Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• j...
• February 21, 2012

Sertraline "Zoloft at first helped with the immediate lifting of my moderately to severely depressed state, while undergoing treatment with the medication I have been, in so many words, transformed (as far as OCD symptomatologies go). I stopped my continuous ritualistic, obsessive habits such as checking, obsessive cleaning, etc., and began instead to be noticed by everyone as having a relatively light and airy disposition as opposed to my former, neurotic and morose self. The dose had to be increased to work optimally, in fact, several times. I had no noticeable sexual side effects, as other SSRIs I had used. The change I experienced as far as mood, behaviors, etc., were first in fact noticed by others, then by myself."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2021

Sertraline "I've come to the realization over the past year that all my life I've struggled with OCD. Intrusive thoughts and obsessive behaviors have just been something I've grown to accept without knowing it. Prozac made me way too anxious, and I gave up and thought I just wasn't meant for SSRIs. I was prescribed Zoloft a few months ago, and it was the perfect fit. It took a while for me to find my perfect dose (150 mg), but now I am a completely different person. Of course, prescription meds are only one part of the equation (in addition to diet, exercise, therapy, etc.), but this was a miracle. I'm writing this to say to anyone who is curious about medication for OCD or anyone who is struggling in general, there is hope, and if you are patient, you will see the light and find something that works. Give it time, it took me over a month to get it just right, but it was so worth it!"

• son...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2022

Sertraline "Zoloft actually saved my life. I'm currently on 50 mg, which I do need to bump up after talking with my doctor. I've been taking it for around 6 months, and the difference between then and now is incredible. I have always dealt with debilitating OCD, intrusive thoughts, and mainly just constant obsessions. I was consistently awake and detached from my surroundings because I was trapped in my head, panicking about how I can't fix everybody's lives. I still get those feelings sometimes, and I still get upset like the average person, but I can actually work, sleep, read, and eat without the incessant voices in my head. I don't feel like I am being controlled by some external demon manifestation of myself, rather, I am the controller of myself. It's insane. At first, I was very loopy on Zoloft, in the sense that I just felt so awake all the time. That lasted about two weeks at most. The drug fully kicked in around a month and a half in."

• kyr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2016

Sertraline "30/F. I developed severe anxiety due to obsessive 'bang your head against a wall to make it stop' intrusive thoughts at age 7. I 'grew out' of it as I got older, but it hit back in full swing at 18. After years of walking around with a constant stomachache and having obsessive thought-induced panic attacks (all while living a 'normal' life), I finally went to see a doctor. I started out at 50 mg and later bumped up to 100. The first few days felt like I had mild morning sickness and brain fog, but faded quickly. The only real lasting symptom is restless legs/sleeplessness at night, and I'd rather be awake and restless than awake and hysterical. I do think about/initiate sex less, but have found that (for me) getting started anyway does the trick."

• Ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2023

Sertraline "I have been suffering from OCD since I was young, but always it was manageable for me until I reached 27 years old. I couldn’t handle it anymore, and it affected my entire life. Started taking Zoloft 50 mg first, 3 days then 100 mg. I started feeling better on day 9. Now I'm on day 16, and I feel amazing. Zoloft changed my entire life with almost no side effects."

• Mii...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 3, 2025

"First time taking it, changed my personality for the worse (did not care about shit and arrogant). Was helpful for social anxiety but made me emotionally numb. Would not recommend for a long-duration option."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2022

Sertraline "I have suffered from Pure O for a few months before my psychologist advised starting Zoloft. This medicine is a lifesaver, and I've currently been trying to wane off after a 7-month remission period, but unfortunately, my OCD is slowly coming back, so I'm staying at 50 mg for now and keep doing my CBT sessions. At 100 mg, however, I never had any symptoms and had 100% gone back to normal. Truly blessed medicine."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2010

Sertraline "I was prescribed Zoloft in late 2008, and I have been on it ever since. I have a minor case of OCD, which is all in my head. I tend to be obsessive with repetitive thoughts, and if I don't think about it, then I basically freak out with anxiety. I know it's so weird, but I guess God made everyone unique in their own way. Anyway, did Zoloft help me? I must say definitely YES. Although my OCD does come back from time to time, it is nowhere near as bad now compared to how it used to be. The repetitive thoughts have decreased by about 80%, and that is more than I can ever ask for. However, I experience weird side effects when I forget to take it, like nausea, lightheadedness, and 'brain zaps.' Got to take the good with the bad, I guess."

• DHH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2013

Sertraline "I can remember being on this for just two months last year. What did improve while I was taking it was my concentration. I started reading every book in sight. I stopped taking the Zoloft because I thought it made me sick to my stomach and also gave me tics. I guess I should have waited out the side effects because I thought my ability to read was fantastic."

• Mat...
• August 26, 2017

Sertraline "I was on 50 mg for a month, and it seemed to help a bit. My doctor and I agreed to up to 100 mg last week. Since then, my anxiety and intrusive thoughts have been awful. Is this just a side effect until it balances out?!"

