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Zoloft and weight gain continued

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Posted 5/19/2006 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone hope all is well , So far I have been off the "Z" for a little over five months now things have been good and the wait keeps coming off im so happy and im not doing anything differently 8 more lbs and ill be back to my old body.  I'm going to keep checking the website hope to hear from the old crew (and the new people).  Take Care

Posted 5/19/2006 9:35 AM (GMT 0)
yes and its happening !!! Finaly i lost another kilo this week thats 2 kilos in 2 weeks im so pleased with my idea of no more potatoes i think its realy working what i said in my last post ...


Take care everybody
Posted 5/21/2006 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
I just joined and this is very VERY interesting.
I started Zoloft in February when I began to realize my life, which was actually out of control, was affecting my emotions which were inappropriate and equally out of control. When I went to my Dr., great lady whose father had recently died (one of the triggering disasters in my own life) she was very straighforward and said, although I was up for a quick fix, I should commit to a 6 month series of this stuff because it would take that long. I just wanted to be normal again and she pointed out that the prospects of my life actually straightening out in "A few days" which was how I wanted to straighten out my emotional condition... was slim. I said ok, and got the first packet of 3 weeks, then three 7 day bottle samples, then she wrote me a scrip.
I am noticably hyperkenetic in a GOOD way. I am post menopausal and actually took some pride in knowing I was in worse emotional shape than I could gt myself out of, but when I was back to myself emotionally, I found myself taking naps. NOT my normal mode. I wouldn't say I was listless but my normally low blood pressure was low again and the impending disasters were happening and resolving and my life was thoroughly manageable.... until I went to my pharmacy and they don't cover, even the generic. $95 a month for a person with MONEY as one of the disasters....

AND CANNOT FIT INTO ANY OF MY CLOTHES. Two pair of blue jeans which I unbutton when I sit. Not to mention what I kept thinking was dry mouth, a pre-existing condition that has gotten much worse, I have just researched and realized my symptoms are the gastric reflux of the larynx and pharynx. Thick spit and a huge lump. My tongue hurts and I have nearly gagged in a hot shower trying to spit up this lump in my throat!

I am ready to get off and I am not planning on going on any other anti-depressant, but I think I have put on a good 10 pounds over my already twice as much as I ever THOUGHT I would be. The idea that this may be connected to Zoloft is actually making me happy.

Can any of you tell me what I actually will expect going off Zoloft? As I am going to just see what she can give me for this digestive disaster and nothing much else, I understood that the re-uptake diminished and it did its best job after a prolonged use... so no withdrawl or rebound? But will she wean me or substitute??

Thanks, this was very enlightening!

Post Edited By Moderator (Admin) : 5/23/2006 9:03:13 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/22/2006 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Tapper very slow, don't go cold turkey, and drink lots of water during the your tappering time.  It will help flush your kidneys and liver.  Expect to feel some flu like symptoms, maybe even some zaps, everyone is different in how they will react in coming off.  Good Luck!!

Posted 5/30/2006 4:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hi! this is the first site that I have ever chatted on. I need help! Has anyone ever been on zoloft? I was on it for a year. It was great at first. It helped with my post partum depression. And I even lost weight. I am 5 "2" 108 lbs. originally. I even weighed this 7 weeks after my last baby. A year ago. I then started gaining weight out of nowhere. I didn't know what it was from. I have a twin sister and when I got pregnant she gained a little weight with me and vice versa with her. So I thought I gained some weight with her pregnancy too. After reading about people gaining weight from zoloft I have no doubt in my mind this is what caused it. It was all of a sudden. Well her baby is 3 months old and she already lost her baby weight and I have been off zoloft for 5 weeks and I can't lose the 10 lbs I put on from it. Some people say that I am being to greedy I should be happy with the way I look. Well no!! When you have been between 105-108 lbs your whole life and all of a sudden you have gained 10 lbs thats not being greedy. Not to mention I am only 5 "2". Can anyone tell me they lost weight or am I doomed for good? I would appreciate anyone who will give any of their experiences with this horrible drug!

