want to wean off zoloft, but scared

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and I look forward to hearing from you all.  I am a 35 yo female and I was diagnosed with panic disorder in 2003.  I tried Lexapro, but ended up taking Zoloft 200mg daily for last 4 yrs.  I am also on Xanax 1mg twice a day.  I have gained 60 lbs. in the last 4 yrs and it seems diet and exercise does not budge the scale.  I would really like to wean off Zoloft.  Has anyone had any experience with this and did you lose any weight?  I think I could handle weaning off slowly if it will improve my chances of losing weight.  Being so overweight keeps me from doing things I enjoy because I am so embarrassed by my weight.

hello, i thought i would offer some words of encouragement as i'm new here too and have just successfully come off zoloft. i was really scared too but the wierd thing is, i actually feel better for it. i do feel very fragile at the moment, but the zoloft kinda made me such a couch potato that i didnt feel like doing the things that inspired me. i also got a lot of side effects while i was on the tablets. have a good talk to your doctor about it, and weigh up the pros and cons. i feel better now that i am off them but everybody is different, especialy wih antidepressants.
hope all goes well!

Hi,

I was on Zoloft 50mg-75mg for about 8 years, and it worked wonderfully for me. about 5 months ago, I started experiencing panic attacks and generalized anxiety for the first time in, literally, 8 years. I was very upset and curious as to why I, all of a sudden, started having these attacks again, so I went to my doctor and she told me that it might be time to either... 1. increase my Zoloft or 2. Try Lexapro (which is a newer, cleaner, and supposedly "better" drug). She definitely didn't want to increase my Zoloft because of the side effect risk, so I weened off of Zoloft and started Lexapro at the same time. This was about 8 weeks ago, and for about a month, as I weened off of the Zoloft and started the Lexapro...I definitely felt a bit off and sick at times, but it was a relatively painless experience...and...remember...I was on Zoloft for 8 years! I did have some Klonopin to get me through the rough spots, and I still have it for "when it's needed," but I'm feeling GREAT now on Lexapro...which I highly recommend...although all drugs work differently for different people...Zoloft was GREAT for me too...it was just time to switch after 8 long years. So, don't be afraid of weening off of Zoloft and possibly starting another SSRI...I did, and it's been great...I feel fantastic...because I feel normal.

All the best!

D

Good Morning,

Great responses. I am doing a med switch right now and I am feeling some withdrawal from the Cymbalta but so far I can handle it.

I went into the med change knowing I might run into some brick walls.

Take care and I hope you wean off slowly.  I understand the wieght issue completely.  I had the same thing happen on Cymbalta.

Bless You
Kitt