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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jen on April 15, 2000, at 14:12:20
Hi everyone I have been on 50mg of Zoloft for 3 weeks now. I'm taking it for Depression. I don't feel any differnt yet. I'm trying to be patient. It's hard though. I thought I would feel better in 2 weeks. Now I'm on over 3 and still no results. I go back to the doctor next week maybe he will have to up my dose. Maybe (i hope) that will help. Anyway I have a question about weight and Zoloft and any feed back would be great. I know that it says on the zoloft list of side effects that weight loss is possible. It says nothing of weight gain. However I have read many things on Zoloft and alot of users say they have gained weight while taking it. I am wondering if anyone here that is on Zoloft or has been on it before had problems with weight gain or weight loss? If this drug causes weight gain I'm not sure I want to continue taking it. I don't want to gain weight. And besides SUMMER IS ON THE WAY!!! :-)
Also I hear so much "Bad" reports from others that have taken zoloft, and I would like to hear from the people that have had GOOD experiences with this drug. Although I would like to hear from the people that have had bad experiences as well, I am beginning to wonder if this drug works for Anyone at all. All I keep hearing is bad things. Thanks for you time and thanks for your response in advance! Take care everyone! :-)
Posted by Cam W. on April 15, 2000, at 14:55:08
In reply to Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Jen on April 15, 2000, at 14:12:20
Jen - Have patience. You didn't become depressed overnight, so you cannot expect the drug to work that fast. The drug must first fix the connections between you nerve cells, to get the electricity from one nerve to another flowing properly, again (a readjusting of your serotonin neurons and an upregulation of the glucocorticoid receptors of the HPA axis, etc.). This readjustment takes time.The "two weeks to feeling better" rule of thumb is just that; a rule of thumb. Some people do not see an improvement for 6 to 8 weeks. Do not give up; successful resolution of your depressive symptoms may be a week or two away. Give it some more time.
Ask your doctor about an increase in dose the next time you see him/her. Some people need between 100mg and 200mg to see an effect.
Weight gain is possible with Zoloft, but so is weight loss. It really depends on your body chemistry. Eat a balanced diet and engage in some vigorous exercise a couple of times a week and the weight gain will probably not be an issue. The exercise and eating properly will also help to resolve your depressive symptoms; drugs cannot do that alone, usually. I do not think I would choose depression over gaining 5 pounds, no matter how good my hairy body looked in a string bikini ;^)
You have to take an active role in your recovery as well (eg therapy or counseling - the antidepressant is only a bandage so that the counseling will have some effect).
The Zoloft may not be the right antidepressant for you, but you have to give it an adequate trial period to be able to tell.
Good luck and keep us posted. - Cam W.
Posted by Jen on April 15, 2000, at 16:29:08
In reply to Re: Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Cam W. on April 15, 2000, at 14:55:08
Cam, thanks for your response. I guess it's just very easy to get discouraged when everything I read about Zoloft sounds bad. Seems to me noone has anything good to say about it. There are so many bad things I have heard, from Shakes to Weight Gain, and then I have heard so many say that it isn't even working for them. I wish so bad to hear from someone saying that the Zoloft works great for them. It's really easy to be discouarged.
I am going to stick with though. Trust me there. I know 5lbs is nothing compared to being depressed but I have heard of many saying they have gained 40, 50, even 60lbs!!! I don't want to even put myself in that position to gain that much weight!
I just pray this medicine helps me because I get so impatient easily.
Thanks so much for your response and the info. It was very helpful to me and gave me some hope to hang in there. Thanks again! And don't worry I will keep you posted on my progress. I go to my doc on the 21st and I will talk to him about raising the dose to 100mg to see if that helps. Keep your fingers crossed! :-)
Posted by Cam W. on April 15, 2000, at 16:41:40
In reply to Re: Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Jen on April 15, 2000, at 16:29:08
Jen - For what it's worth, I know of a number of people (>10) who have successfully recovered from a single bout of Major Depressive Disoder. Several others have been using it successfully as maintenance therapy to prevent recurrent depression, OCD, anxiety disorder, panic disorder and a few unspecified treatments (>20 people). I have also seen it not work in several people (>20) or even sometimes make the depression worse. That is the wonderful thing about being human; we are all so different and wonderful, each in our own way. Good luck - Cam W.
