Zoloft After Pregnancy

I took it after both of my pregnancies and I do not remember any side effects after the first pregnancy but after the second I did experience the initial side effects of extreme dizziness or a sensation like the ground had been pulled out from under me and I was falling. This lasted for a couple weeks along with dilated pupils making vision difficult for the first few days and extreme fatigue. The eye stuff went away as did the fatigue for me but the dizziness stayed.

After a few months in both cases I started to feel like I was on the sidelines of my life or 'tuned out' so I stopped taking it both times and was okay.

Dear Karin,

What is going on is a hormonal imbalance, NOT a condition requiring medication with side effects. Acupuncture and herbal medicine, like other natural therapies such as classical homeopathy, have strong track records for rebalancing hormones after pregnancy. I strongly suggest you try one of these methods. Let me know if you need to locate a practitioner in your area.

Wow...there are people who have written that are very AGAINST anti-depressants...and those that have taken them with great success. I personally do NOT have depression, however, my husband of 26 years does and unfortunately, our two daughters got the "genes" from their dad. (Our two boys don't :-). To take or not to take is always a huge question for many. Those who advocate AGAINST taking something need to walk in your shoes for awhile. My husband and girls HATE taking medicine of any kind...and they have tried to do it (live life) without and have had counselling and tried much to no avail. So, then its the long, sometimes tedious job of finding the RIGHT anti-depressant for you in your situation at the time. It can't necessarily be figured out overnight, sadly. My husband has been on Zoloft for the past 15 years. Yes, he had the same side effects (just not a little baby to take care of) as you, I got to do that :-). His sleep is very cyclic still and has always been that way...its very difficult, however, the Zoloft has made a huge difference for him. Daughter #1 is 23 and had a very difficult winter and spring and tried different things, until she went on Zoloft and within two weeks she was nearly "new"...but still the sleep issues of insomnia. She has been on it now for approximately 3 months and is doing much better. There is no quick and ONE right answer. Everyone responds a little differently. Because daugther #2 is 17 and has anxiety as well, she is on imipramine and it makes a huge difference whether she takes it or not. She hates that it makes her MORE tired especially in the morning. Side effects are not much fun and you especially with a little one, its difficult, but just hang in there. It can make a huge difference in your life and for those around you. Thinking of you!

I'm currently on Zoloft and did not experience any side effects. It is even OK to brestfeed while takeing it (up to 100mg per day, I believe). It has done WONDERS for me, and I'm so glad I decided to take it.

If you're breastfeeding, I'd suggest not taking an antidepressant at all. I know the pharmaceutical companies *say* they're safe, but two autistic kids later, I'm not so sure. I trust nothing.
It sounds like Zoloft might not be what you need, or maybe you need a smaller dose. I had sexual side effects with Zoloft; lost my libido completely. It also made me feel really fake, laughing at stuff I wouldn't normally laugh at, like I was detached from my own personality and trying too hard, if that makes any sense. I've tried 8-9 different antidepressants... all miserable failures. The one thing I found that has actually kept my moods pretty even and upbeat? Switching to eating mostly organic foods - especially dairy and produce - and avoiding processed foods. I've noticed that if I slip up and go on a processed junk food binge I almost immediately become depressed, hopeless, and frustrated.
For sleep, try a low dose of Benadryl.

Hi Karin:
Zoloft works well for me, but I had tried Paxil years before and it was horrible. How long have you been taking it and what dose?
When I began taking Zoloft, I cut a 50 mg pill in quarters and began with 1/4 for 1 week. Week two, I took 1/2, week three, 3/4. I still had some side effects and was tired in the afternoon, but they were mild compared to the Paxil. I decided with doctors approval to stop at 3/4 of a pill and didn't take a whole pill (lowest adult recommended dose) until a year later. Perhaps your doctor gave you too much too fast. Hope this helps.
DebD

Karin,

Really think about what your issues are and work with someone on getting them in line again. Is it hormonal - probably. Get a FULL hormone panel done and also check the neurotransmitters. Probiotics, Omega 3's, Vitamin D3, Amino Acids (5-HTP has helped many with sleep issues) and no sugar, eating organic when possible, lots of vegetables and fruit will all help as well as getting out for some sunshine and exercise, even and especially walking.

