"i have been using zoloft for about 9 years now. i&#039;ve tried most anti-depressants since i was about 21. i&#039;m 37 now.  i wouldn&#039;t recommend zoloft to those under 25 as it worked better for me in my late 20s.  it doesn&#039;t cause weight gain which is good.  i don&#039;t have much of an appetite so i have small amounts of food which satisfy me.  at the start i got the normal side effects, diarrhea, agitation, sweating, etc. but it tends to get better over the years.  my worst time for depression was a week before my period so i just take a higher dose and it helps me a lot.  a friend of mine has started pristiq (desvenlafaxine) and she says its fantastic.  so much more energy which i&#039;m after as zoloft doesn&#039;t give me much energy at all."