i have been taking zoloft for a little over a year and have gained 26 pounds i work out and eat properly and can not drop the weight i am now adding welbuterine and hoping to wean off my zoloft and lose this weight
I am also a 36 year old female. I started on Zoloft after being on Wellbutrin on and off for a year. I seemed to have very little side effects with Wellbutrin, but my mind seemed a bit foggy at times, so I thought I would try a different AD. My Dr suggested Zoloft...."OK" i thought I will give it a try. I am attractive, I exercise, eat healthy, and I have always taken good care of myself. However, with Zoloft, I craved candy all the time. Sometimes I would literally drive to a gas station or Walgreens and buy a huge bag of jelly beans or gummy life savers and eat the entire bag. When my husband and i would go out to eat, I couldn't stop myself from eating everything I could. I even got sick in an expensive restaurant's bathroom after dinner because I ate so much food. This didn't happen initially.. When I first started on Zoloft, I felt pretty good...very even and not snappy with my husband or kids. But then about five weeks into taking it, the cravings/eating started. And the thing is, is that I didn't even care or realize I was eating the way I was. It also made me very tired. I went to bed very early every night, and took naps all the time. My husband would let me sleep in until 10-11AM on the weekends (who does that with two small kids??) My house would be messy (and with a 3 & 5 year old it is always kind of messy) BUT it would be realy messy/unorganized and I didn't even care. My husband would come home and look at me like "what happened in here today?" and I would stare at him like "what's the big deal?" So after I had finished off all of my kid's easter candy, and when I noticed my clothes getting tighter, I really looked at myself in the mirror one day and noticed I was starting to get a bit puffy, I started thinking that this is NOT me. This is not the person I want to be. I started to wean myself off it the next day. I am feeling OK right now not being on anything. I went to my doctor this morning and I am up 10 pound from when I started Zoloft. So life will go on, and I will have to work to get back to my original weight. But I am making a big effort to work out everyday though, and I think that really helps with depression. My candy/overeating vanished too, as soon as I stopped taking Zoloft. I think if I feel a bout of depression coming on, I will go on Wellbutrin again instead. Everyone reacts differently to ADs. You have to find the right one for you. But you should really look at what you are eating and how active you are, and to see if the ADs are making you so relaxed/passive that it doesn't even bother you that you are gaining weight. Good luck!!
I am a 47 yr old female, have been on Zoloft about 9 months, and gained about 12 pounds-I am a small person, so 12 is a lot for me. I went from 118 ish to swinging between 128-133. My usual "eat a little less, exercise a little more" strategy that always kept my wieght where I wanted it did not touch these extra pounds at all. Had to get bigger clothes, and have hated my new-found pudge. However, the Zoloft did eventually help with my depression, along with a really awesome Christian counselor, so overall I am glad I stuck with it. I don't think I woud have gotten better without it, and I possibly would not be here right now without it. (I was suicidal/with a plan, in a a very hopeless place~if that is you right now, don't believe the bad, don't do it!!...keep seeking help till you get the right combo!!!)
I can't believe how healthy my thinking has become, and I feel like I should have gotten help YEARS ago, but I couldn't get past the stigma of anti-depressant drugs. Please realize that your brain is just another organ in your body that can stop working properly due to many reasons~DON'T LIVE WITH DEPRESSION! GET HELP, MY FRIEND!!!
I am doing well enough now to be going off the Zoloft as of this week~feeling kinda weird in the head, tired~hoping that will end soon, that the weight will go away, and that my depression doesn't come back..if it does, you better believe I'll be back on Zoloft! I would rather have a few extra pounds and have my life than get skinny and kill myself because of imbalanced chemicals in my brain!!
Blessings...
Hi, I am female, 17. As a grade 12 student, my depression, anxiety and eating disorder had almost taken my life from me. Days were long and night even longer for me. I visited soo many therapists and also my GP had put me on Lexapro. None worked, I felt hopeless and useless and lost friends. It was three weeks ago when I went to see another doctor. She put me on Zoloft. I already new about the side effects plus benefits.I have gained 2 kgs in 2 weeks, I am disappointed about that, However, I have got my life back, I am my old me now (the happy, cheerful me), I socialise with friends, study hard now, do well at school and am happy.
I was on Zoloft for 4 years... With awful side effects. One of which is irreversible, I now have microscopic colitis. And I gained 30 pounds once I started taking it. I have been off Zoloft for 3 1/2 months. And I have dropped 24 pounds. I would diet and diet while on Zoloft, and I never lost weight. I was getting very discouraged. So, long story short, lol, I found that Zoloft is a horrible drug, and makes you gain weight, as well as move your bowels about 6 to 7 times a day!!! I would not recommend this medication to anyone! EVER!!!! lol... Just my opinion... Oh, I almost forgot, when you do stop taking it, you get Brain Zaps! It literally feels as though your brain is being zapped! It is an awful awful feeling!!! I didn't like it one bit... I hope this helps a little or a lot! :)
Same here my doctor doesn't seem to care that the wieght gain is also bad for you just as much as the anxiety is!
