To Zoloft, or to not?

AMahfouz67

I have a 9 week old son. My doctor just recently prescribed me sertraline(Zoloft). I know that it can take up to 6 weeks for me to feel a difference as far as my moods are concerned. I need some opinions from you oh-so-knowledgeable persons, please.
I have 2 concerns:

1) Withdrawal from Zoloft when I stop taking it will be terrible
2) I will gain a crap ton of weight on top of the 30 lbs I still need to lose from the baby

And I feel like my depression wasn't uncontrollable, not if this is the trade off. Should I stop taking it now before I get hooked, or is there a chance I wont have these negative side effects and the good will outweigh the bad?? Anybody have an educated opinions or advice?

kaseyr1505

I think this is something you need to discuss with your doctor, not us. No one here has your medical records, can perform an assessment on you, and it is unethical to give advice without a medical history, and meeting.

I would hope that you wouldn't ask us if you should be taking a heart medicine prescribed by your doctor, and this is no different.

JHPlunkett

Did you address those concerns with your physician? Because those are really only questions he or she can answer for you.

ashgirl95

My experience with Zoloft has been shaky. When I take it, I feel amazing, my mood improves, etc. However, if I forget to take it for one or two days (which is obviously something you're NOT supposed to do but it happens), I plummet into a dangerous state of mind. I'm also taking a second one (I don't remember the name offhand), so I couldn't honestly tell you whether this effect is from Zoloft or the additional medicine.

As for weight, I did gain weight from taking it. And as I've been working out and eating right etc, I haven't really lost any pounds yet and it's been about a month.

This is really my personal experience, and my best advice would be to take it for a while and see how it goes. Everybody reacts differently to these things.

ChristinWrites

Wow, this is such a hard thing for anyone to answer, because we don't know what it feels like to be you or what you are dealing with etc. If it's for postpartum depression - there are varying levels of it. For me personally, I would not do medication if I felt it was manageable. I don't like the idea of altering my brain chemistry on top of the hormonal havoc wreaked by childbirth. If it were me (and it's not). I would probably take a couple of more weeks - try exercise, natural stress reduction activities or techniques etc. Yoga for me is a great stress buster and is very soothing. If your baby isn't sleeping and you're sleep deprived that can definitely add on to the moodiness. My last child didn't sleep through the night until he was well over a year old - chronic sleep deprivation does a real number. It really depends on you and what you can and can't handle. I hate for anyone to medicate if it isn't necessary, but I'd sure also hate to talk someone out of it and find out ultimately that it was.

For me, the real ups and downs and deep depression waned after about 12 weeks - everyone is different though.

nancy10272004

I don't have any specific advice but the fact that you used the word "hooked" is such a negative word that it feels like you want nothing to do with medication.

I won't say take or don't take it. I do think you have to decide between how your emotions affect your child vs. the possibility of gaining a few pounds.

RachelSteeners

Hey there! I have considered this too and decided the good (feeling happy and more stable) out-weighted the bad (being on meds). I don't think i gained my weight because of the anti-depressants. I think being depressed made me gain the weight because I was eating my emotions.

I think about my meds like this- I wouldn't stop taking heart meds because I started feeling better, so why would I stop taking my brain/depression meds?

Everyone is different, so you need to make your own decision.

Cheechos

Self-research is your friend, and even then you can't be entirely sure what the medication will do to you. You also need to talk your concerns out with your doctor. If there are any worrying side effects that you experience once you start Zoloft, take note of them and bring them up during your future check ups. You may be placed on another type of medication to see if that will make a difference, as it's not uncommon to try out different types until someone finds one that is right for them. Also, do not cut the medication cold turkey once you start it. You have much better chances of avoiding withdrawal if you and your doctor design a weaning schedule for it.

If you decide to go without meds because of the possible side effects, make sure you've memorized a set of healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with common symptoms of depression. If you can, I'd even push for regular counseling or maybe some form of group support. Living with untreated depression can be tough (I am doing this right now), but it's doable if it isn't so severe that you cannot function.

Basically, read a lot, familiarize yourself with Zoloft and its alternatives, and be prepared to switch things around if you find that they aren't working out for you.

