Zoloft and weight gain

I took Zoloft for about two years, at a max of 100mg/dose. Recently we decided to stop my birth control pills (not that the Zoloft wasn't birth control enough) because we wanted to start thinking about another baby. Additionally I have become convinced the 30 lbs I put on after starting the drug is directly related to Zoloft. My eating and activity levels have not changed that much. Anyway, I contacted my physician, who advised a titration schedule of 50 mg for 2 weeks, then 25 mg for 1 week. During the step-down I had increased symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, which I have a tendency towards anyway, but I couldn't even eat white rice or bread without symptoms. I could live with that because I knew it was probably the step-down and it would get better eventually. I took the last 25 mg pill on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week. Friday afternoon I moved my head quickly while at the copier and got dizzy. Gee, that's odd, I thought. Saturday morning I woke up with dizziness and nausea. Strawberries gave me horrible indigestion and nausea, which has NEVER happened before. It was so bad I took a home pregnancy test, which was negative. Sunday - more vertigo/dizziness/nausea. Monday - more of the same. Tuesday - went to the OB for another pregnancy test (blood) because I am just not convinced, more of the same symptoms. I find it odd that several days after gradually decreasing the drug over weeks, I am beginning these bizarre symptoms. I also feel like I am coming down with something; headache, sore throat, feel hot, back pain, etc. Plus, I agree with some other posters - I feel like I have gained weight the last week, and I again haven't eaten differently. Good grief, this is part of the reason I'm stopping! I have always been slender and curvy but now I am getting to the upper end of the petite sizes and it is ridiculous.
My advice : if these symptoms are really related to the step-down and not an unidentified pregnancy, and you are thinking about titrating off Zoloft, you need to take a slower schedule than what I did.

I started taking 50 mg zoloft in April of 2009 when my son was 5 mos old, for ppd. I was so happy on it for the first few months. I could enjoy my kids, my husband and my friends again. Around March of 2010 I noticed fogginess in my thoughts, extreme forgetfulness, inability to multitask or focus on the task at hand. I was always late for everything and these things had never been characteristic of me... my whole life! I talked to my doc about stopping zoloft and she gave me the plan of action to slowly wean myself (I never went above 50 mg during the 13 months I was on it). It was another month before I got the nerve to do it.

When I started weaning in April 2010, I weighed 144 (at 5'8", age 39) . My goal has been to get back to my pre-baby weight of 142 and was almost there. It is now June and I weigh 158. 14 lbs in two months. I've been off zoloft for one week now and I've never been so short tempered, uncomfortable or fuzzy. Symptoms I am experiencing include: severe dizziness, increased waistline (huge change!) tingling arms and hands, pressure in my head like I'm in a bubble, easily distracted, upset stomach, increased interest in food, but not an increased appetite, 'zero' interest in sex, loss of patience, headaches.

I'm so worried that the physical changes that I've experienced are permanent. I've always been a slender person but I now look very pear shaped and this major shift in body image is depressing me more than the ppd ever did.

What to do??? I refuse to go back to zoloft, but I'm not sure my kids or my marriage can handle what I'm going through right now.

I began taking 50 MG Zoloft in 1999 when I was awaiting a surgery schedule with the Neurosurgeon and the Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon for a left Vestibular Nerve Dissection due to anxiety resulting from fear of the pain I was having. For 26 days I lay in my bed, at home, with this drug and others to keep me sedated as I awaited a surgery date. After the surgery I maintained the same dosage. I reduced the dosage to 25 MG about 4-5 years later. A little less than 2 years ago I stopped taking Zoloft. I found that my temperament began to change for the worse. I didn't like the person I was and it was hard to claim the body I was in as mine. I thought my anxiety attacks were gone but one came like a heart attack and off to the ER I went. I have gone back on the Zoloft and maintained the 25 MG dosage. I find that what weight gain I may have put on is due to unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. I now have that under control. My small dosage doesn't affect my energy level but a larger dose does. By the way, I also take 600 MG Tegretol daily for Trigeminal Neuralgia on the right side of my face. When this disease originally hit me I began at 100 MG then was increased to 800 MG with 400 Dilantin. Oh how miserable I was in my skin, but the pain was so bad that this was what kept me somewhat pain free. Over the coarse of 20 years I have maintained the 600-800 MG. Another surgery on the right side, similar to the one I had on the left side is available should meds fail. I refuse to let the meds keep me tied down. I insist on enjoying life even with all the difficulties I have.