Posted 6/1/2006 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I'm new here...28 years old and have dealt with chronic anxiety for many years...have been on zoloft for one year, gained approximately 40 pounds, always been very thin...any suggestions? comments? advice? Thanks
Posted 6/1/2006 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
...One more question...any comments about relacore?

 

Thanks 

Posted 6/1/2006 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Honey O said...Hi! this is the first site that I have ever chatted on. I need help! Has anyone ever been on zoloft? I was on it for a year. It was great at first. It helped with my post partum depression. And I even lost weight. I am 5 "2" 108 lbs. originally. I even weighed this 7 weeks after my last baby. A year ago. I then started gaining weight out of nowhere. I didn't know what it was from. I have a twin sister and when I got pregnant she gained a little weight with me and vice versa with her. So I thought I gained some weight with her pregnancy too. After reading about people gaining weight from zoloft I have no doubt in my mind this is what caused it. It was all of a sudden. Well her baby is 3 months old and she already lost her baby weight and I have been off zoloft for 5 weeks and I can't lose the 10 lbs I put on from it. Some people say that I am being to greedy I should be happy with the way I look. Well no!! When you have been between 105-108 lbs your whole life and all of a sudden you have gained 10 lbs thats not being greedy. Not to mention I am only 5 "2". Can anyone tell me they lost weight or am I doomed for good? I would appreciate anyone who will give any of their experiences with this horrible drug! Hi Honey,  I wanted to welcome you to Healing Well forum.  We are happy to have you.  I took Zoloft for many years and had some weight gain from it also.  I have major depression and continue to be on an antidepressant at this time.  Which thankfully isnt one that weight gain is an issue.  I am still trying to battle the last 5 pounds of my Zoloft weight but then again I am in my 30's and am sure that this has much to do with the weight issue.  Things just dont bounce back like they used to.  Anyway, my point is that for me the Zoloft was a life safer and the weight gain really isnt so much of an issue for me as depression is so much worse of a problem to deal with.  I have been able to lose most of the weight by watching my carb intake, and cutting out sugars, and potatoes and white breads. You will lose the weight after being on the medication it just takes awhile for your body chemistry to go back to normal.  Take care
Posted 6/1/2006 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
3baddogs said... Hi I'm new here...28 years old and have dealt with chronic anxiety for many years...have been on zoloft for one year, gained approximately 40 pounds, always been very thin...any suggestions? comments? advice? Thanks Hi 3baddogs,  Welcome to Healing Well forum.  We are glad to have you.  I also have major depression and anxiety/panic disorder which is not a fun thing to have and go through.  Zoloft as an antidepressant worked really well for me for several years but as you said I also gain some weight from taking it.  Forty pounds is quite a bit of weight though.  I wondered if you have spoken to your physician about your concerns?  One is that there are many other medications on the market that would work for you without causing such a drastic weight gain also, they could set you up with a dietiation to go over meal plans and such for healthy eating.  As I said before, I have cut out potatoes, white breads and sugars from my diet and have been able to lose weight by doing this.  I mostly stick with whole grains and lots of vegetables.  As for the relacore that is a subject that is best talking to your physician about , I especially wouldnt mix your Zoloft and it together.  Take care and keep posting....
Posted 6/2/2006 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the response, it is very nice to hear about women dealing with "life" as well and I'm not alone in this. Last night I started reducing my milograms of Zoloft (from 100 to 50) we'll see how that goes. Hopefully the headaches won't be unbarable.
Posted 6/12/2006 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
hello all! new here... in need of some opinions.
i just finished a horrible, arduous weaning of paxil. it was a great drug for me, but i'd been on ADs for six years and wanted to see how i would fair without them, using accupuncture and chinese herbs. the effects of the latter unfortunately showed no lasting results and i am back where i was before drugs. my doc wants to put me on zoloft but i am terrified of losing anymore weight and i see that loss of appetite is a common side effect. i weigh 98lbs at 5'3" and cannot afford even losing one pound. so! my question is: did most of you experience a significant weight loss before begining to gain? who here was underweight before begining zoloft and then gained from it and did you have an initial loss of weigh when begining zoloft? i know it's hard to understand, but being underweight is just as much of a nightmare as being overweight. people think they have the right to ask if i have an eating disorder. no... i am depressed and food is gross. :) thank you for reading. i am at a loss right now. (of mind and options!) greatfully, carrie ann
Posted 6/12/2006 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi carrie ann,  Welcome to Healing Well forum.  We are happy to have you.  I was on Zoloft for many years as I believe I have posted before above (?) I may be losing my mind .  When I went on the Zoloft for the first time I also was underweight and I can say that it was due to an eating disorder that I had been battling since high school.  I did not lose any weight when I started on Zoloft and I recall that it wasn't a concern of my physicians when I went on it either (losing more weight that is).  I had been in and out of the hospital with my disorder before I was prescribed it.  It probably was a relief to them that I gained weight on it.  I have since been able to overcome the ED and learned healthy eating habits (instead of not eating at all) and when I went off the Zoloft I did lose some of the weight but not all of it.  Good luck and please keep us informed of how your doing...
Posted 6/18/2006 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hello again.
I talked the doctor into letting me wean off my zoloft. I had weight gain and ... well, lethargy would describe it, but more like sleeping more than ever before! I thought that was one of the symptoms of depression. I am assuming anxiety and depression are not necessarily the same. When I started, I got migraines (I have always had common migraine, I think as a side affect of allergies, but they are very very managable) the first week and was taking a half a fiorinal. That would stop it. Now that I am starting off, I have gotten CLASSIC (visual disruptions and auras) three times. No headaches because I was on top of it. I am also sleeping MORE! Just the first week of weaning. I am emotionally fine. Reacting well, had a few bad events and no inappropriate responses, but I am exhausted of being exhausted!
One of the side effects was the naps I was taking all the time. Because it seemed when I went on the stuff, I had HYPER symptoms, like edgier and more anxious before it kicked in, am I experiencing the same thing on the withdrawal, just my body going back to normal, kicking and screaming?

