Zoloft and zoloft

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 was a healthy 23 year old. I have had a pretty rollercoaster 3 yrs. I had a baby young, lost my mother to cancer, moved to FL. came back to NC, moved in a stressful house(knowing it would be) had issues with the father of my child(now resolved) and lost my brother. I started getting the attacks maybe a month after I lost my brother. I was put on Zoloft(50mg), it seemed to be working, but only being on it for about 2 weeks I started to have fluttering around my heart. I saw my doc and she took me off of it. I'm also on birth control. Now I have insane thoughts that something is going to happen or something bad is going on in my body. I have these weird headaches. Sometimes I get them and sometimes I don't. It feels like my head has this fullness most of the time. Or I'll get this quick zapping feeling on one side or both. I have an app coming up and I will be bringing this up. I haven't had any of these symptoms since being on/off the meds and my birth control.

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 a month now for OCD and anxiety. I previously used Luvox, but had to quit due to severe suicidal thoughts and hurting myself.
I've noticed recently that my sex drive is INSANE! However, it takes me a very long time to acheive an orgasm.
The only side effect I can certainly link to Zoloft and not one of my other meds is that my muscles randomly jump or minorly tremor.
Memory, 19

I have been taking zoloft for 14 years for panic disorder with mild depression. various doses, but now im at 200 mg, and have been at that dose for a long time. it was like a lifesaver from my previous med, imipramine. i did have really vivid dreams, weird ones, for a long time, but not so much anymore. i think that the long term effect of taking it has taken a toll on my mental clarity/concentration, though. I feel like i can't concentrate on anything or complete a thought anymore. even typing this i feel like i'm getting lost. like i'm constantly in a fog. or it could be that i have 5 month old twins, lol, i guess. but really, its never been this bad.
i too feel like i have had some loss of emotion, not feeling sad when its completely appropriate to. and i've also had way too much emotion at the wrong times, flying off the handle at people and such. the worst thing is my dr. would ask me "what makes you happy, what do you do for fun?" and i would just stare at him with a blank look cause i had no idea what that felt like anymore. or maybe i couldn't think enough to answer him. physically i think zoloft makes me twitch - eye twitches, nose twitches, throat clearing. and i can't have an orgasm to save my life :(
recently i've been having some breakthrough anxiety and my dr. wants to add wellbutrin to the zoloft. if anyone has experience with this please send me a message. i'm kind of scared to do it.

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.

I've been taking Zoloft for nearly a month. My sex drive has not decreased but it takes me a very long time to have an orgasm. It is frustrating because my partner and I have always had a very active sex life. Now, I'm hesitant to have sex because it takes too long to have an orgasm. Any suggestions?? Sexually Frustrated

My experience in taking Zoloft for the last month and a half has been largely side-effect free. However, I feel like I am constantly in a fog. It takes me until about 3:00 in the afternoon before I have any motivation to do anything. I have been taking 100mg because of post-partum depression. My anger and violent thoughts have mostly gone away, but I just feel so tired and listless all the time. I was first prescribed Neevo, a prenatal vitamin that seems to have some anti-depressant effects. It didn't help, but I read that it can help process normal anti-depressant medication, so I started taking it with the Sertraline (Zoloft generic). Since then, I have felt a little better, but I still lay around all day trying to motivate myself to play with my baby or clean the house.

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'm having a LOT of trouble sleeping! I can go to sleep, but I don't stay asleep, and when I wake up, I just feel like my muscles are all tensed up and I need to stretch out all the time. I toss and turn and can't get rid of that feeling like I want to jump out my own skin. I'm tired all the time because I can't sleep...I've tried taking it at different times throughout the day, and nothing works.

i have been itching has anyone else been itching??? my back, arms, stomach, and chest! my back itches the worst!!! i am calling my doctor tomorrow to see what i need to do about it! and i have already been on it for a few months! please let me know if any of you have had this side effect!? thanx a lot

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.

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!

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.

Today is my firs day on Zoloft and I have had the most dreadful headache and stiff neck all day. I also feel exhausted but unable to sleep. I don't know how I will get through the night. Please someone tell me this head/neck pain will go away. I can't take much more.

