Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Larks...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2013

"When I first started taking it I had a lot of side effects, like nausea, sleepiness, insomnia, muscle twitching, decreased sexual interest, headache, nightmares, need to move legs and others I can't remember but I was desperate to get rid of the anxiety so persisted. Most of the side effects went away after several days. I still have the leg movement and insomnia and but it's manageable. It took about 5 1/2 weeks before I noticed any effect by when I feel happier, like I can't even think in a depressed way, and I can talk to people online with ease. Still panic about the outside with strangers everywhere and conversing one on one is still hard. Nut now after 6 weeks my doctor has put me up from 50mg to 100mg so I'll see how that goes."

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2017

"I've been on this medication for a few years now. overtime, I have noticed huge improvements in my severe social anxiety. it is much easier to get through the day! As far as side effects, I experienced loss in appetite and fatigue for about a week, then it all went away. Please don't let negative reviews scare you and give the meds a chance to do their job, it doesn't happen overnight!"

• Zolof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2022

"I told myself I would post on here after I felt Zoloft had helped me. I'm a 28 yr old female that has never been on medications before or treated for anxiety. Currently I’m an RN that works in a high stress area. This summer I experienced severe anxiety (21/21 on the GAD scale) and was very distraught by it. My GP started me on Zoloft in conjunction with therapy. I started at 25 mg for a week and increased by 25 mg until my dose now at 100mg. The Zoloft onboarding for me was HARD. Increased anxiety first couple weeks, loss of appetite, insomnia, diarrhea, loss of libido. I think if I would have known before hand and received better education on Zoloft it would have been less distressing. BUT I’m here to tell you I’m over 3 months on Zoloft and feel 90% better. I also supplement with cbd gummies when I feel stressed, or hydroxizine and propanolol when required when I feel even more anxious. Also exercising, meditation, decreasing my caffeine and alcohol intake has helped. GAD score is now 6"

• Pink
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2018

"It works!!!!! First month it's going be terrible but don't give up!!! Stay strong because in 6-8 weeks you will feel sooo much better. I kept giving up and one day I said let me stay strong and I did it! In 4 weeks I took 50mg daily and then 100g then I noticed the difference and started to feel like myself again! :)"

• CMT
• October 29, 2012

"I started this two months ago to help with my light depression and anxiety problems as a long-term replacement for Xanax. So far I haven't had to use my Xanax in almost a month. I didn't think this would do much but I was wrong. The first two-three weeks I had some mild nausea and tiredness but that went away pretty quickly."

• krquire
• January 5, 2015

"I have been struggling with social anxiety disorder and a low-level functioning depression for most of my life. Four years went by with no medication, and during this time I was very paranoid and lost all of my friends. It wasn't until I met my boyfriend that I saw I couldn't truly function this way. I finally admitted to myself that I might need to be on medication. It's been about two months and I feel awesome. I am taking 50mg everyday, and was able to go on a Christmas vacation where my boyfriend and I met each other's families. This would never have been doable before. I am thoroughly satisfied, and am so happy with my decision. I still have leftover anxiety symptoms but I am working on that in therapy."

• cheeb...
• February 2, 2020

"Had last PA (panic attack) 8 years ago after I snorted a lot of amphetamines and went to a hospital. I had car accident and have PTSD. Went to surgery 2 months ago and after anesthesia stopped working my anxiety come back, chest pain nothing to worry about. I went on vacation and had this panic attacks 3 days in row since I woke up, didn't have any benzo on me so worst 3 days in my life. Went to Doc. she gave me Xanax 0.5mg 3 times a day. Went to Psych. she gave me zoloft because Xanax didn't help. It's 4 days since I'm on zoloft 25mg and feel dizzy any more anxious but it will go away with time. I quit drinking, tobacco, weed after this and it made me more anxious because of withdrawal. I take them at night with xanax to help me fall asleep and when zoloft start to work I'll throw Xanax. My brain cells are messed up from my lifestyle and I know it and they just need to pull back together. Remember you're not alone and things will be better!"

• Tippy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2018

"Don’t give up! It took 8 weeks for it to work for me! I was on paxil since I was 18 (I’m now 43), but the older I got the worse weight gain got so I switched to Zoloft. I had morning anxiety and loss of appetite for the first 7 weeks. By week 8 I noticed it was going away. I’m on week 10 and I’m feeling myself again. I take 200mg."