Menix8

I combined Zoloft with exercise (the best all natural anti-depressant out there) and actually lost weight while I was on it. Please try not to let the possibility of weight gain prevent you from improving your mental health.

adopp062715

First off, you should discuss these concerns with your doctor. I think these are valid concerns that should be brought up. 2nd, I'm on Zoloft currently but the lowest dose you can be perscribed (25 mg). Here has been my experience. I started taking it when my anxiety/depression was really bad two summers ago. I had a lot of stress and was not managing it well at all. I have a history of issues with anxiety and depression so a relapse wasn't a big surprise for me. While taking the 25 mg I felt great. Did not gain any weight besides the normal daily fluctuations and my moods had really evened out. I stopped crying everyday which was a huge plus. Then things started building up and I needed my dose upped. Went to 50 mg. That was when it started going downhill. I gained 30 lbs within 3 months and nothing with my eating/exercise really changed. I stopped taking it for about 6 months starting in October 2013. I did this cold turkey which I DO NOT suggest. That was probably my biggest mistake. I was mean and angry and when I read up on the side effects of coming off this drug I know that was the reason why. Needless to say I'm back on the low dose now and feeling good again. My moods have evened out again and it's helped. But like a previous poster said, when I don't take it for a couple of days, I can tell. I now take it at the same time every day and that has really helped. So that's my personal experience. But I really think you need to talk to your doctor. He is the only one who can help with your concerns. I also am not sure how the drug will effect your child if you are breast feeding. That is another thing to take into consideration (which I'm sure you already have).

AllOutof_Bubblegum

Withdrawal is only terrible if you stop it cold turkey. Highly unrecommended, as this can cause psychotic breaks. So if it's not working for you, make sure you wean off them, and there won't be any trouble.

You won't gain weight from it unless you eat over you calorie goal. It can't happen. Unless you also have thyroid issues.

If you are suffering from depression, I say go for it. Antidepressants can be life-changing if administered responsibly.

Source: suffered chronic depression for 20 years

AMahfouz67

I really appreciate those who gave me their personal opinions and experiences. I was mainly looking to see others side effects. Obviously I have talked to my doctor or I would not have a prescription for said drug. She said it is my choice to take it if I feel I need it. I think I might try what a previous poster suggested to try a few weeks of healthy eating, dieting, and maybe going to bed earlier. This is my 2nd week back at work and maybe the schedule change with new baby will just need a little more time to get adjusted to. I think maybe my slight PPD might be easily controlled with these changes. I did get the prescription because I thought thats what I was "supposed to do". I am a little disappointed that my doctor didn't suggest diet, workouts, or any other source except medication.

-- I do have hypothyroidsm. I had it removed 6 years ago. I DO try not to take any unnecessary drugs.

Thank you for all the help!

RozayJones

I have been on and off zoloft for too long. I have been taking it for the last 3 years straight and have no side effects - I too had a total thyroidectomy. The only side effects I have are when I miss a dose for a day or two, other than that I don't see a reason not to take it. My endo has also reccommended I stay on something due to being hypo?!

Edit to add: My dose has stayed the same the entire time, no ups no downs which is great

AMahfouz67

I have been on and off zoloft for too long. I have been taking it for the last 3 years straight and have no side effects - I too had a total thyroidectomy. The only side effects I have are when I miss a dose for a day or two, other than that I don't see a reason not to take it. My endo has also reccommended I stay on something due to being hypo?!

Edit to add: My dose has stayed the same the entire time, no ups no downs which is great

Thanks!! Very good to know from someone with similar situation!

reneeot

And I feel like my depression wasn't uncontrollable,

Ask your loved ones around you. Do they feel you are significantly different/changed? Are you affected every day? Do you have bouts throughout the day?

Ask dr about other options, maybe homeopathic.

Meds can vary per person, works great for one, not the other, You might have to try more than one kind. When I developed severe anxiety after traumatic back surgery. It took 6 weeks for them to find right drug for me. I also had weekly counseling(Cognitive Behavorial Therapy. Therapy very important factor to not relying on drug and being able to get off the meds.. I was on drugs for 1 year. I still use the techniques of CBT in my life whenever I have excessive stress or life's problems.

Mental health is important, being thin and depressed is not a happy thing. Being overweight and depressed is not a happy thing. Hang in there! You can manage through this! You are not alone in this ordeal, it is something many have dealt with.

:flowerforyou:

inside_lap

Hypothyroidism causes symptoms similar to depression. If you are not on medications for this, you may want to speak with you provider. Zoloft is a pretty common treatment for people with low mood. Have you considered therapy? Research shows that psychotherapy does the same kind of chemical changes in the brain as psychopharmological interventions. Good luck.

