So optimistic about Zoloft...but let down again!

[Curious1alwys]

Those of you who have "toyed" around with antidepressants will understand, I am sure.

I recently started on Zoloft due to some debilitating symptoms of depression triggered by my father's death. A relapse, actually.. I had been taking Lamictal....which was working GREAT..with NO side effects (can't say enough good things about Lamictal by the way)...until my Dad died. Anyhow, my doc put me on Zoloft, 50mg.

I have taken SSRI before (lets see, lexapro, effex, cymb, prozac) and every time I get this overwhelming fatigue feeling. I don't know if my body hates serotonin or what. Circulating serotonin is EVIL! I'd rather be anxious, thank you.. I can't wake up in the morning, want to nap in the afternoon...and if I do lay down...can stay asleep for HOURS. Basically, I am always feeling like I just woke up and want to go back to sleep, never refreshed. I NEVER took naps before! It really sucks. I was really hoping it was going to give me the oomph to start working out again (Lamictal was working great before for that) but it hasn't. All it has done is make me more apathetic and I feel worse physically. I guess I am less emotional but I don't think the trade off will be worth it since my sex life has gone to hell too.

Already I feel like I am gaining weight. You MUST if all you want to do is sleep!!!

I think I am going to stay on Lamictal but I think I need to look to exercise now to help me out of this. Even if the Zoloft helps me, I couldn't bear to be tired and fat. Being fit and being active is too important to me. I think if I can get that back, I can get a better mood! It is just getting over that hump that is so hard when you are dealing with depression!

I am thinking of tapering now, since today will only be 2 weeks taking it. I know the dc can be very unpleasant and if this drug is going to do this to me I don't think I want to be on it.

Please commiserate with me.... I'd love to hear feedback, especially if you are on Zoloft, too.

[December716]

Wellbutrin has been my wonder drug (that and Lithium, I ended up with a bad rash while on Lamictal and had to stop it). After years and years after doctors forcing SSRI's and SNRI's on me, finally a hospitalization and Serotonin Syndrome lead to me being on Wellbutrin. I'm so glad. I hated every single SSRI I was put on (I was tired and sluggish and had zero sex drive), and despised the SNRI's worse (Cymbalta is the one that made me so sick I ended up hospitalized). This isn't to say I don't think SSRI's have a place. My husband is on Zoloft and does great! But in my case I was getting incredibly frustrated being put on SSRI after SSRI when I was always plagued by intolerable symptoms.

Anyway, being on Wellbutrin is like night and day compared to the other antidepressants 's I've been on (Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, Cymbalta, Remeron). My Lithium generally made me tired, but when I combined it with Wellbutrin, I have the energy and motivation that I lost for years. I'm like a completely different person. If you would have stepped in to my house six months ago, you would have seen a complete disaster. I was always too tired, worn out, and generally had no motivation to do anything. Now it's spotless, I attend my classes regularly, and I feel really good in life. I advise you to stick with it, but if you're not happy with the results, keep pushing for better. I didn't believe I'd ever feel good in life for a very long time, but with persistance you can find the right meds. No one on here can say for sure what that is, though. So much of these things is trial and error, unfortunately.

[ERNP]

Zoloft was a wonder drug for me. Anxiety symptoms and all. Imagine me having stress, who knew?

Tried Lexapro but had undesirable side effects.

Started to feel better after about 3 weeks of Zoloft. No side effects after several months. Actually lost about 12 pounds.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I am sorry but this thread is now veering off into providing medical advice. To the original poster - you have received some general info about other medications. Please contact your health care provider. Take care.