Comments on: Zoloft Weight Gain

By: belinda

belinda — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:28:45 +0000

Wow. I am so freaking bummed out. I am bi polar and go through HEAVY depressions. I was just in the hospital for depression and they gave me Zoloft. I am already on Lithium (caused me to gain 35 lbs), wellbutrin and clonazepam.
I have only been taking the Zoloft for 2 days but it worked IMMEDIATELY and I have not felt this normal in so long…..I was feeling so happy, then I checked the web and everybody is gaining weight, or trying to get OFF Zoloft, saying how horrid it is. Crap. REALLY? Isn’t there ANYTHING we can take that won’t make us FAT? It is SO WRONG and WEIRD because being fat is NOT HEALTHY. Drug companies are screwing us over by not admisting these meds make us fat. UUUGGGG!

By: amy

amy — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:54:41 +0000

I am at a loss as what to do. I am gaining weight like crazy on zoloft. I think it it is causing my appetite to be out of control. I can sit here and think about how I’m going weight and need to go work out, next thing I know I’m in the kitchen eating pizza. My doctor has cancer and is not real reliable right now. He may or may not show up to appt’s so I’m looking for a new doctor. I’m the mean time I think I’m gonna start wiening myself off of zoloft. I also find myself so exhausted to the point where I feel like I have to take a nap within an hour of waking up. I know this sounds pathetic to some of you but this is my story. I am 34 years old. I went from 145-182. I’m more depressed now than ever.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 05:56:53 +0000

Zoloft is such bullshit. It was the second antidepressant I went on, and within a few months, I gained 30 pounds. I’m 5’2 and have been around 100-110 pounds most of my life. After I went on Zoloft, I gained 30 pounds. I’m now 140 lbs. I went from size 4 to size 12, which has only added to my depression. Ironic how you go on a drug to help you feel a certain way and then end up feeling shittier because of it huh?

By: Lis

Lis — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:33:16 +0000

My doctor has me coming off it REALLY slowly. I was on a fairly low dose already, so she had me just halve it for three months, which I’m almost at the end of now (I think if I’d been on a higher dose she would have reduced it some, not halved). At the end of three months she’s leaving it up to me to decide what to do – if I think I need to go back to the original dose, stay where I am, or continue weaning off. It can stay in your system a long time, so this was her way of making sure I truly had the higher dosage out of my system and was doing okay with the lower one before making a decision about what to try next.

By: Mark Ivar Myhre

Mark Ivar Myhre — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:51:37 +0000

If it were me, I’d go a little slower than that – like two weeks between cuts.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:47:39 +0000

I have been on Sertraline (Zoloft ) for several years. Honestly, I have never had a problem until recently. I am not on it for depression, I was put on it years ago because I was going back and forth to the Cleveland Clinic because I was having my aorta reconstructed. More than likely they put me on it to keep me calm. However, I just have decided that I would like to start weaning myself off of this.
I have notice my urine smelling really bad. So I looked that up. The first thing that I read was Sertaline can cause your urine to smell! I don’t think I need to research any further. I thought about using my pill cutter and start cutting my pills a little more each week 3/4 of a pill 1 week, 1/2 the next and then 1/4 then off! I am going to try and see if it works! Has anyone ever tried that?

By: Lis

Lis — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:34:58 +0000

I’ve been on 50 mg Zoloft (generic) for the last 8 months. Started at 25 mg for a couple of weeks, then up to the 50. I talked to my doctor last week, and she cut me back to 25 mg for the next 3 months. She said that way the higher dose is firmly out of my system, and I can see how I’m feeling on the lower dose, and she’ll let me make my own decision about staying at 25, going back to 50, or stopping it altogether. Sounds great. But, like an idiot, I forgot to ask her about expected withdrawal symptoms, so I’m really glad boards like this exist to let me know it’s “okay.”