I have taking a generic for celexa, until recently I was satisfied with the results, but I had noticed weight gain. I called my doctor and asked to be put on something which would help with the weight gain. What a mistake, she put me on zoloft and now I have not only gained 5 lbs in the week I have taken it, but I cannot sleep, suffer from headaches, suffer from food cravings at night and taking clonazepam is not helping. Under normal circumstances taking 1/2 of a clonazepam would give me great rest. Last night I took, 1 and 3/4 and still could not sleep. Needless to say, I am going back to my other antidepressant. I am small boned and when I gain weight, My blood pressure goes up, which then requires me to take pills for that. I don't want to go on blood pressure meds just because of the weight gain. Hope this helps someone.

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.

The first time I took Zoloft, it was a brand new drug with a high price tag and people were just beginning to talk about depression--openly. I had a positive experience with it. I have PTSD and severe depression due to trauma as a child and later from an abusive husband. I had a major depressive episode shortly after the birth of my 2nd child, exasperated by postpartum depression and thyroid storm. I became suicidal at a time when I seemingly had all I ever wanted. It saved my life in that regard.

I had stubborn baby weight that needed to come off. Also, I tend to be an emotional eater. Zoloft helped curb my emotional eating and I lost weight. Some people say overeating or eating disorders are akin to OCD behavior, both anxiety based, so in that way it makes sense. When Lithium was added, then changed to Depakote, I had a tremendous weight gain--I was PUFFY! At that time Bi-Polar was the flavor of the month--not that it isn't real--it just seemed that at the time, everyone was BiPolar. I later went off all meds and was OK for about 3 years when the ugly beast reared its head again.

Zoloft at one point both saved and ruined my life. The first time on Zoloft as a young wife and mother I think the verdict was still not out with all the side effects. I was unable to engage in sex. Not only did I not have any sexual urge but my body couldn't. I talked to a therapist and psychiatrist to no avail--it was MY problem--that the birth of a child brought up abuse issues--men are the only ones with sexual side effects! After being sexually NORMAL my husband and I were told that it was psychological. That didn't do a lot for our relationship. It also made me more distant and quiet. The new Me-on-Zoloft was like my repressed alter ego. The new me was all the more reason to need to stay on meds--just see how depressed and troubled I am. My husband and I divorced due to bad medicine and I didn't know any better. Had all the information been out there at the time, things could have been different.

I went back on Zoloft with mixed results. As a creative writing major at the university, it was like someone flipped a switch and all creativity left me. I found it increasingly difficult to concentrate and recall information for discussion or tests. I was however , more focused in the mundane--dinner, dishes, laundry, regular exercise, all the routine stuff. The anxiety before going back on zoloft made me want to rip my hair out and I was overwhelmed by everyday stuff. I would wash a dish and fight the urge to run around the table before washing the next one. Part of that, I think, was the pressure of being a single mom with 3 small children, going to school full-time and working part-time. Whew! and with little support from anyone, no dad in the picture.

Through the years I have been on many other things and this will probably be the pattern for the rest of my life. Paxil made me a suicidal zombie to the point that my kids cried and made me go to the hospital--they didn't know the suicidal ideation at the time. Effexor caused flabby weight gain and myalgia. Last year I went in the hospital again for depression (job loss, 2nd divorce, mother's death & all at once). The psychiatrist talked me into going on Pristiq claiming it was like Effexor but with none of its bad side effects. BS!!! Once again, I was duped and still weigh 33 pounds over what I did. I am AGAIN back on Zoloft and it seems fine. The devil you know is better than the one you don't know--I guess. I haven't been back on it long enough to know what will happen this time but it can't be worse than the other things out there. I'm tired of being the psychiatric community guinea pig. Everyone is different; my best friend gaied 25 lbs. on Zoloft and takes Paxil (I can't), my sister only does well on Welbutrin, my friend's mom has been on Effexor for years and it keeps her sane. You just have to find your fit. My problem has been from the medical community not being forthcoming with information and the reluctance to listen to a 'crazy' patient.

