To Zoloft, or to not?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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.