Hi. I started Zoloft 25mg & my doc will be increasing it to 50mg this week. I started taking it 3 weeks ago. The initial terrible sleep, worse restless legs & increased anxiety is subsiding a bit; it was a starting dose because I cannot tolerate Wellbutrin, Prozac and Effexor didn’t help depression at all! I lost weight on Effexor but haven’t taken anything in almost 2 years. I’m already 30 lbs. heavier than I should be. I do not eat more when I’m depressed... anything positive would be helpful if someone out there has not gained weight... ;/. The reviews are terrible for weight gain on this drug.
Help! Afraid of possible weight gain Zoloft?
Question posted by crazygirl66 on 29 May 2018
Last updated on 18 October 2018
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5 Answers
Jminor321
18 Oct 2018
I've been on it for more than a year on the same dosage as you starting and still on. Yes it has made me gain a lot of weight but the positive effects out weigh the anxiety. Simple habits like working out and just eating healthier will for sure help. My advice is just to get a bike and start riding everyday! You'll be fine!
crazygirl66
18 Oct 2018
I had to stay on the 25mg because it makes me incredibly tired & unable to even drive on 37.5 mg. It has helped my depression I’d say 70% which is amazing because as I said before I’ve tried many many antidepressants . As far as my weight I think it the same even though I do eat less, but the trade off from being so depressed is so far worth it. Now if I could try another birth control pill that doesn’t make me psycho... holding off on that for now... ;(
BelieveInYou
4 June 2018
Like others have said, calm down. Over reacting will only cause stress. You should definitely ask your doc any concerns you have with this med however, from past experience, if you feel as if you will gain weight or retain water, then I would change your diet and start to exercise. Just taking walks is a start. After all we do have to start somewhere. Good luck!
Stephen Treloar
29 May 2018
Hi, for what it is worth I recall reduced appetite and no weight change while on Zoloft years ago. Reviews are often negatively biased as people are more likely to complain about something than write a positive testimonial I believe.
Good luck.
WildcatVet
29 May 2018
Hi, there, girl! ANY psychotropic drug can potentially cause weight gain in a few susceptible people and with some it can go either way but it affects <10% of all users:
"Zoloft:
METABOLIC:
Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia, increased/decreased appetite, weight increased/decreased"
As my friend, masso, pointed out Zoloft frequently causes weight loss.
My regards, Wildcat
PS, remember that exercise and restricting high calorie foods minimizes the chances of weight gain and helps you to lose weight. Hard to get up and get going when you're depressed but try just taking a nice walk every day. The exercize and distraction from your worries may help you see things in a different light.
crazygirl66
29 May 2018
Thank you Wildcat, I need to stop looking up all of the bad side effects people post... it is what it is.
WildcatVet
30 May 2018
Look them up, BUT, look at the percentages... far less than 10% of users of ALL medications suffer side effects. The reviews you read are written by this minority... the other 90+% are living normal happy lives and most are far too busy to be sitting around writing reviews.
Negativity goes a long way towards promoting unhappiness and discontent. Try embracing the positive. :-))
masso
29 May 2018
More common side effects of Zoloft are decreased appetite or weight loss.
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/zoloft-side-effects.html
Good luck,
crazygirl66
29 May 2018
Thank you Masso, I’m trying to calm down about the possibility. I’ve just never had good luck with psych meds for depression. Although I did take luvox years ago for OCD. That is now tolerable. I wish someone had a magic wand to tell us why we are depressed! I have no reason to be! And it’s not genetic for me as far as I know.
masso
29 May 2018
Relax, take it one step @ a time, try to be at least just a little bit happy and enjoy your life, give a try.
Related topics
zoloft, depression, weight loss (obesity/overweight), anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, restless legs syndrome, sleep disorders, major depressive disorder, sleep, weight, sleep disorder
Further information
- Zoloft uses and safety info
- Zoloft prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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