Sertraline for Panic Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Bri...
• September 29, 2015

Sertraline "I promised myself I'd come back to this site and share my experience since it has helped me so much. About four months ago, I had my first panic attack, a week after a very serious surgery. My doctor suggested it was from the anesthesia. I went two weeks without another one, then boom, full-blown panic disorder. I thought I was losing my mind. I had to drop out of school and take time off work. I went to see a psychiatrist who gave me Zoloft. I started on 25mg for 2 weeks, then increased to 50mg where I'm at currently. I've been on the full dose for 2 months now, and I finally feel 'that switch' that people talk about go off. The side effects were HORRIBLE. If I didn't need to stick with it, I wouldn't have. I experienced headaches, insomnia, palpitations, and excessive yawning. They eventually went away."

• Hig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2017

Sertraline "Back in 2013, I started having terrible panic attacks in public. I was agoraphobic within weeks. Started taking Zoloft in Nov 2016. This month, as of May 2017, I have been able to go places by myself that I have not been able to since 2013! It's the most amazing feeling to be able to go out again anxiety-free. I think you should give the medicine longer than 4 months. At 4 months, I felt good but couldn't go out by myself or go too far from home. I'm on 100mg a day. I had extreme fear of medicine, wish I would have seen my doctor sooner. I couldn't even imagine doing what I'm doing now. My life seemed over after 3 years of basically being housebound. When I did go out, it was hell. The side effects were not bad at all, I have none now."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2015

Sertraline "Growing up, I always exhibited symptoms of OCD, however, my mother didn't believe that medication was the best route at a young age. I respected her decision throughout adolescence and tried to cope with my OCD on my own, using different vitamins such as B complex, etc. I met the love of my life last year and everything was wonderful until my relationship OCD kicked in with a vengeance. It almost ruined my relationship and my life, but I decided to seek professional help. My psychiatrist started me on Zoloft in June, and I cannot express how much my life has changed because of it. I am a kinder person, and I can focus on the people and things I love, instead of constantly worrying about my health, relationship, etc. I highly recommend it!"

• Ups...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 8, 2019

Sertraline "Please don’t come here to read reviews before starting the medication. Everyone reacts differently! Zoloft saved my life, twice. Yes, the side effects were rough for a couple of days, but I managed. The pros highly outweigh the cons! I gave it 8 out of 10 because the side effects were a little rough for me and sometimes it gives me acid reflux, but it’s worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 11, 2012

Sertraline "Zoloft has been a life saver! I have been on this medicine for about 7 years now. Two kids (3 and 6 months) later, I still have to use this medicine, and it works miracles. My husband deployed to Afghanistan, and I do not think I could have made it through that time while taking care of our kids without this medicine. The only side effects I had were loss of appetite, tiredness, and mild headaches, but that only lasts about a week. If you're just starting this medicine, hold on, I promise this will help you feel like yourself again!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 14, 2014

Sertraline "Just to update the post I made Oct. 21, 2013. It's been a year and I'm at 50 mg and great. Whenever I feel that panic creeping in, I can talk myself through it, and it is so much less intense. And I don't stress out about having another episode. Before Zoloft, the most problematic part of my panic was the constant fear of having another panic attack. This has really improved my life a great deal."

• Jac...
• January 27, 2017

Sertraline "I have been on 50mg Zoloft for 2 weeks now. I confidently say this medication is the best thing that has ever happened to me since living my life controlled by anxiety and horrendous panic. It was the right decision because I'm starting to finally see that I'm getting my life back to how I was before. The side effects are not great like lack of appetite, nausea, etc. But they pass after a week or two and all these bad reviews that you see are people not giving this medication a chance to kick in and work. It takes time, and I respect that it might not affect everyone how it has me, but I can say without Zoloft I don't think I would have ever gotten better because no reassurance from family members was helping. It was the extra push I needed."

• lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2015

Sertraline "I have suffered with depression since I was 16. When I was 21, I started to experience anxiety which developed into a full-blown panic disorder. I was afraid of driving, going to work, being with friends, almost anything made me experience horrible physical sensations. In September 2014, I was prescribed Prozac. This increased my anxiety, so I was given an antipsychotic which worked, but I did not feel anything. I felt like a zombie. Five weeks into taking sertraline, I haven't had a panic attack since the first week, and when I do get anxiety, it goes away quickly and is much less intense. It has given me my confidence back and lifted my mood. For anyone suffering from panic disorder, I would recommend giving this a try. I'm on 50mg a day."

