Is taking Zoloft on and off repeatedly okay for my health?
956670
I have heard of it being done.  My doctor prescribed Zoloft to me for PMDD, so I only had to take it two weeks a month.  It's a slightly different thing, but it didn't cause any health problems.  You should probably have your doctor check with someone who's used to working with Zoloft more often- perhaps a psychiatrist.
361638
I was on Zoloft for about two years, and just started cutting down on the amount of pills I took, and after a month, suffered no side affects
981999
Zoloft is also used to treat depression and other illnesses.  I think it would be best to stay out of it all together.  This is the woman that your son chose and the one who makes him happy.
947742
NONE it is dangerous to stop meds cold turkey, taper off!
972397
No, antidepressants aren't something to tango with.\n\nWhile you feel that you can just stop taking them, talk to your doctor. You need to let your psychologist prescribe lesser amounts. \n\nLike with any medication given to you, especially long-term medicines, you need to talk to your doctor before quitting. The withdrawal from an antidepressant could be worse than you imagined. \n \nMake an appointment for next week.
22201
I've been on Zoloft for awhile & so has my Dad....\n\nBut here's some side effects:\nheadache \ntremor, nervousness, or anxiety \nnausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight; \nsleepiness or insomnia; or \ndecreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm. \nSide effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.\n\nI copied & pasted that from health at yahoo...\n\nZoloft also makes my Dad sweat...I don't believe it mentioned that...I just makes me sleepy, so I just started taking it before bedtime.\n\nAlso, you should mention the side effects to your Dr.
862533
it did the same thing to me. i couldnt stand having much light on or i got dizzy and my eyes hurt. i had to get off of zoloft because of it but please talk to your doctor before you stop taking it.
774359
It's okay to take it once or twice in your lifetime but be careful!!!  It should only be a LAST resort as it loses its effectiveness dramatically after each use.  If you are asking about it now, just get on the real pill.
726637
Try Wellbutrin XL, got of the other Zoloft b/c of the same thing, and the new med works good. Just keep an eye on it and switch slowly, reducing one while adding the other.
970585
St. Johns is not a good idea to take.. It's been a long time but I used to take that and had bad side effects. (dizzy, sick, headaches)  I've been on Prozac and gain weight with that... I've also been on Effexor XR.  If the DR ever prescribes you Effexor XR do not take it! It was the worst feeling I have ever had when trying to get off of it!!!  I have been on others and after the Effexor incident I will not take prescriptions anymore... I did a lot of research on what would be safe and I found a herbal pill called 5-HTP, it works I've noticed I've been calmer, happier, I can sleep at night, and I don't have panic attacks anymore.  You can find it online... I buy it from an online company Swanson... I've been using them for years for vitamins and such. They are trustworthy.  I've also seen it in CVS.
1045378
Sertraline is one of the ingrediants that is used in Zoloft, the popular Pfizer anti-depressant medication. There is a good amount that you can find out on this drug by simply doing a google search. \n\nI know that sertraline can cause a person to be anxious, even greatly aggitated. It is also known to cause suicidal thoughts.\n\nI would highly suggest that you go see your doctor and let them know what you are experiencing. I had a friend that went through the same thing. He started taking Wellbutrin and said that worked much better for him. However people have different reactions to different drugs.\n\nAlso, I would suggest taking vitamins and balancing out your diet. Do some research on what you have and are experiencing and see if there some food and vitamin modifications you can use. They are finding out more and more in independent research studies that diet is one of the main reasons that people go through mental complications. \n\nI hope this was helpful. Under my sources I have listed a link that discusses the warnings for Zoloft that contains sertaline. \n\nHave a good day! :)
1041739
I hope that you discontinued this medication under a doctors supervision. You should never just stop taking an antidepressant without telling your doctor, you can have all sorts of problems; this applies to some other prescriptions medications also. In any case, you should be telling your doctor these symptoms and not asking people on Yahoo Answers. I can tell you that even if you get some good advice you will get a lot of bad advice also, and how will be able to tell which is which?
653116
it's suppose to help you feel better but it takes time. chemical imbalance is a hard thing to fix and people are miserable because of it. suicidal thoughts and depression are just a way for your brain to try to figure out the best possible solution to get out of the feeling. instead of taking Prozac, try instead St. John's Wort.  it's more natural because it's a weed so you have less man-made crap in your system. and St. John's works faster because it is natural your body can "soak" it up better.  I was on Prozac 15 years ago and found that I only felt "blah" so I didn't take them for long.  the St. John's you feel better and don't get the "blah" existence going.
49483
You really should work with your doctor because from personal experience, and experience from other people I know, you should not try to do it yourself. I was weaned from effexor over a total of 8 weeks, I stepped down from my dosage every 2-3 weeks, depending on how I felt. You definitely do NOT want to stop cold turkey, you can possibly get the "rebound effect" which I compare to the actual symptoms that may have gotten you to start taking anti-depressants in the first place, intensified. It's not fun to go through, so really, the best thing to do is to consult a doctor, and if you can't, then take 4-8 weeks to slowly get off of them.
836103
I was takeing it before for depression and anxiety and i found it really did work (espeically for my anxiety). Don't throw them away like some people suggest, those are just the ignorant ones that thinks it's a sin to give your body a little medical help, when there is absolutely nothing wrong with medication. Sorry about that, but you need to listen to whatever your doc said. Other than not changing your dosage w/out your docs permission and taken your meds at a constant time (like right before dinner every day so you don't forget a dose) and not taking them on an empty stomach (unless told to by your doc) there ain't to much. Don't mess with the dosage, don't skip days if possible, and don't stop taking them because you start to feel better, some ppl stop when they feel better and then they just go downhill. Just listen to your doc, he/she is a professional and knows what's best for you.
960845
You would have to ask his personal physician to get an answer that is not an opinion.  And yes, zoloft will naturally slow you down
556758
This is the reason you aren't supposed to take it for more than few months at a time. It is a temporary fix. I used to take it and I can tell you it sucked coming off of it. I was on the lowest dose before i quit it too. It helped me alot between starting a new anti anxiety drug (effexor) and waiting for it to kick in which takes up to a month. Xanax changes you. it makes you numb to the good and bad of life. I use it to get past days I know i couldn't do on my own. However I try my best not to take it except in emergencies. You should talk to your doctor about how to best come off of it and possibly substitute it with an SSRI or similar drug that isn't addictive.