Zoloft and dizziness

i took zoloft around 6 yrs ago for 7 months and it helped me with anxiety tremendously, fast forward : i've been on zoloft, about 14 months, 50mg to start, and after an auto accident in july which caused increased stress and anxiety, 100mg a day. nov 2008 i weighed 134 @ 5'3", today Sept 1 2009, i weigh 152, and sometimes it is a bit higher!, i am not taking my zoloft daily anymore and in fact, after a friend told me he heard it may cause weight gain in some people, i only take 1/2 my pill (so, 50mg).
i do sometimes feel the dizziness/egg-for-a-brain feeling, but the weight gain, the increase appetite, the night cravings (which i did not have before) are driving me downhill/depressed. zoloft has helped my anxiety both times greatly, it mellows me so that i'm not worrying 24/7 BUT, the increased appetite, the eating to make me feel good--which i have NEVER ever done before--is not worth the inability to lose weight, fit in my clothes,etc. i have been consuming healthy coffee for the past 6 months and thanks to God, it has helped me with these things, the main reason i started it was because a lot of people have had their appetites curbed, but i guess not for me: my blood pressure, which skyrocketed after the auto accident July 2008, was around 189/110. after 2 to 3 weeks of this amazing coffee (not expensive either and tastes awesome), it is around 130/77 most of the times that I check it. . I now have no cravings whatsoever to alcohol & sweets, no more jitters or stomach burning or caffeine crashing either, a lot less headaches and I used to get nauseous from too much regular coffee too!;no more muscle twitching either. My allergies to oak and other crap have improved as well I'm thrilled to report. I have a better sense of well-being with I'm sure the coffee. I just hope that by cutting down on the Zoloft NOW more so than ever after reading these posts, will enable me to lose this weight--it seems that even though i am more physically active now, due to my feeling a bit better after the auto accident injuries, and eating more salads, I still cannot lose this flabby disgusting, making-me-depressed, weight.

I started taking Zoloft in Aug 2007 because I could not get sleep at night...tossing and turning - thinking about all the stuff I had to do the next day. Within a few weeks - that was so much better - my moods were better - and my performance at my profession was better because I could actually relax at night. I had lost all the anxiety that I have had all my life - and couldn't believe that there was something out there that could help me so much. I, at the time, would never in a million years think about stopping this medication. HOWEVER, fast forward to Nov 2008 - the zoloft is still working great - but my sex life with my husband is so bad that it is more like work for both of us...and reaching orgasm was almost nearly impossible. I just didn't desire sex...which is highly unusual for me. These affects of the med increased over time - and I was willing to deal with them - but the thing that changed my mind about it all was my weight gain. I chose to take Zoloft because it had the least chance of weight gain...or so I thought. I had gained 30 pounds since I started taking it. I wasn't working out as much - and so I thought that was it...but when the scale hit 200 - and then 210...on a frame that should be no more than 140 (I was a bit overweight when I started it) I freaked out. I had been working out and eating really well for three months, no alcohol - no extra hidden calories - to the 210 mark - and I had gained weight during that time. I was talking to my doctor one day and out of the blue complained that I had gained so much weight and it was really starting to bother me. He said, "oh yeah, that can happen on ssri's - in some people they can pretty much almost shut down your metabolism". I was in shock...he knew my struggle with weight to begin with - and here - now a year and some later told me this. Needless to say - I felt betrayed, but was then determined to get off zoloft. And so I have been with his help..and it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done...and I am still working on it. It has been two months and I am slowly weening off. I was on 100mg per day - and dropped to 50mg, and now I am taking 25...I get dizzy, the mood swings are awful...AWFUL - but I am doing it...and I will not ever take zoloft again. I never realized how addictive this med was - and just how much it affected me until getting off of it. However, the one thing that I have found to help with the withdrawal symptoms - even the dizziness is working out. It has been my saviour.
Just thought I would pass this along. The honeymoon period is great with Zoloft - it is when you see your body out of control that puts it all into perspective. Every person's body is different, but if you notice that you are gaining weight for no reason - and can't seem to lose it - tell your doctor. There are other drugs out there to help with symptoms that zoloft relieves that do not cause all these side effects...the ssri's just tend to work more efficiently. For all those with decreased sex drive - wellbutrin does not affect this or weight...but isn't as good about sleep.

