How long does zoloft take to work?

Everyone has different body chemistry so results may vary. However, I will tell you about my experience.

Days 1-3 I took a 50 mg. pill before I went to bed and the next morning I woke up and my mind was no longer racing and I was able to think rationally for the first time in a long time and my emotions were no longer spinning out of control. I woke up with extreme dry-mouth, nausea and I kind of felt like I was tripping on acid. These side effects lasted for about three days.

Days 3-7 The trippy feeling went away and I started feeling a euphoria like all of my anxiety and negative thoughts had just been lifted. The Zoloft is actually beginning to work and it started flooding my brain with Serotonin. However this was not a permanent condition. Because my brain decided I was producing too much Serotonin and production came to a grinding halt.

Expand this post...

Days 8-12 This is the living hell people talk about (the suicidal stage) where things get a lot worse before they get better. If you suffer from anxiety driven depression like me it would be a really good idea to have some kind of Benzo handy. I didn't have anything and it was 4 days of the worst depression and anxiety I ever felt. It would have been nice if my Psychiatrist or Therapist had warned me. I wasn't trying to slit my wrist but I was taking enough sleeping medication to kill a normal person, just to calm my nerves and hopefully knock me out. If you have made it to this stage and had similar symptoms then I would say it is most likely the Zoloft is going to work for you. It gets much worse before it gets better, but hang on. It is hard to imagine a light at the end of the tunnel, especially when you are going through such hell and you have been going through hell for years. However, it does get much better.

Days 13-21 At day 13 the dark cloud began to lift. Slowly through out the third week I started feeling better. I was having weird mood swings during the day, whereas I would feel anxiety and a little depression. However, as the week progressed I felt better and better each day. I am on day 22 and I already feel a tremendous relief. It is much easier to sort out my emotions, I don't get irritated like I used to and I don't have any depressing thoughts. I have a lot better control over my feelings and I can shut out or stop anxiety from coming on. In fact, I have had a really stressful day and I am feeling pretty chill. I am able to enjoy things I haven't enjoyed in a long time. I feel comfortable around people and I feel a lot more confident and social. Even though the Zoloft hasn't even taken full effect in my system.

The struggle and waiting is worth it. Zoloft will change your life. However, heed every warning and do not drink alcohol in the first three weeks. I did and though it helped with the anxiety for the moment, the next day was far, far worse. Alcohol counteracts the medication. Trust me, you will start feeling better sooner if you don't drink.

I hope this helps someone else who was like me two or three weeks ago who is now wondering what to expect. I hope Zoloft helps you like it has helped me and many others.