I am so relieved to hear that so many people have experienced significant WEIGHT GAIN while on this drug. I weighed 150 pounds when I got pregnant and was 183 when I gave birth. I got all the way down to 152, when I became depressed and suffered from severe anxiety. I have gotten as high as 210 lbs, and my life has been miserable because of my attempts to lose weight and NOTHING WORKS! I can do an hour of spin class (supposed to burn 500-700 cals), lift weights, eat perfectly for weeks and step on the scale and lose NOTHING! I even hired a personal trainer and I think she thinks I am lying because she sees how hard I work out, and nothing changes. This is so depressing, I am embarrassed to go in public or even look in the mirror. I have decided to wean off although I have been taking this med for 10 years. It did help the depression, but now I am so depressed from this weight it is not worth it. Thank goodness I found this thread, because maybe I am not crazy!!!! Is there any chance I will ever lose the weight, or is my metabolism ruined for life?

I take a combo of Zoloft and Klonopin for anxiety. The medication helps control my anxiety problems, but now I suffer from severe headaches, upset stomach and weight gain. The biggest problem was my headaches. My Dr. suggested stretching exercises for my headaches and stiff neck. The stretching seemed to relieve my overall headaches, but would a trigger spot for an incredible flash of pain when I turned my head a certain way. I've found that resistant pressure seemed to help tremendously.

For example: If my headache was in a specific place just behind my left ear, I would place the heel of my left over the pain and push my head towards the heel of my hand and hold for ten seconds. If it was general tension in the back of my neck that is causing the pain, I would place the heel of my hand on my forehead and push my head toward my hand and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat as necessary. Hope this helps.

I see there are a lot people suffering from headaches so I thought I would share what kind of works for me. Does anyone else have any "works for me" stories?

These are not new side effects but a confirmation of some I've read. Two most disturbing are: the inability to cry which all my life has been a major way to release tension; weight gain and an inability to discipline myself to stop eating; addiction to sugar; lack of motivation; can't stick to anything. when I first started taking it my body "vibrated" but that stopped after a couple of months. However, my head sings all the time. It does cause heartburn so I have to take an antacid (but I also take other blood pressure meds which may add to this). I do generally feel better and now after nearly two years on Zoloft, my motivation to take on projects has increased. I exercise every day and it has helped with depression and anxiety but not with sleep. I'm afraid to go off it because of withdrawal symptoms I may have to suffer; so for now I'm going to continue taking it. It does cause weight gain and does lower motivation but since I'm 74 years old, I don't need to worry about sex drive. Hope this helps.

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 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.

Anorgasmia (inability to orgasm) was the only symptom I had. No weight gain. Actually in addition to the anorgasmia, I had no sex drive, and no drive to be physically "close" to anyone (hugs, etc). I ended up going off because I felt that I could but I got MAJOR headaches despite the fact that I tapered off VERY slowly.

Makes my stomach hurt like a gas feeling and burning really bad.
Night sweats are horrible. I have to change my PJs about 5 times a night and the bed is soaking wet. It really messes up my sleep. It is helping with my anxiety I think. I'm just not sure if it's worth it with all these bad side effects.
Now I am getting tingling on the tops of my feet and tops of my toes.
It's all so strange. I also have depression and this is helping a little.
I feel unmotivated lately and tired...oh did I mention weight gain because it makes me eat more? What a mess I am.

weight gain started almost immediately i gained 20 kgs during both pregnancies on zoloft. Although my anxiety/panic and outbursts of uncontrollable anger, and irrational thought patterns all stabilized remarkably on zoloft I have NO interest in sex, and uncontrollable urge to drink alcohol and I cannot stop until i pass out. Also, void of emotion ...haven't cried in years despite traumatic events that have included the deaths of grandparents, a divorce in the family and a miscarriage. Each time I try to go off this stuff I end up experiencing amplified symptoms of my original problems as well as severe depression and paranoia so I get scared and go back on it.

I was on Zoloft for 3 years. While it helped with my anxiety, I sometimes felt it increased it. My biggest complaint was the weight gain. Over the 3 year period, I gained 35 pounds. While still on it, I did South Beach for 3 months and lost 5 pounds. =(
Last summer, I worked out 6 days a week for 1- 1 1/2 hour a day for 2 months. I didn't lose a single pound! My size 12's were still fitting pretty well. I have never weighed this much in my life. I was never even over a size 7.
I got off the Zoloft in October and have actually gained 7 more pounds since. It is really depressing. I think the company should have to pay for a gym membership or personal trainers! =)

anxiety. weight gain, voices telling me to end it all it;s not worth living, severe panic attacks, can't sleep, shaking all the time, break out in a sweat, then chills, nightmares, and on, and on..........