I’m on the pills for generalized anxiety disorder, I was starting to have what mimicked asthma attacks when I was stressed, but wasn’t responding to any traditional treatments. So, time to try something else. Going on the Zoloft really stunk for the first week or so – dry mouth like I didn’t think possible, and a repeat of the experience when I went up in dosage. Now that I’m weaning off of it, it sounds like I’m lucky – two days at the lower dose, and so far “just” muscle/joint aches and mild headaches. Not looking forward to the next couple of weeks much, nor to when I try weaning off it completely.

Btw, I also experienced weight gain. I was sitting at about 113 when I started it. My “goal” weight is about 120, so granted I was below that and needed to put on a little bit. But, I’ve since shot up to nearly 130, nothing fits right, and I’m uncomfortable in my own body. I talked to the doc about it, but she says it has absolutely nothing to do with the meds. Reading this board and others, I think maybe it does. It was the only change in my life during that time period, and like others it was about 3 months in before the weight gain got significant and felt uncontrollable no matter what I did.

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:11:55 +0000

I need some help/suggestions/advice. I started Zoloft about 10 months ago for anxiety. I started very slowly at 25mg and worked my way up to 100mg after about 3 months. I have always been a size 0 to 3 and an avid runner. I have not changed anything in my diet or excercise and have gained almost 20 pounds! I am very small boned and 5’2″, so a 20 pound gain to me is huge. This is how much I weighed when I was 8 months pregnant! I noticed the weight gain starting after about the 4th month and it has just kept going up, up, up and I’m worried it’s not going to stop. I can’t fit into my pants, and my normal shirts I wear are not flattering at all anymore. I am training for a marathon right now, but am still gaining weight. It doesn’t make sense. It’s definitely not muscle mass. I saw my doctor today and she said that weight gain is a side effect for some people. She gave me a couple of different options and I’m going to try and make a decision. But, I have questions for anyone who might have already gone through this same thing? She suggested adding a low dose of wellbutrin to offset the side effects of the zoloft, but no guarantee that it will help the weight gain. OR switching to Celexa, meaning I’d have to wean off the Zoloft to start the Celexa, which is still not a guarantee that I’ll not gain weight on Celexa. I’m afraid of the things I’ve heard people have experienced coming off the zoloft (or any anti-anxiety med for that matter). The zoloft has worked great for the anxiety, but the weight gain is out of control. I’d love some advice on which path to take…especially if someone has been through this before. Anyone, switched meds after being on one for almost a year? Anyone switch from Zolft to Celexa? Anyone on both zoloft and welbutrin and why? Any suggestions or comments are appreciated. Thanks so much!
Allie

By: suzi

suzi — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:08:44 +0000

i gained weight on Lexapro, when i told my new doctor that i was off of it because of weight gain, he said , “yes lexapro makes you fat and happy”. I had terrible withdrawals and it took a long time before i could happily function again. Now i am on Clonapin and its the same way, i know when i haven’t taken it all day because i begin feeling very tense and have to take it before the headache starts. It causes word loss and the internet says even if you stop taking it the word loss continues. I am doing physical therapy for low back pain, i have to sleep in my recliner, its so bad. My physical therapist is teaching me to breath from my diaphram, he assures me this will help with all my health issues. Also i am doing water therapy. At this stage i am willing to try anything, best to everyone, suzi

By: pat

pat — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:05:54 +0000

i came off zoloft 13 days ago only becuz there was issues between my pharmacy and the doc. o well i really thought it was time anyways. but the withdrawal has been terrible. cant concentrate, nausea is killin me, aches, flashes. its even scarey every now and then driving. well i believe i gained weight on zoloft too but my doc said no. but i thought it was. he was also the one that said this was not addictive. well i wouldnt be having withdrawals if it wasnt. but i am also getting bloated. i think my weight might be going up again. so one with experience please tell me is this weight gain again and will it go away. i am work out 3 to 4 times a week and do a lot of work outside on my days off. i am older but i’m hoping that doesnt have any thing to do with it. if you have an answer for me please send me an email classicpat2004 at yahoo. thanks