Zoloft And Weight Gain

I am a new member too.  I went looking on the internet for the hopes of finding someone who found how to lose weight after Zoloft.  I was on it for 2 1/2 yrs @ 150mg.  I am 5'4 and was 120 lbs of muscle.  I loved my body and was so happy with myself.  I worked out 2-3 times a week and my metabolism was great.  Then I started having panic attacks and went on Zoloft.  It definetly helped my panic attacks but right before my wedding (of all things) I started gaining weight and it didn't stop!  The doctors told me it had nothing to do with the Zoloft and it must be that I am married now and comfortable in my relationship.  Obviously wasn't the issue because I still worked out and didn't change my eating habits but the weight still kept packing on.

In the end gained 60 lbs of pure fat in 2 1/2 years.  I gradually tapered off the Zoloft and still had horrible side effects.  I actually had to go on medical leave and lost my job of 5 years because of it.  It was really hard and I felt very alone and didn't know what was happening.  None of my doctors would help me and I turned to forums online for support.  It is absolutely horrible to have to deal with something like that and have your physicians say oh well.  I am feeling a lot better now that I am off of it and no panic attacks!! As far as weightloss.... I have lost about 10 lbs the past 6 months.  Almost 2 lbs a month.  I have been exercising and doing the south beach diet, tried Fahrenhiet too for metabolism.  Not much luck but it's coming off a little at a time. 

I was told to try Desert Burn, Hoodia and that it would work.  Been on it about a week and don't notice anything yet.  I am in 3 weddings next year and I am so hoping that it's gone by then.  One of the weddings is purple and I don't want to look like a big fat grape standing up there if you know what I mean..

If anyone has a weight loss secret PLEASE share.  I am sure it is different for everyone as weight gain from it varies from person to person.  I am just so happy to be off of Zoloft.  I am glad that they tell people about it now instead of letting it be a suprise.  Before I realized what it does to your body I used to tell my friends that were always so stressed out to go on Zoloft... it's makes you not care about the small stuff.  If they would have listened to me I would have had a lot less friends.

I will write back about the Desert Burn if it works and good luck to everyone:)

I lost the 30 lbs in gained in 6 months by eating 1200-1300 calories a day and working out 4-5 days a week.  It was tough, but it definitely paid off.  I eat like a normal person now and have not gained any weight back at all. 

Sorry if I was unclear, normal being not being held to 1200 calories a day.  Just trying to help.

I am glad to have found this place! I, too, have blown up beyond belief. My dr, too, says "it's not the meds, it's the food you're eating". Like there's no connection. Anyhow, I'm so torn because Zoloft has made me feel normal for the first time in a long time and I've been trying out meds for so long to try to find the right match. I'm on 2 other anti-depressants and adding the zoloft seemed to be ideal - EXCEPT for the out of control weight gain. I keep telling myself it's better to be happy than depressed but it's such a struggle to be confident when nothing fits! I can't afford to go buy new everything! My son is taking zoloft, too, and as a pre-teen I don't want the weight that he's gained so suddenly to affect his adolescence (physically and mentally). So I am torn, like I said, and I'm afraid to go searching for something else that might help with depression when this works well. Of course there's always the factor of getting depressed again for no other reason except that I hate my fat self. :)

My update:

I've been off of zoloft for 4 weeks straight and have lost 7 pounds . I'm hoping that there is a trend here and that I can drop the full 35 I gained while on the drug (was on for 2.5 years and used to way 125lbs).

Of particular interest--I am not exercising strenuously and I am eating whatever I please (granted that I have always had a healthy diet full of veggies, fruit, grains, pasta, rice, etc. and not a lot of sugar and fried foods).

huh - i didn't know Zoloft had a weight gain effect - I tend to lose and keep the weight off when i have been on zoloft... my target weight is 145, and i have been as high as 165 (when i was not on zoloft), and as low as 135lbs (on zoloft - zoloft effective, and me working out regularly). i guess everyone's metabolism is different

Based on what my doctor has recently told me and on my own readings regarding the subject, I wouldn't agree that weight gain on zoloft has more to do with the fact that "everyone's metabolism is just different." According to my doctor, recent documentation on zoloft is finding that the drug IS making people gain weight. He said that the medical field does not understand why this is occurring, but that it is occurring. Yes, some people do lose weight while on zoloft (usually during the first year), but the vast majority of peope who use the drug ultimately gain weight...even if the drug seemed to help them lose it some at an earlier point.

And my own experience seems to attest to the findings...once off zoloft, the weight starts coming off, even when lifestyle (food, portions, exercise) remain unchanged.

 

Hey all guess what i just signed on to Aol and there was a article that said "top meds in your cabinet that could be making you fat" and yes .... you guessed it zoloft was one.  Thought you might want to read it ..............Diet News & Trends: Medicine Cabinet Making You Fat?

yes im down to a very small amount sunday i didnt take it im trying to skip days now so im down to the final step im so happy.

 

how is your ocd? i had it for anxiety

whats that Erp thing

A little over two years ago a good friend of mine committed suicide.  I found her body after she had been dead for 5 days.  Needless to say I was glad to take Zoloft and anything else I could have gotten my hands on at that time. It was a very traumatic experience to say the least.  Thanks to a great support system and good friends, I have worked through that whole experience.  Also my daughter (only child and my best friend) just got married leaving me with empty nest syndrome.  At any rate, I have never had a weight problem until now and sort of accidentally discovered that the Zoloft probably was causing it.  Deciding I was strong enough to deal with life unmedicated, I weaned myself of the Zoloft.  I have now been Zoloft free for 2 weeks but no weight loss yet.  I had mild withdrawals such as nausea and some dizziness but nothing I couldn't live with.  The most amazing aspect for me of going of the Zoloft has been that I now feel happiness for the first time in a long time.  I knew the Zoloft kept me from experiencing serious sadness and depression but I didn't realize it also kept me from experiencing real happiness.  Just knowing I could give it up has given me such a feeling of strength that I now know somehow I will conquer the weight gain issue as well, at least I sure hope so!

Post Edited (Happy Now) : 10/27/2005 1:26:41 PM (GMT-6)

Hey everyone...It's been three weeks since I've been off Zoloft and I'm starting to feel awful. I don't want to do anything...I cry at the drop of a hat and I'm very snippy over the littlest things...I think it may be depression coming on which is not what I need right now. I may go back on just 50 mgs per day of Zoloft and hopefully it won't make me gain as much weight as I did on the 150 mgs. I have lost three pounds so I guess that's good but I was hoping to be able to stay off for about a year so I could lose this stupid weight. I'm very frustrated and sad. Any words of wisdom would be welcome...