Feedback on Zoloft Side Effects and Usage, page 17
About Zoloft
If you use Zoloft, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.
Subj: Weight gain and constipation
Date: 2/29/2008
I was losing weight until 2 weeks ago when I started zoloft, now I’m swelling up, gaining weight, I have alot of problems ptsd, mpd, manic. I have a Dr that prescribes any thing. He just put me 4 weeks ago on geodon, I also for 3 years have taken termazapam, it works great but like all drugs you need higher doses, termazapam has been a wonder drug but dr. wants me to stop, when some thing works why change. The side effects from all of them are terrible when you get them. I’ve been on every silver bullet they have produced, I going to give zoloft a chance but weight gain if its going to be a problem, I quit.
Another thing how come Drs. don’t care about our concerns about side effects such as weight gain and constipation, these are important to us who have to take meds. I believe if you find a med that works don’t let your Dr take it from you, mine changes my meds every 3 months except termazpam, so on ward people we do need meds, but wouldn’t it be great if side effects were not so bad. I also take geodon for 2 months, without termazapam I couldn’t cope with changes in my meds. Thanks for hearing me whine.
Jewellann
Subj: Severe depression
Date: 4/11/2008
I had severe depression when I was pregnant so the ObGyn put me on Zoloft. It really helped me deal with the emotions caused by the hormone changes I was experiencing. I continued to take it until the baby was 6 months old. At that time, I realized that I was having very vivid dreams and was waking up exhausted because I was “running” in my dreams. I also was having aggressive thoughts. I had severe angry thoughts toward people I love, and it dawned on me that this was not the normal me, so I figured it was time to get off the zoloft. After I slowly weaned myself off it, I have not had to use it again. My son is now 2 1/2 years old. So my evaluation of Zoloft is that when I needed it, it was a literal lifesaver, but when I no longer needed it, it caused aggression and I needed to get off it. Upping the dose when feelings of anger arose was not the answer…it was time to get off it…and I’ve been fine ever since. I would definitely take it again if I needed it because when I needed it for depression, it was great.
Sonya
Subj: Feelings of paralysis or seizures during nightmares
Date: 4/17/2008
I had been on Zoloft for about a year and a half. On the zoloft I had vivid, strange, sometimes stressful dreams, not full-blown night mares. I have been slowing weening off of the Zoloft by going down 12.5mg per week. My last dose was 2 weeks ago. Since that time I’ve been having very bad nightmares. They are especially bad when I nap for an hour or more. They begin almost immediately upon falling asleep and really affect me afterwards. They sometimes give me feelings of paralysis or seizures during the nightmares. I know its not really happening because upon waking or opening my eyes have no symptoms of being post-dictal. I also have feelings, about once or twice every few minutes throughout the day of feeling my pulse once throughout my body. This sounds strange, but ill be sitting there, and all of a sudden ill feel one heartbeat everywhere, especially my head. Over the 18 months I was on zoloft I twice experienced a vaso-vagal reaction which mimicked a seizure when I passed out, freaking out those around me. Each time it was about 2 weeks after I had adjusted the dosage. I hope my comments are useful for someone out there. I am happy to be off of Zoloft, though I do believe it helped me immensely with my depression.
Stephanie
Subj: Breaking out with hives
Date: 4/24/2008
My son is 12 years old. He has ADHD and also showed signs of depression. The doctor put him on 25 mg of Zoloft. He had been on Zoloft for 8 weeks. I just noticed he is breaking out with hives. Would this be the Zoloft? I would think he would have broke out the first week not after taking it for 8 weeks. Anybody ever done this taking Zoloft?
Tammy
Subj: Zoloft nightmares
Date: 6/3/2008
I have been taking Zoloft for about 8 months. I started out with 50mg. I was tired, yawned alot and was really tired. Then my Dr. increased my dosage to 100mg. I felt great for about 2 months. Then I started having night sweats, and feeling really tired. I am still at 100mg now but I feel really tired sluggish, not caring about anything, some days I’m ok then I have crazy intense nightmares. Has anyone experienced this? I mean they were sooo intense I felt like I died in my dream…and came back. Crazy huh? But anyway…can anyone tell me if they have these same problems or symptons sense taking zoloft? And is this normal to have intense nightmares like this?
Teresa
Subj: Accidentally took 50mg
Date: 6/3/2008
I have been taking Zoloft for 3 or 4 years now, and I had weaned myself down to 25mg. However, my prescription ran out and I decided to try and quit. I ended up getting headaches on and off throughout the day, got lightheaded, and wasn’t able to concentrate as well (might be from being more anxious as I take it for social anxiety). I additionally was more prone to becoming sad in general. Now I’m back on 25 mg after about 3 weeks of no zoloft (side effects after 2 week mark), but I accidentally took 50mg the first night, and then 25 the next, and am getting headaches like the ones I got when I was coming off the meds. Should I be worried, or is it just my body getting used to it again?
Alice
AskDocWeb: It sounds like your body was reacting to the dosage change. The most common signs and symptoms associated with an overdose of Zoloft are somnolence, vomiting, tachycardia, nausea, dizziness, agitation and tremor.