GothyFaery

I was put on Zoloft as a teen, it wasn't my choice. While I will say that I was in some very dark places, I don't feel the Zoloft helped. My mood off medication would have highs and lows and yes the lows sucked but on medication I felt like my mood never moved. Everything was just steady. Some people might think this is great but I want to have those highs and I never did on medication.

I've been off it for some time now, 7 or 8 years and there are still sometimes I wonder if maybe I should be on something but I never have super low days and I rarely have 2 low days in a row. I don't know, for me I would just rather take the good with the bad. I would love to never feel low again but not if it means I don't get to be happy either.

I'm not telling you what you should do as far as to take it or not but I am sharing my experience with it. You really should talk to your doctor about your concerns. If you feel like he's not listening and just trying to shove pills down your throat find a different doctor.

inside_lap

If you are considering psychopharmological interventions, please consider working with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practionier and NOT just with you primary care provider. See specialist. They can tell you the pros and cons of a lot of different medications (yes, there are WAY more then just one med out there and they interact with different neurotransimitters, receptor sites, etc). And as my last post stated, please consider seeing a therapist.

KornishPiskie

Hello,

Have you had your thyroid bloods checked recently? http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/pregnancy-and-thyroid-disease/ . This is a great website with loads of info. I am hypothyroid myself and if I forget to take my meds in the best way for me I have a very bad day (today is one of them) What are you taking eltroxin or NDT? During pregnancy you are supposed to up your thyroid meds and it seems while you are nursing also.

This sounds to me like a medication adjustment is needed for your thyroid meds. If your doctor says your bloods are "normal" please find out your actual results as this can make a huge difference. I was told my bloods were "normal" for years and have suffered for it. Zoloft is only gonna cover up what needs to be addressed.

A great forum is run by Thyroid UK (who are a fabulous charity) and can be found here: https://healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk
These women saved me. I promise you it is worth joining and ask what others in your situation have done. They are all lovely and really want to help. Nobody puts anyone down and all questions are taken seriously.

amflautist

A new documentary on the side effects of Zoloft and Paxil has just been released. I was stunned at how much drug companies have known, and hidden from us, about suicidal and homicidal side effects of antidepressants. Zoloft in particular.

Here is a link to the documentary -- http://www.linktv.org/programs/dark-side-pill

shireeniebeanie

Doctor.

That being said, it did make a huge difference in my life and didn't cause weight gain. Better living through chemistry.

numinousnymph

i've been taking zoloft for about ten years. weight gain was not a symptom for me (i just gained weight from eating too much, haha). as far as withdrawals go, they will taper you off of it when they deem that you don't need it anymore. tapering off really reduces the chances of having any kind of withdrawals.

RunningMyPugandPapi

I just stopped my Zoloft last week. Withdrawals were not great, but I was able to work (just tired and generally dizzy). Not sure about the weight gain worry - Zoloft decreased my hunger. I probably lost 5-10 pounds on it.

I love Zoloft - it made a HUGE difference in my personal and professional life, and living without my anxiety symptoms for the first time in my life was incredible. I had no idea how bad it was until I got help. I will definitely be taking it again after my husband and I have had a few kids (psychiatrist recommended that I stop before trying to get pregnant).

shadowofender

Personally sertraline didn't work for me at all. It didn't help the moods, and I was just zombie like all the time. When my dose was lowered, I was WORSE on the medication than off. I transitioned off and rather than try a new medication I realized that what I deal with is under control for the most part without drugs. However, it can and iwll work for some people.

While I was on it I did not gain weight, and I didn't have any changes coming back off of it either. I was just a zombie. Got in two different car accidents, kept forgetting work passwords, etc.

cdahl383

I would consult your physician as none of us know your medical background and I doubt hardly anyone on here is an actual doctor.

My dad has taken Zoloft for years for his anxiety and he's perfectly fine. My wife takes Paxil for her anxiety and she feels fine as well. She has not gained or lost any weight since taking it. In reality I should probably be taking something like that as well for my anxiety but I seem to be able to control it pretty good so far on my own. If it gets worse I'll be taking something though.

Some people seem to have the idea that you are "weak" or "helpless" if you take a pill like Zoloft or Paxil, but anxiety and depression are real issues and have real effects in your life. If it is so bad that it starts to disrupt your life and take its toll on your relationships with people, then I see no reason why you wouldn't want to take something like that if its available.

But again, all of that stuff should really be discussed with your doctor. I'm an accountant, so I have no clue about medical stuff, I just have some secondhand experience with my wife and dad taking those types of medications. Good luck!