Those of you that has experienced weight gain....do you think its because the Zoloft as increased your appetite? I can handel being tired and going to the bathroom all day... but I would be in worse shape if I gained weight....what else is more depressing!! My husband started Zoloft a few weeks ago for anxiet, and his main complaint is exhaustion. My OBGYN gave it to me for severe PMS.

Best of luck to everyone here....

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.

I started on zoloft about 11-2006 i started of on 50mg and was increased to 200mg daily, it's been able 8months the side effects that I have had weight gain, skin rashes, nightmares. Then 8 months on all of a sudden i started getting moody, verbalily an physicalily aggressive, snappy, unable to think clearly, remembering normal things like names, loosing things, no time for anyone or thing, no focus on things being said, zoning out of my mental alertness, nerves always on edge, headaches, sleepy, a sense of fear, depression. Coming off zoloft just heightened the side effects. I was placed on zoloft due to PTSD and major drepression.

I am on 200mg of Zoloft. I started it last January, and have slowly increased my dosage to find the correct dosage. I am starting to feel anxiety again, and feel as though your body gets used to the meds, and you continually need a higher dosage. I am jittery, have insomnia, have very vivid dreams, tremors, my eyes tremor when I try to close them and I see flashes of light, when I nod my head down towards my chest it tremors, i am restless, it has made my add worse, it causes slight weight gain, muscle twitching...it worked fine, but the higher the dose, the worse the side effects, and here I am with anxiety again. I suppose I need to switch my meds - maybe try lexapro. But definitely get a new psychiatrist.

I forgot to list my side-effects; My teeth chatter at night as I'm falling asleep and I have noticed a little weight gain. But like one of the others below, I'd rather gain a few pounds and be happy then lose a few pounds and be depressed and anxious all the time. Good Luck to you!

I have only been on the Zoloft....for just about a week moday. I am being weaned off of Paxil, which I have been on for 2 years. I started to have my doc change my meds just b/c of all the weight gain I was having....so right now I am taking two AD to get the other out of my system. I have this feeling of having a small buss like I had a beer or two. So your not the only one.

My mother has been on Zoloft on and off for 10 years and really depends on it. I started taking it after the death of my youngest son. It has made a remarkable difference in my life. The only big side effect is the awful weight gain!! Will this side effect lessen over time?

I have benn on Zoloft for the last 7 years. It has helped me considerably with panic attacks, however it has caused me to gain about 50 lbs. I am skeptical about asking my DR for another drug since Zoloft has helped me so much, but the weight gain is getting to me.

I have been on Zoloft for approximately 6 months, I do feel much more in control of my depression and do not have the constant thoughts of harming myself anymore but the weight gain is a problem and that in itself is a cause of low self esteem. Has anyone found a way around this?

I am 26 years old and my husband and I have 4 common children and we are currently raising his son from his first marriage so I have 5 children at home. after the birth fo my first child in 1998, I suffered a severe panic attack that came out of nowhere, I rushed to the emergency room thinking i was dying, and for 5 years after that i suffered and lived with major deppression and severe anxiety. I literaly thought i was dying everyday of my life, my file at the doctors office was really getting thick from all my visits. Finally in 2004 for the sake fo my children I agreed to take medication and my doctor put me on zoloft I started at 100mg. and slowly increased to 200mg. I was on it for a year and for the first time in 5 years I felt good, I didnt' think about dying , my patience with my children increased I was a new person, unfortunatley I had a substantial weight gain so I requested to try a different medication so they switched me to wellbutrin 400mg my appetite has decreased but my anxiety has increased not to the point it was before i had any help but it definatley isn't as controlled as when i was on the zoloft.
I think zoloft is excellent for anxiety but it didn't work for my severe p.m.s.

