Anyone take Zoloft for PPD?

DevonPow

I had untreated/pretty bad PPD with DS1. This time I am being proactive about things and saw a psychiatrist today who is recommending that I start a low dosage of Zoloft as soon as I have the baby, and then we will re-evaluate in a few weeks after the birth....He answer most of my questions on side affects, etc. and I already talked to my pedi about BFing while taking it. Just wondering if anyone has personal experience with Zoloft and if it helped them....

jmcdionne

*raises hand*

Zoloft and EBF. It's been a lifesaver. Really worked wonders with me. In the beginning, I had drowsiness and nausea. It's now gone as I've adjusted.

 

No side effects on my EBF daughter either. 

 

DevonPow

Thanks! I am actually feeling really nervous about it because I have never taken anti-depressants before, and it is strange to me to talk about going on medication now while I feel totally fine (although I well remember how awful it was after DS1 so I would much rather be on something than feel that way again). Shallow question....did you find that it affected your weight at all? My Dr. said he couldn't tell me definitively that it wouldn't make me gain weight or have trouble losing the baby weight (although Zoloft isn;t known for weight gain, I don't think). I know myself and I am the type that will feel a lot worse if I have trouble with my weight....

bim38106

Hi there!

I've been taking Zoloft for about 15 months now. I started a little after DD2 turned one, and it helped TREMENDOUSLY!!! I have gained some weight, about 10 lbs. I've been reading up on it and it sounds like 25% do gain some weight and it will start after long-term (6+ months) use, which is basically what happened with me. Honestly, though I'm now feeling ready to come off the meds and feel really good about it, I'm looking forward to loosing the weight. But I would gain it all over again in a heartbeat if it meant not feeling like I did after having DD1 and DD2 (I also was undiagnosed after DD1 and still feel guilty about the thoughts I had) !

DevonPow

Thanks! My Dr. is hang me start the day I give birth at 50 mg, then bump up to 100 after 4 days, and thinks based on how I experienced my PPD with DS1 that I can wean off at 6 months, so hopefully I won;t get many major side effects aince it is (and will hopefully stay) a low dosage and not too long term. I don't know why I am so nervous about taking it!

bim38106

DevonPow:

Thanks! My Dr. is hang me start the day I give birth at 50 mg, then bump up to 100 after 4 days, and thinks based on how I experienced my PPD with DS1 that I can wean off at 6 months, so hopefully I won;t get many major side effects aince it is (and will hopefully stay) a low dosage and not too long term. I don't know why I am so nervous about taking it!

not to scare you, but I had some pretty major side-effects from starting at 50 mg. I mean, it was like a 24 hour panic attack. I couldn't sleep, had major anxiety, hot flashes, felt crazy. It was bad.

I spoke to a few friends who I'd known had taken it, and they all said they were surprised my OB started me on such a "high" dose. My pharmacist had me cut the pills in half and start w/ 25 mg for a few days (I did 2 weeks because I was terrified of that happening again). It was MUCH better and the only side effect I had was a hard time sleeping the first few nights.

That's just my experience, but I'd be very wary of starting out at 50mg. I certainly would not want to feel those side effects along with having a NB!

EllasBride

Just started taking it today. As the PP says, I'm taking 25 mg for 8 days (splitting the pills) and then upping it to te 50 mg. I was EXTREMELY nervous about taking it, too, but I know that it will help "take the edge off." I read all the side effects and scared myself senseless, then I called my dr. who explained that my dosage isn't that big and I shouldn't stress over it. Hope that helps...  

jmcdionne

Funny here in Canada 50mg is actually considered below therapeutic, which means that people are usually at higher doses... Mine are actually in capsules so they can't be split? Interesting.

I think if I do gain weight, it will be bc my appetite is back... I was seriously on one meal a day and was never hungry. 

janesansible

Zoloft was a life saver for me. The combination of being a new mother, hormones, sleep deprivation and so on made my depression come back big time. I had to do something and so I started on the lowest dose of Zoloft. In just a few days I began to slowly feel better and then began to actually feel like a human being again. I was initially worried because I was nursing but I did my research and Zoloft is the safest to take while breastfeeding. I am just sad that I did not listen to my doctor and start it as SOON as I gave birth.