:wave: Hi everyone, this is my first post on this board.
I was diagnosised with Clinical Depression and Anxiety Disorder 3 years ago. The first and only antidepressant I have ever been on is Prozac, I presently take 40 mg daily.
Prozac was really a godsend for me, it has helped me so much and helped me to keep my thoughts together, it was really good for me, but unfortunately over the past 4-5 months, it has seemed to stop working. I seemed to have backslided back into the depths of depression, and can't seem to get out. Anyway, I had therapy today, and my doctor is changing my AD to Zoloft 50mg. It will be a couple of weeks before I start it, he is cutting and weaning the dose of Prozac, then I will start Zoloft 25mg for a week and then up it to 50mg daily.
What I want to know is, what is your take on Zoloft?
Has it helped you?
Do you like it?
Any side effects?
How long have you been taking it?
Just what is you experience with Zoloft, I want to know good or bad.
I would appreciate any and all input.
Thanks :wave:

I took it for 3 weeks. made me very anxious. stoped taking it on my own. i had gotten it from my primary doc at the time. went a while without medication. tried celexa...worked for a couple months...then didn't work anymore. now on generic prozac.....its keeping me going for now. (i went to a psychatrist after a while and she had me try those 2 meds)

Hi Mokie, thanks for your reply. Right now I am getting off the Prozac and then will start the Zoloft end of the month. I am hoping it will be a success!

Wish you well!

Hi Cloudie--
I have been on Zoloft for--Oh, my gosh, 11 years....I can't believe it. After trying several other SSRI's Zoloft was the golden one for me. Hopefully for you too. I also have to take Klonopin as I have anxiety issues too, but I'm pretty cognizant of what triggers those (FAMILY!!!!) and so the Zoloft has worked well for me over the years. My p-doc thought a few years ago that it was pooping out on me and tried to switch me to Celexa (I don't know why) but found it caused me to have migraines, so we went back to Zoloft. One real neg. side effect--weight gain for me--but not for everyone on it, so just watch and see. Some people find they lose weight on it, some don't see any difference. Good luck. A 50 mg dose is pretty low, I am on 200 mgs (max dose )right now, b'cuz we have had a really bad year, but I hope to be given the go ahead to cut back to 100mg like I was before the year or trials began.
All the best!

Hi Liz--thanks for such an encouraging response! I am hoping this will work well for me also.
I did have good results with the Prozac, unfortunately it pooped out, and we decided to try something else.
I am not too worried about weight gain, I didn't gain any extra weight while on the Prozac, so hopefully I won't have that worry, like I don't have enough all ready.
Thanks again!
Wish you well!

Hey,

I've just started Zoloft. I am on Day 5 of 25mg. I noticed I felt worse on the first 3 days, but yesterday (day 4) I really noticed a difference in the level of anxiety I felt around little kids and pregnant mothers (I am infertile). I didn't even realise I was that anxious before - I am taking it for depression. It was really good to be able to be around people and not feel anxious. I even smiled at some kids. (Big step for me). I didn't manage to smile at the babies though. Still got heaps of work to do for that.

I have started seeing a psychologist as well and working through grief and coping strategies. I have found that really beneficial so far. In just a week, I am feeling significantly better - not 100%, but okay. Maybe at 55%. The first few days I felt really bad though - worse than before - was really wondering what the point of taking the meds was.

I know I've still got heaps of work to do, but it's good to feel this way. Hope it continues, because I know it is early days yet.

Hi. I took Zoloft for almost 2 years and decided I couldn't take the weight gain anymore! I gained 50 lbs and now I can't get rid of it! Ugh. Otherwise it worked pretty well. I am not on anything right now and, finally, feeling pretty good. I just wish I could lose this extra 50 lbs! It makes me feel horrible and I wonder if the Zoloft has screwed up my body for good.

I hope the Zoloft does the opposite for you and it works well.

Take care.

:)

Hi Shell, it is good to hear that you are starting to feel better while starting on the Zoloft. Makes me feel more positive about it.
I am still weaning off the Prozac until this coming Wednesday and then nothing for a week , I start the Zoloft on the 30th. I sure hope you continue to feel better as the days go by. Keep in touch, letting me know how it is working for you.

