I have been on Zoloft for 3 months now and feel too like it has changed my life. I take 25 mg a day, and no longer get nervous in groups of people or dread social situations. I'm also a lot nicer to my husband! I used to worry about EVERYTHING, but now I don't let things get me down. It's great. I can, however, feel some "twitching" (for lack of a better term) going on in my brain which makes me think about brain aneurysms. I"m curious about the long term effects of Zoloft use on the brain. Does anyone know?
Does anyone know the long term side effects of taking Zoloft?
- Asked
- 3 Mar 2011 by happymomof2
- Updated
- 14 days ago
- Topics
- zoloft, social anxiety disorder, postpartum depression, side effect, anxiety and stress, nervous
Details:
Responses (16)
vincent1905
3 Mar 2011
blaze22
4 Mar 2011
I have been put on zoloft and taken off over the years and even though it did seem to work in keeping me active and focused I dealt with alot of side effects from the drug... Insomnia, clenching teeth, a little nervous, extremely dialated pupils... rubbing and scratching at times and a few other's... I was then put on klonopin at one time .05 to offset the side effects and shaking from alcohol withdrawal, and then switched to diazepam. Zoloft is the only other psych med that I have been on for about as long as Celexa which I am on now and have been taking for about a year... The only way to see How you believe it will effect you is to give it 2-10 weeks and see how things go, if no, then speak with your doctor about swithching the medicine... blaze22
Inactive
4 Mar 2011
Hi there happymomof2 I was on this drug for 8 years due to depression,anxiety and stress.The first few years it worked & helped mainly my depression due to stress, anyway as the years went by I noticed different side effects appear these are as follows !
LaurieShay
4 Mar 2011
I'm pleased to here about your success with Zoloft. As far as the long term effects of taking Zoloft, the longest studies done to determine this were over 52 weeks. You can read about the common side effects by going to:
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/zoloft-side-effects.html
As with any antidepressant, how Zoloft actually effects the brain is not well understood. It controls the brain chemical serotonin in the brain synapsis from being uptaked by the receptors, therefore affecting mood and anxiety production. Why you are experiencing these "twitching" sensations is unclear to me. The possibility of a brain aneurysm is unfounded and probably nothing to worry about. If the symptom continues or becomes more bothersome, please contact your doctor.
You are on a low dose of Zoloft and are having excellent results, relax and enjoy!!
Keep in touch
Inactive
4 Mar 2011
Hey happymomof2, glad to hear the Zoloft is working for you. My husband is bi-polar manic depressed & thanks to a really good physciatrist & Zoloft he's still wilth me today. He takes 100mg, so yours is a low dose as LaurieShay pointed out. If you feel there may be a small side effect, you should take it up with your doctor as everyone reacts differently to different drugs. A phone call may put your mind at ease so you can go on being a happy mom! Lots of luck to you, & glad you are getting the help you richly & your kids deserve.
Inactive
4 Mar 2011
Catwoman1965
2 Feb 2013
I have been on Zoloft for over15 years. I take 100 mg a day along with 1mg of Kolonopin. This drug has changed my life. No more panic attacks; choaking, etc. It think the only effect that I believe is due to the Zoloft is that I no longer have a good memory, but who knows, it could also be from getting older. I do have to take both drugs or I would shake from just the Zoloft.
Inactive
3 Feb 2013
cjlcjl50905090
29 Apr 2013
I have been taking zoloft for 13+ years, I started on 25 mg, then 50, 100 and now I take 200 mg. I dont have any different side effects then I did when I first started taking it. The only thing now is if I skip it on accident that day, by night I feel off balance, where as before I would take 2 days.
Bkluiz27
13 Sep 2016
So I've been on zoloft for 14 yrs and it's helped me alot however one of the main side effects I experience is memory loss. My short term and long term are really horrible and I'm only 34 yrs old. But I'd rather have the memory loss then the negative thoughts and panic attacks
Patsy Craig
6 Dec 2016
I have taken Zoloft for at least 20years. I have tried other antidepressants that my doctor suggested but always have to go back to Zoloft. It has worked for me without a whole lot of side effects and I can truthfully say that before Zoloft, different doctors had me on at least eight different drugs and I did not feel normal until 1991 when I started Zoloft. I take 100mg every day. I am now 77 yrs old and I live a very average life.
