Zoloft was the first SSRI I went on in college when I was first diagnosed. It treated the depression but I couldn't have orgasm,s which at this very sexually active portion of my life was a big problem. This may or may not be a problem to other people.

I haven't had the GI side effects from Zoloft. I have learned with every med there are always side effects. It's a matter of selecting the one that has the side effects you can live with vs those you can't handle.

If this is getting to be too much of a problem you should talk to your Pdoc about switching meds. There are a lot of other antidepressants. I have had very good experiences with Prozac, Wellbutrin and Lexapro for example.

Lexapro was working wonderfully for me, until, you guessed it, GI troubles. We ran through a flurry of SSRI's and all the same. So that's why I'm on the daily Klonopin now. You're not alone on this, but I wish I had a solution to taking Zoloft and having success.

Three suggestions: first, take zoloft with full glass or food with liquid. Second, take the zoloft by different methods, and keep track of what works best when.

I learned for my best relief, with zero side effects, was taking it in morning (one 50 mg) with either full glass or container of liquid, not just a few sips. This is because my normal wake-up is not eating or drinking anything for a couple of hours after I get moving in the morning. For a friend, they eat, then take their zoloft (one 50 mg) when they get up. And, important, is to keep hydrated.

The digestive issues have a cycle, and I worked out the best way to make my cycle go smoothly. When I have acute anxiety, one sure sign is the rumbling and running to bathroom, no holds barred, usually about three hours later. When I have acute depression, there is a knotting and tightening and if I drink/eat some liquid, it eases within minutes with a chance to walk to the bathroom within a half hour. It's a matter of finding what works best. I know, keeping a journal seems like an overwhelming task, it will save your digestive system and brain from overload trying to remember what happens when.

Best wishes finding something that works for you!

Thank you so much for all your help. I am feeling a little less nauseous today, so maybe the stomach issues will improve as my body adjusts to the medication.

Have never had any GI side effects for any psych med I've tried, however I have learned in a bit of the last 20 years on meds that side effects usually get better after a couple of weeks, up to 1 month. If after that time you can't tolerate side effects, tell your psych doc that you need a diff. med. Something to consider=some anti-seizure meds that currently exist treat bipolar mood swings, so I guess you could ask if they ever use them to treat anxiety and depression as well. The only side effect I wouldn't wait for weeks to report would be rashes or hives, those need to be reported immediately.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I wanted to
update where I'm at with the zoloft and maybe get some guidance on where to go from here.

The GI issues on this med have continued. I even went down to 25mg and they're still there. It's hard to say for sure it's the med, as I've always had IBS, but my stomach was actually feeling pretty good before I started this med. I feel very bloated and have frequent gas pains and my stomach looks very large. I also don't have much of an appetite and have to force myself to eat. My stomach just feels so full all the time.

I'm also worried the med has made me gain stomach fat - I've not gained weight, but I feel like weight has shifted to my stomach. I am recovering from an eating disorder, so it could be in my head, but I honestly don't think it is. Is it possible for an ssri to cause fat to shift on your body?

I really don't think I can take these GI side effects, but my therapist really thinks I need to be on an ssri for my OCD. I very much trust her, though I really don't like the idea of taking any meds. My psychiatrist said the next ssri I could try would be lexapro. That will be my fourth ssri in the past 7 months and I know that's not that many, but I'm really just sick and tired of trying all these meds and just getting bad side effects.

Sorry this was more of a rant than anything else. But if anyone has any advice or input, I'd greatly appreciate it.

With what you have written, I would be cautious about medication until you get your thought pattern in a better place.

Anxiety is natural, and our thoughts create anxiety patterns when we are in "fight or flight" mode, so our body reacts naturally to the changes.

Medication is a temporary "help" tool to give us a chance to gain control of our thoughts and relieve our anxiety naturally through movement.

Where a digestive condition is known, and is being treated with medication, it becomes a vicious cycle to find a calm medium point to help heal the symptoms that are happening.

I know when I think about the issue and do not distract the usual pattern, I end up with a few sensations that have me rushing to the restroom until I find a way to calm my thoughts.

Best wishes finding what works for you. It's a trial and trial again to find the one that works in the moment.

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful reply, mideyebrow. I am still uncertain whether I'm going to keep trying the Zoloft, try a different med or just get off all together. It's definitely a lot of trial and error. Thanks again.

Gastro problems and headache are by far the most common side effects of SSRI's . Even though we are attempting to affect the serotonin in our brains , most serotonin receptors are in the bowels.

Some AD's are more tolerable depending on the individual. I did fine
on Prozac but couldnt get past day 2 on Lexapro. If the side effects dont lessen to a level you can live with , you could talk to your doc about changing [or going up more slowly].