• Anonymous
• July 28, 2010

"I am a 17 year old female who has been on Zoloft for almost 6 months. I used to have terrible social anxiety, and was diagnosed with an anxiety and panic disorder. Since I have started taking Zoloft, my ability to speak with people has grown tremendously. I can't remember ever feeling happier than I do now, and the biggest change in me is the fact that I now feel emotionally stable. I'm only on 25mg, but I have found that it has helped me in incredible ways. The only side effects I have experienced are loss of appetite and slight nausea- I have lost a bit of weight while on this medicine, but not a dangerous amount. I highly recommend talking to your doctor about this medicine if you experience social anxiety, or have panic attacks."

• oscy
• April 12, 2012

"I've been having social anxiety my whole life and didn't even realize it. I also suffered from random panic attacks in the middle of the night. I became antisocial, I would isolate myself and lacked communication with my parents. I was very aggressive, had severe depression. I started self medicating with anything that made my depression feel better. I would pursue a quick fix and not realize how much more self harm I was causing to myself and my health. I became suicidal. I asked my teacher for help when I was getting worse. I have therapy and saw a psychiatrist. Zoloft has been really effective for me. I'm no longer having rushing thoughts or feeling socially awkward around people."

• tayyy
• April 17, 2017

"I have had what I see as pretty bad social anxiety, to the point where I look back and realize how much life I have missed out on. It took me a while to actually become aware of it, but for some time now I have been dwelling on it since it makes it super hard to make friends. So, I usually see myself as not having very effective medications (such as SSRIs) for depression/anxiety etc. Either that, or it's hard to notice improvement. I specifically wanted to go on a medication for my social anxiety so my doctor ended up putting me on zoloft and I love it...I can actually see improvement and I have even made a friend. It's to the point where I feel like I can notice myself being more anxious when I forget to take it at the beginning of the day"

• wwjd
• May 10, 2008

"I have been taking zoloft for about 2 months and it seems to be helping me with my temper and stress level. I have lost about 10 lbs, which is great but I can't seem to be still. I'm constantly moving my feet or legs. Very figidy."

• Bad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2023

"I have had anxiety and panic attacks for over one year now. I ended up at the hospital in very bad condition because I had not slept. What this drug did to me I can even explain it was the most horrible 3 days of my life. It wasn't anxiety it was something 1000 times worse! I was passing out several times with waves of anxiety and disorientation. After 30 hours I began to ask for help on the floor finally after 30 hours at the hospital I was given diazepam to cool off it was helpful a little bit but I have the biggest trauma in my life. Please be careful with this drug. I was using Remeron and escitalopram but this one almost killed me as I was thinking will jump out of the window."

• Sarah
• March 8, 2017

"Stick it out. I was so hesitant to explore perscription medication, instead of the more natural methods. Eventually when I couldn't take it anymore I began Zoloft. The first month I was taking 50mg, and was slowly upped to 100mg. The side effects I experienced were really terrible- increased anxiety for a few weeks... and I crapped my pants... but I promise, it was worth it. Now I'm 6 months on Zoloft and I don't suffer from social anxiety at nearly the same level as before. I feel much more confident speaking in front of groups and just being myself. I also feel less depressed. I think that people often experience the terrible side effects and give up on the drug, but if you're willing to suffer through, sertraline may really help you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2012

"I started taking Zoloft about three weeks ago. I have noticed various symptoms, I grind my teeth quite a bit which brings on headaches, I yawn constantly and I am always tired (even if I have eight hours sleep). I have not experienced any weight gain as yet, or any other symptoms associated with this medicine. I used to have panic attacks every second day, I have not had one since I started taking Zoloft which is a great outcome. I did get a bit panicky in a social situation two days ago, though was able to control my emotions so I didn't have a panic attack. So far so good."

• Robert
• August 20, 2013

"I've been on Zoloft for 3 months now and I've got to say its been pretty good. I am on 50mg a day and sometimes I skip because I'm not so worried anymore. Really has helped out a lot. I'm making friends."