Subj: The key to getting well
Date: 6/5/2008
I started taking 50 mg of Zoloft a month and a half ago for post partum depression. I feel much better, the mood swings are almost gone, my appetite is back, my anxious thoughts are gone. I wonder if people gain weight with Zoloft, it’s because they feel better and eat more. The initial side effects of Zoloft including dizziness, insomnia, and sleepiness are gone after a week or so. I sleep very well now, my only complaint is night sweats. I am drenched every night, it’s really gross. I had vivid, disturbing, dreams before taking Zoloft and those have disappeared as well. I have also been to therapy, which has changed my life dramaticaly. I think medication helps control symptoms for anxiety and depression, but changing your perception of life is what will bring lasting change. The funny thing is I thought I was happy before I was depressed, but with therapy I realized how much guilt, anger, and unneeded anxiety I carried around with me all day. Medication AND therapy seem to be the key to getting well.
Tiffany
Subj: Book recommendation
Date: 6/17/2008
I recommend a book called “Will Medicine Stop the Pain?” by Elyse Fitzpatrick. It’s a Bible-based book about troubling emotions.
EG
Subj: Withdrawal affects?
Date: 6/18/2008
Hi, I have taken Zoloft on and off for the past 10+ years, I decided to get off the medication as I think it wasn’t doing a lot to help anymore. I was on 50mg per day I weaned myself off it over about 2 1/2 weeks i.e. 25mg for two weeks then 25mg every 2nd day the following week than stopped. This was approximately 6 weeks ago now and about a week ago I have had severe agitation, anxiety, the worst is a sensation of a strong adrenline surge sitting inside my mind it drove me to the point where I took a Zoloft tablet and the symptoms seemed to ease. Would this be caused by Widthdrawal or mean my Anxiety and Panic has returned. I am going back to my doctor tomorrow and I near think he will tell me to get back on the medication. Regards,
Patrick
AskDocWeb: Any withdrawal affects would happen long before the fifth week.
Subj: Permanent damage from Zoloft?
Date: 6/17/2008
I have had an incredibly hard time quitting zoloft. I have been on it for almost 10 years, and am afraid I am permanently brain-damaged. I don’t feel like myself (I’m on about 3-6mg now, tapering off). Is it even possible to quit this drug and have my body/brain return to “normal”? I don’t believe that I needed to be treated for so long. It was for anxiety as a teenager, which has passed, but now I feel depressed AFTER slowly stopping the drug! Can it permanently alter you so that you’ll never feel the same without it?
EG
AskDocWeb: Although that is not likely, we did find a few references to permanent affects. The first was from Walgreens for men: “In the unlikely event you experience a painful or prolonged erection, seek immediate medical attention or permanent problems could occur.” According to some Lawyers (Saiontz, Kirk and Miles) “SSRI antidepressants (including Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft) have been linked to serious side effects which could result in permanent injuries.” And at least one doctor, Dr. Breggin in his latest book (Medication Madness) says “the evidence is piling up that SSRIs cause permanent brain damage.”
Subj: Sertraline (Zoloft)
Date: 6/26/2008
Will a urine drug test be positive if I’m taking sertraline? If so, how long do I need to be clean?
Maria
AskDocWeb: If you have a legal prescription for sertraline then there is no need to quit taking it. If the test comes back positive for benzodiazepines then get a GC/MS confirmation test.
Subj: Taking zoloft
Date: 6/26/2008
This happened within a week of taking zoloft 25mg… The first day = nothing The second day = felt a bit better The third day = I had a sensation of feeling warm and confused. I was very disoriented and could not control thoughts. I thought I was going to die or stay that way for ever. Fortunately I started feeling a trickling of happiness being poured over me as if some one held a pitcher over my head and applied a happiness spray. Similar to a windex bottle covering a wide area on the spray setting (not stream) in slow motion aggressively comforting me from over my head and comforting my spine. I felt really happy. Before I felt happy I wanted to stay in the house forever because I was so afraid of what I was feeling. Once that drug started to falsify my being even further I felt like I wanted to go outside and do all the things I always wanted to do. These SSRI’s are lacking in success stories. I stopped taking it after 3 days. This was about 5 years ago. Since I was 9 I was suffering from anxiety and social comfort, even my own family makes me equally as uncomfortable as does a stranger in face to face conversation. Now I am in my mid 30’s and have been suffering with this just about all my life. I realize I am switching topics with this statement but I have found about 30% – 40% relief using the herb Suntheanine within a half hour of using it. It is expensive but it has benefits. It may not work for you if you have used SSRI’s for a long time and works better if you use it only when you will be faced with a social situation such as a job interview or a conference when you will be sitting face to face with a room full of people.
Lucky
Subj: Blurred vision
Date: 7/7/2008
My eyesight seems to be getting worse quickly. Can this be a side effect. I just got a new prescription for eyeglasses earlier this year and my eyes seem to be getting worse. I do have blurred vision. Thanks.
Cyndi
AskDocWeb: Yes, changes in vision may be a side effect of Zoloft. Blurred vision can also be a warning sign of high blood pressure (caused by Zoloft) and should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible. Read more feedback. Zoloft Report – 14 – 15 – 16 – Page 17 – 18 – 19 – 20 – Last Page 34
If you find this page useful share it with others. If you have used Zoloft, use the form below to add your review of Zoloft, feedback or suggestions that may help others. Please note that all addresses are held confidential.