Sertraline for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• New...
• February 18, 2021

"First prescribed sertraline 100 mg to take 1-2 wks before period. The side effects were dire - I gave up. A year later, PMS got so bad, recurring migraines/depression. I agreed to 50 mg every day for 3 months. Side effects were awful the 1st 3 weeks. I slept all the time. I was sick, dizzy, and moody. I FELT MUCH WORSE!! BUT I read reviews/youtubed and went on. For my first period on sertraline, I had no PMS symptoms. 2nd period - no symptoms. 3rd - I had fatigue, but I was due for a review & increased dose, 100 mg. I have no PMDD mood symptoms. I was in denial for years & although recommended treatment, I refused. Now in hindsight, I do regret not sticking with treatment sooner. Work through the side effects for 1 month and ALWAYS take with food. I would recommend taking WITH a meal, from day 1 and continuing that habit. Give it a chance, it has turned my life around."

• Coo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2021

"Finally, after suffering from increasingly worsening PMDD symptoms over the past two years (I didn’t even know PMDD was a thing until the week before I got my medication), I researched and asked for sertraline as a last resort, as I was struggling to cope. The relief was almost immediate. Two days of headaches and a few days of nausea and a dry mouth were the only side effects I noticed. My mood lifted almost straight away, and although I felt a little emotionless, I also felt pretty normal again, something I had not felt in a long time. Coming up to my first period on the drug, and I normally get symptoms up to ten days beforehand, I have zero symptoms...maybe a coincidence and not a bad month, but only time will tell, but so far very impressed, and I would encourage people to give it a try and not suffer in silence x."

• ter...
• September 29, 2019

"Have been on Sertraline for 4 months now for PMDD. I have been on many other SSRIs for it as well, but Sertraline has been the most helpful to date. It has reduced panic and anxiety and has helped with the feeling of irrational rage and depression that comes with PMDD. It has not taken away all symptoms but is assisting me. I take 100 mg every day, and when in PMDD, take 125 mg."

• NCA...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 20, 2018

"I have been taking this medication for about 5 years this October. I suffered for years even before Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) was labeled. My family, my jobs that I had suffered because I didn't know what I was suffering from. I was prescribed 50 mg. I can only take half at 25 mg because it was too strong for me. I take 25 mg every day. It wasn't 3 months later when I realized that I didn't have the major mood swings. I have become nicer to live with since then."

• Anonymous
• December 6, 2011

Sertraline "I was diagnosed with PMDD about 9 months ago, after tracking symptoms with my gynecologist. We tried the Yaz/Zoloft treatment (25 mg) for three months, one week prior to my period. The first month, it worked like a charm. The second, I started feeling off, almost numb to things. By the third, I was a basket case. This is also when the weight gain kicked in - I gained almost 15 lbs in 5-6 weeks. If I wasn't depressed before, this definitely did the trick. My doctor then took me off the Yaz/Zoloft regimen and opted to stop my periods altogether, to stop the monthly hormone fluctuation. I have been on Seasonique for three months, and it has been amazing! I am finally feeling back to myself after almost a year."

• 123...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2021

"I was taking the pill (Lucette) to help manage my PMDD - it worked but also led to weight gain, and after nearly 2 years, I had enough. I started on 25mg of sertraline, and the side effects passed after a few days. I had some nausea, headaches, and was clenching my teeth while sleeping. Those were the only negative things - it has been great otherwise - I didn't need to increase my dose, 25mg daily works fine for me. I feel mentally lighter and very stable. Hope it can help others too."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 10, 2014

"I mostly used this medication for my anxiety disorder of obsessive-compulsive disorder. I also used it for PMDD. It worked wonders for my anxiety. It also lessened my PMDD symptoms of strong irritability, sadness, and anger before my period. I loved it! The only downside was that it made me very tired, even on only 50 mg. I didn't have much energy to work out. This made me gain 5 pounds, and I eventually got off it because I love being an active person."

