About to start Zoloft.

TheUnwritten
TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
edited October 2014 in Health and Weight Loss
Just wondering if anyone ever tried this AD? I'm kinda worried about the weight gain effect but I'm currently in a bulk right now trying to add muscle. I just dont want to get super huge. I've read that people can gain lots of weight on this. I'm also on Wellbrutin. What were you're experiences with this AD?
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Replies

  • PaigeO88
    PaigeO88 Posts: 6 Member
    Not sure about Zoloft, but I gained 20 pounds on Lexapro, and my doctor told me that Zoloft was worse in terms of weight gain than Lexapro...
  • Elsie_Brownraisin
    Elsie_Brownraisin Posts: 786 Member
    edited October 2014
    Just because weight gain is listed as a side effect, it doesn't mean it will necessarily happen.

    I don't take antidepressants, but I take other medication that is notorious for weight gain and it didn't happen to me. Granted, they caused horrible acne, which happens less frequently than weight gain, but acne I got.

    You also have to consume the excess calories, you won't gain weight otherwise and the medication making you more hungry, thirsty or agitated is what leads to weight gain for some. What the medication may give you though, is the energy and wherewithal to get some exercise and treat your body well with nutritious food. That may counterbalance things.

    Sorry I can't be of help regarding that specific medication and hope things get better for you soon.
  • Sassy9411
    Sassy9411 Posts: 67 Member
    Hi, I am on Zoloft currently and I can say that I have not seen any weight gain happening. I have been on it for about a month and the only side effect I have is sleepiness.
  • caminoslo
    caminoslo Posts: 239 Member
    Yes I didnt like it it made me hungry constantly, insomnia, and weird headzaps. and eating lead to weight gain. after 3 months i quit Cold turkey.
  • TheUnwritten
    TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
    Thanks for the replies I appreciate it. I'm always very nervous on starting new meds cause of the crazy side effects. I was terrified when I started wellbrutin cause I read so many negative effects on others but turned out for me it wasn't so bad.
  • HopHead28
    HopHead28 Posts: 180 Member
    edited October 2014
    I gained quite a bit of weight on Zoloft but it was more-so because I stopped caring about important things in my life. It took the highs and lows away and those were what I used to keep myself in check. Once those went away I didn't care about what I ate and could have cared less if I was active -- I stopped caring about me. I woke up one day many, many pounds later and decided that working out is my AD and that I was going to get off of Zoloft and deal with anxiety the way that has always worked best for me. That was the best AD decision I made.
  • independant2406
    independant2406 Posts: 447 Member
    I used to take Zoloft and didn't notice any weight gain. However I'm one of a percentage of people who had an adverse reaction to it...it made my depression and anxiety much worse instead of better.

    Just keep a diary of your moods and use MFP to log your eating habits and weight fluctuations and discuss any concerns with your doctor. I know people who have been on Zoloft for years without an issue.

    Others (like me) have to try out a few different medications to find the right fit for their AD. As long as your conscious of what food you consume, and patient through the initial weeks as your body adjusts there shouldn't be any drastic consequences.
  • RunningMyPugandPapi
    RunningMyPugandPapi Posts: 26 Member
    Zoloft had the opposite effect on me. It made me far less hungry (which probably means that I was hungry/eating because of the anxiety, not because of actual hunger). I had a really good experience with it overall (unfortunately I had to stop because we are trying to concieve, but I plan to go back on it as soon as I can).
  • stonegirldancing42
    stonegirldancing42 Posts: 76 Member
    Good luck to you w/the med. Recently started an AD myself and luckily, appetite didn't increase.
  • blossomingbutterfly
    blossomingbutterfly Posts: 743 Member
    I gained on Zoloft. I gained on Wellburtin. I was exercising 2hrs a day M-F, I was eating 1300 cal/a day. Still gained. But that was me...
  • ethompso0105
    ethompso0105 Posts: 418 Member
    edited October 2014
    I was on Zoloft for years. It was exactly what I needed to help deal with my migraines (it also helped with mild depression). Unfortunately, it did cause weight gain for me. That being said, I wasn't terribly overweight at that time, as well as much younger. I wasn't as worried about it then.
    caminoslo wrote: »
    Yes I didnt like it it made me hungry constantly, insomnia, and weird headzaps. and eating lead to weight gain. after 3 months i quit Cold turkey.

