Is anyone on Zoloft?

[ginger_saves]

I was previously on Paxil a few months ago and didn't think it worked. My stress and anxiety has risen, as well as the n* from the anxiety. I fluctuate between ginger candy, Dramamine and Lorazepam to help me out. It all depends.


Has anyone takenZoloft and what do you think about it? I will start taking it tomorrow. I am very nervous because it's been months since I've been on an SSRI.

[madisonsmom]

I take Zoloft. I have tried a few different SSRI's and Zoloft is the only that I have tolerated the best. I have a very sensitive system. The only side effect I had was it made me a little tired when I first started taking it, so I took it at night.


I was on higher doses for anxiety and OCD. It works for different things at different doses.


I am at a lower dose right now (50mg) (I was on 200mg)...I decreased it because I got pregnant and I am breastfeeding right now.


Good luck with it...you'll be fine![img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[turtleiam]

Hi Bridgette,


I was on zoloft for anxiety and depression. It worked fairly well for me. I had to start very slowly & when I got off of it, had to do that VERY SLOWLY because of dizziness & N*. But, if you do it slowly, getting on and off, the N* is VERY minimal.


I quit taking it and switch to Wellbutrin. I don't have OCD, just depression, anxiety and Adult ADD. I wanted to switch because of the sexual sideeffect of zoloft & weight gain. I'm only 5'3" at best, so every pound shows. Really though, beside the sexual side effects, zoloft was great.


I also continue to take Lorazepam on an as needed basis, if I'm VERY anxious.


- Susan

[ginger_saves]

Thanks for the inputladies. Yes, my doctor gave me 50mg of zoloft to start. I was on 10mg of Paxil before (I was on it for about a year and stopped in May). I took it tonight and I am nervous. My best friend was on 500mg of Wellbutrin for 2 yearsand she recently stopped taking it! I imagine the withdrawal would be horrible but she has been fine and said she feels great. I felt like that too after getting off of Paxil but now that I have been taking Lorazepam every so often, I feel it is making my body needy of it. My body LOVES Lorazepam.I hate taking it because I ended up going to the ER 2 years ago from it because I was taking it for a month and stopped and I had major withdrawal. I really thought I was gonna die ( I was losing it). I could not eat, felt I could not breath, was crying all the time, andI lost about 20 lbs from that along withstarting thefirst 2 weeks of Paxil.

[samara's on tv]

I'm on 200mgs of Zoloft, which is 4 times the amount you are on and I have never feld dizzy or nauseous from it. I still have anxiety attacks but they are 100 better then what it would be if I wasn't on Zoloft. I've been on it for like 10 years, it is great!


~Monica

[tree1211]

Wow, I'm not on it, but from reading this thread it sounds like it might be helpful.

[turtleiam]

[QUOTE=ginger_saves]


, . My body LOVES Lorazepam.


I hear ya. Lorazepam is good stuff. I'm trying not to take it very often & reading what you wrote, makes me more determined not to. It's hard because it sure takes away the anxiety.


- Susan

[prncesspnk]

i take it... i have been taking it for 7 years since i was 12... honestly i dont even know if its doing anything for me anymore, but i cant bring myself to stop it, im too scared bc its been there for me for so long... i still have panic attacks and stuff

[cardinalgirl]

the only thing it did for me was make me gain 20 ibs BUT other than that.. haha .. it was fine. im on lexapro now.. but most antidepressants make you gain weight anyway, so no, dont worry about it. never made me feel sick!

[ginger_saves]

well, I am on my 4th day of Zoloft. Saturday was hell. I nearly called the ambulance because of choking, breathing feeling. It was the worst I ever felt.I called doctor and she said to take Loraz to calm it down. I didn't want to and let the Z ride. The doctor said it was because I was supposed to cut pill in half and take 25mg, NOT the 50mg ( it was too much for my body). I forgot about that. It was pure hell. I saw my life flash before my eyes and said I don't want to die like this. I have been taking the 25mg since and I feel n*, cannot eat and very, very tired, dry mouth and stomach tightness. I know these things take 2 weeks to sink in well, so I am really worried. I feel very weak, but I know that it will decrease in time.

[1scareddj]

Hi, honey! I' sorry that it scared you so bad! I am on 50mg of Sertraline (generic Zoloft) and when I first started taking it I was very tired and somewhat "detached" it made me feel like I was in a dream. I was very "out of it". I had some n* but not too bad. I got d* really bad when I took it on an empty stomach but that was about it. It takes like 2 weeks for the side effects to subside but I didn't start feeling better from it until about a month later....I can't imagine living without it...I am so much happier and calmer than I was even 2 months ago.....just stick with it and yes, it's a good idea to cut the pill in half and take 25mgs at a time instead of the whole 50 right at once. I know how you feel, Iwas terrified to start taking but I knew that I HAD to take it to feel better and I am so glad that I did!!! GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!


Oh yeah, I had terrible dry mouth from it too....bleh....I hate that!Edited by: 1scareddj

[ginger_saves]

Thanks for the info, Melanie! Yes, it has been rough. [img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]I just feel yucky and n* a lot because of the lack of appetite. I don't know if it's just the stress in my head or the med. I'm also on that generic version of Zoloft. I do feel very detached and hypnotized when I drive. I haven't had d* though ( knock on wood). I feel extremely tired. I feel drained and veryachey. My chest aches. I had a big panic attack moment today, so maybe my muscles hurt from being tense.I got the flu shot in October, so I dont think I got hit with the flu. I can't wait till these side effects go away! I was on Paroxetine(paxil) before and it was bad but this one seems to make me more tired. I will fight it out though! You and I are very similiar from posts I have read, so i am sure this stuff will work for me,too!!

[1scareddj]

I can totally relate...I walked around like a zombie for about 2 weeks and it did make me very tired. Something that was brought up to me about this particular SSRI (don't know if it goes for all) but try to eat as much protien as possible cause it works WITH the medication. I was not eating very well when I first started it but what I found to be easy on my tummy and full of protien was Tuna. I would buy a can of tuna and mix it with mayo and make a sandwich out of it. (YUM! Now I want one! LOL) and it was something light but I still got the protien to help the sertraline work a little better....also caffeine seems to almost "counteract" with it so I would in the beginning try to drink a lot of water and not soda. It will make you feel a lot better! I have done my research on this particular SSRI, can you tell?? LOL Keep me posted!