I have been taking Zoloft for about 9 months. About 4 months ago I started gaining weight. I have always weighed about 120 lbs. I'm 46 yrs. old. Now I weigh about 145 lbs. A rapid gain - I don't why - I had blood work done last week but they said my thyroid was ok. I am really thinking about quitting Zoloft. I am at the point I don't know if it is doing anything for me or not.

Hello.

I, too, am suddenly having weight problems that I suspect is related to medication. In Nov. '02 I was put on Paxil, and then switched to Zoloft in Jan. '03. Like you, I had normally weighed around 120-125 lbs. In about one month I went from my normal weight to 140-145 lbs.

I recently talked to my doctor, and she seemed to think that it was related to changes in appetite and a sudden slowing down of my metabolism. Have you been sleeping or eating excessively since you've been on Zoloft? The reason that I was switched from Paxil to Zoloft was because Paxil was causing me to sleep 12-18 hrs a day, which my doctor now thinks played a major role in the slowing of my metabolism. I have also noticed that I am eating more, but not what I feel is enough to cause such a huge weight gain.

I'm trying to research this topic, and so far am confused. Some sources claim it does not cause the actual weight gain, some swear it does. I, like you, am not sure what to do. I hate to quit the Zoloft because there was a reason I was put on it in the first place... but at the same time I think, is it worth it? I guess it comes down to this: Would I rather be thinner and depressed/anxious or heavy and have a chance at happiness? I'm not sure.

Anyone with similar experiences?

Hi. I've had the same problem and worse. I started taking Zoloft 2 years ago, and had my dose upped a year and a half ago. I started gaining weight pretty quickly about the time my dose was upped, but I didn't pay a lot of attention because I thought it was from eating more and exercising less (since my appetite improved but I was getting sick a lot about that time). But -- I haven't changed my lifestyle that much, and the gain just kept on. Now I'm 60 pounds more than when I started, and I have never been anywhere near this heavy in my life (unless you count 9 months pregnant with twins). And it won't come off -- in fact, it seems to be going even higher, though I'm trying. It took me a long time, but I finally put two and two together and decided it had to be the zoloft. I was on Prozac once before years ago, and I also gained 30 pounds in 6 months on that. I'm at a bit of a loss -- I CAN'T stay on this -- it will kill me. I've become really obese for the first time in my life, and I hate it. But I needed the zoloft for a reason too, and don't know how to go off and what to replace it with. I'd really like to hear from others who've gone through this, and find out what you've done (or who are going through thi, for support and brainstorming). Cat

I have also gained a ton of weight. I normally weigh about 130 and now I weigh 180. They don't tell you that part. No amount of working out or dieting helps. It is the meds.

Amber

Hello,
Ok listen to me please. The weight gain is from the drugs.I went on prozac and gained 20 pounds that would not come off and I worked out 7 days a week. Next thing I upped prozac to 20 mg and gained another 45 pounds. I was always thin.So I went off the drug and lost it all in 3 months time.But the problem is I went back on it because somehow I thought the weight gain was my fault and I did not make the connection back then that it was the drug even after I lost it off the drug . Real smart lady.When I started gaining back 10 pounds of it I asked my doctor about it and he was nice enough to tell me of a drug called serzone that he said had no weight gain assosiated with it. So I switched and to my surprize I gained 45 pounds in 7 days . Yes I said seven days. And guess what I now have an autoimmune disease called hashimotos thyroditis caused by the drug interaction of the 2.On top of the weight gain I have severe fatigue,hiar loss ,insonia,asthma,blurred vision,joint pain and can not work. So the weight gain is not so bad just get off these toxic drugs.It dose effect your thyroid that is why you gain so easy. I bet your T4 and T3 levels are low but in range.the drug affects how t4 is turned into t3 in the liver.I looked back after i read all I could and low and behold my t4 levels where 6 whike on prozac before my bad drug interaction 6-12 being the range, I think it was this low level that made my weight gin so easy.Another thing ssri's mess with is your adrenal level it pumps them out just like steroids and that can give you the big tummy and face a sort of psydo cushings.These drugs are not safe at all. I wish my only problem now was the weight. If your adrenals get taxed to much they will blow out and you will get an auto immune disease just like me.That is why people get withdrawel symptoms when stopping t quickly. The adrenal have been stimulated by these drugs and then you stop and they are like what the heck. So go off real slow. A 2% decrease of the meds a week.Docs know nothing about the effects of these drugs. They kept telling me the weight gain wasn;t from them. Nor the IBS.One thing these drugs do is compomise the p450 system in your liver. That is what protects you from toxins from the world so while they are busy using these pathways for the drug any enviormental toxin can wreak havoc with you because these drugs leave you and your liver a sitting duck for common every day toxins. Lets say your neighbor uses pestisides you would get so much in your sytem because zoloft is using that filtering system up,No one tell you any of this stuff.And you thought the weight gain was your biggest worry.

