does anyone take/ or have taken Zoloft?

I went to my dr. this week because i'm having really bad anxiety and she prescribed me Zoloft.  I have a history of depression and have been on Antidepressants in the past but never felt like they did much to better my moods or keep me stable, and I've tried about 5 or 6. So she put me on Zoloft and ive read up on it..and apparently its one of the top anitdepr. that cause weight gain...

this can't happen. anyone have any side effects like this while taking this drug?

i wasnt on it but my sister was and so was a friend of mine. my friend gained a little bit of wight, about 5 or 10 lbs i think.
my sister did not but it bothered her in other ways so she stoped taking it. i dont think it effects all people that take it that way.

Yes, I had a serious increase in appetite, particularly cravings and just for mindless munching.  I wanted to eat all the time while taking it. 

I have been on and off zoloft for years. I really think it contributed to my weight gain. HOWEVER, it was wonderful for anxiety,bitchiness issues. I am a much calmer mommy on it. I am not taking it right now because I want to lose weight. At first like the first few weeks it curbed my appetite I didn't eat at much or anything. Then after about a month into it I craveb sweets. My doctor said the dosage amount had something to do with not being able to lose weight so he told me to decrease my dosage from 100 to 50 mg. I am trying to go without it though. Also, I think I was so darn happy when I was on it I didn't care if I was fat, if that makes any sense

I am on Zoloft too for about 8 years on and off. I don't know if it's actually increased my appetite, but it's definitely not helped my BED. I still want to eat all the time on it. I've actually lost weight on it, but I think it's been due to my bulimic tendencies.

ok my question is...if I continue working out and eating healthy ..can I still gain? I have heard that it doesn't matter if you eat less or more healthy than before you were on it..your body act differently and you gain weight.  I know it affects the hormones and your metab. but if I decrease my calories..wont that be sufficient to not gain?

Since you've tried so many different antidepressants, you're doctor probably prescribed Zoloft because it works on different chemicals in the brain...which is also why it can increase your appetite.  That being said, if you continue to work out regularly it usually helps to curb the cravings.  It also helps sometimes to keep reminding yourself that if you are having cravings, they are because of the medicine, not because you're hungry.  If those things don't balance out within 6 weeks you need to check with your doctor again because that may mean that your dosage is not correct.  It's one of those side effects that should go away or level off eventually, not last the whole time you're on the medicine.  Good luck, hope this helps.

My aunt has been taking it for years now. She has gained about 80 lbs. and has lost her bubbly personality. On the other hand, she never gets stressed out anymore, and I guess she is still married because of the drug :)

I was on zoloft for about 6 months and I actually lost weight-I went from 135 to 126.  Antidepressants are tricky and depending on your body type will affect that.  I was on zoloft for depression and for migraines (apparently it helps reduce them).  Some websites will say that you will gain weight and others will claim you will lose weight.  Same thing with birth control-I gained weight but I have heard people that tend to have larger frames that go on the pill actually loose weight!  If you start to gain weight I would get off of it.  Weight gained from medications is the hardest to lose.  Good luck!

Just read the drug monograph:

"Weight Loss–Significant weight loss may be an undesirable result of treatment with sertraline for some patients, but on average, patients in controlled trials had minimal, 1 to 2 pound weight loss, versus smaller changes on placebo."

Weight Gain is listed in the 'other reported effects'.  Which means in the Phase III trials used for the Monograph it was reported in about 1% of cases.

Another study that was done across a group of SSRI's (drugs of the same class) and found that on average, the weight gain was about 2.5% and only 14% of the patients gained more than 7%....out of the six SSRI's tested people taking Zoloft gained the least.

From a strictly probabilistic point-of-view you are more likely to lose a little weight on Zoloft than to gain it.

 

I have taken zoloft for 6 years for horrible anxiety so bad that I couldn't eat.  The first thing I noticed after only 8 days of taking a low dose, was that my appetite came back.  Then I gained a little weight...then a little more.  I ended up a few pounds overweight so I  started to diet.  I lost about 22 pounds while dieting and taking zoloft BUT it is a constant battle with hunger pangs and cravings.  Also, I firmly believe that Zoloft slows your metabolism and you have to do aerobic exercise at least 3 times a day to keep your metab. reved up. 

My dose is still very low...about 40mg. But For the first time in several years, I started gaining weight . This summer nothing had changed about my diet...but, my exercise had changed.  I only had time to work out once a day for 30 minutes which for me, is not enough.  So I have gained 4 pounds since July.  My caloric intake is 1200 a day.  I track everything that I eat with dieting software so i know that I'm accurate.

I am also sleepy ALOT because of the zoloft...that was and still is the 2nd biggest side effect from it.

Weight loss or even maintaining a desirable weight for me is really a challenge because of the zoloft.  My doctor said I might have to accept being a little heavier than I'd like.

Though weight loss is not impossible while taking this SSRI, it is definitely lots of work...and takes tons of self control.

I used to be on it... I actually started to gain weight once I stopped using zoloft. So I don't know really. I think it might depend on the person

I've never been on it, but I was offered it by my therapist way back when. I've since worked my anxiety out (for the most part) but my dad was on it. I don't believe he gained weight. He just slept a lot.

I say go for it, take it, and see how it effects you personally. If you're unhappy with the results, then talk to your doctor about switching to a different kind. But if it works for you, then heck don't pass up a possible apatite increase to continue feeling anxiety ridden. I know how not much fun anxiety can be. It takes over your life.

I'm not a doctor, nor have I taken it, but if you don't increase your diet and activity level, then gaining weight doesn't sound like a possibility.  

I was on it briefly and it made me gain, but I knew other people who didn't experience that at all. It just depends on how your body reacts.

Did u end up gaining weight from it..? Im starting to take zoloft today..I used to take Paxil and didnt gain weight with that. But i seriously dont want to gain weight after all the hard work ive done and now that im so close to my goal weight!

I was on very high (250mg) doses of Zoloft for years, I found it initially caused some weight gain- about 5lbs, but after a couple months as my body started to regulate i found weight just poured off then leveled off.  I didn't experience any real weight gain until they started to take me off it.

As a drug it worked wonders for my sleplessness and anxiety, and it really lifted my mood as well without feeling manic or super lifted like some other anti-depressants had.

Good luck and get to feeling better soon.

I just stared zoloft 50mg 2 weeks ago. I have noticed a difference already in my mood swings...however prior to going on zoloft I joined weight watchers to try to loose about 15 pounds. I had lost 7 within 2 weeks and thought "Awesome I am almost there"...than I started the zoloft! I gained 2 pounds the first week....and maintained the 2nd week. Funny thing is zoloft has decreased my appetite and I am eating the lowest end of my points and exercising everyday for 20-30 mint on my elliptical....so I should be loosing not gaining! I know it is not much but I think it will continue if I do not try something different...so I have called my DR. and asked them about Wellbutrin. The nurse said that zoloft does contribute to weight gain in most patients...it slows down your metabolism. It did not even occur to me before going on this that weight gain would be a side effect...had I known I would have never started this particular drug. Anyhow...I hear great things about the wellbutrin and one of the side effects is weight loss....and it does not effect your libido! So I am all for trying it out :)