Does anyone know the long term side effects of taking Zoloft?

Hi, I only took zoloft for about 2 weeks and this was 7 years ago. That drug did not like me. Check with your doctor or drug store and ask. Iam weening off effexor right now and it is very hard because I was on a high dosage for a long time.

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

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

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.

Hi there I have just posted two answers to this question this morning explaining ex-actually what you want to know !! look on the site & you will find ! take care Candypq

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.

If Zoloft is working, I would not worry about brain aneurysms. I would go to my doctor and see if he thinks you should see a specialist. But, not have the depression/anxiety is a wonderful thing. Good luck and God bless.

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.

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

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

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

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."