Anyone take Zoloft?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:05 pm

I am currently taking Zoloft and have been since April 2008.

The first time I went on it (maybe five year's ago), I felt calm and peaceful -- happy. I didn't feel anxious and I didn't feel depressed. Then, my friend Sue told me that Zoloft causes weight gain, so I immediately went off it...

About a year ago, I realized my anxiety and depression was back -- had been for a long time -- so I decided to go get a prescription for Zoloft. Disappointingly, it was not the same experience as the first time I took it.

(I've been on Zanax, Valium, Librium, Paxil and other anti-depressants over the past 26 years).

First, it took more than two months before I started feeling better. I'm still depressed, but I have noticed that my anxiety is better.

I really hope Lucinda's program will help me find the peace and calm I'm seeking. Are any of you on her program? What kind of results have you experienced?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:55 pm

Glasspoole - Did you take generic zoloft? Did you have side effects such as increased anxiety and insomnia and did it go away in two months? I am currently on Lession 9 of Lucinda's program and I feel it has helped me but I think I'm having side effects from the meds and could do much better.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:12 pm

<A HREF="http://www.squidoo.com/Bananas-Anxiety" TARGET=_blank>Zoloft Blog</A>

Don't really want to scare you, but I have created a blog on my experience with Zoloft and think it might be helpful in your quest for information on the subject. I've also made sure and shared thoughts on resources that worked for me including this Stress Center program. You're headed in the right direction.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:29 pm

ForrestMcKi - Two years ago I took Zoloft for depression and anxiety. It took 3 months to get used to but I did very well on it for 9 months.
Last month I decided that I should go back on it. After 4 weeks I have not been able to tolerate the side effects and my Dr. advised me to stop. I can't understand why I am having such a different reaction the 2nd time around.

marygold · Post by **marygold** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:58 pm

Sorry I have not replied yet, Otama.

I experienced some side effects the very first time I went on Zoloft...mainly increased dizziness and just kind of feeling "loopy", but these went away in about a week or so. Negative side effects which I went ahead and put up with during my years on it included loss of libido, weight gain, a little shakiness (mainly my hands) and an almost inability to cry.

When I tried going back on it the second time, I did not experience any additional side effects. It just didn't have the benefit it once did.

My psychiatrist and I worked together with the dosage and I was on from 25 mg to 150 mg during the course of my treatment with it. I never took the generic form.

I would tolerate all of the side effects again to get the benefits from it, if it would still work for me. I will tell you that.

Just as a note, it was MUCH easier to wean off of Zoloft than Cymbalta (which is supposed to be a "cleaner" version of Zoloft, according to a couple of my doctors). Cymbalta is a nightmare to get off of, in my experience. Didn't do me a bit of good, either.

I do not like trying medications. I avoid it if at all possible, but to date, they are really the only thing that have helped me.

As I am having more difficulty with depression at this time than anxiety, I am finding the program difficult to benefit from. When you are clinically depressed, positive thinking is almost like performing surgery on yourself...at least it is to me. Rearranging the chemicals in your brain via positive thinking seems a pretty big order. I do good to get out of bed, much less do everything else that is being suggested.

Not giving up hope, though, but I am looking into getting on a different medication. Which one? I really don't know. I do anticipate having to put up with some side effects...again. It really makes making it to work everyday difficult, but then so does the depression.

Catch 22, eh?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:11 am

Only Child - Thanks for your reply. If those were my only side effects I would gladly put up with them, but the increased anxiety and insomnia is to much to bear.

derfy · Post by **derfy** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 5:42 am

I have been on Zoloft for ~13 years. It has helped me tremendously. I have gained about 30 pounds but would rather have the weight than the depression.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:25 am

i just started taking zolofy generic last night and of course i had increased anxiety because i hate meds im always afraid ill have a reaction, i took it when i went to bed then when i woke up i felt clamy and sick at my stomach so i guess it was normal because it went away for the most part today

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:24 am

I am on Zoloft and have tried many medications through the years. This was the one I had the least side effects from. I also take Klonopin with it and am unsure which medicine has which side effects. I have had significant help from both medicines and hope to try to wean off of Klonopin first. I do hope not to need either medicine at some point.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:28 pm

I tried zoloft and it made me dizzy for a week had to stop tried celexa to and thought i was gonna have a heart attack. I cant take meds to sensative to them but everyone is different. So you do what you think is right.