I cannot begin to describe how Zoloft destroyed my life. I'm a fitness instructor who went from 50kg (5 foot 2 inches) to 62.5kgs in only two months. I exercised 6 days a week , 3 days of HIIT and weight and running 10-13kms alternate days. I felt so confident, I looked great and felt fantastic. Until my doctor put me onto 100mg Zoloft. I stopped taking it cold turkey when all of a sudden I was 12kg heavier/fatter, felt like a zombie, had no motivation or energy, incredible back pain diarrhoea and constipation and painful bloat! My exercise routine didn't change in fact I was e revising MORE and eating less but still the weight wouldn't come off. It's been nearly a year since I stopped Zoloft and the weight is only just starting to budge. It has been a traumatic 12 months and after speaking to a nutritionist it is apparently the norm that it takes about 12 months after STOPPING Zoloft to see weight loss happen. I have lost only 5% body fat in the last 4 months but it is frustrating to know I have a long way to go and due to no fault of my ow
same here, 30 lb weight gain, I have been off the meds for a couple months and I cant lose the weight. so upset!
Hi: I read your post and I am 68 but most often am taken for early 50's. I have been on Sertraline - generic for Zoloft for 8 years or so. I want to go off and I over those years I gained over 50 lbs I do pray that this will help. Would appreciate getting messages from any of you who have similar issues. At this point in my life I feel that I can weather the storms that caused me to go on Zoloft. E
So Zoloft helped take the edge off of my anxiety but now I'm fat and depressed! Thanks alot Zoloft! I'm getting myself off of this horror show and going back to the thinner, more creative, less sleepy & a little bit more wild version of myself.
yes ZOLOFT causes rapid weight gain! I mean rapid by couple of weeks on it you see the changes in your clothes. I am active college student meaning I take care of myself physically not a gym rat nor obsessed athlete but explain how 5.1" at age 25 was 109 lbs curvy physique and now age 32 I'm 154 growing sack of potato. I cut down on meals,walk my dogs, regular exercise,no smoking,no alcohol,no illegal drugs,no late night eating, no high fats,sugars(soda pop),no too much of anything. I told my Doctor a number of times and his response was eat less,exercise,blah,blah,blah stuff I already know. I told him one last time and he said its because you're getting older,your body changes and so does your metabolism as you age!...but was interested to hear about my sex life. Which by the way this drug kills the urges. Think of it as a REBORN VIRGIN no sex desire. I'm still young,attractive,intelligent,and no sex what so ever, many times I wondered what was wrong with me because the past relationships with ex boyfriends no desired at all,no but didn't bothered me or them because it was long distance relationships,or not serious,just dating,or just meeting new potential suitors. NO SEX for years all I wanted was to get well,even if it got me fat,only wanted my health,get my life back,and finish school (medical Doctor)-IRONY!! I do LOVE my VAGINA and LOVE SEX and don't want my life to shorten by being careless but with ZOLOFT forget it, it dried up like the SAHARA desert,etc...but now that I'm off it with a new Doctor,single,still hot but feel so FAT at 139lbs I do struggle with weight gains,constant shifts and keeping it off or loosing it its sooooooooooo HARD and for chicks like myself that once cared about my inner and outer appearance,relationships,love, well its gone now...ZOLOFT you stole so many years of my life!!!
Fat,depressed,zombie like,and horrible withdrawls from your so called NEW LIFE,get your life back with ZOLOFT, F*U ZOLOFT you made it worse!!!!
OMG same here, I was once an active, take care of myself in and out, and this drug ZOLOFT did helped with my depression and anxiety at first. I do recognize its good it brought, but the cons out weight the good. This drug its from hell, I tell ya! this stubborn weight that just wont go away. I am very determined gal and persistence pays off but this so called miracle drug its pure evil. Now if old(32 yrs old)fat (154 and growing) and my mental capacity of memory,concentration,cognitive its very much diminished. What was once a bright,attractive,young,ambitious educated woman now I'm like a robot with routine,fat,and still depressed! Did I mentioned I feel dumb,slow,mentally incappable of finishing a simple task...sorry sad story!
