Side effects of Zoloft

[the love bug]

I was recently diagnosed with OCD and anxiety.  My doctor has put me on Zoloft 100mg daily and Klonopin 0.5mg twice a day.  I am afraid to start either medication.  I know that sounds Crazy!!! but I have been searching the internet over for info on these 2 drugs for the past 2 days but would really like some real people to tell me their experiences with these.  Most of my OCD and anxiety issues revolve around health issues/illness.... I am obsessed with thoughts of death/dying and the "what if's" and the worse part is that I am a nurse and have been for 15 yrs............soooooooo, I really have to deal with these things on a daily basis.  My OCD and anxiety have gotten considerably worse over the past 6 months - 1 yr and I am not really sure why (I have an idea but am not100% for sure).  I have a really hard time making any kind of decisions for fear that it will be the wrong one....I am in misery but too afraid to start the meds (I know, irrational, huh?)...............  Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

[ILADVOCATE]

I take Klonopin for dystonic spasms. I have taken it for 10 years. I haven't really had a problem with it. A person just has to take it responsibly as prescribed. As for Zoloft I haven't taken anti-depressents for use for ocd and can't because I have the bipolar aspect of schizoaffective but I have some remaining obsessive symptoms that might respond to them. If you want to know about the SSRI anti-depressents like Zoloft "Depression Central" is a good site. As for medications in general there's a lot of misinformation out there. If you want the straight truth go to the medication website but remember any side effect you see under "adverse reactions" could have been noted in one or two people. Don't base medication decisions on that. Just come to a better understanding of  your treatment and then have a close conversation with your psychiatrist.

[DumbHick]

I can relate to not wanting to take meds. I do take zoloft (50mg) and have for quite some time. Often my therapist suggests either taking a higher dosage or switching meds. For me to switch is like asking me to lop my arm off with a rusty butter knife. I just don't want to do it. My rational is how do I know if I'm truly getting better through therapy if I mask the symptoms? My goal is to be med free if possible. If you're curious about side effects as far as Zoloft is concerned, I can give you a few that I've dealt with personally. It has made me restless, yet fatiqued at the same time. It slows your metabolism so you need to be careful with your diet to avoid unnecessary weight gain. It has lowered my libido and while I still can have sex it's not nearly as pleasurable as before. Dry mouth, eyes and initially an upset stomach. I don't want to sound like I'm discouraging you from taking Zoloft because it does have its merits as well. It will curb your anxiety and lessen your OCD thoughts.

[DILOPHOSAURUS]

I was on Zoloft 100 mg I got weird and did not even want people to touch me then I was changed to 50mg and it helped me a lot.  The first 6 or so weeks while I was getting use to it things were weird with my body like teeth grinding, really disliking sex and other such symptoms.
After I got use to taking the med I was pleased and can say I knew for probably the first time in my life what it must feel like to be normal.  I would still have a few symptoms of my illnesses but they were not consuming.  
I out on a few pounds and figures it was form being happier and not moping around and going to bed with out dinner.  next thing I knew I put on over 20 lb.  I went from 108 to 132 in about 6 months.  I know this might not happen to you but it did for me and that made me very depressed.