Stress Center Peer Support

In September I began taking Zoloft for my depression. Although I was only on 50 mg it helped me heal from all the months of sleep I missed. During that time period I began to attend the gym religiously and I watched what I ate. To my horror I have gained 25 pounds. My primary doctor insists its not the Zoloft but my gyno told me it is. Has anyone out there experienced a large weight gain with Zoloft? How did you handle it?

Hi,
Yes, I have been on Zoloft for some time now and I have gained weight and it seems no matter how much I exercise or diet, it does not come off. I have heard from several people that say the same thing. I would love to get off it and I have tried in the past, but I get in really bad shape. Myu psychiatrist says it should not cause weight gain but other doctors say it does for a lot of people. Do you know of an antidepressant that does not cause weight gain? I have tried Celexa, Effexor, Welbutrin and Paxil and none of them helped me. Prozac helped but I still gained weight on it. I tried Lexapro and I could not handle the hot flashes with it. Cymbalta is a drug many doctors love to use but I will warn you that it causes constipation and weight gain. I am hoping I will stick with this program and I will be able to stop everything but my vitamins and supplements.
Do you take the Feel Good Vitamins through the program? I noticed it has 5-HTP and it works like Zoloft. I am planning on asking my Dr. before I continue with it.
jcat

I actually tried Paxil and Prozac and could not tolerate them long enough to know of any weight gain. I am actually weening myself off the Zoloft. I'm down to 25mg and hope to be off it soon. This weight gain is making me depressed again!

I have not tried the vitamins but the lady at my local health food store swears by the 5 HTP.

Thanks boombie71,
Did yo have a difficult time coming of Zoloft? I am on 200 mg daily. I have forgotten 1 occasionally.
jcat

So far so good but remember I only was at 50mg. I too have forgotten one here and there and I felt fine without it so I hope its an indication of things to come

i have gotten off zoloft before and the panic attacks and scary thoughts were out of this world. but saying that, that was before this program. i am scared to death, but i am going to talk to my doctor today to see about getting off again. i take 100mg plus another antidepressant and xanax. i hope i am not asking to get off too early, i am starting session 4 today. but you have to feel the anxiety and depression to fight it, right? i do feel it i stay anxious and depressed, but i am also numb (make sense???) i dont know, hopefully my doctor will make the right decision.

wish me luck

imkay

ps - i have gained 100lbs since i started taking antidepressants. i have been on one or another for 13 years.

Hi i am on zoloft and have gained weight as well.in my 11 years of taking meds i have gained 80 pounds. I hate it but my meds are important because i have a chemical imbalance which wont let the sertion to get up higher.i would love to be off the meds but i don't have to much of a choice. But I will say paxil made me gain 60 pounds in 3 months. SO i will have to deal with it. this stinks take cae all

I love Zoloft for treating my Anxiety and Depression, but I do believe it makes you gain weight! I had gastric bypass surgery several years ago and up until I started taking Zoloft I never gained any weight. Within months of taking it I had gained 20 lbs. I actually went off it for a while because of the weight gain, but wasn't able to find another med that worked as well so now I'm back on it. I've been back on it for 2 months or so and so far I don't think I've gained anything but I'm working out all the time and being pretty careful about what I eat. The first time I was on it I just kept with my normal diet. So hopefully watching what I eat and exercise will keep me from gaining anymore weight.

Wow... well you are all scaring me here. I just started taking zoloft Feb. 20th (3 weeks?) and it has helped with my anxiety and depression and I have lost a few pounds. I have no appetite, actually. I am hoping that this doesnt change. I have heard people lose wieght on zoloft and others gain. Whatever, if the meds are helping - take the meds and worry about the weight when you can cope.
Has anyone else started out losing weight on zoloft and then it started making them gain??
(I hope not!)