posted 01-29-2003 01:52 PM            

Long story short, I am on my third doctor who is a DO. He is in practice with my former doctor (also a DO). I never had a problem with depression until going on the Zoloft.

I was going monthly to the doctor, and each month I weighed in at 10-15 lbs heavier and was more depressed - and he repeatedly increased the Zoloft dosage - up to 250 mg!!!!! From what I am reading now, 200 is max dose. I reached the point I was a zombie, more or less - and was getting suicidal.

Thank GOD I had the initiative to research Zoloft on the internet! About 2 months ago I started weaning myself off of it - and now am Zoloft free. I haven't taken a Zoloft in a week...

I can deal with the nausea and flu-like symptoms, but the "jolts" - electrical charges in my head, jaws, neck, and spine - and vertigo-feeling are hell!!!!! It is horrible! My lips feel numb, sort of like I have gotten novacaine shots.

posted 01-29-2003 03:28 PM            

I have been on antidepressants on and (mostly) off. I took zoloft for about 8 months, and can't remember any benefits from it. I stopped taking it cold turkey. From there, I went to serzone, and again, didn't notice any significant benefits. I do remember getting what you call the "jolts" while on serzone. I mentioned this to the dr. and she said she had'nt heard of that symptom before! They got to be bothersome, so I stopped taking it. But back to zoloft, there seems to be lots pf people that were on it, and experienced some terrible side effects, including severe depression.
The next paragraph is from what's eventually going to be a class action lawsuit against the makers of zoloft:

"Recently, researchers discovered that some SSRIs like Zoloft may actually cause patients' depression and other emotional problems. One study performed at the Department of Psychosocial Medicine in Bangor, North Wales, found that Zoloft alleviated depression in one third of the study's participants, did nothing in another third, and actually caused emotional deterioration in another third. In addition, two otherwise healthy people in the study became extremely suicidal after taking Zoloft for just two weeks."
I don't take anything for depression now, although there are times when I think I should.
Hope you feel better soon...

posted 01-29-2003 08:19 PM            

I didn't mention in my earlier post the reason I was going off the Zoloft - and it is for exactly what your reference was about the study. I got sooooo depressed and my doctor continued to increase the dosage...which made the depression worsen. I reached a point where I was suicidal - all I could do was sleep and I was just "here", existing.

I lost my house and my child and I had to move in with my parents - and am now starting over...well, as soon as I can get through the withdrawals.

posted 03-28-2003 08:12 AM            

A friend of mine made the comment to me last week that it was nice to see me smile - something I hadn't done in about a year!

As bad as the withdrawals were, I would go through them again just to be back to normal...and that says a lot. There were days I didn't think I would make it; but my determination was so strong.

When I would lie down, just blinking my eyes would send a jolt through my head - so I started taking benadryl - and that really helped a lot, so you may want to try that.

Please, just keep determined to kick it and keep telling yourself that it will pass! There isn't a magic number of days, but it will pass, I promise you!

posted 04-15-2003 04:30 PM            

So nice to have found this site. WEaning off myself, no zaps yet..

Will expect them though... ;-)

Here are the natural remedies I will be sure to put more time aside for when I come off the Zoloft:

Lots of chamomile tea
Lots of stretching/yoga/exercise
LoOOOoong walks with my dogs. Grooming them and the cats as well.
Lots of reading.
Open communication with my family
Lots of tight hugs from the fiance.
and hey.... lots of sex too... ;-) Can't hurt right?

posted 04-19-2003 04:25 PM            

Has anyone heard how this drug works on kids? Also if they go through the same side effects??

I appreciate any help with these answers I can get, thanks.

posted 04-28-2003 05:59 PM            

Today, I couldn't remember if I took todays dose or not, so I took a dose, and started worrying that I might have taken 600mg... I did a search for "zoloft overdose" which is how I found the prozactruth site... that led me to do some searches on the withdrawl symptoms, which is how I found this one.

posted 04-28-2003 11:54 PM            

I had never been depressed until I was actually ON the Zoloft, so I really feel for people who suffer from depression. It is a very helpless feeling. I have a friend that is currently being treated for depression with Celexa, and she is doing fine on it.