Ive recently started taking zoloft for anxiety..just started on the 50 mg today after 4 days of 25 mg. The first two days were awful for me...intense headaches, feeling sick, nausea, tired, constant yawning, jaw ache from clenching and grinding my teeth. This is my 5th day and i am restless, i cant focus on study and keep putting it off. I am so tired i feel i could sleep through the entire week. my vision is slightly blurry...but not so bad i cant see the computer screen, however my typing is really bad...that may be due to the restlessness and agitation.
I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow, even if it's only been 5 days im not too sure why zoloft was prescribed for me when its more for depression and social anxiety. Today in the car i felt really panicky, and i thought i could just fall asleep at the wheel or have a heart attack because my heart beat has felt even faster than before. If these side effects go away in a few weeks and i can be reassured i will start to feel better and happier and less anxious then i will continue them. However my university assignments are going to be really poor.

Im a 33 yr old stay at home housewifey. Ive been taking zoloft for 1 week and 1 day. It is a miracle drug! I feel so relaxed and nothing in the world bothers me. I however i did get a couple brain pains and couldnt sleep for about 5 days. I was taking zoloft in the afternoon but was told to take it first thing in the morning so it can help you sleep at night. I started taking it the the am and the past 3 days my sleeping has gotten better, i toss and turn a couple times. I do still feel very fatiqued but only in the mornings and then it disapears by like 10 am. Loss of appetite whitch is good because i can now lose the 25 pounds i have gained over the holidays haha! I feel was feeling depression the first few days of taking zoloft but now its gone. My stress level isnt that bad like it was. I do feel like im in a dream but in a good way. I feel like im on a happy cloud. I love taking my happy pill (zoloft) it is helping me ALOT!
I am a quiet person by nature and now i find myself taking up a storm!
I was terrified of the carpenter bees outside whitch we have a ton of. It took me 1/2 hr to get to my car to pick my son up from school just about everyday. And i sat in the car for almost an hour trying to get back in the house. Now i find myself getting into the car with no problem and no fear of them. I actually stood on the porch with the bee in front of my face talking to it haha, they do not sting but are extremly nosey insects!
Sex drive is still good so far.
Zoloft is working wonders with me. Its not for everyone as i read all the experiences from people , BUT ITS WORKING FOR ME!
Zoloft is working wonders!

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 Celexa for about 5 weeks for panic attacks and anxiety but wasn't getting much better. My doctor switched me to Zoloft, I was on it about 10 days but I decided to discontinue it yesterday because it was causing extreme drowsiness, horrific headaches, weird crying spouts, and more anxiousness. Today, the first day being off Zoloft is harsh, I was in bed half the day and I feel like I'm in a dream and the headache is still there. Although , its about 630pm now and I feel a little better than earlier but not much. Hopefully tomorrow will be better? I'm also on Ativan.

Ehemm, haha. umm I started taking Zoloft exactly a week ago. so 7 days. umm it has been fin so far. I think i have been a little happier. oh I have OCD, Depression, and Anxiety disorders, nervousness etc. I am 16..17 this year in September. everything has been fine but, the first like 4 days when I would lie down I started tripping out..it wasn't bad like or scary!! It was real cool! ahha. everything was like molding and moving into one! ahha. anyway. I was also wondering about what happens if you snort Zoloft. I have a few lines in front of me. although I did see one thing of a guy who I assume, has snorted it because there was a question"what happens if you snort Zoloft"..Answer.. don't do it, no good ..makes you feel crappy, etc"..

First day on 25 mg. I feel like I could sleep the rest of my life. Also I had diarrhoeaea 3 times as well as a very uneasy first night of sleep. Woke up sweating and very anxious like I was having an anxiety attack. I don't think my mild symptoms are intense enough for this drug. I'm stopping. Or should I give it a chance? My symptoms are just mild anxiety in social and work situations. I can deal but I wanted to feel better as in absolutely no anxiety. Oh and also I have absolutely no appetite but I did manage to have sex today with no problems. lucky I guess. Please respond with your thoughts...thanks

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?

I have been on Zoloft (150mg) as well as Wellbutrin (300mg) for the last year. I have been on Zoloft for nearly 6 years (for postpartum depression and then ongoing depression) and the wellbutrin was added in by my doctor 2 years ago when the depression symptoms seem to be returning. However, during the last year, I am tired ALL THE TIME - really tired. The kind of tired in which I feel like I can not function. I nap any chance I get (which is difficult because I have four children) and still have no problem falling asleep at night. I have been to the doctor and have had blood tests to see if my exhaustion can be attributed to anything but my test always come back normal. So I am now wondering if my tiredness is a possible Zoloft side-effect... And is it possible for it to be a side effect that surfaced several years into using this drug? I did not feel like this when I first began either of the medications. I also wake up nightly completely soaked with night sweats... another Zoloft side effect. If anyone has any similar experience or advice, I'd love to hear!

