I went on 25 mg Zoloft for my PMDD in August 2024. I was going through a difficult breakup after a bit of a health scare. I started with 25mg. I had all the physical symptoms at first - nausea, indigestion, extreme anxiety… and I didn’t really feel it kick in til maybe 8 weeks into using it 🤷🏻♀️
Once it kicked in, I was surprised at how levelheaded it helped me become. I stopped ruminating over things I can’t control; I stopped having panic attacks; my PMDD got milder (never fully went away); the negative voice in my head quieted down; and my intrusive thoughts pretty much disappeared. I was suddenly genuinely UNBOTHERED - something I’d strived to be all my life, hahaha.
My doc & I upped the dose to 50mg for a while, but then I decided to go back to 25mg. I know that this drug affects everyone differently. I think I’m extremely sensitive to meds in general. But I saw a big difference with 25mg.
However, I experienced the weight gain. it was slow, it crept in… I found myself having cravings that I couldn’t ignore. I wasn’t losing weight or staying in shape the way I normally could. I’m around 5’1/generally petite .
7 months in, I couldn’t fit into my pants anymore. It was still cooler outside, and I had to find loose elastic waistband pants that didn’t dig into my stomach… or just wear loose dresses. Forget wearing jeans comfortably or tighter pants with a button/zipper.
I also found that my motivation in general went down. I became so incredibly unbothered that it began to spill into my discipline with working out, eating right, and also being smart with money.
Also, my ability to orgasm with my partner pretty much vanished. It was always extremely easy for me to. So my doc put me on Wellbutrin. I wasn’t crazy about adding another medication, but it helped a bit. not a lot, but a bit (I’m able to give them to myself, but not get them with a partner).
I have always been photosensitive, meaning bright lights/sunlight hurt my eyes and even give me migraines. I found Zoloft made me worse. Also, Anytime I’d scratch my skin, like after getting mosquito bites in the summer, I would get a huge hematoma bruise. Oh - plus the occasional INSANE heartburn after taking it. There were a couple of nights where the heartburn after taking Zoloft was so intense, I genuinely didn’t know what to do. I considered going to emergency.
So I was out of shape/overweight, covered in massive bruises, unable to orgasm. Cool .
In the meantime, throughout my time on Zoloft, I also did a LOT of reflecting, therapy, and sort of undoing a lot of the toxic conditioning I was brought up with. I feel like the Zoloft really helped with that. I had really bad anxious attachment in relationships. I had internalized a lot of toxic beliefs about myself and my worth, in general, regarding my career, goals, relationships, etc.
I was no longer reactive. Still assertive, but I thought before I decided to act in a situation. I also cut off a couple of toxic friendships that weren’t serving me, and truly haven’t looked back.
As time went on, I really felt like I had “come home to myself” as corny as that may sound. But the lack of orgasms, bruising, extreme sensitivity to light, intense weight gain was not worth it anymore. I didn’t even recognize the old, anxious, ruminating, depressed me. I knew there was a chance that I’d go back to my old ways, but I felt like I’d done such a 180 that it felt unlikely.
So I decided to taper off of Zoloft. I couldnt’ get an appt with my doc for another 2.5 weeks and really didn’t want to wait that long. She‘d mentioned that since my dose is so small, I could do one day on, one day off. I tried it and it felt horrible. So… I decided to open the little capsules, empty out about half of the powder and take what was roughly 12ish mg…
Apparently there is no liquid form or tablet form?? I’m in Canada. My doc seemed to think there’s liquid, but I called nearly every drugstore, but nothing.
Anyway, I Kept doing the opening capsules, emptying half of it… for about 2.5 weeks. then I couldn’t take it anymore. I skipped it one night when I got home late. So I just stopped taking it.
For about 5 or 6 days of being off of it, I felt AMAZING. I even felt like I was getting my old body back! pot belly was getting flatter, I suddenly had a waist again. Hooray! I had successfully tapered off the drug.
Except, no. About a week after stopping it, I became insanely dizzy. Insanely bloated. Insanely nauseous. I never threw up - I willed myself not to… but it was intense. It was bad. I canceled plans. Work was exceptionally busy at this time and I had to drive. I would be out in public, whimpering. I felt so unwell, but had to go out and do things, I stopped putting any effort into my appearance. I just hoped I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew. I was pale, bloated, weak, dizzy. There were a couple of days where I was sweating excessively.
it’s so odd because I’d be nauseous, then I’d still crave food. This was all the past few weeks - starting early/mid April up til now. I feel like I’ve gained EVEN MORE weight since going off Zoloft. WTF? Clearly I didn’t taper enough or properly? But how the HECK am I supposed to effectively and properly taper off 25 mg capsules of Zoloft??
Anyway, I think the worst is over with. My doc prescribed me anti-nauseants meant for chemo patients and they worked beautifully, but I only got a prescription of 5. This bloated body better be gone in time for summer. She was primarily concerned about my mood, but it’s perfectly fine, if anything I’m just slightly more irritable than before - but… my physical symptoms for the past 3 weeks are affecting my mood, if anything.
I know this was LONG but has anyone else had similar experiences? Would love to hear.