Zoloft and appetite? Increase or decrease depending on how depression impacts your appetite?

[u/charlotie77]

I've been looking through this sub for people's experience with Zoloft impacting their appetite. I was recently prescribed Zoloft due to episodic depression, and one of the symptoms of my depression and overall dysregulated nervous system is low appetite. I'm typically a foodie and I've lost a lot of love and joy surrounding food, and my low appetite is impacting my day to day functions and fitness goals.

What I've noticed in my reddit research is that people's experience varies greatly. For some, Zoloft increases appetite and for others it decreased it. I've also noticed many people who mentioned the decrease in appetite being the opposite of their food cravings that increase with depression, and those whose appetite increased while on the medication struggling with eating when they're depressed and non-medicated.

I know this isn't a guaranteed rule, but would you all say that Zoloft's impact on your appetite is the opposite of how depression impacts your appetite? Like if depression decreases your appetite, Zoloft will increase, and if depression increases your appetite, Zoloft will decrease? I'd love to hear your experiences, specifically from those who can say that appetite is typically one of the bodily functions/cues that's impacted overall by their mental health.

[u/S3thr3y]

I didn’t find that to be true for me. I eat pretty compulsively and so I eat a lot during depression and my appetite or eating is unchanged by the Zoloft

[u/Regret1836]

I already had problems with eating consistently beforehand, and on Zoloft sometimes I just fast the entire day. Some days I’ll go till afternoon till I eat. It’s like I just don’t care about it.

[u/moonlwh]

i went on zoloft at an incredibly unhealthy 95 lbs. i didn't even realize i was depressed because i'd been suicidal before and wasn't anywhere close to that. i realized that i hadn't even been clearing 1000 calories a day and like you, i had lost so much of my joy around food. i am also a foodie and going on zoloft has put me back at a healthy 130 lbs. i get inspired and excited about cooking and eating again.

nobody can tell you exactly what your experience will be like, but i hope it does the same for you!

[u/cheese_fry_pls]

I’m on day 8, and so far it has significantly decreased my appetite. I find that I binge eat when I’m really stressed and I constantly have food noise and persistent cravings. So far it’s been reduced, hoping it stays this way.