I've been on Zoloft, by prescription, for 7 months. I was NOT given it for "depression", but because I had digestive system problems, and anxiety. I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Proplapse last year, and Celiac/Sprue disease this year. The Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome was probably responsible for causing the occasional episodes of panic attack and anxiety, and the Celiac Disease was probably causing most (or all) of my intestinal problems, which I previously attributed to MVPS. With Sprue/Celiac, the small intestine is attacked by an autoimmune response when a Celiac person ingests gluten. Since eliminating most gluten from my diet over the past 7 weeks, my symptoms have been lessened.

The Zoloft took a while to work, probably due to my body's initial inability to absorb it effectively, but I have no unpleasant side effects from it anymore. I had not smoked anything for five years until recently, and was pleasantly surprised to find that herb and Z work very well together (for me, at least). I also have Xanax by prescription, for use-as-needed, but have not tried that combined with herb (and Z) yet. Xanax is more of a sleeping pill to me and not very uplifting. I'd rather save it for some upcoming plane trips, or when I get stuck on the subway.
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Iā??ve got no ax to grind with Zoloft ā?? but itā??s not my intention to take it permanently and I intend to slowly withdraw from it in the future. I have read some studies that suggest antidepressants can heal permanently some peopleā??s inability to produce enough Seratonin after a period of taking them ā?? but who knows. Correct diagnosis, diet (including supplements), exercise, psychological outlook and education about my medical problems are helping to reduce, or eliminate, many of my symptoms - and if the Zoloft helped, then fine. If not, well at least it didnā??t do any harm that I am aware of.