice is almost back to normal.
Posted by: Lois at July 26, 2008 11:03 AMwell, wow, I must be the only person in the entire world to benefit from Zoloft. I have lost 10 lbs without trying in a week and a half, which I needed to lose - had gained b/c of depression - have tons of energy. My husband says I'm me again and I've enrolled my daughter in all kinds of activities that I used to avoid b/c of shyness/lack of energy.
The best thing of all tho is the sense of motivation, purpose and hope for a bright future that I now have. Everyone I know is commenting on how "bright", "sparkling" and "lively" my eyes appear these days. So, Zoloft does work for some people!
Posted by: wendy at September 3, 2008 1:34 PMWow.. Reading all of these comments has really boosted my anxiety level. I was just put on Zoloft 4 days ago and came online to check out the side effects of the drug. I had tried Zoloft 8 years ago and from what I can remember it worked well for me, but my doctor took me off from it because I was experiencing some IBS symptoms and they were convinced it was the Zoloft. So they put me on Lexapro. The Lexapro made me gain 40lbs in 6 months. Then I ended up getting pregnant and obviously gained even more weight. The Lexapro just made me more depressed because I was fat and repulsive looking, so I stopped taking it. The withdrawls were horrid, but I knew that I would feel better after that was all over with. So I went for a year without any meds but the weight that I gained didn't come off at all. About a month ago, I started to feel depressed and anxious again and it got really unbearable, so I made the decision to go back on the meds. I chose Zoloft because 8 years ago when I first started to take it, I felt great. I had energy and could focus, I could set a goal and actually follow through with it. I even lost 30 lbs while on the drug. But like I said, my doctor took me off from it because of IBS symptoms. Well even without the Zoloft, I still had the IBS symptoms, so I decided to give it a try again. I'm having some side effects and anxiety but I'm hoping that it will go away. I just want something to work for me and make me feel good so that I can work on taking care of myself and feel better about myself. I avoid cameras and mirrors and people in general because I'm completely mortified by the way that I look and feel. I hate going out in public but I do, I just hope that I don't run into anyone I know. I pray that I have a positive outcome with Zoloft and that these side effects go away soon!!
Posted by: Sara at November 2, 2008 9:22 PMI have been on Zoloft for 4 years, and have gained 75 lbs! I do believe it has helped me become less angry, or critical of people. The problem now is, even though I have improved in those areas, because of my weight gain, I now am soo tired, depressed because of my weight, and lack any motivation. A no win situation.
Posted by: Chad at November 5, 2008 1:32 PMI've been perscribed Zoloft twice, each time I took them for about 6-9 months, I'm currently off of it for 4 months..
Why I was on it: I have mild-moderate bouts of anxiety and depression. Nothing needs to spur on these attacks, but when I get them, my sleep is thrown off I don't want to leave the house and I don't have any motivation to do anything ( I make myself though, and often don't enjoy doing so without booze) I get very overwelmed, irritable, and sad.
The first time I was on it, I slowly went up to 100mg, I felt great and lost all the anxiety and depression, unless I drank to much and it came out like crazy. I had sexual, weight, and sweat side effects. Weened off out it because I fealt good and thought I would attept to cope with life without it. Coming off of it was an awful experience, I had the spins, electric shock type feelings, anxiety and depression. after the withdrawals I felt great for months, when all of a sudden without reason, the bouts of depression were back.
I thought I would give it another shot, but this time I would try being on the lowest does I could be on with minor depression and anxiety, but not debilitating bouts. 25mgs worked for a long time and I would just work through those down times, which were completely tolerable and infrequient, and were brought on by real life events, which everyone has. I still had a few side effect (weight gain and a feeling of not being myself) I decided, lets try to get off this stuff again, so I did that, and had a much easier time getting off the lower dose, once again a few months past and bam, bouts of depression and axiety are back. I'm currently trying to see a therapist and do it without drugs, it's not easy and something are working but the bouts of depression can still be pretty bad.
So here are my pros, cons and suggestions
pros-if it works for you.
