Sertraline for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• LPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

Sertraline "The effect of the medication appeared on the first day of taking it. That seemed so weird to me because I've tried several other SSRIs and needed to wait at least 7-8 days to feel something. It was like the mood swing. In the morning, I felt a little brain fog and a little shaky. Then later that day, my mood as well as my motivation dropped drastically to zero. I couldn't move, couldn't work, so for around 2 hours, I sat in the chair trying to get myself together. After that episode, I figured that I need to eat something, so I went to the nearby store. When I've gone outside, I felt like I was high, colors were much more vivid, sounds were intensified to the degree I felt overwhelmed. This state lasted for around 4-5 hours, I can't tell for sure because I lost track of time. Also, there was this feeling that my soul was separated from my body and the metaphysical and physical world was in a different point in spacetime (not sure if it makes any sense)."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2018

"Started on 50 mg sertraline, was in a terrible place: severe anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and depression. First night took, ended up waking to feeling really bad and going to be sick. The side effects can be harsh the first few days, but had to see it through as didn't feel like I had a choice. I couldn't live with the state I was in. After five awful weeks, anxiety greatly reduced, obsessive thoughts virtually stopped, and depression diminishing. I am now able to read a book, make tea, simple things that were impossible five weeks ago. Most of all, I have hope I'm going to make a recovery, unthinkable in my mind five weeks ago. It's just a tablet, but you must commit to waiting it out for a good number of weeks and putting up with side effects, but it's helped me to a much better place."

• Hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2021

Sertraline "I have been taking Zoloft for a few months now, and I can honestly say this has helped me. I was so depressed I could barely take care of my toddler, and I had so much anxiety I didn't like leaving my house. Since taking this, I do not have panic attacks anymore, and I do not feel as depressed all the time. Now my depression comes in waves and does not last for long, whereas before, I would feel depressed for days at a time. I will say the side effects are annoying. I experienced nausea, nightmares, decreased appetite, followed by increased appetite, extreme fatigue, and jaw pain (weird, I know). After taking this for a few months, most of the side effects have subsided. I do still have VERY vivid dreams, which I have never had before, but it's not a big deal to me as long as they are not nightmares. As far as dosing, I started off with 50 mg, after two weeks increased to 100 mg, and have just recently been told to up it to 150 mg to help with lingering anxiety."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2015

Sertraline "I was on Prozac for a month, and I got super bad nauseous feelings and sick all the time. I got off, and my doctor put me on Zoloft, and I feel so much happier. I feel happier, but not fixed. I guess it's a work in progress."

• Jen...
• August 28, 2016

Sertraline "I had a horrible experience with Zoloft. I started on a low-dose liquid form, and at first, it seemed to be really lifting my mood, reducing my anxiety, and boosting my self-esteem. But I soon began experiencing extreme irritability and episodes of destructive rage aimed at my belongings or myself. I loved the benefits, but the side effects were ruining my life and relationships, so I discontinued. In addition to rage, I also experienced severe prolonged PMS (3 weeks duration), constant breast pain and swelling, unrestorative sleep, and awful vivid lifelike nightmares. In terms of reducing depression and anxiety, I'd give it a 9, but the side effects didn't enable me to continue taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2016

Sertraline "I've been undergoing some health issues for the past 3 months. Doctors believe it's my anxiety and depression that are the problem. I've had anxiety and depression for about 16 years and never had issues like I'm experiencing now. But to rule out depression and anxiety, I decided to start taking Zoloft as the doctor recommended. I took my first dose last night, 50 mg. (Side note, I had been on Zoloft before when I was younger.) The night I took the first dose... my head felt kind of funny, still feels a little funny. I got drowsy, a little shaky. This morning I felt sick to my stomach. My eyes were dilated, and I felt wired. I'm going to cut it in half tonight and see how that goes."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2019

Sertraline "I took Zoloft for social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. I quit taking it after a couple of months due to horrible side effects (I was suicidal, had worsened insomnia, irritability, and akathisia). Apart from the side effects, it didn’t even help me."

• Got...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 7, 2018

"Has saved my life. Literally. Works very well with the only side effect being a little bit of memory loss. But not major. Very hard to get used to in the beginning. In six weeks, had a lot of side effects, which they said would pass. They all did. First two weeks, I had vertigo, no appetite, sleepiness in the day, some auditory hallucinations, mood swings, and paranoia. However, they got better as time went on. I would recommend taking time off work while starting this medication. Now I am a different person. My mum says she has her daughter back. I don’t want to end my life anymore. I am confident, less self-critical, I am social, no panic attacks, the OCD behavior I had during my breakdown of my marriage has completely gone. I cannot tell you what a difference this drug has made to my life. I have a life. I should be used in its adverts. Lucky me."

• wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2015

Sertraline "This med worked for me years ago, but this time, after taking it for 2 days, I'm worse (50 mg). Bad headache, stomach upset, and anxiety. My pharmacy switched generics, and that also could be part of the problem. I am a mental wreck and a shell of my former self. I really just want to stay in bed all day. I don't have a psych, just a GP. I also have horrible OCD, and every decision I make I feel is wrong. I have refills left on my Celexa, and that worked a little better but didn't do the trick. I asked my GP for Wellbutrin at my last visit, and for some reason, she didn't want to give it to me."

• gec...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 1, 2015

"I have been on Zoloft for over 20 years and am in the medical field myself. As far as someone with extensive experience both as a patient and caregiver, I can say this with absolute certainty. If when you first start Zoloft *sertraline* you have some small side effects, that is completely normal and to be expected as your body adjusts to this SSRI medication. It's all about finding the right fit for you! You should start low and slow and not be afraid to try to feel better! =) This medication can be a valuable asset to your life as it has been mine! The most common effects early on were feeling tired, a little dizzy, and nauseous, but it was worth those small things to feel better and live better!"

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2023

Sertraline "I started on 50 mg. I started feeling good the first 2 weeks, then going into the third week, the side effects were too strong. So today, I halved it to 25 mg to see what happens. I can’t handle the side effects."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2017

Sertraline "The first day I tried Zoloft, I sat and looked out the window all day, watching it snow. All I could think of was how pretty it was. But it also made my heart beat very hard. I could feel my blood pounding through my head and neck harder than I'd ever felt before. My doctor had me try smaller doses, but even at 25 mg the same thing happened. So no Zoloft for me. Which is a shame, since it really did show promise."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2024

Sertraline "I took Zoloft for years and never had any problems with side effects of any kind. I had to switch to Sertraline due to the price of Zoloft. I have minor benefits with Sertraline. I still have social anxiety and more frequent sadness. So, Sertraline is okay but does not work as well as Zoloft."

• Jac...
• May 3, 2017

"I can truly say that so far this medication has literally saved my life. I have suffered from depression for the past two and a half years. In December of 2016, it got out of control. I hit the lowest point in my life out of nowhere. I tried my hardest to get out of the most horrible depression and anxiety that one could ever experience in life. Thoughts became obsessive and I got insomnia. I prayed, I ate better, I tried and I tried to beat this beast all by myself, but the harder I tried, the more I felt that I was sinking. I decided to try antidepressants and the first I was given was Lexapro. Lexapro was horrible for me, and then my doctor suggested Zoloft. I was so hesitant, but I'm glad I gave it a try. Don't give up!!"

• LMG...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 3, 2015

"I have suffered from MDD most of my life, undiagnosed and untreated, and now in my thirties, finally decided to see if dysfunctional patterns in my life might not all be character-related. I was diagnosed with MDD quickly and immediately prescribed sertraline, and it worked so well so quickly my doctor and I thought it was a placebo effect. I have gone on and off the meds over the last six months just to see what other factors are affecting me, and can say without equivocation, these meds have been completely life-altering. My doctor helped me understand that mental illness is as real as diabetes. Diabetics can make huge health improvements through lifestyle and still require insulin because of a physical malfunction. So too with depression."

• Che...
• March 7, 2016

Sertraline "This medication really helped my anxiety and depression. I felt so much better-but it came with a cost. This medication gave me severe hypoglycemia. I am not diabetic, thankfully, but on this medication, it made my blood sugar drop severely low where I would almost pass out at work (and I work in a factory). So I'm sure you can imagine how awful I felt. It's a catch-22. I felt better with my anxiety, but then I got severe blood sugar drops. So I'm off it now and have to start all over again on a new medication. If this medicine works for you, then great, I envy you. This made me so sick I couldn't stand it. So if you take this medication and start getting severely low blood sugar (you'll know, trust me), stop taking it!"

