zoloft side effects?

[christina28]

Hi guys, i might be going on zoloft for depression. I'm a little nervous about the side effects that will occur going on and going off. anyone have any experience with it, or encouragement? thanks!!


Christina

[turtleiam]

Hi Christina,


I was on zoloft for depression and anxiety. For the most part, it helped with my depression - not too much for anxiety. My doc. started it slow. I'm sorry I don't remember the exact dosage. But, I know that I took 1/2 a tablet for about a week and then worked up to a full tablet.


Side effects were minimal. Take it with food if you're worried about it making you n*. I have had that problem with Celexa, even with food. But, not with zoloft. While I was on it, I felt very content, which is much better than depressed. I think it also tames the other side too - happiness. I didn't feel exceptionally happy or sad . . . . just content. I did have some sexual side effects (don't know if that is a concern for you or not), but not nearly what I did with Lexapro or Celexa. AND, I gained about 10 pounds while on it. I decided to quit Zoloft & try Wellbutrin for all of those reasons.


Coming off zoloft may not be too fun, but it is very managable. You may just have to do it more slowly than the dr. or pharmasist tells you. My husband quit cold turkey - no problem. I on the other hand took 1/2 a dose one day & regular dose the next, then 1/2 for a day or two & reg. dose and so on until I didn't experience any side effects. The side effects weren't too bad. I mainly had a headache and some dizziness. It helped knowing what it was from.


Over all, I'm glad I tried it. It can be a great help. I do like Wellbutrin for me a little better. I know Wellbutrin can cause a boost in energy which can be confused with anxiety. That happened to me. The up side . . . I've lost my extra 10 pounds very easily. I've been on it for 2 months now & recommend it too.


Sorry, for giving you my whole med story. Hope it helps. Just take it slowly & I'm pretty sure you'll do fine with it. Best of luck! - Susan

[christina28]

thanks for giving me your whole med story! I'm only going to be taking it for depression, not for anxiety, adn I was warned to lower my carb intake so I won't gain weight. thanks for the advice, it helped a lot!





Christina

[xxsophiaxx]

I took Zoloft for about a week and I quit. It gave me dry heaves like everytime time I took it, like 20 minutes after ingestion. So I never experienced weight gain or anything. I actually LOST weight from not eating. By the way, this was during a time period in which I never ate because I was sooo messed up


I'm currently on Celexa, my doctor told me I can get off it though. But anyway, I prefer Celexa, I've NEVER had any n* problems w/ it, and I know that it hasn't done anything to my weight. By the way I've been on Celexa ever since I quit Zoloft, so around 6 years. Ask your doctor about Celexa, it's way better

[sheryl81]

Hey if you are ever worried about side effects try eating them with some toast or soemthing and also take them at night just before you go to bed. that way any slight nausea or anything will occur while you are asleep!

[xxsophiaxx]

ya, eating w/ them is a good idea. I think that's why I kept retching and heaving w/ Zoloft, probably cuz I never ate anything w/ it

[christina28]

thanks guys! i'm not able to switch to celexa because the nurse (?) who prescribed it to me won't be around and certain situations are forcing me to either have started it last week, or this thursday. i feel better about taking it though now, thanks.

[1scareddj]

Hi! I am on my 6th almost 7th week of Zoloft. I think it works really good for me. Medications are different for everyone. My experience with the side effects of Zoloft were not bad. It made me feel dizzy, and disconnected for about a week.....like I was really zoned out and my mom would ask me something and I was like "what?" after a minute..LOL maybe that was just me. I had dry mouth too....I got d* and n* one time from it cause I took it on an empty stomach. And from the research I have done on Zoloft it isn't assoc. with weight gain. I have lost some weight actaully and I have been eating like a pig!


Every med is different for everyone..you may have to try a few but I have had good luck with Zoloft! Hope that helps!

[christina28]

thanks for your response!

[jandub]

Was on zoloft for awhile, and at the highest dose possible, and I never got a tummy ache or anything, but I did start clenching my lower jaw, having insomnia severely, and gained twenty pounds. But, none of this started until I started on a high dose, with my regular dose I had no side effects whatsoever. I really felt better on it but had to stop to lose weight, which still hasn't come off. [img]smileys/smilies_05.gif[/img]Janna

[1scareddj]

Oh I forgot to mention I have had VERY VIVID dreams since I started....that's not always a bad thing either....heh heh heh.....I told my doctor about that cause I was curious and he said that is a side effect....but no worries....good luck! If you are afraid of the side effects cause I was too, tell your doc that and they will perscribe an anti-anxiety med to take alongside the ZOloft (or whatever med). They gave me Xanax and it really did help. Xanax is a benzo so it can be habit forming but I wouldn't worry about that...they would probably give you such a low dose like they did me.


ANyway!!! LOL I hope that helps a little bit .....PS I, personally, haven't gained any weight from ZOloft

[christina28]

"Oh I forgot to mention I have had VERY VIVID dreams since I started....that's not always a bad thing either....heh heh heh"


haha!!! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]


I took my first half of a pill about an hour ago, we'll see how it goes, thanks guys~

[1scareddj]

Keep us posted on how you are doing with it! I'm feeling much better!

[christina28]

hey! Well I woke up at 4 in the morning sweating and yucky feeling, but I think it's because I had to go to the bathroom really bad lol. (i'm better now)


Then I got up at 7 this morning for class and when I started to sit up I was pretty dizzy, but i just got up really slowly and it went away and I went to class. I know it wasn't anxiety related because there's a big difference for me between actual dizziness and anxiety "dizziness". so far, not so bad!