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Side effects from stopping zoloft.

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Posted 2/15/2014 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I have been on zoloft for over a year now because of occasionally anxiety. It did really help. Now I have gained weight, and am very lazy. Which is not like me. I have always been 11 lb and am now 13 lb , being 5'3 doesn't help, lol. I have already started the weeping process, I got scared the other night with anxiety and broke down and took 25 mg. I am back to 0 zolofft but I am.up all night and if I lay down and fall asleep I get rapid heart beat that scares me and i am quickly wide awake again. Any e else experience this side effect? I am use to the blurry vision and brain zaps but this side effect is bothering me giving me anxiety. Anyone else have this symptom?
Please let me know. Thanks
Family is everything
Gina
Posted 2/15/2014 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, correction I have been 115 lbs and am now 135lb. Sorry typo
Posted 2/15/2014 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
Gina,

Did you stop the zoloft because of weight gain? Sometimes it is worth gaining a little weight so we can feel better. Often we would of gained weight anyway, be it our habits, or our age. So many times it isn't the medication.

It will take time for withdrawal symptoms to go away. Maybe a couple of weeks. I would talk to the doctor about what is going on, you may need another antidepressant. Wellbutrin doesn't cause weight gain.

I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen

Oh, welcome to the forum!!!
Posted 2/17/2014 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Karen,
Thanks for the support. I originally wanted to get off zolofft because I felt more depressed, lazy and gained weight and lack of sleep. It did help my anxiety but it bothered me with other symptoms. I got over the waking up in the middle of the night with rapid heartbeat, so that's great. I am suffering from bad headaches and neck pain and boy am I cranky. I hope that goes away soon my husband's is going nutts, I wish he understood where i am coming from right now but I understand. The headaches make me cranky and less patient, any suggestions?
I just wanna be healthy again, no meds.
Gina
Posted 2/17/2014 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
I don't blame you for not wanting to take meds, especially with all the side effects. I hope that this works for you. I hope you feel better soon. I wish I didn't have to take them either... I take a lot for many reasons. It is stressful just filling my pillbox once a week.

Waking up in the middle of the night with a rapid heartbeat would be scary. I am glad that has stopped.

Keep hanging in there. Take life one day at a time...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/18/2014 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Karen,
Well, I feel good today how about you? The weather was so nice out, I forced myself to go outside and enjoy the weather with my family and it was a great ifea. I still get the headaches but that is expected. I want to know when I will start losing some of this zoloft weight. I just want to fit into my normal clothes again. Are you having weight problems?
Gina
Posted 2/18/2014 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I do have some weight issues. But I am 55 so I don't know if it is the medications or my age. I also have fibromyalgia so I am not as active as I use to be. I have what I call "belly-fat". That is where the weight gain is.

I am glad you had a good day Gina. I think you will lose some weight going off of the zoloft. Be patient though, you don't want to lose too fast, it comes back fast if you do.

Best wishes for a lovely day...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/18/2014 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Gina,
In November, I stopped taking zoloft after being on it for 10 years. I have had some serious side effects from going off, even though I tapered my dose. One of the most troublesome side effects has been a reduced and then complete loss of appetite, which though it sounds like a nice thing for my waistline, has been pretty terrible for my mental health because at the moment I am forcing myself to eat and have lost 15 lbs in a month. Perhaps this will be the case for you, though for your sake, I hope your reduction in appetite and weight loss is a bit more gradual.

I also suffer from night sweats and recently, another weird sleep symptom. I am so tired all the time and if I lie down for a few minutes in the afternoon I wake up 10-15 minutes later feeling like my brain is buzzing. This is a new symptom for me and I have been off the Z for almost 3 months. I did have brain zaps for a while after going off completely, but they are gone now. (If anyone reading this has any insight on this, I'd love to hear it!)

I have always had insomnia, but the past several months it has been pretty bad. I am attributing it to Zoloft withdrawal, increased anxiety and depression from being completely off the meds for the first time in 10 years, and some other major life stressors that didn't seem to understand that this wasn't a good time for me!! ;)

I completely understand what you are saying about being healthy and happy again without meds. I really feel the same way and I am hopeful that we can get there.

--kate
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