cj, are you also taking St. John’s Wort? Many people take it OTC for mild depression, but it magnifies the side-effects of SSRIs, including Zoloft. I had a vicious bout of nausea once when I took both Prozac and St. John’s Wort.
Yup, avoid the St. John’s wort while taking SSRI’s. They increase the metabolism and so side effects can increase. Also, read yesterday that St. John’s Wort can make birth control pills less effective, and increase the likelyhood of seizures in those who are seizure-prone.
Side effects with Zoloft may last up to six weeks, but severe side effects may indicate a change of drug would be the most beneficial solution for you.
Well folks, it’s Monday morning, and I spent the weekend nauseous even on a half dose, so it looks like I’ll be calling the doctor again. We decided against Paxil because when I was on it before, I was particularly hungry and gained some weight. This time around, I haven’t been hungry since I started taking the Zoloft. I know it takes a while for the effects of anti-depressants to kick in and I was willing to wait, but right now, I think I’m better off without anything. Actually, I’ve been getting more depressed because I’m sick and I’m having a hard time doing anything, including looking for a job!:rolleyes:
Lyllyan, the friends who talked me into the anti-depressants also had good results with Zoloft. I wish it could have worked. Then again, I also wish I could have eaten Mom’s roast beef and Yorkshire pudding yesterday. Too bad my stomach wasn’t up to it.
I’m not on St. John’s wort. My therapist has mentioned Celexa as a possibility or, despite the mess my life is in at the moment, I can continue to go without anti-depressants. According to her, because I am able to drag myself out of bed, get out a few resumes a day, and talk people, be it you here at SDMB or real life friends, I’m not severly depressed. My reaction was pretty much the same as when a doctor told me my ankle was only sprained, not broken.
Oh, well. Things will get better eventually.
Thanks for your advice and experiences,
CJ
I’ve never taken Zoloft before, so have no experience with it. I did take Prozac for about a year, several years ago, and it helped at the time. About a year ago, however, I had to start back on anti-depressants and the Prozac didn’t work then. So my doctor switched me to Celexa, and it has been wonderful. However, then the depression intensified (due, I believe, to a course of medication I had been on for endometriosis), and my doctor added Welbutrin into the mix. I’ve been doing amazingly well, and hope it keeps going so well.
I hope you’re able to find something that will give you the help you need! 
cjhoworth, I’ve had 11 years experience on all manner of SSRI’s, and something I’d tell anyone starting out on them is that it takes a lot of trial and error to get the right medication or combination of medications. My psychiatrist recently more or less admitted that it’s all a crapshoot. You try one, and if it doesn’t work or if the side effects are too much to bear, you try something else. Another thing to remember is that, just because something works now, doesn’t mean it will work two years from now. Sometimes they stop working and you’re back to square one.
I’m currently on Luvox, but for OCD, which is probably different from what you’re going through. I initially had some nausea, but it went away after a couple of weeks. I’ve never been on Zoloft, but my sister was on it for a short time in college and found her knees hurt to such a degree that she could barely walk. When she complained, they told her that inflammation of the joints is a rare side effect, but it does happen with Zoloft. Weird.
Good luck.