Zoloft and mood swings

I started taking zoloft about 2 years ago. I had to change to zoloft from paxil because it stopped working. I was put on it for being irritable and having major mood swings and anxiety.
While on zoloft I have had terrible thoughts about things that could go wrong. I turned into some sort of hypocondriac. I also would get horrible headaches and convinced myself that I had brain cancer. I also had little motivation to do anything. I couldn't last at a job for more than a couple months because I had no motivation to go to work. When i first started taking it I had a hard time falling asleep. After a couple of months my sleeping patterns became normal, and my headaches went away.
Recently I started taking birth control and my old symptoms flaired up again. I now can not sleep at night. I stay awake all night and sleep all day, and have a continuous headache.
Has anyone else had these problems or side effects?

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 50 mg about two months ago. I must say i have absolutely no complaints! I was prescribed the medication due to mood swings and depression before and while i was on my period..I take my zoloft and night and within a few days i noticed my mood swings started to go away! I felt more patient and less anxious and pissy all the time. Not to mention before zoloft i was tossing and turning all night long thinking about stuff that was stressing me out..Now, i sleep like a baby! the occasional nightmare every now and then but nothing i cannot handle. The only thing i have to say is when i take it at night i have to have water with it. At least 5 sips if not the heartburn is unbelievable!! So if you are thinking about it make sure you take it with something to drink..I have had no weight gain,no headaches,no suicidal thoughts and no nausea! Also, the sex drive has gone down a little bit, but not much. I would recommend this medicine to anyone! It dosent make you like a zombie or out of your mind. It is amazing!!

I have been on Zoloft since June of this yr. I was depressed, had anxiety attacks that felt like heart attacks, racing thoughts, felt unnecessary in this world, cryed alot and felt like I was going to be fired at my job all of the time.
I feel better on Zoloft. My moods are more even. I work nights now and am alone from 5p to 11p. I have had headaches alot lately. My dreams are pretty vivid and I wonder if I lived it or if I dreamed it alot now as well. I asked my doctor about this product causing weight gain and she denied that it did. In fact she blamed the steroid shot I had for allergies this winter for the hunger I have felt. Maybe so, but I was eating before that and now that I have found this site I am afraid that it is the Zoloft afterall. I am on 75 mg's. I have felt a bit dizzy at times, blamed allergies, now I am not so certain. Also, after I eat I have been feeling nausea too. Zoloft? I do not know. Is there anything a person can take or do that will remove the anxiety, racing thoughts, depression etc without feeling other horrible effects to feel better? Now I am afraid to go off of the drug. I certainly do not want to return to the way I felt, or the mean mood swings or the pains that felt like a heart attack. I also sweat alot at nights while sleeping. Thought it was menopause? Don't know. What do we do? Other than the dreams, sweats, overeating, stomach upsets, racing to the rest room etc. I feel okay. HA.

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 100 mg of Zoloft for 8 months after a several years of prolonged stressed leading to depression. It has been a life saver. I feel like I have my happy, balanced life back. No weight gain, no anxiety, no mood swings. However, I do have problems recently with my jaw. I feel like I have TMJ. I have jaw pain and my bite doesn't feel right. I also have very vivid dreams, so vivid I sometimes have to stop during the day and ask myself did I dream that or was it real when the dream pertains to daily living. I am wondering if I need to cut back now to 50 mg.

Been on Zoloft for 7 years - from 100mg and now 200mg daily for depression and mild anxiety. I have terrible headaches when I miss two days or more (my fault, of course!). I also found that my depression and mood swings were TERRIBLE when I first tried birth control pills (as someone else mentioned). However, different BC pills will have different effects and I have now found that Lo-Ovral is a a good match for me (after my Dr increased my Zoloft daily intake by 50 mg).

I sought treatment for ADD like symptoms and, although my doctor agreed that I have ADD, he said that I also have depression and that he wanted to start treatment for that first. So he prescribed Zoloft. All I can say is that I'm very unhappy, worse now than before. It has increased the ADD brain fog, which is the reason I'm depressed in the first place! I've always felt so stupid. I'm known as the office idiot because I make so many mistakes, I'm so out of it. I hoped that with treatment that might get better. Zoloft is by far making it worse. My memeory is even worse than it was prior to taking this medication. Not only has the ADD gotten worse, but now I believe it has morphed into ADHD!!! I'm restless, can't sit still, become "very" uncomfortable when I have to sit still, yet at the same time I'm lethargic! I have this internal restlessness that will not let up, but at the same time my body doesn't want to move! It's SO uncomfortable I think I'm going insane. I wanna jump right out of my skin! I'm having terrible mood swings, and yet I feel numb mentally. I can't cry anymore for real reasons, though occasionally I have crying fits for no reason. I'm irritable and agitated, have no willpower to do anything and am losing my temper more and more. I feel very out of control. Angry, moody and restless, yet numb, unfeeling and lethargic. I've also gained a LOT of weight in the 2 months I've been on it. The thing is, I'm not hungry. Zolft has completely taken away my appetite, but at the same time has caused major carb cravings which completely overpower my lack of appetite. I'm not hungy, but I eat and eat and eat and I can't get full, ever, can't be satisfied. Confused yet? So am I.

I am a 20 year old male, 150 pounds, and I've been taking Zoloft for about 8 months now. First I started with 50mg daily for anxiety/depression. It helped a little, but I was boosted up to 100mg daily after about a month or two.

My anxiety problems quickly diminished, but I was having crazy mood swings. Happy one moment, depressed the next. Now I get those crazy head zaps and fogginess almost every day I take it. Side effects also include churning/unsettled stomach, disconnected feeling, "pins and needles" every time I move my head (like coming down from acid), zombi effects, jaw tension, restlessness, lack of motivation, severe headaches, grinding teeth, and vivid dreams (not a bad thing). It hasn't effected me sexually though. Haven't had any real problems with weight gain either.

I highly recommend smoking marijuana occasionaly to reduce side effects. Although pot isn't recommended by others, I find that it really helps to even you out while on this medication. It quickly and effectivly relieves jaw tension, restlessnesss, headaches, unsettled stomach, and that crazy-ass fog headzap thing. That is the worst part of Zoloft for me. I can deal with all the other small side effects, but when it feels like you are a zombie coming down from acid, you just wanna punch the doctor who prescribed it to you.

Perhaps I'm taking too much, or not enough. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, so I'll see what he has to say.

I'm glad that the drug helps with my anxiety, but I'm not really sure if all the side effects are worth it.
If you haven't experienced the zombie thing yet, just stop taking Zoloft for a day or two and you'll know what I'm talking about. DON'T MISS A DOSE OR YOU'LL START CRAVING BRAINS! BRRRAAAIIINNNSS!!!!

I have gained 40 lbs in the past year, since taking zoloft, always hungry, feel more anxious, cant seem to relax, or concentrate sometimes. Feel sometimes like my mind is racing. Mood swings, dry mouth, trouble sleeping.

But the positive effects has been relief of depression. I get angry sometimes, and hysterical, much more emotional.