"Lakedreamer" seems to know a lot about the molecular biology of SSRIs. I'm impressed. But I have to wonder, is it POSSIBLE that by taking the drugs, you feel better and eat more because you're happier? Personally, I just eat more when I feel good; when I'm down, I'm liable to punish myself with starvation.

Also, I do not believe that you, Lakedreamer, gained 45 pounds in 7 days. This is the caloric equivalent of eating 30 McDonald's Double Quarter Pounders with Cheese EVERY DAY! This is impossible, which makes me not trust everything else you wrote. Maybe you can explain?

I am rather certain that the weight gain must be due to permanent metabolic changes. I have been 117-123lbs. for the past seven years, and my weight was always verfy stable in that range. So I go on Zoloft and next thing you know I had gained 25 pounds in only 2 weeks or so. I stopped taking the zoloft in early March and have not been able to get my weight to budge. I am taking phentermine (appetite suppressant) and working out every day for a few hours with no results. In short, I feel infuriated with the doctor who put me on zoloft because if I knew it would change my weight like this I would've never taken it. Your metabolism isnt something that should be messed with. I barely had much depression or anxiety before going on zoloft, now I feel much worse in general because of the weight gain. I cant imagine what it will be like to not ever fit back into any of my clothes, or what it will be like to stay this weight forever. I was recently thinking about having my thyroid checked, but I doubt thats the problem now that I am researching stuff online. I thought there was a simple equation to weight loss, which is that output has to equal more than input in terms of calories and exercise. Well, factoring metabolism into the equation makes sense because even if you are burning off more calories than taking in, you can only lose as much as your metabloism will let you. Sorry, I need to vent here because I seriously have major anger issues with the doctor who prescribed me the medication changing my weight forever. If anyone knows how to speed up metabolism, or has lost the weight off, let me know. Maybe I need to be more patient.

I was on Zoloft for 2 years and I gained weight (20 or so pounds) and now I'm on effexor. Zoloft mostly slows you down because it's for anxiety as well, but effexor is for depression and it will actually pep you up a bit. My mom is also on zoloft as of a year ago, and she gained 15 pounds, so i would definitely say it is a side-effect of the medication. But, often times, with me and with my mom, they will do a combo of zoloft and wellbutrin, to help with the sluggishness. but, i prefer effexor over any of those others. I have depression and anxiety problems. Good luck.

I have been on effexor for moderate depression and topomax for migraines since late last summer. (2002) They have been very helpful, but I have also gained 50lbs. I've always been lucky and not gained weight easily, only with my pregnancies when I was younger. I'm beginning to think all the drugs that fall in these classes have the potential to cause weight gain with the right (wrong!) metabolism. The problem is, I have tried so many different drugs looking for help, that it's not easy to give up on the one that works, but I don't except 50 extra #'s either. Does anyone have any advice on different drugs that might work, and what about getting rid of this weight? I work out religiously.

I too am finding that I have gained a considerable amount of weight on Zoloft. Started taking Paxil in 1996. Switched to Zoloft in 2002. (Had 3 children in between). Was always 140-150 range prior to children. Then around 170 after children. NOW ... 210 and can't get it to budge. Joined LA Weight Loss and it took 8 months to lose 30 lbs. Stopped going, couldn't afford anymore and weight is right back on. (partially because I was depressed over my weight and ate).
Was taking 100 mg and am now trying to wean self off. Down to 50 mg and still feel ok.
I still find I'm irritable, angry and just mean right before my period ... isn't Zoloft supposed to make this go away?
Does anyone know any way to get this weight off? Is there a drug for just prior to your period that will take away depression and above things?
Had thyroid tested .. came back fine. So why am I not losing?
Please help!!!

This is a common problem with SSRI's.

