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Question: What Are The Long Term Side Effects Of Zoloft?
I have been taking Zoloft for four years. I currently take a 25 mil dose per day, but I worry about long-term side effects. My doctor says may dosage is so small that I shouldn't worry, but I still do. Does anyone know any adverse effects caused by long-term use?
Answer #1
Hello. I have been taking Zoloft for approximately 1 1/2 years. I began at 50 mg and have worked my way up to 100 mg daily. During this time, I found that the medication did not work as well after a few months and had to be increased. At 100 mg I do well, but my appetite is very healthy. So much so that I have put on 25 pounds since that time. I too am wondering if anyone has had long-term effects.
Answer #2
I have been taking Zoloft for two years now with one break in between. I am also interested in knowing then long term side effects of this is drug. I have noticed that sometimes I zone out and can't concentrate on anything at all (not to mention getting very forgetful). Also, I sometimes get dizzy and my hands and legs feel weak and they get shaky. I have also had night sweats almost every night since I started. The thing is, I never experienced the forgetfulness or the shakiness and the zoning out until just a couple months ago. I'm afraid it might get worse soon! Help! I'm only 18 and have my whole life ahead of me, but without the Zoloft I feel irritable and miserable. I need answers now!!! Please.
Answer #3
I started off by taking Celexa for panic attacks, which I don't think helped because I still had the panic attacks while taking the medication. I stopped taking Celexa after experiencing a serious side effect from a medication I was given for indigestion. I entered into a psychiatric hospital for 4 days. That's where they put me on the medication Zoloft so I could cope with the depression I was having due to the awful side effects.
I've been on Zoloft for four months now. I started off taking 25mg and I'm now taking 75mg. It seems that my body gets used to it and it's not enough, so the depression gets worse so I have to increase my dose after taking it for awhile. I'm still experiencing side effects, which the psychiatrist said are probably long term side effects from the medication I took five months ago. We can't tell if my side effects are from my depression or if they were possibly triggered from the medication or if it's just side effects from taking the medication.
My side effects are twitching of my legs and arms, distorted vision, arms and legs feel like spaghetti, feeling of unreality, constant headache, dizziness, forgetfulness, and nausea just to name a few. I'm currently seeing a doctor at Duke Medical University. I've seen this doctor twice and he has done nothing for me but tell me the side effects should have went away by now or at least gotten better. I'm going again very soon, and after this appointment he wants to do some tests including a spinal tap and another MRI of my spine.
I think I'm going to see if he can switch my medication or up my dosage of Zoloft so I can conquer this depression that I've had since this mater has occurred. But to answer the question of whether I have gained weight or not, I don't think so. If anything, I think it has suppressed my appetite. I just wish someone could tell me definitely what's wrong with me!!! I'm fed up!! I wish the 18 year old good luck in fighting her battle with depression. Don't give up. It can only get better. If anyone out there can help me, I sure would appreciate it!
Response #1 to Answer #3
I truly understand what you are going through and I too am fed up and want so desperately to find out what's wrong with me. I am 39 and have had some symptoms of pre-menopause for the last year (depression, night sweats, irregular periods). In January my gynecologist switched my birth control pills to a lower dose of estrogen. That's when the trouble began (I'm not sure if it's just a coincidence or from the depression). I started getting terrible pressure and burning sensations in my whole head and in the back of my neck. Then I panicked and thought the worst and got myself so worked up that I started having chronic panic attacks, chronic pressure and burning in head and neck. I couldn't concentrate or focus and had bad jittering.
My doctor put me on Zoloft in April. I started at 25mg, then went to 50 mg and now 75 mg. I'm experiencing shortness of breath, my heart seems to be racing, I still have jitters, chronic pressure in the head, twitching, a lot of short term memory loss, dizziness, and my vision fluctuates. I'm really scared too. It's a terrible feeling not knowing what's going on or what to do.
I went for an MRI, which came back normal. Went to an ENT and found out that I have severe allergies and a polyp in my sinuses. I'm scheduled for surgery at the end of the month. I also have an appointment with an endocrinologist in a few weeks (I truly hope that she will be able to shed some light on what's going on with me). If anyone else out there can help, I would sincerely appreciate it.
Answer #4
I would like to respond to all, especially #3. Today I saw my oncologist. I have lymphoma. Due to a series of events, poor health, house fire, family illness and death of a dear friend, I too have become depressed. I began 25mg of zoloft today and, so far, haven't noticed any difference. I realize this is too soon to make an evaluation. I trust no weight gain will happen as I am already gaining too much weight. I also suffer with leg cramps, stomach cramps and some memory loss, and trust the effects of zoloft will not cause these problems to become worse. My doctor suggested this drug as she sees me overwhelmed and unable to cope with my life.
I have chronic lymphatic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This has caused lumps in various places, and I went through chemo to shrink the lumps. The chemo did shrink most of the lumps, but left me with many other problems because several of these lumps had to be removed with surgery. Three were in my eye and 1 in my breast. The idea of having trouble with my eyes really scares me. I now have several lumps around my other eye and thus far my doctors do not know what to do with them.
As you can see, I do not need to have problems with side effects from a drug that's purpose is to help me with my existing maladies. I noticed some of you mentioned weight loss. Hopefully, I will have that happen. Cheer up everyone. If I can go through all of this, anyone can do anything. My father always told me "we can do the impossible" and maybe we can. Maybe all we need is a little help. I will respond at a later time when I have given zoloft a chance. I would welcome your comments.
Answer #5
I have been on Zoloft for 2 years and 4 months. This is to treat anxiety. It may have started out as depression, but turned into anxiety. I continue to improve the longer I take the medication. Just had my third baby a month ago. I now have a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a newborn.
I have continued to lose my self consciousness in social situations. That is the biggest improvement that I have seen. My daily life and my mind and thinking have continued to improve and become more organized. I am a lot more relaxed than I have ever been.
However, I still believe that there is no magic pill. We need to improve in all areas of life while continuing to seek out doctor's advice and medications.
We all need support, maybe even a support group for anxiety/depression, a faith life, things to do to exercise our minds, adding things we love to do. If we just have too many health problems and problems in life, it is going to create a lasting depression, which is all the more reason why we have to find a support group and counseling.
Life is difficult and many of us have problems, but we all have to have some hope every day and some happiness. My faith has helped me, and being around others now helps me instead of simply just making me more depressed.
Answer #6
Hello all. I have been taking zoloft for about 6 years. I'm only 17 now, and I'm on 200mg. That's the max amount that I'm allowed to have. As far as I can tell, I have had no side effects from the medication, unless I forget to take it. That will lead to dizziness, nausea, and even headaches. I have heard that a lot of people that take zoloft have bad side effects as has been written here. The thing I notice is that it seems the women have the weight gain more than the men (I'm a male). I have been blessed not to have side effects, for if I could not take the medicine I would also be miserable.
Just hang in there, especially #4. I could not even imagine what you are going through, but fight. My grandmother is in remission from breast and intestinal cancer. And I recently talked to a lady who was a complete stranger, but she told me she was in remission and she was doing well. She said when times get hard, just stick with it. I will pray for you. Just remember, everything happens for a reason. For example, Joseph was sold to the Egyptians by his brothers. He became the ruler of Egypt and saved millions. God did it for a reason, and even though we don't always know why, there is a reason. God bless. I will pray for you.
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