Zoloft and good luck

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've been on Zoloft for about 4 years now (100mg) a day and I really want to stop taking it. At the time I was put on it I was just getting myself out of a really bad situation and I needed to be put on it for severe anxiety and panic attacks. I'm in a totally different situation now and am doing fine, I don't want to rely on medication anymore to make me feel "ok". I actually kind of feel like it's counteracting in my system. The only thing really holding me back is the fear of crazy side effects after you stop taking it. I heard you can even have a heart attack =/ Has anyone gone through this or going through it right now?

I have been on Zoloft for about 8 months. I began taking it for anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and eating issues. Since I have been on it, my eating issues have gotten a lot worse. I began binging, something I've never done before. I have racing thoughts and feel like I am just floating through life. My weight has gone from about 120 to 155. I am not happy, and am considering coming off of the medication. Has anyone else noticed they have not been able to control their eating while on Zoloft? However, my anxiety did subside.

My psychiatrist says I have Major depression disorder with Gad and Panic disorder, What a nightmare! I am starting out on 50 mg and then in ten days 75 mg and by the end of the month I should be up to 100 mg. My jaw wont stop shaking, my pupils look bigger. I feel loopy. Kinda drugged. I had very vivid dreams last night. Today was the first day I could actually get out of bed early in the morning. It was great I find the Xanax helped with the shaking but it makes me super sleepy ( only .5 mg) I was on Zoloft before and the same thing happened but I had a loss of sex drive and I couldnt climax...so my doctor gave me this new drug they are trying out. She says you take it an hour before you plan on having sex but other patients say it works. All in all the side effects are worth it to be happy and sane again. My doctor said I wont gain weight like other drugs ( Paxil) so I'm hoping I don't because that would be depressing itself. Good luck to all of you : )

Give Zoloft some time. At first I was concerned about the nightmares and upset stomach, but today (after 6 months) I feel so much better. I am a 60 year old woman who has arthritis, fibromyalgia, hypertension, and sleep apnea. Yes I still sleep more than 10 to 12 hours a day, but when I wake up I feel I can handle the day. I still work as a grade school teacher. I am more social with my peers at work and generally happier and catch myself singing a lot and joking around with my students. I have lost 20 lbs on Zoloft, but it could be that I am now exercising (swimming ten laps 3 times a week) and have given up drinking wine at night. Maybe that explains it, but the Zoloft helped me work on these other issues. Keep trying it, you never know.

Ive been on Zoloft for 2 days and the first day I took it I had bad Diarrhea and my teeth hurt they feel like I had them clenched all night long and I can barley eat. Ive been getting gas,nausea, and I feel faint and like I'm going to throw up. I'm on the Zoloft for Anxiety, is this normal or could it not be related to the Zoloft and I have something other than the anxiety????

Have been on 50mg Zoloft for ~3months. At first, I felt euphoric and happy, no appetite, calmness exuded throughout my soul, but about 6 weeks ago I began to feel anxiety again. I started to obsessively bite/peel all my nails off, which I've never done. My hunger for food, especially sweets is endless and I have gained 6 pounds so far. Also, I feel completely lost and can't function with my daily activities without feeling a constant loss-of-focus feeling. I have memory loss and feel insecure. I don't want to go on a higher dose for fear I may feel worse in the long run, so I have decided on my own that I will very slowly wean myself off this drug (12mg at a time until I am done to zero mg). Maybe I will feel better than I did before I took Zoloft, but I don't yet know what the outcome will be. If anyone has felt better after taking Zoloft and weaned off of it, could you e-mail me some input?