I started Zoloft after my cat died (we put him to sleep & it was a terrible experience) and I had started having panic attacks. My doctor talked me into it despite my reluctance. After 4 days (with side effects of dizziness & mild nausea) I became violently ill during the night. I had started another unrelated medication with it and he assumed it was to blame, so he told me to come off both meds for a couple days, then start back on the zoloft. I did this and again 4 days later became violently ill. He acted annoyed with me and told me to stop taking it, he offered me another antidepressant to start after a few days. Well I waited to feel better, and waited and waited. Called him 3 weeks later to complain about the nausea/stomach upset. He told me to stop taking the new medicine- which I then told him I had never started b/c I was still too sick. He gave me an antacid and didn't give it a second thought. Then weeks later (still sick most all the time) I drank one beer and became violently ill once again. I went to see him immediately and got a pregnancy test (negative) and more antacids. My husband saw him later for a cold or something and when he mentioned my name my doctor became hostile. I am waiting to get an appointment with a new doctor, but now it has been 5 months and I'm still sick every day. I can't drink caffeine, or take any vitamins/ supplements for energy b/c I become so ill when I do. I was fine until I took the Zoloft. I can't find any other mention of something like this on the internet, but it seems so obvious that it started exactly when I started the Zoloft, I can't just dismiss it as a coincidence like my doctor seems to. Besides that he has done nothing to find out what this mysterious illness is or to stop it.

Man, I feel like I've had every side effect in the book. I've been *on* Zoloft for 10 days now. I hear the side effects are supposed to subside after about 2 weeks, but I'm getting impatient. I've had nausea, indigestion, dizziness, severe tension headaches, bizarre dreams, restlessness (in general, and in particular, in my hands), numbness/tingling in my hands and feet, a 'lump in my throat' feeling, trouble sleeping, decrease in appetite, and a general disconnectedness from reality. It may be helping the immediate issues with my anxiety, but I am plenty anxious now about all these new symptoms. It's scary! My gut tells me this is a sign that perhaps Zoloft is not the right drug for me... but I thought it was supposed to be one of the gentler drugs in this category.

I was on 125 mg of zoloft for 3 year but decided to go off this spring and weaned off very slowly. I have been zoloft free for 10 days and have been experiencing extreme dizziness, fatigue to the point of having to nap every day, wild mood swings and severe hot flashes. I would really would like to stay off but am not sure I can get through this. Any suggested are greatly appreciated!

I have been on zoloft for about 10 weeks. I had alot of "neurological" side effects...tingling hands and feet; muscle tension in arms and legs; numbness in hands feet and face. I hated it. I didn't have any of the "normal" side effects i.e. diarrhea, dry mouth, sexual side effect. I had the stranger ones. I've been off of zoloft for 10 days and the withdrawal is uncomfortable. I had brain zaps, dizziness, general flu-like feelings, headaches. Now starting with muscle tension in arms again...does any one know when this will end?!?!?

I've been on Zoloft 50mg for 4 months due to post partum depression. I was told to take one tablet before bed and when I did I couldn't sleep, my mind would race. So then I would take it first thing in the morning but would feel sluggish and lazy all day. I definetly gained weight from it and hope I can lose it now that I've been off it cold turkey for 7 days. However I've had extreme dizziness almost to the point of where I've fallen since I stopped taking it. Also while I was on it I had no sexual desire at all and couldn't reach climax. At first I felt the pill really helped, maybe it was more of a placebo or to low of a dose. However now that I've stopped I feel better and much more mentally motivated. It could possibly be that I feel better because I don't have post partum depression anymore, but I do now I won't be using it anymore.

I am a 31 year old female who has been taking zoloft 50mg for over a year due to post tramatic syndrom. It took almost 2 months for my anxiety/depression and panic attacks to go away. It did help me get through it but in the process I have gain over 30lbs. I run over 2 miles a day 5 days a week and keep gaining weight. I havent weighed this much since I had my children. Anyway, i quit cold turkey 3 days ago and am experiencing dizziness, crazy, scary dreams, hot flashes and fatigue. I hope it does not get worse. I don't want to be back on the fat pill.

head zaps and dizziness, diarrhea after forgetting to take the meds for three days and deciding, 'what the hell' i was supposed to get off these anyway...well...it's been a week and a half...it's getting a LITTLE better, but the brain zaps are nuts. I hate them. I want to know when these will end...does anyone know? please?????

Worked up to 50 mg. for depression/anxiety with a noticeable improvement in my mood and only a few minor side effects the first week including intestinal irritation. Then after 5 months it seemed to make me tired/apathetic all the time. I weaned myself off but couldn't handle the fogginess during this time. Went back on just 25 mg. but again after about 5 months I felt lazy all the time and again am now weaning myself off. It has been a week and I am trying to make it through the spaced-out feeling and dizziness. I'm researching St. John's wort now and may give it a try.

I experienced extreme weight gain as I went from 130lbs to 169lbs and I am only 5 feet tall!!!!! The insert states weight increase is in only 8% of people who take the medication, but after reading today, the drug company really needs to correct this! I have only lost 20lbs of the gain and I am finding I have to work twice as hard to lose the rest----I am VERY dissatified. Also, when being weaned-I experienced SEVERE dizziness and being light headed-That was more scary than the depression.