I started taking Zoloft 6 months ago. I have gained 15 pounds since I started taking it. It has helped me with being moody though. I have started to bite my cuticles and pick at them which I am not sure why I do this. I have to put bandaids on my fingers so I wont pick them till they bleed. It is so embarrasing that I make up stories that I cut myself gardening. I am 36 years old and am happy now and content. I dont have panic attacks anymore but the weight gain issue is really a problem for me. I am not sure what to do now. Zoloft really helped me but I dont want to be fat and chew on my cuticles anymore. I take 50mg once a day.

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 have been on Zoloft for 14 months for panic disorder. I don't find it at all effective as Paxil, but I didn't like the weight gain I got from Paxil. Weird Brain shocks - very agitated heightened anxiety.

I started taking Zoloft October of 2003. I started with 25mg & slowly graduated to 200mg. Over the past year I have gained 25lbs. even though I exercise 4 days a week for an hour & watch what I eat every day. I couldn't understand why I was gaining weight when I was watching so well. I asked my doctor about weight gain with Zoloft & he said that it actually makes you lose weight. I finally decided to check out websites about the side effects & I was so shocked at how many other people had weight gains also. So I decided to take myself off of Zoloft. For about a week I dropped down to 100mg a day but then deiceded to quit cold turkey & have been feeling like crap ever since. I have severe headaches (which I very rarely ever get), constant feeling of nausea, electric zaps that start at my feet & shoot up through my body, feeling when I turn my head too quickly like my brain is slow to catch up with my eyes & I feel like I'm gonna fall if I don't hold on to something or just relax for a minute.

I realize this is my own fault because I quit cold turkey on my own without consulting with my physician, however I want other people out there to know that you aren't going crazy that the withdrawal symptoms are real & really bad.

I just want to know how long before I start to feel normal again without constantly feeling sick on my stomach.

I'm taking alternating 50mg 1 day/100mg next. I was prescribed this for debilitating social phobia/agoraphobia (with a tendency towards obsessive compulsive behaviour) - which resulted in mild depression, so essentially it's been prescribed for anxiety.

I also have been having VERY weird vivid dreams (although that makes a great change from not enough sleep and constant nightmares). I have also found that I'm extremely lethargic.

No weight gain, and I've found it has helped me alot with respect to allowing me to leave my 'safe places' - (I'm getting past the letterbox now!!) as I feel much more relaxed most of the time.

If I forget a dose after a while I feel as though I'm putting my finger in an electric socket and getting a mild electric current running through every few minutes. It's really awful.

My attention span has also dropped to that of a goldfish. I can't concentrate on anything for any length of time - which is rather unfortunate as I having a 'thinking' job, not a 'doing' job. It's like I'm constantly tired and hung over.

I started taking 50 mg of Zoloft about 1 year ago and eventually went up tp 150 mg. I gained 20LBS in 4 months!!! My doctor specifically told me that these meds would NOT MAKE ME GAIN WEIGHT! She had NO IDEA WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT!! I started tapering off the meds a month ago and took my last dose on the 22nd of June. Since then I have felt so tired, but the worst part is the electric zaps. It feels like I am being hit with a tazer gun or lightning or something. ALmost everytime I move I get a jolt through my whole body. I want to cry!!
While I was on the meds, I had heavy spotting between periods. My doctors couldn't figure out why it was happening. I have been trying to get pregnant and I think that Zoloft is the reason I have not been able to conceive.
I would also wake up with terrible night sweats and developed Hypothyroidism while taking this medication. I am 28 years old, and thought I was starting to go through Menopause!

I can not wait for these side effects and withdrawal symptoms to end. I will NEVER take this type of medication again. It is not worth it. I told my doctor that I would rather be depressed than feel the way I did while tkaing this medication.

Good Luck to everyone on this board.

have been taking zoloft for 15 mths, gradually gone up to 300mg, and have been on that dosage for 10 mths. have experienced most symptons, dry mouth, vivid dreams (bad) tremors, weight gain. have recently had suspected seizure and have had eec, cat scan and am waiting for mmr . I have pins and needles on right side of head, involuntary spasms,, vague days and extreme tiredness. I could sleep most of the day and at night. I have to be very careful not to over exert because symptons are worse. have been worried about symptons being like ms but having visited this site am wondering if it's all down to the zoloft. Iwant to stop taking it.