• Sou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2014

Sertraline "I have now been on Zoloft for 2 months and happy to report, I'm no longer needing my oxazepam every day. Yay! Side effects I got were crazy heart palpitations, fatigue, but both of these have subsided. Mind you, it took 7 weeks to do so. So for anyone just starting on it, stick it out. It's helped a lot with my anxiety."

• rel...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 18, 2016

Sertraline "I suffered panic attacks for 12 years from 1989 to 2001, almost every night. I switched doctors and he put me on Zoloft. I have been on it ever since, up to 150mg per day, and have suffered no side effects. It has been a life saver."

• Anonymous
• June 21, 2013

Sertraline "I am a 44-year-old woman. I have had anxiety attacks since I was 30 but didn't know what it was. A year ago, I started having panic attacks. I would wake up with them, I thought I was going to die. I went to the E.R. about three times, everything was fine. I was depressed, paranoid, scared to drive, had every panic symptom, went to the doctor, and couldn't stop crying. Thank God they knew what to do. I was put on some medicines at first that made me sicker than having a panic attack. It was horrible. I was then put on Zoloft. I started on 25mg and worked up to 150mg. I slowly started feeling better besides not eating and sleeping, but I am now feeling like myself and haven't had any panic attacks. Minor side effects but I feel so much better thanks to the Zoloft."

• Ele...
• August 2, 2015

Sertraline "I have taken 25mg for anxiety for 8 years. I went off when pregnant, but anxiety returned upon delivery. I cannot say enough how much this drug has helped me. I do not do the whole 'I want to feel good on my own' thing anymore. I accept that I will always have anxiety, but with Zoloft, I live a normal life now. If I have a health scare and it comes on a bit, I can still cope so much better now. I am so thankful for Zoloft."

• Rac...
• November 20, 2015

Sertraline "I've dealt with anxiety for the past 7 years, but about 2 months ago it got really bad. I started having at least one panic attack a day, and it was really scary. I'm not a depressed person, but the anxiety was making me feel that way because I didn't know if I would go back to 'normal'. I finally decided to see the doctor and tried Zoloft. I didn't have any side effects, just mild anxiety that got better day by day. A couple of high anxiety days in between, but all in all... I was getting back to myself. Here I am, a couple of months later, and COMPLETELY back to normal! I feel so happy and thankful that I decided to try medicine."

• Sam...
• October 1, 2014

Sertraline "It's been really amazing. I'm on 50mg daily of Zoloft, and I went from horrible frequent panic attacks to occasional 'normal' anxiety. I feel like my life is totally different from how it was a year ago. I wouldn't even leave the house for fear of panic attacks. I switched from Lexapro, which was not nearly as effective."

• Let...
• August 18, 2018

Sertraline "This medication is great! It saved me from VERY, VERY scary daily anxiety and panic attacks. I thought I was losing my mind. I would just cycle through worst-case scenarios in my brain all day and then be up all night worrying too. It took about 5 weeks, and there were no side effects. If you feel like you can't make it through those five weeks, ask for a benzo to stop your anxiety immediately while you adjust. If you're suffering, give it a try! Don't let the horror stories scare you off. Everyone is different."

• Ric...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2020

"I have been on this med, sertraline, for a month. I had an improvement within a few days, and over the next few weeks, my symptoms became less and less. Today I feel strong and well, the fear has gone. I am optimistic and thinking about my future. In the darkest hours, I just wanted to end it. Sertraline has given me my life back. Stick with it, follow the instructions, and God willing, you will get through it."

• Hap...
• January 5, 2016

Sertraline "I was terrified to try Zoloft! I read all the reviews and kept putting it off. Afraid I would suffer and afraid to give it a try. I was taking Klonopin, and my doctor cut it off. Told me to start taking Zoloft. I went through weeks of hell while I was debating on starting. I could barely drive, I was struggling with sadness and moods all over the place, and I finally decided I couldn't live like this anymore. I tried Zoloft starting at 25 mg for the first week - the only side effect I had was mild nausea and tiredness at first - after three days, it was hardly noticeable. The fear I had to start trying Zoloft kept me from feeling as good as I do now - I'm so grateful I tried it and hope anyone scared to will just do it. I'm glad I did."

• Anx...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 12, 2021

Sertraline "I wanted to share my experience with Zoloft because I know reading reviews helped me. I was 22 and started experiencing extreme panic attacks and anxiety. Depersonalization, out-of-body feelings, weird, basically off. You name it. I had it. I started Zoloft 50 mg, and it took a month to work. I know it sounds like a long time, but when it kicked in, it saved me. I was able to do life again, and it’s not like suddenly I changed, I just felt normal again, and I could function again. I had a few side effects initially, like stomach aches and headaches. But it was worth it. If you are considering Zoloft, well, it really saved me... coming off it was also not bad, as long as you taper slowly. But it was a godsend for 3 years for me."