    FYI: Never go off of meds cold-turkey without consulting your doctor. I tried this once with my Zoloft. Bad move. I had terrible side effects from dropping it. Just be careful. :smile:
  • TheUnwritten
    TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
    Good luck to you as well. My appetite decreased the first few weeks on wellbrutin. literally had to make myself eat something. It helped me for a bit but I was noticing the calm effects were wearing off which is why I'm now adding zoloft at a dose of 25mg.
  • _crafty_
    _crafty_ Posts: 1,682 Member
    I've been on Zoloft since April. I haven't had any weight gain issues. Only side effects I had when I first started it was a little sleepiness and my eyes were dry for about a week.

    I have found Zoloft to be night and day different from Lexapro. Lexapro only mildly helped with my anxiety and OCD which didn't make it worth the other side effects I was dealing with. Zoloft is SOOOO MUCH better and I don't have any side effects beyond what I had the first couple weeks.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    _crafty_ wrote: »
    I've been on Zoloft since April. I haven't had any weight gain issues. Only side effects I had when I first started it was a little sleepiness and my eyes were dry for about a week.

    I have found Zoloft to be night and day different from Lexapro. Lexapro only mildly helped with my anxiety and OCD which didn't make it worth the other side effects I was dealing with. Zoloft is SOOOO MUCH better and I don't have any side effects beyond what I had the first couple weeks.

    As someone else with OCD I found out that all antidepressants have the opposite effect on me. They made me manic (awake for days, spending money, compulsions worse, no appetite, personally changes).

    All I can take is benzodiazepines (clonazepam and Ativan for panic attacks) and exposure/CBT.

    OP, I would see if therapy is also an option as I personally believe most psychiatrist's over prescribe antidepressants in those without true clinical depression. Definitely explore your options and don't just stop any medication prescribed. Many people who DO have true clinical depression take a few different drugs to find one that works well for them.
  • corinne1977
    corinne1977 Posts: 142 Member
    I was on Zoloft and gained 20-25 lbs. in 6 momths. I switched to Wellbutrin about 3 months ago and have lost 15 lbs of those pounds so far.
  • rivka_m
    rivka_m Posts: 1,007 Member
    I was on Zoloft about 15 years ago, maybe more, and I don't remember gaining any weight. I was very thin at the time so it probably would have been noticeable. So it certainly doesn't happen to everyone.

    Now if you want to talk about what prednisone did to my weight... *shudder*

    And, definitely, as Rainbowbow said if Zoloft doesn't work or causes unacceptable side effects there are several similar drugs that you can also try that are just different enough that they may work better. And if you're on Zoloft for depression, look into getting therapy as well if you can afford it. And research types of therapy - I was helped most by therapists who were just aiming to help me cope with everyday life, not uncover the root of the issue, but YMMV.
  • MuddyEquestrian
    MuddyEquestrian Posts: 366 Member
    I was on an SSRI for a couple months and while I did not necessarily gain weight from it I found it very hard to lose. I stopped it cold turkey (please do NOT do this without medical supervision) and found other ways to cope. Since stopping I've "easily" lost 12lbs and continue to lose with diet alone. I do think it played a minor part in me struggling to lose the weight in one way or another. I now go to a Reiki practitioner and practice yoga and it has worked well for me! Good luck!
  • rjmudlax13
    rjmudlax13 Posts: 900 Member
    My suggestion is to just try it. Make sure you have follow up appointments with a good medical professional (preferably one who specializes in ADs). Be honest with them and make sure you let them know about any side effects. Also, let them know about the concern with the possible weight gain. Different people react differently to these meds. I can't stress enough about working closely with a professional. If Zoloft doesn't work out you can always try a different one under the supervision of a pro. Don't give up. It will be worth it in the end by finding the right med for you.
  • jess_blonde
    jess_blonde Posts: 229 Member
    I dropped weight like no ones business when I started Zoloft in high school for anxiety. I think I probably lost 15lbs after starting it...not sure why, my eating habits/exercise didn't change, I just dropped weight. I was on a heavy hitting dose (the specialist I saw bumped me from 50mg/day to 200mg/day over the course of a couple weeks) so I dunno...maybe I'm just special?

    Definitely work with your MD (preferably a psychologist who knows these things inside and out) and remember that it takes 6 weeks at a proper dose to see results. Good luck!
  • slider728
    slider728 Posts: 1,494 Member
    I took Zoloft and personally, I do not recall any weight gain. Then again, I was pretty big to begin with and I was not watching what I ate, so a few extra pounds one way or another wouldn't have caught my attention.

    That was the only AD I ever took and it was for a bad case of SAD. I found a fairly low dose to be very effective for me. ADs saved me, but as I tell people, they are a powerful drug. I would rather have quit smoking 10 times over than to quit antidepressants again.
  • sheahughes
    sheahughes Posts: 133 Member
    I've been on Sertraline (non-brand Zoloft) for almost 10 years now. I started it after being diagnosed with depression when my son was 9 months old or so - it probably should have been diagnosed earlier and as PPD but that's a whole other story.

