Sertraline for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

Brand names: Zoloft

Sertraline has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 51 reviews for the off-label treatment of Bipolar Disorder. 57% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 24% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Sertraline

Anonymous
Taken for 2 to 5 years
December 11, 2013

"Initially it helped with anxiety and depression. However, I started having manic episodes and rapid cycling while on it. My psychiatrist said no more SSRIs for me, and they generally aren't recommended for Bipolar. Now I wish I could have some of the anti-anxiety effects of Zoloft, but that benefit is not worth the risk. Zoloft gave me slight sexual side effects, overeating, and minor headaches. That being said, it is a miracle for some."

5 / 10

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15 Report

Liz
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
October 20, 2019

"I was having trouble at work, I’m in the sertraline pill for a year and is working, but now I think I have to go to the doctor to increase the dosage. I’m having too much pressure I’m taking a class and I need to get better asI feel to much stress.."

8 / 10

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8 Report

Rhian...
March 13, 2008

Zoloft (sertraline) "I take Zoloft along with Trileptal for my bipolar disorder. It is a very good medicine that hasn't given me any side effects at all. The only problem is it makes me real manic at times, which is common. Besides that I have no complaints! It is one of the best medicines I have ever taken."

9 / 10

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20 Report

Frequently asked questions

volynn
May 14, 2011

Zoloft (sertraline) "I took Zoloft for 2 years at 100mg daily for bipolar disorder type I. Zoloft is wonderful in that it made me significantly less anxious. However, it didn't succeed in making me any less depressed. Also, as with most anti-depressants, I experienced a decreased sex drive. "

6 / 10

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15 Report

chgoman
Taken for less than 1 month
May 11, 2018

"Thanks so much to everyone who has shared the early experience with sertraline. I am on day 3 and do have the nausea. I am going to stick with it though. It is tolerable. I am actually switching from venlafaxine to sertraline. But so far I like the sertraline. Good luck to everyone and thanks again for posting."

9 / 10

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8 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

coren...
Taken for less than 1 month
June 10, 2022

"Worst idea of my life. Took it because I wanted to mitigate anxiety induced by Abilify 5mg. I took 25mg of sertraline for about a week and it made me go full mixed episode, crying all the time, doing drugs, talking about suicide with my boss (so inappropriate), having that weird energy where you can't sleep but are so tired... I stopped after a week. Be careful taking a SSRI with Bipolar disorders!"

1 / 10

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3 Report

johnw
Taken for 1 to 2 years
May 25, 2013

"I take many medications for Depression (Bi-Polar) and this one helps without the sleepiness that the other ones give. I take a total of four different medications for depression some to help me sleep and others as a supplement."

9 / 10

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11 Report

More FAQ

JWAus...
Taken for 5 to 10 years
April 18, 2022

"Sertraline 50mg a day has miraculously kept my mood cycles in check. Lamictal was a miracle drug, but significant memory problems (a side effect that wasn’t ever confirmed by studies in my understanding) caused me to look for an alternative. So grateful that this little drug can keep my mood stabilized!"

10 / 10

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3 Report

Crystal...
October 2, 2009

Zoloft (sertraline) "My original experience with Zoloft was over ten years ago, during a serious depressive episode - it seemed to be effective as a stabilizer. This past December, a doctor prescribed it again to help pull me out of another down-turn. Within the course of a month I progressed from severe depression to ultradian mood cycling, which resulted in a nervous breakdown. The cycling abated within a couple weeks of discontinued treatment with Zoloft. "

1 / 10

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12 Report

Weavn...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
January 13, 2014

"I have tried a variety of SSRI antidepressant medications and Zoloft by far was the most useful in managing my anxiety and depression. I am bipolar 1 and also take lithium, propranolol, gabapentin, Vistaril and Klonopin. The main problem was that more recently I have begun having rapid cycling manic episodes forcing me to begin tapering off."

9 / 10

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9 Report

Angel...
April 7, 2017

"Just recently was diagnosed with bipolar tapered off of paxil to try this oh my I was not myself much worse my mania went through the roof talking very fast spending money without thought impetuous thoughts needed to come off of it after a week"

1 / 10

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6 Report

Anonymous
July 29, 2008

"I have been on many different SSRI's and sertraline has worked much better than any other medicine. I've been on it for about 5 years now. The only suggestion I have is to make sure you have regular contact with your doctor because I have the dose changed every once in a while to suit my needs."