12-5-2016
CaptFelix
3 Oct 2017
Going on 13years, 150mg Zoloft. Zoloft saved my life... I was put on a bunch of different meds, none worked Zoloft did. I'm a 40 year old man so Due to age there are a lot of changes going on making it hard to pinpoint side effects. The one side effect I can def attribute to this drug is a severe lack in sex drive. I've wondered if this drug lowers testosterone in men as I also feel sluggish at times. If you enjoy sex and your a man, say bye bye to the yearning, n lust for the opposite sex. I deal with severe panic, anxiety, manic depression, the pros out weighted the cons.
10/3/17
bbellhairgirl
15 Jan 2018
To whom it concern or would matter:
I have been taking Zoloft/Sertraline for 23 years have taken 100mg (150mg if things where ruff.) Mainly 100mg all the years. I have been down to 50mg in the last year times up to 75mg. Sometimes I have thought to just do 100mg but trying to get through. Its worked for me and I NEVER had any issues unless I didn't take it or I tried getting off of it.
I started counseling to face why I have been on Zoloft/Sertraline for all these years.
to whomever is curious the book "The Body Keep the Score" that's me could be most of use. That book touched very close to home!
Stella12345
27 Jan 2018
Hi your response hit very close to home for me. I’ve been on Zoloft for 24 yrs. Currently i’m living with emotional and verbal abuse and an alcoholic. I never thought my life would turn out this way. I suffered trauma with both my parents with regards to them getting sick suddenly. My secure world was turned upside down. I’ve tried once again to get off of meds but I’m having a difficult time. I’m in counseling now and trying to deal with whatever is causing me to have panic/ anxiety attack’s. It’s not fun. I wish that I can live a peaceful life but I need to find my happiness first. Let me know if u have any questions. May God bless us
Lizzy126
12 Mar 2018
Hello! I went on thos forum bc I was worried about long term side effects of Zoloft. I have been on 150mg for 25 yrs. I am now 44. I have noticed that I get these “brain zaps” and my words don’t always match what I’m thinking like I see a triangle and sometimes the word square comes out. That’s just an example. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and I am post menopauseal. I have no idea about the brain zaps. They come and go. I thought I would be on it for life because of the wicked side effects from weening. Other than that I feel fine.
Why Aitch
25 Jan 2018
Hello. I was put on sertraline by a psychiatrist here in Australia. It wasn't working. Her response was to up the dose. It increased to a massive 600mg/day of sertraline for approximately one year. I kept telling her it wasn't working... yet she ignored me. I titrated myself off the drug and left her "care". I have been off the drug for 4 years now. I now take no antidepressants at all and I fear/detest psychiatrists because of my experience with her.
My side effects were extreme sweating- had to change the sheets every day because of this, teeth clenching, increased anxiety, short term memory loss, severe muscle cramps- the latter not good because I am (was) an athlete. She also mixed 500mg of Sertraline with 250mg (maximum dose I think) of amitriptyline for about 3 months before removing the amitriptyline and increasing sertraline to 600 mg/day.
It was for major depression.
Crystalberet
26 Jan 2018
Dear lord! I thought 200mg was max! Meant to start my tablets on Tuesday but can't bring myself to take them, don't know if it's worth the hassle! Too many side affects for my liking , wish there was some other way to overcome this, why do other people get to live A normal life and some don't ? I've tried for twelve years to overcome this and it just gets worse every year!
WildcatVet
25 Jan 2018
From NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness):
"Are There Any Risks Of Taking Sertraline For Long Periods Of Time?
To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of sertraline. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed."
Further Information
- Zoloft Information for Consumers
- Zoloft Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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