• Sam...
• July 28, 2015

"After living with horrible PMS symptoms for over 2 years, a doctor diagnosed me with PMDD. I had 3 weeks of pure hell and 1 week (my period) of feeling semi-normal. The mood swings were so intense, I felt like it wasn't me. I could feel myself getting emotional, but I could not stop it. It was like I was outside looking back at myself: extreme highs and extreme lows. I was violent and unstable. After about a month of being on the meds (25 mg), I felt more normal than I had in 2 years. They really saved me. 6 months in (1 pill a day), I am back to being myself. Side effects I have had: decreased sexual desire, dry mouth, some bouts of mild depression, dry mouth, nausea. I'm very happy with the medication."

• Mum...
• October 21, 2012

"I was taking Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) for 10 years to treat PMDD, postpartum depression, and OCD. Since I stopped this and started sertraline, I realized the Prozac was weak in helping me! Sertraline's amazing! It has helped settle my major symptoms of the illnesses above. I now live a normal life, and everything isn't such a big deal to me anymore. I'm more rational and certainly don't turn into a monster in my menstrual cycle. I'm much more calm and collected! Side effects I suffered: sleepiness, irritability, and dry mouth in the first week, that stopped. I persisted, I was going to stop, thankfully I didn't! I have noticed, as I have been on them for 3 months now, I have a decreased appetite, indigestion, slower digestive system, which I can tolerate! Sometimes hyperactivity."

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2016

"I've been taking it for 3 days, and I will begin CBT next week (therapy). I take 50 mg for 14 days, then 14 days off. I already find myself more in control of my feelings. I feel I want to get cross/angry, but I am able to stop this feeling. It's so weird! If I think about things that I know will make me sad, my mind snaps me back to reality, the here and now. Side effects so far include a bit tired, a little nauseous, my feet are not as ticklish, and I didn't get as much pleasure out of Aquafit today as I normally do. I was really nervous when starting this drug, but so far it's good."

• tre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2023

"I've suffered with severe PMDD for a couple of years. I tried all holistic methods to curb my symptoms, including yoga/meditation, a healthy diet, a good night's sleep, vitamins, rest... nothing worked. I felt (and acted) like a monster for the week leading up to my period. It made me feel embarrassed, alone, and out of control. My angry outbursts and crying were affecting my family and my relationships at work. I started taking sertraline intermittently beginning at day 15 of my cycle, and it has been effective. Since beginning my meds, I have had no 'freak outs' (screaming, crying, withdrawing). I have had some side effects, especially since I start and stop the medication every two weeks. My side effects have included sleep disturbances, fogginess, moments of anxiety, and weird little whiteheads on my face. The side effects subside after a few days, so I typically begin the meds on a Friday so I have the weekend to settle in. Definitely worth trying for PMDD!!!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2021

"I’ve struggled with PMDD for years now, and I have tried everything holistically, such as acupuncture, vitamins, yoga, etc. However, the irritability and anger outbursts were taking over, and the overwhelming feeling a few days before my period. Due to studying psychology, I was aware of the reduction in ALLO-GABA that was causing PMDD. After researching the life out of this medication, it seemed promising. I have been taking the medication for 1 week now, and the anger and irritability have gone. The first day was awful, I was wiped out (drowsy), felt sick, and had a headache, so I reduced my dose to 25 mg. By day 3, the side effects had reduced immensely. I have upped the dose now to 50 mg. So far, so good!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2015

Sertraline "Awful side effects! Caused me to feel very uncomfortable in my own skin, confusion and dizziness, severe anxiety, jaw clenching so tight it hurt, muscle pain and stiffness, sent me into a panic attack, which was what I wanted to prevent in the first place!"