(p.s. the weight gain I see is not as bad with Zoloft, on average, than is seen with some other SSRIs - again, this is very much individual).
Posted by Julie on April 15, 2000, at 18:31:21
In reply to Re: Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Cam W. on April 15, 2000, at 16:41:40
Jen-
Zoloft worked great for me -- and for a lot of other people I know. Within a month of beginning it, I went from being an unhappy person, on a meds combo which only partly worked, to feeling "normal"-- in fact, good. It gave me my life back! I did gain a lot of weight over the next year of taking it, and that was frustrating. But I stayed on it, 'cause being undepressed was worth it. (Therapy and exercise help the depression too, but I'm someone who needs medication in conjunction with therapy/exercise/living a healthy life...)
Posted by kazoo on April 15, 2000, at 23:06:18
In reply to Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Jen on April 15, 2000, at 14:12:20
Greetings to Jen,
kazoo
Posted by Sean on April 16, 2000, at 17:25:00
In reply to Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Jen on April 15, 2000, at 14:12:20
> Hi everyone I have been on 50mg of Zoloft for 3 weeks now. I'm taking it for Depression. I don't feel any differnt yet. I'm trying to be patient. It's hard though. I thought I would feel better in 2 weeks. Now I'm on over 3 and still no results. I go back to the doctor next week maybe he will have to up my dose. Maybe (i hope) that will help. Anyway I have a question about weight and Zoloft and any feed back would be great. I know that it says on the zoloft list of side effects that weight loss is possible. It says nothing of weight gain. However I have read many things on Zoloft and alot of users say they have gained weight while taking it. I am wondering if anyone here that is on Zoloft or has been on it before had problems with weight gain or weight loss? If this drug causes weight gain I'm not sure I want to continue taking it. I don't want to gain weight. And besides SUMMER IS ON THE WAY!!! :-)
> Also I hear so much "Bad" reports from others that have taken zoloft, and I would like to hear from the people that have had GOOD experiences with this drug. Although I would like to hear from the people that have had bad experiences as well, I am beginning to wonder if this drug works for Anyone at all. All I keep hearing is bad things. Thanks for you time and thanks for your response in advance! Take care everyone! :-)I've had very good results with zoloft, almost too
good in a way. Weight gain is a problem, as is the
libido thing. It also gives me acne for some reason.
I guess you could say it makes me go from a skinny,
sexually hungry, depressed guy with nice skin to a
happy, overweight, zit-faced guy with zero sex drive.The happiness seems worth it though. And I'm working on
the weight thing through diet and exercise. As for
the sexual side effects, well, I'm trying to be
patient about it. Oddly, although my physical response
to sex is diminished, I would say my sense of eroticism
and capacity for romantic attachment is higher. I
would choose being able to feel this over orgasm
any day. Depression doesn't really help ones ability
to love, so I'm trying to see the bigger picture.Best of luck,
Sean.
Posted by Joy on April 17, 2000, at 3:19:45
In reply to Re: Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Sean on April 16, 2000, at 17:25:00
Jen,
For me the Zoloft took me from a black & white world into a world of color.
It is easy to get on ..though more difficult to get off..once you don't
need it any longer.
Not everyone needs anti-depressants for a lifetime. I asked my Dr. about
the weight I gained (I had read that weight loss was a side effect)
and he told me that since I was happier I was more relaxed,hence the weight
gain,....(20 lbs. meds./30 lbs. all by myself).Study,research,talk,e-mail,join groups and get all the info. you can. Also,
check into alternatives. Different people react differently to the many
drugs/natural alternatives that are out there.
You'll find what is best for you. This is a good place to get alot of
different views.Joy
Posted by CT on April 17, 2000, at 15:20:09
In reply to Zoloft; Weight Gain? Has this Drug helped anyone?, posted by Jen on April 15, 2000, at 14:12:20
> I am on 150mg of Zoloft a day and it has been 2 months and I am feeling fantastic. I haven't felt this good in a long long time. I am happy, able to concentrate, feel like everything in my life is normal and that I can handle everything and anything that comes my way (no longer feel overwhelmed by everything). Everyone has different reactions. I am a very small woman who ways 105 and I have not gained an ounce!! I have not lost weight though either!!! Good luck let us know how you are doing!!
This is the end of the thread.
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