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.

insidious weight gain - started taking Zoloft in 1997 (7 years ago) - weighed 123 lbs. Now 7 years later I weigh 143 pounds. It happened approximately every time I increased the dosage - 25, 50, 75. 100. 150, 200 mg - weight jumped to 128, 132, 135, 138, 140, 143. I'm 53 so I keep thinking it's menopause, but I think it's really the Zoloft. On 200 mg of Zoloft, who CARES about gaining weight??? After the last dosage increase (150 to 200), I stopped feeling compelled to exercise (jogging, treadmill) - and thus gained the last bunch of pounds.

Am going off Z. soon, will try just Wellbutrin. I can't WAIT.

weight gain, NO sex drive. Then my doctor switched me to WellbutrinXL, it does not make you gain wieght, and no sexual side effects. But, I was alot more moodier. I went back to zoloft and am fine, but the weight gain is back.

i have had weight gain severe headaches diaheria and yes the weird bad strange dreams where i wake up and i am afraid and wondering if it really happen i am glad i found this site cause now i know i am not insane

Vivid & later very distracting dreams, lasting side affects that "punch you in the chest, mentally & emotionaly" as a result of stopping just after 2 weeks at 50mg/day. Can't sleep. Fast weight gain. Zombie status. Rather use pot again. Much better results. Sexual disfuctions. Jaw clenching. Seems that the drug is designed to self replacte it's own exsistance by the delayed
side effects of stopping cold turkey. Should of never started
because stopping is like droping off a clif. I'm ok now that I'm
off sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft). The vivid dreams seem to
want to live out their vibrance during the day during the few
days after stopping the doses. Give yourself a few days to really know what it's like to be fully off the drug. (diagnosses:
attempting to live in College Station, nepotism capitol of Texas)

I'm 14 and Have just been told to take the drug, to help depression and obsessive compulsive disorder thing, and am very VERY nervous after reading all of the side affects on the page from other people.. Im already fairly big and DO NOT want to gain weight ( its one of the reasons im depressed in the first place!) ... i dont know what to do, was suicidal so need the help but dont want the side affects!.....

I love Zoloft as far as helping depression and anxiety. I do notice side effects which are headaches daily, insomnia, and weight gain. I take other anxiety drugs in addition, so I'm not sure where the side effects come from. The weight gain is really upsetting me and the headaches. I take 150 mg. daily of zoloft. Are the above side effects related to zoloft?

uhh what happens if u snort zolofT......im being put on the medication and im 14....i need to know if i should try something diffrent...i dont want weight gain ill flip out.....Do you get messed up if you take lots of these pills or if u snort them let me know please..

I was on Zoloft for years taking 50 mg., but later increasing to 100 mg. At 100 mg., I started to have Priapism - erections that would not go away but with no sensitivity or sensation.

Also weight gain.

I was put on Zoloft for PMS symptoms and it really has helped. Can someone answer a question about weight gain. I am already a VERY BIG woman and am starting a diet with exercise. Can I lose weight even being on Zoloft????? If not, I want to get off of this. Otherwise, I am doing really good on it.

I TAKE 100MG OF ZOLOFT AND HAVE FOR 2 MONTHS. SINCE I STARTED, I'VE GAINED 25 LBS. I RECENTLY LOST OVER 80 WITH DIET AND EXERCISE CHANGE AND THIS WEIGHT GAIN HAS BEEN A MAJOR BLOW. I ALSO HAVE BEEN GETTING HORRIBLE HEADACHES, I CAN'T HANDLE NOISE AS WELL, AND I'M VERY OUT OF IT. I'VE HAD GAS, UPSET STOMACH, DIARRHEA, AND NAUSEA. I TOOK ZOLOFT ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WITH MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CHANGED. LET'S JUST SAY... I'M NOT A FAN OF ZOLOFT ANYMORE!

weight gain, headaches, body pain, no sleep

severe headaches, diarrhea daily, gave me the shakes, insomnia, began grinding my teeth, hypertension, weight gain, couldn't concentrate or focus on anything.

weight gain; tempomandibular tension; lethargy (but may just be my chronic fatigue??); my headache pattern has gone skyhigh!!! Help! My insurance won't pay for my Prozac; the generic makes me sick to my stomach, and so now my "relief" is Zoloft. I even went off birth control thinking that was making my headaches worse and causing the weight gain; and then I took a pregnancy test...none of the above...