I too have gained weight on Zoloft. I have taken it for approx 3 years and have been taking 150 mgs a day for about a year now. I started gaining weight about that time and have gained 60 lbs! Like alot of other posts "I have never weighed this much in my life"!! I joke with my close friends & tell them that I am a quarter of a ton now! I am and it is really upsetting! I like others found that whenever I got on the scales, I would weigh more than I did the week before-even if I cut down on what I ate! And, I too never attributed it to the Zoloft! However, when I went to my family Dr., he is the one who told me that the zoloft could be causing it-weight gain. (He is not the one prescribing the meds) The next time I went to see the "specialist" who was prescribing it, I mentioned what my family Dr had said. Well, he said that was not true, that Zoloft would not effect your weight. Then, I just happened to come across this wonderful site and was astonished to see how many people on here who have also gained wait on Zoloft! Needless to say, I went back to my family Dr this past week - he has put me on a schedule where I will decrease the amount of zoloft I take by 25mgs every 2 weeks until I am completely off! Furthermore, I will for now on see him for any and all medication and have discontinued seeing the "SPECIALIST"! I know that I have a long battle ahead of me (family Dr said that the weight is not going to just drop off quickly) but I am determined to get off this stuff and to get my "girlish figure" back. If you are wanting to do the same, we have to think positive...we can do it and we will do it! Good luck to all who try! I also wanted to comment on the withdrawal symptoms of Zoloft. I have read where dizziness is a big problem-I am experiencing a little of that but it's not as bad as it has been in the past... I at one time went through a period of over 6 months where if I looked up, I got very dizzy, when I rolled over in bed I got dizzy, etc. In other words, certain movements made me dizzy and at times naucious. I was sent to a ear, nose and throat dr. for testing etc and he could not find anything wrong. It finally let up and now it just comes and goes - never lasting anywhere close to 6 months straight though! Again, thanks to these boards I have come to the conclusion that it is possibly the Zoloft causing the dizziness - that never ever entered my mind. I, myself do not want to stay on this drug. However, how this drug effects me and some of the other people on here may not be the way it effects others. It may work great for others - who knows? I do know that when my family dr found out that I was taking 150 mgs a day, he said "I did not realize that you were taking that much Zoloft, that is what is causing your weight gain". I would like to add a little bit more (sorry this message is sooo long) Our minds can play some very nasty tricks on us (such as depression) and at times we really may need some help getting through some tough times, please don't get discouraged by reading these posts and decide not to get help - there are alot of different meds out there that can help and will help-some of the other posts list other alternatives to Zoloft. And for me, Zoloft was good for the first 18 to 20 months. It was when I started taking 150 mgs that I started having the problems. Good luck

I haven't gained any weight on Zoloft. In fact, I have lost 5 lbs. I have much more energy now and the drug has literally given me my life back. I don't have any of the bad side effects either. My libido has increased if you can believe that. The MD says I have reacted perfectly to Zoloft. I do crave sweets a lot but I lost 30 lbs two years ago and know how to not give in. I guess we are all different. But if anyone out there is afraid of Zoloft or any other ssri b/c of weight gain or any other crazy side effects you hear about, give the drug a try. If you notice weight gain, just tell your doctor and they'll switch you.

[

I to am glad that I found this site. I cant believe all the things that I have been reading about zoloft. Weight gain, I have profuse sweating, its 30 and I am sweating. My family is running around with thermal and blankets and I am drenched. Have many times mentioned to dr. and he said no reason for them, well now I know why, ZOLOFT. I still cant believe it. I feel good on it accept for the horrible side effects I have no control over, on 150 per day am going to start cutting down. Yesterday and today 100, also stopped antiinflamatory drugs, dont feel they were doing any good either. also stopped the xenical I have been on for 2months, lost 7 pounds, big deal, 2 months of watching everything I ate and constantly running to bathroom all day, no picnic. Fortunately I am a housewife, so I could try xenical, but not for a working person, so now that I know what the problem is I hope I will be able to deal with it better and lose all this unwanted weight. Good luck.


I have been having the same problem too, weight gain. Been on zoloft approximately 7 years. Didnt start to gain weight until upped to 150, didnt even think of zoloft being the culprit. Never weighed so much in my life. Dr. put me on xenical, I asked for something, been on it for 2 months, lost only 7 pounds, low fat and low calorie diet. I have been like a prisioner in my own house because the xenical makes you have BM constantly, any time of the day. Decided I had enough of it went off them this week. Dr mentioned a couple of weeks ago he thinks it is the zoloft causing the problem. He wants to find something else for me instead. All the dieting is doing absolutely nothing. Any one else been on xenical


