Do I Make the Switch?

[RT93]

Hi,
Again having issues with Zoloft!

Finally, I have felt like I had fully adjusted and comfortable on Zoloft. Felt good kind of for 3 weeks. Although, I feel better in the head, and less depressed, I been having the side effects kicking my butt. My acid reflux which I take Protonix twice a day for has been really bad. I have been having small stomach aches,belching, esophagus feels clogged, feel shortness of breath, sometimes burning in chest. Gaviscon liquid and Protonix have only helped some.
Another side effect less important to the reflux is sex. Never had an antidepressant effect my sex life as much as zoloft has. I never feel in the mood for it and I feel bad for my partner who is younger and has needs too. Even seeing good looking people doesn't arouse me anymore. It feels weird to be only 25 and have these issues.

So I'm stuck now on what to do. Pill finally helps me mentally but destroys others things. Do I risk switching and going through withdraw trial and error horror or do I try some other things to help reflux and sex life.

[Paxiled]

I'm not really sure the Zoloft has anything to do with acid reflux.  Antidepressants do often cause digestive problems, but not usually that particular one.  I think you've posted before, and reflux and i think it was suggested to you that the reflux part of your problems is probably related to your diet and the way you eat and going to bed too soon after eating, etc.  I believe you said this existed before the Zoloft.  Usually the digestion problems with antidepressants are problems with going to the bathroom, either too little or too much, if you get my drift.  So again, I think this part of your problem is better controlled by natural medicine and changes to your eating lifestyle, as medication tends to make it stick around if you take it regularly because that digestive system really does have to produce that acid or you can't digest protein or minerals and you have to do that to live so your body will continue to fight back against the suppression until you change something.  The sexual problem is another story -- this is a common problem.  One way to solve it is to add wellbutrin to your Zoloft, assuming the Zoloft is working so well it's worth taking two drugs instead of one and assuming the wellbutrin doesn't increase your anxiety, as it can do that.  But you're kind of right, if you can't find a way to mentally tap into something that really turns you on then this might just not be the right med for you.  That bites, but it might be the case.  My sexual dysfunction, more common with men, is taking a really really long time to reach orgasm.  I did find ways to overcome this by finding ways to get there, but if you get what women usually get, which is disinterest in sex entirely, again, it might be that it's just not the right med for you.  Good luck.