My boyfriend took Zoloft about 2 years ago for a two year period. He has 0 sex drive and it is effecting our relationship. I am in love with him; but, we need help. He doesn't have insurance so he doesn't want to go to the doctor. Is there something over the counter for libedo?

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 am weaning off Zoloft. I began taking it in Nov. 2001 because I knew I would have post-partum depression since I had it with my first two. Zoloft changed my life so much for the better. That was almost 6 years ago. The past year I have decided that I can do w/o Zoloft. One, because I’ve learned how to choose to be happy. Two, because I don’t like being addicted to a pill. I know I’m addicted (or somewhat addicted to) because if I forgot to take the pill, several hours later, I would get weird feelings, like when I turn my head and move my eyes at the same time, a weird slightly dizzy feeling.
Here’s how I did it. In May and June, I took a whole pill (50 mg) every other day and every other day I took half a pill. That’s 2 months of that. Then, July and August, I took a half a pill EVERY day. Now that it’s Sept., I’m taking a half a pill every other day and NO pill every other day. I must say, this has been the hardest. It’s just 4 days into Sept. and I’m having those weird sensations a lot. My toes and fingers are tingly, too. I was planning on doing this for 2 months but I'm on the 4th day (2nd day of no pill) and I'm having too many tingles and weird dizzy sensations. So, I guess I'll continue taking a half pill every day and take NO pill ONE day a week for this month of Sept. Then, in October, I will take NO pill TWO days a week (but not 2 days in a row). Then, in November, I'll go to THREE days a week of no pill (but not 3 days in a row). And so on. I had hoped to be off by Christmas or Jan. 2008, but I see that it won't work unless I wean to a NO pill gradually. I knew all along that it would have to be gradual, and that's what I've been doing, but I had no idea that just missing a mere 25 mg. for 2 days (but not in a row, mind you) would make such a difference.
Now, if I get too many really sad days, I will consider going back on. But I’ve done really well so far. I know that God is helping me. He can lick it; I can’t. I have had just a handful of occasions where I was told something slightly disturbing or something happened to me that was slightly upsetting and it got me down, but only for the rest of that day. AND, I gave it to God and let Him deal with it. He wants to take care of my problems; He doesn’t want me worrying about it. I know that medicine like Zoloft may be the answer and if that is what I ultimately do, then I’ll just continue leave it to Him. I hope this helps someone.

I've been on 25mg of generic Zoloft for a week and I've developed the feeling of a lump in my throat. It seems to get worse for a little while after I take it, but it may also be anxiety about taking it. I'm supposed to increase the dosage to 50mg tomorrow, but I'm afraid to in case it's really an allergic reaction. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm taking zoloft for panic attacks. I'm on day 3 of 25mg. I have severe diarrhea. Yesterday I had a burning/tingling sensation in my shoulders and moved up to my head. It lasted about 2-3 minutes. Today I feel like I'm in a fog. I also have trouble sleeping and occasionally have small pains that last for a second all over my head. I'm not sure if this is worth the trouble. I won't hesitate to continue the medication If I can be sure these effects will go away. My doctor wants me to up my dosage by 25mg. every week and I don't know if this will worsen my side effects.

I've been taking zoloft for about 4 days and I've felt almost like I was on meth for 2 of the days, and I lost a lot of my water weight(drink a lot of water with this) , sweating a lot, and just kinda tripped out. The mood change is crazy, I felt goofy out of the blue for no reason. I've been clenching my jaw and that guy was right, a little high grade marijuana goes a long way! Waking up suddenly but falling right back asleep, and kind of an alertness to everything.
Hopefully I level out, I have bad social anxiety which causes me to studder but this seems to be helping a little so far.
Does anybody know about drinking with this, is it safe to have a couple beers or do I have to stick to iced tea?

i love this drug it works

I can't believe how easily they hand out this medication!
I have been under extreme stress recently and have physically been suffering from the anxiety. Went to the ER when my doctor wouldnt see me and they gave me this medication. I took one pill(50mg) at 4pm, felt slightly off, hardly enough to really notice though. However the next morning I was waken up at 5am heaving and wretching, that continued for about an hour. Then the symptoms progressed to rapid heart rate and profuse sweating during the wretching. Continued to worsen, my head felt as though I had drank 3 bottles of wine the night before(hadn't drank at all). I was dizzy and the last thing to happen was my arms and hands began to tingle and go numb. Eventually(4hours later) all symptoms had worn off and only the nausea remained. Have not touched the stuff again. I'll take the anxiety thanks.