What really bothered me the most about my previous doctor was a) he prescribed an anti-depressant when depression was not my diagnosis; and b) he continued to increase the dosage while failing to note the adverse reaction I was having (getting depressed).

I feel absolutely wonderful now. Don't get me wrong - there were days I didn't think I would make it through the withdrawals...and they were HELL. No doubt the "zaps" were the worst. But thankfully that is behind me.

I realize different meds affect people differently; but I have read sooo much about Zoloft that I am not convinced it is safe to be used by anyone. Do a "Google" search and look at the LONG list of lawsuits against it...amazing.

Lastly, I am not a good person to ask about giving meds to children, especially behavior-altering meds. IMO, I don't think a child's system is developed enough to process a lot of the chemicals that the pharmaceutical companies push. When I was growing up, we didn't have all these ADD and other diagnoses. That's just MY opinion. My nephew was diagnosed with a behavioral disorder; and my sister-in-law took him to four different doctors before they realized his symptoms were allergy-related...

After all I have been through, I say get second opinions, third opinions - find a doctor who is WILLING to get to the root of the problem and not mask it with meds...

posted 06-05-2003 12:55 PM            

I went through Zoloft withdrawal about four months ago. It was brutal and unexpected. I don't think the doctors are too aware of this--or too interested for that matter. I did taper off but I still had the pinging sensation and weird cramps and aches all over. Hot baths and tylenol helped. It was all over in about two weeks. I called a pharmacist and they were able to tell me how long the zoloft stays in my system. I also went to a nutrition center and bought a supplement that they recommended for helping the liver function and rid the body of toxins. I never know if this stuff is true or not but it did seem to help. So you can get through it and it will get better but eat well, and drink a ton of water. So now I'm off the meds and not depressed--just fat! Any ideas on how to lose the zoloft poundage?

posted 06-09-2003 11:00 AM            

I got frightened when I read all of your posts and decided to stop taking the Zoloft before I became too dependant on it. I haven't taken it for 3 days and although I feel much more moody today than usual, I have not really experienced any severe withdrawls or symptoms. I have not experienced the "zaps" yet but as I said my mood is pretty bad today and I feel dizzy and am seeing little spots or floating specks (for lack of a better word).

Question... At what point did the withdrawls become really bad? Is there any medication that anyone could recommend that helps with the depression and PMS that doesn't have such bad side effects? I was on Paxil for a short while but it gave me horrible headaches.

posted 06-10-2003 04:04 PM            

I started 100 mgs. of zoloft about 6 months ago. After I had my 3rd baby I just couldn't shake the "black cloud" hanging over me and my constant mild depression, so my doctor put me on it.

It seems to have helped me for the most part. I'm not sure if it was the drug or the positive changes I've made in my life that have got me past the PPD, but when my script ran out a week ago I was in the throes of getting my dd through her last few days of school and never filled it.

Yes, I know, not the ideal way to wean. Anyhow, my side effects include the buzzing, and irritability. I feel like I'm on the edge of losing it with my 3 children constantly and have been winning that battle through sheer will. I also have had a racing heart and constant fatigue.

posted 06-11-2003 10:05 AM            

Last night I did experience about 2 zaps, which is a really weird sensation but I stayed calm because I sort of expected it to happen. So far, the worst for me is right as I am waking up in the morning, even before I get out of bed. I feel like I am in a complete fog, confused, disoriented, tired. After I shower, get ready for work, have a cup of coffee and drop the kids at camp I feel my self coming around. The key for me has been staying busy and trying really hard not to think about it. I most definitely feel more moody and try hard to take a deep breath or think twice before snapping at anyone. The most alarming part of this for me has been the bizarre dreams I've been having for the past two nights. Not so much nightmares but really weird.

I also have gained weight, not much but enough for me to take notice. I believe it is because of the Zoloft from all that I've read. The funny thing about this is when I was initially prescribed the drug, the doctor told me "This drug is specifically manufactured for young, active, attractive people like you who don't want to gain weight like you do when you take Prozac." Do doctors have some incentive for pushing these drugs on us or do they simply not do the research? I don't get it!

Sorry to ramble on but I've found this message board to be very helpful and I hope that all of you can get some relief knowing there are others out there.