QUOTE]Originally posted by PrancersMom:
I too have gained weight on Zoloft. I have taken it for approx 3 years and have been taking 150 mgs a day for about a year now. I started gaining weight about that time and have gained 60 lbs! Like alot of other posts "I have never weighed this much in my life"!! I joke with my close friends & tell them that I am a quarter of a ton now! I am and it is really upsetting! I like others found that whenever I got on the scales, I would weigh more than I did the week before-even if I cut down on what I ate! And, I too never attributed it to the Zoloft! However, when I went to my family Dr., he is the one who told me that the zoloft could be causing it-weight gain. (He is not the one prescribing the meds) The next time I went to see the "specialist" who was prescribing it, I mentioned what my family Dr had said. Well, he said that was not true, that Zoloft would not effect your weight. Then, I just happened to come across this wonderful site and was astonished to see how many people on here who have also gained wait on Zoloft! Needless to say, I went back to my family Dr this past week - he has put me on a schedule where I will decrease the amount of zoloft I take by 25mgs every 2 weeks until I am completely off! Furthermore, I will for now on see him for any and all medication and have discontinued seeing the "SPECIALIST"! I know that I have a long battle ahead of me (family Dr said that the weight is not going to just drop off quickly) but I am determined to get off this stuff and to get my "girlish figure" back. If you are wanting to do the same, we have to think positive...we can do it and we will do it! Good luck to all who try! I also wanted to comment on the withdrawal symptoms of Zoloft. I have read where dizziness is a big problem-I am experiencing a little of that but it's not as bad as it has been in the past... I at one time went through a period of over 6 months where if I looked up, I got very dizzy, when I rolled over in bed I got dizzy, etc. In other words, certain movements made me dizzy and at times naucious. I was sent to a ear, nose and throat dr. for testing etc and he could not find anything wrong. It finally let up and now it just comes and goes - never lasting anywhere close to 6 months straight though! Again, thanks to these boards I have come to the conclusion that it is possibly the Zoloft causing the dizziness - that never ever entered my mind. I, myself do not want to stay on this drug. However, how this drug effects me and some of the other people on here may not be the way it effects others. It may work great for others - who knows? I do know that when my family dr found out that I was taking 150 mgs a day, he said "I did not realize that you were taking that much Zoloft, that is what is causing your weight gain". I would like to add a little bit more (sorry this message is sooo long) Our minds can play some very nasty tricks on us (such as depression) and at times we really may need some help getting through some tough times, please don't get discouraged by reading these posts and decide not to get help - there are alot of different meds out there that can help and will help-some of the other posts list other alternatives to Zoloft. And for me, Zoloft was good for the first 18 to 20 months. It was when I started taking 150 mgs that I started having the problems. Good luck[/QUOTE]



[This message has been edited by sunflower9 (edited 06-21-2003).]

I'm soooooooooo glad to have found this site! I started on Zoloft 6 years ago, a year after losing my husband. After being on 50 mg for 2 years, I graduated to 100 mg for another 2 years. The last couple of years, I have been on 150 mg and have ballooned to 195! That's an increase of 50 lbs. and I have never weighed more than 160 (when pregnant!) My doctor kept saying it's not meds, that I need to eat less and exercise more. But I don't eat that much and all my friends say the same thing. I was working out 3x a week with weight machines for 45 minutes each time and walking at 3 mph on a treadmill 3x a week for 1/2 hour each time. And I gained! My daughter said it was just muscle, but if I had gained 50 lbs of muscle, I could challenge the Incredible Hulk - and win! I have now dropped to 100 mg for 2 weeks and just a day or two ago dropped to 50 mg and plan to eventually stop (in a couple of weeks). I couldn't be more depressed than I am right now, so I'm not concerned! I love clothes and my rear looks like a hippo, and my washboard stomach is waaaaaaaaay out there now! Thank you, thank you all for making me realize what's going on! I'm determined to lick it and get my decent bod back! Good luck to you all! I plan to keep viewing this forum.

I am 26 years old and have taken Zoloft for 3 months. I have gained 60 pounds. I always feel hot and sweaty. Diarrhea has taken over my life. If I don't take Immodium regularly I have to plan my day around bathroom breaks. My menstrual cycle is unpredictable. I feel better than before I started Zoloft but I'm wondering if the side effects are starting to make me more unhappy than the deppression.

It amazes me how little psychiatrists actually know about Zoloft before they prescribe it besides the fact that they have boxes full of samples from drug reps. I asked my psychiatrist about the abnormal menstrual cycle and he told me to get a pregnancy test. When it came back negative he must have finnally decided to read up on what he prescribed and found out that abnormal cycles were a rare occurance. He didn't know that before he prescribed it to me.

I read the King of Torts and wonder if I will be a statistic of people who have life threatening side effects.