• den...
• September 15, 2011

Sertraline "Have had a long history of having 'racing' thoughts. Finally, after many years and missed diagnoses with accompanying different medicines, my current psych doctor said that I might have a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder. He placed me on 25 mg per day for a week, then 50 mg per day. Finally, I feel much better, and my mind is finally more at rest. I was supposed to increase the dose to 75 mg after one week, which I tried for one day, but I had some weird side effects that I attributed to the 75 mg dose. Back at 50 mg and am happy with the results. Time will tell."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2020

Sertraline "I was on Zoloft about 15 years ago under the care of a psychiatrist. She had me on a few different things at once, and I remember feeling great for the first time in a long time. I haven’t been on medication for over 10 years, however, the pandemic has brought my OCD to the surface. My general practitioner gave me 50 mg of Zoloft because I told her it worked in the past. I am on day 25, and I feel awful!!! The mornings are the worst. I feel jittery and emotional. I have to take Xanax to even function. I have had this weird pressure and tingling in my head for about 10 days, and I wake up 4 times a night in a sweat. With my OCD, I, of course, thought I must be dying. Then I started reading this thread and realized that the sensations and emotions could be coming from the Zoloft. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist who specializes in psychopharmacology, but I have to wait until next Monday (6 days away)."

• TSG...
• January 18, 2017

Sertraline "I'm a young man, 24 years old. I have several issues with my brain from many years ago. I have Major Depression, GAD, SAD, OCD, and Panic Disorder. I've tried many options. I tried Hypnotherapy, Emotional Therapy, CBT, also, I've been to some psychiatrists in Indonesia and Singapore. Finally, I met the best psychiatrist in my country, and with him, I found the best meds and finally cured my problem. You all have to try this too and talk to your psychiatrist to ask for a prescription. Every morning, I take 1 mg Ativan, and every night, I take 5 mg Zyprexa and 150 mg Zoloft. Please try this, please. Enjoy your life. Also, CBT is good as well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2023

"I have suffered with severe health anxiety & OCD for as long as I can remember. I am a 28 y/o female. 2 months ago, I had a huge trigger and completely went downhill, waking up every morning in a state of panic, sweating, shaking, and throwing up. I spent weeks in a state of depression, not being able to eat, cook, clean, or do anything really. I went to my GP who prescribed 50mg sertraline. 30 days later, I am CONSIDERABLY better. After the first 2-3 weeks, I got my appetite back, my mood improved, and my obsessive thoughts subsided. Health anxiety will maybe always live with me, but I am finding it a lot more manageable. Please seek help if you need it, don't suffer alone."

• Anonymous
• March 8, 2008

Sertraline "I have been on Zoloft for a year to treat OCD. This drug has taken away my painful and destructive symptoms, though this is a process that has been aided by intensive talk therapy. My side effects are increasing in intensity as time goes on; mainly dry mouth and nausea. However terrible these side effects may sound, I would rather deal with them than the symptoms of OCD and depression on any given day."

• Obs...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 8, 2016

Sertraline "I was prescribed this for OCD, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and severe depression. First, it didn't do so much, if anything, for my depression. In fact, I had less energy and experienced apathy on this drug. That being said, when it came to my OCD, hyper-vigilance, and anxiety, this drug was a miracle drug. It took away 85% of my obsessions and became apathetic to my rituals. Unfortunately, after being on this for 5-6 years (and being above the absolute maximum dose at 250 mg), I've been experiencing major 'poop-out' effect. I'm worried that something is not going to work as well and work with the very minimal side effects that I experienced with Zoloft, as I have exhausted countless drugs."

• NAa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2019

"I never thought I’d ever experience mental health issues, but after leaving university, it happened. It began with depression and then followed with anxiety, and last of all, intrusive thoughts. I couldn’t stop constantly thinking about subjects and didn’t know what to do. I started having panic attacks and anxiety episodes 2 to 3 times a day. I decided, instead of suffering without medication, I reluctantly decided to start taking sertraline. The first 2 weeks were a nightmare: nausea, vomiting, aching, and no concentration. I felt even worse, even though I didn’t think that was possible. But then I woke up one morning, like a clear vision, it was odd. I felt almost relieved. It had finally started working. Currently, I am still having intrusive thoughts, but they don’t affect me anymore. I notice them but don’t have emotion to them. For anyone reading this, medication is different for everyone, but if you are being prescribed this, get through the worst of it, and I hope it works for you!"

• dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2022

"Wow, I do not know where to start. I remember about 3 weeks ago reading reviews here and balling my eyes out, hoping sertraline would help me. I had the worst thoughts in my relationship and terrible, terrible OCD. The first two weeks on 50 mg were horrible!!!!! I was so nauseous, had terrible headaches, an increase in anxiety, and intrusive thoughts. The third week I was getting better, but my thoughts were still making me cry and feel uncomfortable. The doctors then bumped me up to 75 mg. I’m almost a month in, and wow, do I feel myself again. This drug saved my life!!!! If you’re reading this crying and looking for hope, I promise you will be okay. Give it time, but you will be okay. The first few weeks will be rough as hell, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. YOU got this!!!"