Slippery Slope when you take prescriptions just because they are easier. I'd get another opinion, work with a DO (doctor of osteopathy), work with a an acupuncturist, figure out the hormones. There are times when an anti-depressant is needed but are you sure that now is the time?

How long have you been taking the Zoloft? It sounds like it is not for you. You should talk to your doctor and try something else. I would get headaches from Effexor and now I take Zoloft with no side effects. Everyone is different and there is lots of different antidepressants. Good luck!

My advice is to stick with it. These side effects usually go away after a little bit (a week or two), and if they don't, talk to your doctor about switching. In the meantime, take it in the morning, so it doesn't affect your sleep pattern, and take some tylenol. Studies have shown that Zoloft is not found in breastmilk of women taking it, and that is why it is prescribed often in postpartum depression. Finally, if you are experiencing depression, medication may help, along with adequate sleep, exercise, healthy diet, and you want to do anything you can to stay happy for your baby. Otherwise, the baby is exposed to a depressed mom, which is worse than you taking zoloft for a little while. Postpartum depression can result in poor mother/baby bonding, attachment disorders in the baby, or depression or poor health of the baby. Good luck and good job taking care of yourself and baby!!

Each person will react completely differently to different medications. Zoloft is a very common anti-depressant, and the most common side effects (as reported to the FDA during clinical trials and since being on the market) are in the following link (page 30):
http://www.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_zoloft.pdf

If you're nursing, you should have a conversation with your child's pediatrician regarding the safety of taking an antidepressant because of its ability to be transferred to the breast milk.

You can take sleep aids containing diphenhydramine while nursing. it is the active ingredient in Benadryl, Tylenol PM, Unisom, Advil PM, etc.

It's impossible to predict how long it will take for your body to adjust to the medication as you have to build up to the steady state of the therapeutic dose. Basically, the drug has to build-up in your blood stream before you know how well its full effect is working.

Both your physician and your pharmacist should be consulted to help you through this process so you can manage the side effects as best as possible or to move to another medication.

Good luck.
Drugs.com is a great source of information as well as FDA.gov

I had PPD with anxiety and insomnia after the birth of my son. My doctor originally wanted to put me on Zoloft, but when I addressed all of my symptoms, she decided on Prozac instead because she specifically said that Zoloft can cause insomnia - and that was already something I was struggling with. Ask your doctor about the possibility of Prozac (Fluoxetine) - I experienced no side effects besides some uncomfortably itchy skin at the very beginning.

I would advise not taking any drugs for depression. Anti-depressants don't always work, and they all have some pretty bad side effects.

Often "depression" is simply a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium can be taken in a calcium-magnesium pill, an it is also naturally occurring in coral calcium.

I also agree with what Barbilee said below. Allow foods to help you heal.

One other thing is to get out of the house each day - going for a walk is great, but even just sitting outside s fine if you are not up for moving around - and soak up some of that wonderful Vitamin D.

Everything we need to heal ourselves is cheap and easily available. Drugs are not necessary.

Karin, please EDUCATION NOT MEDICATION. As a society we are so quick to medicate. What about getting to the root of the problem? What about fixing the problem instead of masking it?

Please do not medicate.

I am AGAINST antidepressants at any time. There is a wonderful book called Potatoes not Prozac (Kathleen DesMaisons) and it describes how to combat depression with food. For example, did you know that a handful of cashews has the same medicinal properties as one Prozac? Please, when considering meds, keep in mind that the drug companies have created drugs to keep you sick…because they want to sell more drugs to you…forever. If their drugs actually cured anything they would go out of business. And that would not be good business. Drugs mask symptoms they do not cure anything, so you are forced to stay on the meds for your entire life. Is that what you want?