• Ove...
• October 8, 2014

Sertraline "The only reason I'm giving this medication an 8 is because of the initial side effects and the time it took to find an adequate dose. I've been on Zoloft for around 6 months now. I had suffered with panic disorder for most of my adult life. I'm currently 29 years old. I tried a few different SSRIs, but never really gave them a chance. I relied on Ativan taken twice daily, totaling 2 mg. I started out taking 25 mg of Zoloft and worked up to 150 mg daily. At first, it was fairly difficult and I'm really surprised that I didn't just give up within a few days, let alone a few weeks. I read many reviews on here and wondered if that would ever be me. If I was asked 5 months ago, I never would have had anything good to say. But now... it changed my life."

• hea...
• August 27, 2013

Sertraline "I was experiencing severe anxiety and panic. I could barely leave my house and everyday activities seemed impossible. I would get dizzy, pounding heart, the works! Also, I couldn't sit still anymore! I could not sit in class, dinners, or even just with friends. My doctor prescribed Zoloft 25mg, a typically low dosage, after an unsuccessful attempt with Lexapro. I have been on Zoloft 25mg for six weeks now and I'm doing tremendously better. The first two weeks or so I experienced minimal, tolerable side effects like a foggy feeling the first day, heightened anxiety and restlessness, but nothing too bad. Now I feel great! I can sit for longer periods, with little to no obsessive thoughts, and am pretty much panic-free! I love Zoloft!"

• kit...
• April 1, 2015

Sertraline "I've tried several medications and so far this one has been the best antidepressant that prevents panic attacks. I used to have at least three a day, now I only get them in extreme circumstances like when a family member passed away. It used to be dangerous for me to drive since events on the road would trigger a panic attack. Life is a lot easier on Zoloft."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2022

Sertraline "I was once just like many of you when it came to taking medication for my anxiety and panic disorder. I was scared and put it off for about a year! I finally started, and I’m on week 2, and it has helped me so much! The first week definitely was rough because, of course, it does increase your anxiety. I only had diarrhea, headache, fatigue, and insomnia for the side effects. Day 8 is when I saw the change! I was happy and doing things again! I’m happy I looked at all the positive reviews instead of the negative reviews. Zoloft has really been helping me a lot, and I feel like I got my life back! Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for taking care of your mental health. It’s okay to take medication that will help you! You got this!"

• Tro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2024

"Promised myself that I would come back after a couple of months on sertraline. I can say the first week was terrible. No lie, sweaty, on edge, and always on the toilet, and felt like my anxiety went full turbo. After day 8, I could relax and start getting back into a normal sleeping pattern. I was forcing myself to eat as I had no hunger at the start and lost 8 kg. I felt like it was starting to work and take me back to pre-meds. I'm currently into my 3rd month and I can say this totally works. You just need patience and let your body adjust to the correct levels prescribed. I feel better than I ever have, and I'm not worrying if I will get another attack, or what triggers may happen to cause panic/anxiety. I can function better with my family and kids. I'm not getting worked up at my job and snapping anymore. If you're reading this in your first weeks, believe me it will get better. Don't look at day to day, but rather week to week, then month to month. Stick in there. You will be better!"

• Que...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 31, 2017

Sertraline "Writing a review because I'm just like you scrolling through. I wanted to share my experience with this medicine. First things first, this does not work right away, it takes about a month or two for me, at least, to kick in, so do not stop after just a week unless you have horrible side effects. I started from 20mg all the way to 100mg. It helps a lot with social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression, as well as agoraphobia. Panic attacks are gone, still get anxious but a normal nervousness, not overwhelming. No more crying spells. This medicine won't cure mental illness, but it definitely helps! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Give it a try, and always keep your head up! If it doesn't work, you can always keep trying other SSRIs that will help your everyday life!"

• Gii...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2013

Sertraline "Over the last couple of years, all of the stress from moving far away from my family and having a stressful job got to me. I started to experience panic and anxiety every now and again, to a build up of where I couldn't function or leave the house. I was first put on Lexapro, and I had a terrible experience and thought I was going to die. I finally made it back home to my old family doctor who decided to try me on Zoloft, first at 25mg for a week and then 50 mg. The first 3-4 weeks I noticed absolutely no change, and was taking Klonopin and anti-nausea meds to survive. Then about 5 weeks in I noticed a profound difference. I was my normal self! I could go out in public, function, and fight off the panic/anxiety. So happy now!"