I have a sense of well- being, knowing I am less floating through my life, but with fewer functional hours in the day due to my chronic napping, I am wondering if it is ANOTHER problem I should look into. My doc was not happy when I asked to go off. I have not had a chronic need for the medication, just a mass of crummy co-incidents that I was not coping with! I had said I would TRY for 6 months, but I am very unhappy with my lack of legendary energy. I did give her 4 months and am promising to go off very slowly and get back to her if I start wacking out again.

And sweats! Being post menopausal 55, overweight (I am bordering on fat... maybe even over, as I could lose an easy 40 pounds and have nobody say I was looking sickly just in the past 4 years!!!) living in the AZ desert and trying to figure out what zoloft is and is not responsible for are enough to make ANYONE want to nap. Just tired of dripping all the time.

Any comiseration????
dj*

Post Edited (dj*) : 6/19/2006 2:13:42 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/19/2006 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I have some questions and concerns about Zoloft. I have just been prescribed this medication due to some pretty severe depression. In the course of two months, a miscarriage, D&C, 15 pounds, and cholecystecomy later I am severely depressed. Both my Ob/GYN and general physician agree that I need an AD at least temporarily. I am concerned about the side effects of this drug and/or withdrawals once I decide to go off of it. Please...if anyone has advise...help! I know I need some type of AD, but I am just worried.
Posted 6/20/2006 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
Alexys said... Hi! I have some questions and concerns about Zoloft. I have just been prescribed this medication due to some pretty severe depression. In the course of two months, a miscarriage, D&C, 15 pounds, and cholecystecomy later I am severely depressed. Both my Ob/GYN and general physician agree that I need an AD at least temporarily. I am concerned about the side effects of this drug and/or withdrawals once I decide to go off of it. Please...if anyone has advise...help! I know I need some type of AD, but I am just worried. Hey Alexys,  Welcome to healing well forum.  I didn't have any problems on Zoloft at all.  The one thing I did notice was it keep me at one level, meaning I never really got mad at anything or cried or felt sad.  Some people report feeling "flat" which I didn't so much, just so calm, I guess.  I was on 200mg for many years and it helped me through a very nasty separation and divorce which otherwise I don't think I would of come of.  I did end up having to switch antidepressants this last September as I had been on Zoloft for so long it basically stopped working for me, I also had many health issues going on at the time.  So when I weened off 50 mg at a time every week it wasn't too bad.  I did have some bouts of dizziness and head zaps (if you've not been on an AD before you wont understand that) but they didn't last long.  Please do let us know how it goes for you...take care
Posted 7/18/2006 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
confused  Are any of my old moral supports still reading or checking the posts?....Meekie, Allybooboo, Jaymay, ameila, snickersmom, are any of you still out their????? 