I am on Zoloft as well. I have been on it for 3 years. I too have gained weight. Here is the deal: I was always around 140 lbs. I found out I have PCOS and went to an endocrinologist to find out what I could do. He put me on a very strict diet to regulate my blood sugar. I lost bout 20 pounds almost immediately. I ate no starches whatsoever, no sugar and low fat and was working out. About 3 months in, I experienced severe depression and I was put on Zoloft, slowly but surely even though I was on a strict diet eating fruits, veggies all day and then meat during one meal, and exercise I began packing the weight on. I started noticing my clothes weren't fitting, so I have been barely eating, going to the gym with no results. This drug slows your metabolism down for sure. I am on a diet that is supposed to rev up your metabolism. When I wasn't on zoloft but about 2 and 1/2 months into the diet, I could eat and eat (as much fruits, vegetables and meats as I wanted and I still kept dropping weight.

I am now weaning myself off it, not for the weight gain, but because I haven't had depressive symptoms in 2 years. My psychiatrist wanted me to stay on it through law school just to be safe, but now I am done with school. he said wean down 25 mg per month. I am back down to 50 mg now. After the bar I will do 25 mg for a month, then maybe half of that for a week or so, and then to nothing. I will write back in September if I notice any changes.

I'm a 59 year old male taking Zoloft 10 years to control anger problems. Zoloft
changed my life,(and families too)but not without some tradeoffs. In the first 3 years
my weight rocketed up 80 pounds with a corresponding loss in motivation, plus after
38 years of marriage sex is non existent, in short, I went from a loose cannon to a
jolly fat man.
During a major physical exam my physician has found kidney , heart problems so I
have been researching Zoloft web sites feedback on this as a possible long term
effect ,(10+ years is a long time to take a new drug )because these are not common
problems in my family....
The truth probably is that I should worry more about the drugs I took in the 60's then
the Zoloft I'm taking today ...
I see people everyday that have severe anger problems like I once had and wonder
how it must have been for my wife to be married to such an ass (before I got help)
I hate to think of what would have happened to my and families future if the Zoloft wasn't available.

You are right to see the positive side of zoloft. It helped get me out of a severe depression when every natural thing I tried wouldn't. However, I lived my whole life normally without it. Then once the depression hit, the past 3 years I have been on it. I would love to have a normal metabolism again, and be able to be my old self pre depression pre zoloft. If when I stop taking it, I feel depression again, I will go right back on it, despite side effects or anything else. My mother always worries about the long term side effects. I tell her I would rather live 10 happy years, then 60 miserable years, so any long term side effects are something I am prepared to deal with. The trade off is worth it for me, because I will not be in bed, catatonic one minute, anxious the next and then spend half of every waking hour sobbing my eyes out.

Hi everyone,
I just found this website and have to say i am terrified!!!!! I have been taking Zoloft and ganing weight also. I have read other postings about Zoloft withdrawl, the zaps, sickness, and moodiness. I have been taking it for four months now and don't know what to do. Get off, stay on? Who knows. There has to be something out there that can help with my anxiety and panic w/o causing all of these problems. Does anyone know of anything like this? I don't know what to do. I have printed out these pages as well as the withdrawl pages, and i plan to take them to my doctor on my next visit. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If you are scared to be on Zoloft, check out the withdrawl postings. I'm now scared to be on it or get off it.

I am so very thankful I found this page. I thought that it (weight gain) was my fault. I have been on Zoloft for one year and gained fifteen pounds in the last six months ( and I am only taking 25 mg per day). This is the first time I have had such a problem with my weight, ever! (I am 53 years old). My Dr tested my thyroid but that does not seem to be the problem. She told me to exercise more. Well, I have been walking 30 mins per day and even went on a two day fast (clear liquids only) and still gained weight!! I am feeling more depressed now than before taking Zoloft. I am going to stop taking this drug before things get any worse. Good luck to everyone!

Well, I have a similar sad story. About month 4 of taking Zoloft, I put on 10 pounds in a very short time (like a week). I started a strict exercise program, lifting weights, cardio 5-6 times a week (30-45 minutes) using a heart-rate monitor to make sure I'm in the right zone to burn fat. After 2 months of this... and watching what I eat, I am alarmed to say that I have not lost any weight. (But on the positive side, I haven't gained any more weight.) One could argue that I've gained muscle pounds, but my clothes still fit tightly and there's a layer of fat around my mid-section that has settled in for the winter. I am now off the Zoloft (as of Oct 1) and am HOPING that my metabolism will change.

It would be nice if people who have quit Zoloft could tell about their experiences... did you lose the weight you gained? If so, how long did it take? Was it difficult or easy?

CarrieLynn