I have been on zoloft 50mg for about 8 weeks now. The first and very bothersome side affect is the problem sleeping. After getting to sleep, it is very hard to stay asleep. My nights are full of vivid dreams. I have read this is a normal side affect. The BIGGEST problem I've begun to have is that while sleeping...I guess I am dreaming that my skin is itching because I have woken up many times to the pain of me scratching my skin until I have left deep burning scratches. Last night I had to get up and get a cold wash cloth to put on the skin on the back of my neck from the harsh scratching. This has NEVER happened to me before the zoloft. It has made a world of difference in my depression, and do not want to have to go off of it. Has anyone ever heard of this? Please post if you have....need to know this is a side affect...not just me...

#30157- I wanted to quell your fears about Zoloft. I started taking it about a year ago (when I turned 30). I take 50mg and feel great. I was very anxious and depressed. This stuff is like gold- I can't believe I ever survived without it. Before Zoloft I let anxiety rule my life, I couldn't focus on my job..it was a nightmare.
I don't remember what that was like now. Give it a try, I think you will find that you waited too long and you will be glad you tried it.

I'm on 200mg a day of Zoloft. For depression and anxiety. Started January 2006 (25 - 50 - 100 - 125 - 200mg)- and it has helped a lot. BUT,,..........2 weeks ago I started with this "buzzing" feeling all over my body. (feel jittery) 24/7 - it doesn't stop.
Is this a side effect that anyone has had????

I have been on Zoloft for about 15 years and currently on 100mg per day. I have experienced the usual side effects and am wondering about alcohol consumption while on this drug and the effects it would produce

I first started taking Lexapro 10 mg about 2 years ago. I felt like it wasn't working for me anymore. I had sunk back into my deep depression and was having really bad social and non social anxiety. I went to the doctor and told him that I wanted to try Zoloft. He prescribed me Zoloft 50 mg. I have been on it for about 6 months. I noticed changes as soon as 2-3 weeks. I felt so good about myself and was not having any anxiety.

And then it began...

I noticed that as time went by I was dropping weight tremendously. I am 5'7 and at that time I weighed 150lbs. I completely lost my appetite and only ate once a day, if at all. I now weigh 120lbs. This is only the beginning...

In October of '04 I started using drugs i.e. Lortab, Lorcet, Percocet, Klonopin, Xanax. I have never been the one to use such drugs to get "high" from. I want to say I was on a self-destruct mode. Im only 21 so my mom noticed that I was not acting myself, losing so much weight, being angry, irritable, ect. My mom came home from work early one day and saw I was still sleeping at 2pm. Which is not like me at ALL. She looked in my purse because she had that motherly instinct that I was on drugs. She found all my pills, and took me to a detox program. I didnt care that I was hurting my family, friends, let alone myself. I didnt care about anything but getting messed up. Needless to say Im am now drug-free but there is more...

After I got clean from the pills, I started drinking...binge drinking. I only drank to get really drunk. Let me stress the word really in that last sentence. Once again, I was on self destruct mode. I did some research on Zoloft and I have found out that you can become self destructive/violent towards yourself when on this drug. I would like to consider that taking drugs and drinking to the extreme while knowing it could harm me/kill me would fall in the category of self destruction.

Also, I have really bad tremors from time to time and I will go from having an "I dont care" attitude to "please love me" attitude.

Some things are for some people. And this is not for me. I am now winging myself off of this crazy blue pill. I think Im ready to become myself again.

I also think that for some people it is all a mental thing. I have realized this for myself. That by taking my medicine everyday I feel comforted. When Im having a bad beginning to a day, I take my meds and for the rest of the day I tell myself that Ill be ok, because I have taking my medicine. I dont know if anyone else feels this way...

Hope this helps other people out if they are having some of these same reactions I am open to discuss.

******

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?????

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 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.

INCREDIBLE INCREASED APPETITE WHICH EQUALS WEIGHT. ZOLOFT DID HELP WITH MY DEPRESSION - LOST MY LITTLE SISTER TO A BRAIN TUMOR. TROUBLE SLEEPING AND TIRED MUCH OF THE TIME. I'VE TAKEN 100/MG FOR OVER 2 YEARS. GOING OFF AND TRYING WELLBUTRIN.