I crave crunchy food and salty things all the time.anything that has that crunch sound and feeling to it. To crunch on apples,carrots,lettuce,radishes,crackers,chips,cookies,toasted bread, cereal,Its really bad!!! With salt I literally sprinkle salt on the palm of my hand and eat it like its nothing. The sweets are just as bad but have decreased over time because it made my headaches more frequent that some will eventually developed into migraines. Migraines are a slow painful torture that mother nature and genetics have blessed me with. The sugar crashes are terrible and makes me nauses and dizzy.
Count me in. I've been on this horrific Zoloft for a little over a year now and have put on at least 20lbs!
I went to my doctor and told her I'm over it and want to stop for many reasons. She gave me a tappering schedule so I've started. I also found out that I was having seritonin syndrome, or at least have been having some big issues due to this drug. I did an EKG and my heart beat is abnormal - I've NEVER had probelms with my HEART!!!! So now I have to wear a heart monitor a few days so they can see what is going on. Geeze!!! Not only that but I have been having the absolute WORST MIGRAINE HEADACHES I have ever felt. I think one reason is due to me trying to subsitute Xanax with a natural herb. I've had BAD MIGRANGE REACTIONS TO EACH OF THESE HERBS: KAVA, CALIFORNIA POPPY, HOPS, PASSIONFLOWER. I have always loved natural remedies but with Zoloft I can't take anything! When I asked my PHARMACIST about each of these herbs they told me it should be fine it I took them with Zoloft. WTF?! Why do these people get paid ample amounts of money when they have no idea as to the possible effects if combined with some herbal remedies?! It really irritates me...
I'm now two weeks into the tapering to get off of this nightmare of a drug that has ruined my body. I have always been thin, I'm 5'6 and normally 120lbs. I'm 37 years old and now a wopping 145lbs! I'm so freekin angry with this drug. It helped me at first, but hear my words people, like everyone else on this post - I GAINED more problems (like WEIGHT) by getting on this drug than it helping my depression!
I'm not even depressed anymore, I don't know what I am - ZOMBIE, yeah that's it, a FAT ZOMBIE! I know now that when I get off of this junk I will NEVER take another pharmaceutical again! Yes, I have struggled with depression and anxiety all of my life but I never took the time to find the right NATURAL REMEDY for me and oh god now I wish I had. I know a lot about health and diet, I've been vegetarian for years and have been doing yoga for ages and always had it easy with keeping my body weight. Now I can't fit into anything I had been wearing before I went on this stupid toxic garbage called Zoloft.
Also, let me add that I chipped my front tooth because I grind my teeth at night. Real nice... Thanks Zoloft, I'd love to send you my dental bill as I'm sure you could afford to take care of it. Zoloft you jerk.
Two weeks into the withdrawls and a sprinkling of a bad case of PMS on top of it and I'm not doing so bad. It might not sound like it but so far it's manageable, a bit unconfortable but I'm dealing. Here's where I'm at:
One year on 50mg of Zoloft now I have tappered to 37.5mg and have been on it for 2 weeks. Now I switch to 25mg for another two weeks. So far I have had a really hard time sleeping, INSONMIA like crazy. I will fall asleep but wake up after about 2 hours and will be tossing and turning all night and barely get back to sleep. I try and not take my prescribed Xanax, as this was the only thing my doctor suggested that I take if I can't sleep. Hah, yeah so I'm suppose to take it every night and get HOOKED on it?! I don't think so! I try taking VALERIAN and sometimes it works but more times than most it hasn't.
I've been supplementing daily with OMEGAS, BComplex, VITAMIN C, PROBIOTICS, CALCIUM and a lot of MAGNESIUM. Some times I take an AYURVEDIC FORMULA called TRIPHALA to help my bowels move as I seem to be very constipated over these two weeks. In addition, I take regularly PSYLLIUM HUSKS and an occasional CASCARA SAGRADA if I need to flush out my colon from not going regularly. Every morning I drink a vegan/non soy/gluten free PROTEIN SHAKE - and that alone should be helping me loose weight but I have been doing it for 6 MONTHS and have gained weight! Ugh, so much effort.
From lowering from 50mg to 37mg I have so far had: INSONMIA, NIGHTMARES, SLIGHT DIZZINESS, DRY MOUTH, CONSTIPATION, IRRITABLE, ONE BIG PANIC ATTACK, ANXIETY (manageble), CHILLS, EXTREME FATIGUE, HEADACHES, IRREGULAR HEART BEATS.
I'm going to check back into this website as I would love to hear feedback on if anyone withdrawaling has taken natural supplements or herbs to help with this process. I'm scared to take another herb as that KILLER HEADACHE is not worth 4 days of pain. Please feel free to comment on your experience and anyone who has lost the additional weight from getting off of this MonsterZoloft.
I will keep everyone updated as I hope my story helps.
***this post is edited by moderator *** *** web addresses not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use