You will feel better and can enjoy the short time we have on this planet
you are not forced to take it and you can always get off the stuff, even with a struggle
cons
may not work for you
side effects can be a complete drag, you need to weight out if they are better or worse than how your life is with this terrible anxiety and/or depression
you may not feel like yourself and you may not express the normal emotions of life, good or bad.
There is very little long tern studies done on these drugs and that worries me a lot..
Suggestion:
Try getting on a low dose, and set a goal for that dose, don't plan on being happy all the time and not experience the down sides of life, but if it can take the edge off and allow you to function and enjoy the majority of your days, it sounds like a nice step forward. I also recommend combining it with a therapist that can help you work on the things you would like to change.
Posted by: Mike at November 11, 2008 12:26 PMhusbands on zoloft and no sex drive. what is there to do?
Posted by: Lokelani at December 25, 2008 9:38 PMI have been taking 25milligras of Zoloft for about one year now. I have not gained or lost any weight. I am more socially active than before taking Zoloft. I use to be afraid of talking in public, working with people and I had anxiety attacks frequently. Zoloft has helped me in many ways. Sexual side effects are delayed orgasm, which is fine, cause the sex lasts longer. I am more outspoken which had effects on friends, cause now I stand up for myself more. I know reactions are different with all different types of people , but I cant say much bad about the drug as far as aiding me in conquering my anxiety disorders.
Posted by: valerie at January 17, 2009 1:05 AMI am surprised by the responses on here about Zoloft. Zoloft is a psychoactive drug, and only taken if you really need it. If you are irritated by side affects like weight gain/loss insomnia, sex drive etc.. perhaps you were not in need of it originally. The relief of being treated for my OCD is immense - my anguish was such that I could have killed myself. I wouldn't care if my hair fell out on this drug. Further, consider that you're blaming extraneous issues on the medication, weight gain is uncommon with Zoloft, weight loss is most frequently observed. Mental slowness is present in depression and mental illness and rarely evident in trials for Zoloft. I am a medical student and the number of patients who are on this drug for a bad break up is insane.
Posted by: NM at February 20, 2009 4:15 PMI have anxiety, depression and ocd. Well for seven months I have taken Zoloft and I feel a lot better. I just recently went up from 75 mg to 100 mg per day. I was a heavy smoker before going on it, and a social drinker with cravings for alchol the next day. Now that I am on Zoloft I have cut back on smoking and when I drink no longer crave alchol the next day. I no longer worry and my depression is gone because of the Zoloft. I feel a lot more energized too! However I have been aware when I am dreaming ever since starting on Zoloft which I like! However my dreams are stranger than normal. I don't know if that's a side effect or not.
Posted by: Sarah at February 21, 2009 10:27 PMWeaning myself off Zoloft 50mg. Took it for 3 months. Wow. I'm feeling "out of myself", like my body is 4 steps ahead of me. I am very light-headed and super tired I have no energy whatsoever. If anyone is experiencing these sxs, please let me know.
Posted by: Kelly at March 21, 2009 6:31 PMI've been on Zoloft(100mg) for about 2 weeks, and its been a relatively wierd 2 weeks. I Take the medication at night, in the middle of the night I am woken up and vomit. I then go back to bed and get up in the morning and vomit again. Sometimes I feel restless and moody, and other times I'm just in a daze and I don't feel like I'm in touch with reality. Has anyone else experienced these things? I've talked to my Doctor about these side effects and she tells me to continue taking the meds.
Posted by: HL at June 22, 2009 2:06 PMGet Help
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Demystifying Depression is a great article which helped me understand some of the ways depression was affecting me.
Start a Blog
Many people who are depressed simply lack the ability to channel their energies or express themselves. Sometimes just by writing things down it is easy to feel better about things that happen to you.
If you think expressing yourself or writing your thoughts down might help you then you may want to start a blog. Blogger is 100% free and easy to use.
Here is my friend Heather's Health Bee, which is about recovering from depression and other related illnesses.