Well we survived the grad and my daughter is now working as a bartender at a lounge, loves the job, keeps her on her feet and active.

We are still plugging away at the weight issuses from zoloft.  IT will be 9 months in the beginning of August since she went off the zoloft.  She has been running 4 to 5 days a week these past five weeks.  She runs about three to four miles at a time.  Sprinkles alittle weight training in, probaly should a little more, anyhow, today we hit the 139 mark.  We haven't seen the 30 mark in a long time!  Maybe this running is waking things up for her!  She also has changed her B/C so maybe that has helped too?  Not sure but it helps put a new outlook on things for College for her.  That would mean she has dropped about 11lbs, I'm so excited for her, I hope I'm not jinxing her or anything by writing this.!!!

I would love to hear from all of you and hear how things are going for you guys since the post zoloft, I think it was back in May that we all were chatting, hope all is well with everyone!! yeah

 

Posted 7/26/2006 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello NIvram!! i am here still!! have not been posting becuz no one else has but i check in every once in a while to see. Anyway i am so glad to hear about your daughters progress!! i just wish that i was as lucky in my progress. i have been trrying really hard and have not made much progress. i have lost a little but not enough. i have changed my diet and have been working out and still nothing. even went to the doc and he said it is going to tKE TIME. I am sick of waiting already. o well i hope one day i will be writing a different post. but i am happy for your daughter. keep in touch. here is my e-mail [email protected]!!! or even myspace http://www.myspace.com/dj_goons_girl keep in touch!!!

Posted 8/11/2006 8:34 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone.  I'm in the same boat as everyone else I guess.  I took zoloft for only 10 weeks, it was meant to be a short-term treatment, and then I felt as if I might be gaining weight.  Sure enough I weighed myself and I had gained about 7 pounds.  I stopped taking it immediately almost 3 weeks ago.  Since that time I have been STRICT about food intake and working out like a saint!  More than I ever have in my life.  I don't think I've lost a single pound. 

I feel lucky to have got on the scale and noticed what was going on.  But what is going on now?

Do doctors know for sure what causes some people to gain weight on this drug?  And why is it hard to lose it?

Pelty

Posted 8/11/2006 9:39 PM (GMT 0)

Talk about a voice from the past, huh? Hello everyone! I'm glad to see some of the "old gang" still around but to also see new people. This is horrible but to hear that more and more people are having weight gain on Zoloft makes me feel like it isn't just me...I hate that any of us are having to go through this but it helps to know there are others out there.

I'm holding my own on the Zoloft. I was able to reduce from 150 mg. to 100 mg. and do okay. Anything lower than that and you might as well put me in the hospital for the impending nervous breakdown! :-)

Anyway, welcome to all the first time posters and I'm glad to see some familiar names still here.

Let me just say...as big as I am...I would still rather be overweight and happy and calm and stable than skinny and a complete mental wreck.