    I have both put on weight and successfully lost weight whilst on the Sertraline. Branded Zoloft made me feel like I was on uppers - I was sleeping very lightly, taking a long time to fall asleep and waking early as well as feeling as though my eyes were hot and gritty and then finally I had diarrhoea (ick!) I also felt as though I was perpetually smiling to the point my cheek muscles started to hurt.

    Anyway, back to Sertraline. Any weight gain whilst on Sertraline has been solely on me - STAHM to start with, no exercise and overeating plus junk food. Working Mum next, no exercise outside of work and overeating. Fast forward to 2010/2011 and I lost 20 kilos, dropped from size 16 jeans to size 10 and was exercising regularly and eating within 1800 calories a day.

    Then I got slack and stopped exercising/eating well and added a helluva lot of calories in the form of scotch after a bad breakup and piled the weight back on.

    Was Sertraline to blame? Nope. My weight loss and gains were my own. Personally, I think it would've been much worse if I wasn't on the Sertraline over that time. There have been some really low points when I've trialled going off it (with medical permission) and I've found that without it, I'm the type of person to fly off the handle at the drop of a hat.

    Good luck OP and all others who take medication to make it through each day.
  • Patttience
    Patttience Posts: 975 Member
    Meds and their side-effects aside for a moment, be aware that a bit of depression does increase appetite. You can notice it near the onset. So unless you notice a sudden increase in appetite and weight gain when you start zoloft, its probably not going to be the reason for any gains you notice further down the track. Side effects tend to show up straight away and some times fizzle out as with many antidepressants such as nausea and dizziness. They are not likely to show up down the track.
  • TheUnwritten
    TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
    Thanks everyone for the advice I appreciate all the input. My mind is more at ease on the zolft.
  • TheLittleFangs
    TheLittleFangs Posts: 205 Member
    Hi there, I was on Sertraline for a while and actually the opposite happened with me! I found I had very little appetite and unfortunately I had a really upset stomach (literally every time I ate). I lost 10lbs in two weeks and was taken off it. Weird as I had been fine with other ssri's. Anyway, just to say whilst weight gain is a risk with most ADs following a controlled diet with exercise it is possible to lose / maintain just slower. I say this having also been on mirtazipine and olanzipine known for 'gross weight gain' I did gain on those (not on the ssri's) but even then it was like 12lb and plateaued and I was then able to slowly lose. Overall your health is more important. Take care :)
  • Vina4
    Vina4 Posts: 23 Member
    I was on Zoloft (for PTSD) and while I don't remember weight gain. I do remember getting severe depression to the point of wanting to cut myself again that I hadn't had in forever. But, it could of been the combo for taking me off Trazadone and putting me on Zoloft. Needless to say I took myself off the Zoloft and put myself back on Trazdone. But, I also talked to my Dr;s nurse who said it was okay what I did as well. Then she scheduled me an appt. with my doctor later that week lol.
  • Maleficent0241
    Maleficent0241 Posts: 386 Member
    All those meds are a crapshoot in terms of what side effects (if any) you'll get. I had really bad issues on other meds, but so far Zoloft has been weight neutral for me (I'm a few months into my second time on it). Of course my experience means nothing for you :) just keep an eye on things so you can mitigate any issues before they get out of hand.
  • bookworm_847
    bookworm_847 Posts: 1,903 Member
    I was on Zoloft for a while. I didn't gain any weight with it. However, part of that might be that all I wanted to do was sleep while I was taking it, haha.
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    I'm on a small dose of an SSRI. I did gain weight on it, but was glad to as my depression and anxiety had shut my appetite down and I had become positively scrawny.

    My depression and anxiety episode was bad enough that any weight gain was worth the positive effects of the SSRI. Your mental health and well-being need to come before your weight.
  • TheUnwritten
    TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
    Not sure if its a placebo or what. I'm already feeling some positive effects. My mind is clear. I'm not feeling depressed and my anxiety is almost non existent. Its been 7 days since I started. I have been having a really tough time falling and staying asleep since starting this med. My appetite is still the same as well as my weight but I'm expecting some weight gain since I'm bulking up at the moment. I'm really thankful for your replies. I will continue with this dose for a few more weeks and see how it goes.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    I was on Effexor a few years ago and lost a lot of weight while I was on it. My physician was shocked because all of his other patients on it always gained, but I guess my depression was that bad. I did end up quitting the medication cold turkey (without tapering) and that was A. VERY. BAD. IDEA. So if you find you're not happy with the side effects, work with your doctor to switch to something else in a safe manner.

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