Please fight to stay out of that trap.

Dr John Gray, author of all those Mars Venus books, just happens to be one of my business partners and in his book the Mars Venus Diet and Exercise Solution he goes into serotonin and how to naturally create it. He also talks about my company and what we offer to fix the problem, not mask it.

I hear what you are saying, I was you over 6 years ago. I was a teacher and I had to take stress leave. I had so many “symptoms” and so many “problems” and therefore I was on so many drugs. For 18 months I struggled with my health, both physical and mental. I trusted what the doctors said and just in blind faith did what they told me. I had a problem so I popped a pill. I turned into a woman I did not recognize. I became a mother I swore I would never become and I became a wife that I was embarrassed to be.

And then my wonderful friend showed up on my doorstep with a brown box. And what was in that box changed my life forever. The box contained a nutritional program (yes, it is the one I currently use in my practice) and it was the start of my new life.

You may not think it is possible, but in just 3 days…yes 3 days…it was like someone had plugged me back into a wall socket. I was feeling a bit more vibrant, I was thinking more clearly and was started to realize what I was doing to myself. I filled my body with this “super food” as my friend called it…and other food and still my meds. And my body fought back. I’d take my meds on an empty stomach (as prescribed) and throw up. An hour later I’d take my nutrition shake and I’d feel alive…until I had to take my next dose of meds, then I’d throw up again. I started to see how my meds were making me feel and how this food was making me feel…and I liked what the food was doing to be better.

So I jumped in, I started to learn about the body, the food, proper nutrition and OMG you will be surprised and sickened to know what I found out. So now, it is my passion to help others moms either get off of or never get on that path of self destruction.

Karin, I have been pharmaceutical free for over 4 years, I have not even put an aspirin into my body…nor has my family…children included! We are healthy beyond measure, if we do get a bit of a bug, we treat it with FOOD and within 72 hours, it is gone, bugs are looking for germs and unhealthy living conditions to thrive in…we do not offer them that. I am 41 years old, I went from 40 pounds overweight, sad and confused, to my ideal weight of 115lbs (and have stayed here for over 4 yrs), “healthy as a horse” and dedicated to helping other moms do the same.

You can decide what you want to do for your body. You can decide what is right. My program my products can help (and yes, they are safe for preg and nursing moms…it is just food after all)

If you want guidance, if you want coaching, if you need a friend, I am here. Please know that getting on that path of meds…even just for 3 months changes you FOREVER. It will affect your family forever.

B.
Family Success Coach

I had a terrible experience with Zoloft and insomnia. It felt like I was falling every few seconds, so I would only sleep for a few minutes at a time, and ended up in a psych ward because I was so sleep deprived. My story is a long story of why I ended up on Zoloft in the first place, but I wish the doc had never prescribed it, because it started a very long awful process of trying to find the "right" med. I didn't have depression, I had horrible panic attacks due to a surgery I had on my ears 7 weeks after my 3rd baby was born. I tried not being on any meds after being on meds, but the anxiety was horrendous, because I was never on the right med to begin with, but then had horrible withdrawals. I tried the Point of Return products, they didn't work. I had to go on some medication.
So long story short, I am now on Lexapro and doing quite well compared to where I was at before. I don't have insomnia from it like the Zoloft.
One note, beware of Remeron, don't take it if your doc suggests it. I was on it for 5 months in the middle of all this, and it worked for like 3 months, and than totally pooped out. It's known for that. So not only did I have to taper off a drug that wasn't working and go thru horrible withdrawals, but then find another one that worked. It was awful.
If you have to be on something, Lexapro might work. But I am with the other moms who advocate that if you don't HAVE to be on something, DON"T. You are opening up a can of worms.

I hope you feel better!