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2016

"I moved out to Arizona 6 years ago. Since then, I have had difficulty transitioning from the Midwest to the Southwest. I struggled keeping a job and maintaining any relationships due to my depression and anxiety. I tried Prozac, but had too many highs and lows. After 5 years, I finally got relief. The doctor put me on Zoloft. Zoloft has been a miracle drug for me. I have maintained the same job for over a year and have been in a monogamous relationship with my boyfriend. I sleep better and don't think so much. My family is so happy for me that I got the help I needed, and we get along better. My thoughts would go into turmoil before, and I would think the worst of everything, then get stuck in a rut. It was hell."

• 199...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2021

Sertraline "The psychiatrist prescribed me Zoloft for major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Day 1 - 17 = 50mg. Day 18 - present = 75mg. I noticed a difference in about 2 days of being on it. Only felt mild nausea for the first 3 days. The most prevalent side effect while taking 50mg was fatigue that would begin 45 mins after ingestion in the morning. I have been on 75mg for 2 days now, and I don't have the fatigue feeling. Zoloft keeps me at a baseline of 'okay.' It's early days and a small dose, but I can still feel quite depressed and angry, etc., but there is a higher chance of it not being a poisonous cloud over me at all times compared to when I wasn't medicated. I will say that intense mania/dissociation is a symptom I didn't expect to experience (although it was brought on by a complex post-traumatic stress disorder trigger). Zoloft seems to help with my digestive system regularity. Will continue to stay on it. Would recommend."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2019

Sertraline "I have a genetic problem breaking this medication down, therefore, I was on a very low dose - 12.5 mg. It caused me severe side effects, and I had to discontinue. I had a hard time standing, was dizzy, nauseous, suicidal, extremely tired, and easily angered. It gave me tachycardia, made my migraines worse, and gave me blisters on my face around my mouth/chin. It did help with restless legs. The only other treatment I've had success with is ketamine infusions. Unfortunately, they are much more expensive. I know my experience sounds awful, but most will not react how I did. Everyone's body is slightly different, so it's worth a try!"

• Lil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 1, 2021

"I must say that this medication has saved my life. I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety, OCD, and other conditions. Zoloft has been the only thing I can tolerate, and I have been on/tried most of the major medicines, SSIs, SSRIs, etc., for most of my life. I highly recommend this for those who are at a loss for life. It has done wonders for me without going into too much detail. I am now able to feel that life is worth living and move on in a positive way. Thank goodness for this treatment and my doc. For those who need help, please reach out to a professional, there is hope."

• 30 ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 21, 2022

"This medication has allowed me to function for all these years after major depressive episodes and PTSD (along with Pamelor). I have noticed that if I began having incredibly vivid nightmares all of a sudden, I need to see if the maker of the med has been changed. I generally do not dream. Each time, it has, and I ask the pharmacist to change back or try another. This has happened at least 4 or 5 times. If the tablet looks different to you, it probably is. The effect was so bad on one brand I had them file a report to the FDA. If they will not change for you, change pharmacies if you can."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2016

Sertraline "During a stint in the hospital, I took the generic for about a month with lithium, Seroquel, and Lamictal. I also received Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation during that time. I was very hopeful about all of these treatments, but things got worse. I am normally a very verbal person who expresses herself by writing, making jokes, etc., but after a few weeks of these combined treatments, I found it much more difficult to write, and I still do; 4 months later."

• ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2018

Sertraline "I've been suffering from depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember (I began having anxiety at age 5, panic attacks at 10, agoraphobia at 11, depression/panic at 12, and I still suffer from anxiety and depression to this day). Zoloft definitely helped at first, but I almost feel like my body is becoming tolerant to it. Is that possible? It also definitely kind of sucks the life out of you."

• Bec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2022

"Zoloft gave me my life back after suffering from major depressive disorder and anxiety. Depression and anxiety are not an option. I literally cannot screw up, I've got nobody to fall on because I am the backup. This medication has helped me get up out of bed and face the day. I'm able to successfully perform everyday activities without panicking or wishing I just wasn't here altogether. Zoloft has improved my quality of life. If your doctor prescribes this, don't expect it to work right away because it won't, it's not a magic pill or cure-all. It took me months to feel the full effect of Zoloft. Trust the process."

• Cro...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 1, 2021

Sertraline "For me, this was the worst med ever. It made me suicidal, low mood, and low motivation. I do not tolerate SSRI or SNRI well. I feel doctors throw these at you without giving antipsychotics or benzodiazepines a fair chance. No 2 people react to meds the same, and for me, Zoloft was one of the worst meds."