8 / 10

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9 Report

beep...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
March 21, 2021

"This medication made my depressive episode significantly worse. I was taking 50mg in conjunction with 200mg lamictal and I absolutely had a bad downward spiral, I cried every day and thought about overdosing every other day. I lost 7 pounds because I was too depressed to cook. I know it works for some people, but not for me. Good luck!"

3 / 10

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2 Report

gamea...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
November 2, 2022

"This medication provided me with a slight improvement in my condition that mixed compulsive thoughts, mood swings and anxiety accompanied by severe depression. In two weeks, I didn't notice any improvement, I just felt the side effects. In the third week, I felt relief. Nothing great, but it left me well enough to be noticed by others. I keep taking it, no complete improvement. I hope it works out in the next few weeks."

6 / 10

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1 Report

Im...
Taken for 10 years or more
August 14, 2016

"I'm on Zoloft for many yrs but have tried many other's But I don't think that I'm bipolar. That's a diagnosis I got 20yrs ago. I'm scheduled to get an updated diagnoses next week. I have had depression since I was in grade school. I knew it. Through the years I've read about symptoms and just recently read an article about how to know what kind of counselor to choose. So I will let you all know how it goes because I've been looking for help as my depression and anxiety helplessness affective mood disorder is driving me to not want to be here anymore. Obviously I'm not ready tho because I'm still pounding my head up against the wall. "

7 / 10

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3 Report

MikeH
Taken for 1 to 6 months
May 16, 2021

"The worst antidepressant I’ve ever been on. Can you NAUSEA and EXHAUSTION. I could not function on this medication. Even at the low dose of 25mg I was unable to eat consistently and by 10am I would feel like it was midnight. I had to take a leave from work just to get OFF the stuff. Listen to your body, if you’ve been on it for over a month and you’re still sick everyday. I feel for you and it’s time to try something else."

1 / 10

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1 Report

Ciara...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
May 22, 2021

"A big no no for me. Rapid cycling, mixed episodes, I would definitely be in a lot better financial situation if I hadn’t been on this drug. I’ve been on it with and with and without Seroquel and either way it’s been terrible. Probably good for MDD but not for bipolar."

1 / 10

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0 Report

Giggl...
January 7, 2018

"After years of yoyo medications and many trips to St. Anthony's for long stays I am finally stabilized. Took over 10 years, but now I am going on 3 years of no episodes. Miracle."

10 / 10

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14 Report

atlanta...
September 4, 2009

Zoloft (sertraline) "I seem to be doing very well on this medicine (was on Cymbalta for 2 years and it lost its purpose such as many antidepressants do). Zoloft is not supposed to wear off over time."

9 / 10

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18 Report

cw33
Taken for 1 to 6 months
December 19, 2016

"Feel much better, I'm energized and my mood slowly gets better every day. I'm on week two. 100mg/d"

10 / 10

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10 Report

Bugg
April 29, 2008

Zoloft (sertraline) "this med. works wonders. it helps with my social anxiety,night terrors, PTS and deff. my depression. i am very pleased and would recommend this to others with bipolar disorder to talk with their doc.s"

7 / 10

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15 Report

colli...
October 4, 2010

Zoloft (sertraline) "worked well for a month then I quickly ramped up to a manic episode"

2 / 10

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12 Report

Molly...
November 21, 2014

"Zoloft brought me out of a deep depression nothing else worked. I am concerned it will make me manic as im bipolar 1, so far so good. I do get a tremor with it but I'm also on lithium."

7 / 10

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9 Report

Stark...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
November 18, 2020

"150mg sertraline for anxiety. Game changer. I take it with Lithium and Vraylar."

10 / 10

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3 Report

plibs
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
April 5, 2013

"Did help with depression however had bad side effects like low libido. Also, created manic symptoms even when on lithium so I can't even be on a high enough dose to be really effective."

6 / 10

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7 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.