Posted 8/14/2006 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
tongue  Snickersmom and Allybooboo, it was so exciting to see your posts on here today!!!!!  I probaly jinxed my daughter last time by posting her weight loss because in a weeks time with doing the same thing her weight was back to 143, the doctor couldn't seem to give us any answers!  He has now put her on Mirida, which is a diet pill, one week so far so we will see how it works for her.  Snickersmom, she thinks she has OCD, she wants to try some counseling for it before going back to meds.  Do you know of any good books to read?  Its really neat to see you guys back on and new people writing.  Take care and keep in touch with your progress!
Posted 8/14/2006 9:09 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone!!!!

I do have some books at home. I'll get you the titles and post tomorrow. I would encourage you to visit the OC Foundation website as well. It has lots of useful information. Here is the link:

http://www.ocfoundation.org/

I believe there is a place on there to check for support groups in your area but she might have to be officially diagnosed with OCD before attending. Each group has its own rules so...

In any event, it's good to see everyone again and I will get you those titles tomorrow!

nivram said...
tongue  Snickersmom and Allybooboo, it was so exciting to see your posts on here today!!!!!  I probaly jinxed my daughter last time by posting her weight loss because in a weeks time with doing the same thing her weight was back to 143, the doctor couldn't seem to give us any answers!  He has now put her on Mirida, which is a diet pill, one week so far so we will see how it works for her.  Snickersmom, she thinks she has OCD, she wants to try some counseling for it before going back to meds.  Do you know of any good books to read?  Its really neat to see you guys back on and new people writing.  Take care and keep in touch with your progress!

Posted 8/21/2006 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
Snickersmom said... I hope we'll all find our way to this site...I thought maybe we got locked out of the other forum. In any event, here are the names of the books I read when I was diagnosed with OCD. They really helped: "Brain Lock" by Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D. "Getting Control" by Lee Baer, M.D. I still go back to them every once in a while when I hit a rough spot. Hey Snickers...I moved your post into the Zoloft thread.  I am not to sure what happened?  The thread isnt locked.  and since your responding to another member for help with OCD I thought I would be important to move it into here.  Please do feel free to tag me if you are having problems with the forum or anything at all and I will try to help in anyway I can.   Take care  
Posted 8/26/2006 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Wow I am relieved to have found this site.  I was on zoloft for about 6 months, gained about 25 lbs, and have now been off of it for 6 months.  I can NOT lose the weight either.  No matter how much i exercise, how little I eat, or even how much I do eat, my weight won't move.  I am sooo glad I am not gaining anymore, but I am definately not losing.  It is hard to get motivation to push yourself to work out harder, when nothing good comes of it.  I guess I just have to wait longer...ugh!!!  I wish my doctor told me of this side effect that seems impossible to turn around.
Posted 8/26/2006 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Chel,

Hope you find this site and forum helpful to you.
Post anytime!

Take care
Posted 8/30/2006 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Well tomorrow i am going to get a second opinion from another doctor. It has been almost a year and i have not gained or lost any weight after coming off zoloft. the doctor that originally put me on the medication cant seem to give me any answers so i am seeking them elsewhere. despite several attempts to lose weight it just doesnt work. over this summer i worked as a recreation counselor with teenagaers. at the beginning of camp i decided to give dieting and exercise another try. i completely changed my diet and began becoming extremely active. i mean when the kids played soccer, i played soccer- when the kids went to the pool, i went in the pool and tread water for 15 mins. Then after after camp i would go to the gym that was located at my job and did cardio for 30 mins about 4-5 times a week. lets just say for the first 3 weeks of camp i was really sore!! anyway, by the end of camp i had not even lost 1 freakin pound!!! my clothes didnt feel any different or anything. I became very upset over this and gave up.i mean i wasnt expecting to lose all the weight in 2 months but at least 5 pounds would have given me hope!  i have just recently  hired a personal trainer and i am planning to begin dieting once again. this whole thing has taken over my life and i am completely miserable because of this weight gain. i hope that i get some good answers from the doc tomorrow. i hope he is not another idiot doctor that doesnt kno that these drugs really do cause people to gain weight. wish me luck!!

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