• Lilly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2016

"Zoloft has helped me so much so far. I have spent the last three months getting worse and worse. Panic, anxiety and depression. I was on Wellbutrine but it just seemed to make me worse. Two days after starting Zoloft (I take it before I go to bed), I woke up happy. I felt normal - like myself! I don't know about the sexual side effects yet because frankly it was difficult to want to be intimate when I was living in an emotional hell. Thank you Zoloft!! "

• sammy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2014

"Diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder I was very hesitant at the start to try medications and thought I'll battle through with the help of therapy. 3 months later I gave in for medication. Couldn't get through a day without my anxiety being an obstacle. Was prescribed Zoloft for the first time at 25mg. For the first week things were fine just the usual upset stomach and dry mouth nothing I couldn't handle but surprisingly it made me depressed (never was) but anxiety DID settle a little (hence 5/10). Then was pushed up to 50mg... the upset stomach stopped the dry mouth decreased but restlessness and insomnia kicked in including the zombie feeling. This went on for over 2 weeks but had to stop, it was affecting my work. Withdrawal symptoms, depression."

• Liz
• April 23, 2015

"I am a 45 year old female and have had mild to moderate anxiety for most of my adult life. I lived with it for years and tried different medications on and off when my level of anxiety increased. I also tried yoga, meditation, exercise and counselling. A year ago, a new doctor prescribed 100mg Zoloft 1x/day. It took about a month for me to feel a difference, but Zoloft has given me the most "normal" feeling of any drug I ever tried. I do not have sexual side effects, as I did with other antidepressants nor do I feel numb or sleepy throughout the day. I have gained some weight (15 pounds) over the past year, but I can't really attribute it just to Zoloft."

• Dora
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2018

"This drug gave my life back! I suffered from severe social anxiety and panic attacks of course. Only in 10 days I started to see the difference. Now it has been three weeks and I feel fine! Negative thoughts have disappeared and I'm not getting easily stressed about everything as I used to do so."

• karmann
• March 12, 2013

"I have been suffering from anxiety for at least 15 years on and off due to being in a high pressure corporate role, coming to terms with my sexuality and 4 hectic years due to several life changes both personally and professionally. I decided 2 years ago enough was enough and tried Effexor for 12 months for my anxiety, it worked but I was in a haze all the time and it was horrendous to get off that stuff. I then had to go onto Lexapro which was a nightmare to get on and while it did work well and my anxiety stopped I still felt medicated. I then tapered off Lexapro, for 5 months unmedicated and was feeling okay then my anxiety came back worse. I am now on day 3 of Zoloft and I feel better with no bad side effects. Fingers crossed."

• LAURE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2018

"I was experiencing horrible anxiety attacks I felt like I was having a heart attack, I was scared to fall asleep and not wake up. I was scared to drive, I felt like I was going crazy. My doctor started me on Zoloft 25mg which made it worst at first BUT than she increased it to 50mg and after a few weeks and I started feeling about 50% better so on my next visit I was increased to 100mg and I was terrified to increase it. Now I'm doing about 90% better, sometimes I feel like I'm about to get an anxiety attack but after a few seconds it goes away. I have a follow up appointment in 6 weeks we'll see what my Doctor says. If you're going through this and your Doctor prescribes you medication take it & say a prayer"

• SCano
• February 25, 2020

"I started having panic attacks and anxiety about physical symptoms I was feeling and trouble sleeping, which were actually caused by anxiety in the first place. My doctor prescribed me 10mg Lexapro. I took 5mg dose for 3 days then raised up to the full 10mg dose. I felt awful all of the time with headaches, nausea, dizziness, more panic and anxiety and would get fatigued in the middle of the day. I also started having tension in my neck and shoulders. Because of these new developments, I was given Zoloft instead. Once again, I had side effects like headaches, nausea and brain fog, but they are not as bad. I did feel bad the first week but things are getting better. While I still am nauseous and still don't sleep until my alarm, it isn't as bad. I have more focus, which I didn't have prior. I'm hoping that if I stick with this medicine, my sleep and phobia control will improve. I have a follow up for 2 weeks from now to see if we might need to raise the dose from 50mg to 100mg."

• Happy...
• December 5, 2015

"Zoloft is WONDERFUL. I have been on every other drug in the antideppresant class in ver 25 years. Paxil as fairly good for anxiety but as a male I was unable to even pretend to orgasm. As long as I stay at 50 mg with 150 mg wellbutrin I am able to orgasm. At 100 mg sexual sde effects kick in but not to the extent of Paxil. IT TAKES TIME TO WORK. I would say 6 weeks to 2 months for full effect but then nirvana."

• clair...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2013

"I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 yrs ago after years of suffering and take Lamictal and Seroquel but when Zoloft was added I haven't looked back. It has saved my marriage I had uncontrollable jealousy negative and suicidal thoughts social anxiety and panic attacks. Now I stand at the school yard socialize and have started going out with my husband again. Have put some weight on but compared to how I felt it is worth it."