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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Weight gain with Zoloft. Will the gain stop and weight come off after stopping?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Weight gain with Zoloft. Will the gain stop and weight come off after stopping?
by Mt. Whitney, Sep 26, 2002 12:00AM
I'm 33 and just stopped taking 100mg of Zoloft after being on it for 4 months. It caused about 8 to 10 lbs of weight gain despite a great exercise program and good nutrition. I had never had a problem with weight gain previously and I'm in good shape. I even summited Mt. Whitney last month. The Zoloft also caused almost daily headaches. I am now experiencing terrible muscle aches and continued headaches. How long might this withdrawl last? And, will the weight gain stop? Will the weight come off with a sensible diet and good exercise, or is it likely to stick? Despite curing the depression, the Zoloft has been a very frustrating experience. I am currently taking no other medication and don't plan too since I'd like to become pregnant soon.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Sep 27, 2002 12:00AM
, Sep 27, 2002 12:00AM
I hope that you went off the Zoloft gradually. If so, the symptoms of headaches and muscle aches is greatly diminished. You should be free of symptoms, steadily decreasing, in about a month...hopefully sooner. The weight gain should also stop, but since you are pregnant, you will have to be sure you eat healthy while losing...sounds you are already aware of that.
THANKS FOR LISTENING,
KEN-KEN
From what I've learned from my doctor and others, you shouldn't just quit Zoloft cold turkey. You're supposed to taper off slowly to try and minimize the withdrawl effects. I was on a lower dose for much less time and even with tapering I experienced the "brain zaps". The good news is they went away in under 2 weeks. Without a doubt that was the strangest withdrawl symptom--very annoying! All I can say is hang in there until you find a new med (whether is Wellbutrin or not) that works for you. And, you should see your doc. Best of luck to you.
Mt. Whitney
my advice to you is to get out and start walking, do anything that gets you outside and into life. it seems that we zoloft users tend to either have too much energy or not enough. i am suffering from too much which causes me to have borderline panic or anxiety attacks. the only solution i have found is to start doing anything physical.
i hope this helped and i wish you the very best. good luck to all of us.