Hi 4, Besides the weight gain did the Zoloft work well for you? Believe me, I don't want the weight gain either...when I searched Zoloft one side effect is weight loss. I didn't gain any taking the Prozac so I am hoping for the same result. Do you exercise?
Keep in touch!

Thanks for the replies!

Hi Cloudie and 4,

I know it's early days yet, but I've actually lost weight on Zoloft. I've lost a little over 2 kgs - this is the 6th day of taking it. I don't need to lose weight, and this puts me close to being underweight again (have been underweight in the past). I'm a little freaked by how easily the weight came off and hope it doesn't continue, otherwise I will probably have to discontinue Zoloft (don't want to do that at this stage).

Weird how it affects everyone differently!

Hi Cloudie,
Hope you;re feeling better.
I did gain weight on Zoloft, but that was probably due to the fact I had previously lost about 60 lbs due to a severe illness prior to the mental "meltdown" that led to the need for the Zoloft--I am a bit overweight now, and that is likely due to my own good cooking and the family genes! Also Zoloft can make it harder to lose weight, but many people do lose weight on it, and some gain. If you exercise and watch what you eat, just as we all should be doing anyhow, it shouldn't be a problem. Just hope it helps you feel better.
Liz

Hi again. Yes, it did help me somewhat in clearing out my mind, so to speak. Made me feel better but I never felt "great", if you know what I mean. It wasn't the 'miracle cure' that other's often say AD do for them. But, it took the edge off, I guess, and that's why I continued to take it. I finally got tired of the weight though and it was rising...ugh! No thanks. I weighed 145 (normal for my height) when I started it. I'm now 200 (went off of it in Jan 07). It sucks! In hindsight, it wasn't worth it to me to take it. I feel worse now 50 lbs heavier than I did previously to taking it. *sigh* :)But, some lose on it some gain. I was one of the unlucky ones.

Anyway, best of luck taking it. I hope you don't gain the weight!!!

PS I didn't exercise on it because I have fibromyalgia.....so there was no way I could have exercised as strenuously as I needed to, to keep the weight down. I honestly don't think exercise would have done it for me (even if I could have exercised strenuously)....no way. My diet did not change at all, however, while taking it.

Hi again everyone,

I think the Zoloft is causing me sleeping problems. I think I didn't have them on 25mg, but I went up to 50mg on Wednesday, and then I think they started. I hope it is not from the Zoloft. Maybe I will wait a little longer to see if it goes away. Would be lovely to be able to get a good night's sleep!!

Shell, zoloft can cause sleep problems...take it early in the morning with food..

Thanks everyone for all of the great information on Zoloft.
I still have not started it yet, I will start the Zoloft on Wednesday. I have been without any AD since last Wednesday. I took the last Prozac this past Tuesday and have been not doing well. Been sick...wondering if it is withdrawals...although there are claims you don't have withdrawals from Prozac.
Hmm, I don't know, just trying to cope.
I hope the Zoloft works well for me.
Thanks again for taking the time to answer, it is much appreciated.

Shell, you think the Zoloft is causing the sleeping problem...ugh...I have enough problems sleeping as it is...a good night's sleep...what is that again..?

Hey Jules,

I do take it early in the morning - but thanks anyway. I also take Metformin, and I read somewhere that hypoglycemic agents may cause Zoloft to take longer to clear from the body - if so, this may mean that even though I am taking it in the morning, it is affecting my sleep because it is not clearing from my body as fast as it would normally. (Just guessing)

I had a worse day today - I think it was because of the lower dose of Zoloft + tiredness from not sleeping right for a number of nights. Not sure what to do. I think 50mg Zoloft was working for me.... if only I could sleep on it. Maybe I'll try it again at 50mg... surely after my body gets a little more used to the drug, the side effects will lessen - that's what happened with Metformin anyway!

I think maybe my sleep was also affected because I have been worried about a blood test I was supposed to take today. In the end, I couldn't get to the pathology before it shut, so I missed doing it, and will have to do it tomorrow - even though it will now be a day late. I still am worried about it - don't want to get a bad result - even though I know not to expect much, I still want my body to be able to work like it should.

Cloudie - all the best trying to get through to Wednesday. Hope Zoloft works for you, and doesn't muck up your sleeping even more! Hope we both can sleep better!