• Jas...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2025

"I have taken Sertraline since 2011, age 39. I took Prozac from 1998 to 2010, then Escitalopram for a year, 2010 to 2011, and none of them really worked for me. Since I've been on Sertraline, I have felt better, and my OCD and obsessions have not been as bad and easy to manage, unlike before. I also suffer from Asperger's syndrome, which added to my anxieties. I have had lots of talk therapy in my life, which I also find helpful."

• sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2023

"This medication saved me. I have had lifelong OCD and anxiety. I started this medication when I was 16, and it worked SO well. I switched to a different med when I had breakthrough anxiety a couple of years later-now looking back, I’m pretty sure all I needed to do was just increase my dosage. Anyway-fast forward to 25 years old, and I was back on Zoloft and doing well. So well, in fact, that I convinced myself to try going off of it completely. LISTEN, IF YOU FEEL GREAT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU’RE CURED, IT'S BECAUSE YOUR MEDS ARE WORKING. I landed in the ER with a severe panic attack from OCD. I immediately started increasing my dosage again, and I worked back up to 150 mg/day over the course of 9 or 10 weeks. I didn’t start feeling better until probably week 8. If you have OCD, it can take 12 weeks to feel better, and you probably need at least 150-200 mg/day. I know it feels like you’ll never get better, but you will. I feel peace again and optimism about the future. THANK YOU, ZOLOFT."

• 8an...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2024

"I have suffered with OCD my whole life. Multiple checks on the door, stove, windows. It makes me feel safe, I guess. This all goes pear-shaped, though, when you start dealing with thoughts about the past or the future. Things you cannot check on so easily or have no control of - and then pure obsession sets in. My obsession became sertraline when I started on 50 mg. I was also augmenting with mirtazapine in the evenings to help me sleep. I obsessed over the reviews on here for hope. I had a relentless surge in anxiety and hopelessness with sertraline. After a month, I upped it to 100 mg and experienced more anxiety, then to 150 mg after a further 4 weeks. I didn't think it was going to work. The psychiatrist then prescribed me 50 mg quetiapine to replace mirtazapine. After the second day of quetiapine, I woke without adrenaline. I was finally free. Keep in contact with your doctors, try things, keep fighting. It does improve, and you will have your own success story to tell x."

• nel...
• June 4, 2016

Sertraline "First month, bad side effects. Felt worsening anxiety and felt like a zombie. After about 4 weeks, the magic happened. My obsessions became minimal, and my depression/PMDD improved immensely. Side effects include some weight gain, like 15 lbs, and loss of sex drive. However, I was on 50 mg, and the improvement in my mental state was worth it. I could only take this drug at night, in the morning, it would make me dizzy. I was in this for 4 years, it does improve obsessive worrying and depression."

• sno...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 29, 2015

Sertraline "In the year 1997, I was suffering from severe depression. Was put on 100 mg of Zoloft and buspirone. I am taking Zoloft now for eighteen years. Buspirone for fifteen years. I am now off buspirone. Afraid to go off Zoloft, don't ever want to go through what I went through for many years. I was on Zoloft for 18 years, I have now dropped down to 50 mg. Plan to go on 25 mg soon."

• Nik...
• October 26, 2020

"I started at a dose of 50 mg of sertraline and slowly moved up to 150 mg. For OCD, typically, a higher dose is required. After about 4 weeks on 50 mg, I noticed a decrease in anxiety and an improvement in my mood. After 6 weeks on 150 mg, there has been a further reduction in anxiety and overall intrusive thoughts/compulsions. Although sertraline has reduced my anxiety and intrusive thoughts, it has not stopped the thoughts. I think it's important to know that EVERYONE has intrusive thoughts. A major part of OCD recovery is acceptance of these thoughts. That's why I highly recommend seeing a therapist who specializes in CBT, specifically Exposure and Response Prevention, in addition to taking sertraline. Medication can certainly be helpful, but you also have to do the hard work to truly conquer OCD. The International OCD Foundation has some great resources."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2022

Sertraline "I had a mental breakdown, which I attribute either to late onset OCD or my OCD rearing its head. I couldn’t stop thinking and believing I had cheated on a homework assignment in university 5 years ago and wanted to get myself expelled from university. I had multiple people, including a professor and academic advisor, tell me it wasn’t cheating, but I couldn’t stop thinking this. I had panic attacks daily until I went on Zoloft. I started on 25 mg of Zoloft and then went to 50 mg. Now, if those obsessive thoughts start crawling into my mind, I can just brush them away. This medication probably saved my life because I was getting to the point of considering suicide. I had zero side effects with this drug."