• gup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2022

"I was having a lot of the same experiences as the other people on this site: crying, uncontrollable anger, depression, and wanting to “blow up my life.” Even the occasional suicidal thought. I had generalized anxiety and some depressive symptoms during the rest of my cycle, but it was really concentrated during the few days before my period. I started taking sertraline at a 25 mg dose, and I feel like a completely new person. I’m in control of my reactions now, and my PMS is minimal. I may start taking a higher dose right before PMS starts, as the anxiety and sadness at that time are still pretty high, but it’s night and day compared to where it was. No side effects since the first few weeks."

• pay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2014

"My doctor prescribed 100 mg for me when my symptoms start getting really bad before my period. I have PMDD. It's a severe form of PMS. Then 50 mg throughout the rest of the month for my mild depression. Yesterday was my first day taking it, and I immediately felt effects. I was calm, kind of zoned out, which is what I wanted since I'm always on edge. The symptoms from PMDD are hurting my family, and I'm really hopeful that this medicine will work."

• Smi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

"I have been suffering from severe mood changes for the last 4 years, with panic attacks and anxiety on a daily basis. A month ago, I was prescribed sertraline 25 mg for the first month, then 50 mg ongoing after being diagnosed with PMDD, and I have to say I feel like a totally different person. The moods have gone, and so have the anxiety/panic attacks, I haven't had one single episode. I was like many people who avoided medication due to the stigma, but I am so glad now I gave it a go."

• Anonymous
• October 2, 2009

"I started taking Zoloft and now use the generic sertraline for two reasons: one was for depression with both of my parents being sick and having to move out of their home and into assisted living, and the second reason was for the 'flu-like' symptoms and bad moods that I would have with my monthly period. I hardly know when I will be starting my period because I don't have the cramping and mood swings as I had."

• mom...
• February 4, 2020

"After my 4th c-section, I chose to have a tubal ligation. Immediately after, I felt nervous, anxious, and just not like myself. Six months later, I started having daily panic attacks, then multiple panic attacks per day, leading to social anxiety and agoraphobia. I tried Celexa, and it made me so fatigued. I started therapy (CBT), regular exercise, and dieting. While this helped a little, I still had panic attacks and anxiety two weeks out of the month, starting after my ovulation. I went on for six years avoiding most public places and was a prisoner to my anxiety and panic disorder. I went to a female gynecologist and hormone specialist. She said that while the natural treatment and CBT were all helpful, in her studies, Zoloft was by far the most effective. I started on a 12.5 mg dose, moved to 25 mg after two weeks, and then 37.5 mg. I now take 25 mg the first two weeks of my cycle and 59 mg the second two weeks, and my PMDD is gone! I really wish my first doctor had put me on Zoloft."

• San...
• August 16, 2016

Sertraline "Have previously used progesterone tablets, which worked fairly well, however, I had a break, and then my GP told me to use these instead. Horrid 3 days! I could deal with the nausea and low mood, as I was prepared for it, but I lost my orgasm on just 25 mg and 3 tablets. Not for me!"

• GEa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2021

"It took 3-4 months for it to mildly help with hormonal mood swings, but it made me emotionally numb (similar to my experience on Prozac), which is always what I want to avoid with medication. I was told to take it in the mornings, but it made me sleepy and unable to focus on work. When I switched to taking it at night, falling asleep became near impossible. I had expectations that it would stabilize my mood swings (it did; by completely numbing them), but I was also hoping to have more motivation and energy to complete work from home, which was just not the case... I stopped taking it after getting the dose lowered to 50 mg. Withdrawal symptoms came on day 5 and included brain zaps, lightheadedness, agitation, and mood swings. Withdrawals only lasted for around a week after that, so not too bad."

• Nin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2021

Sertraline "I used it to treat PMDD, and it made my symptoms worse. 10 mg once a day. It was horrible. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Not even my kids. Nothing to hold on to. It made me very suicidal. Stopped after two weeks after consulting my doctor."

• Red...
• December 20, 2020

"For the last 5 years, I have been losing massive hours of rest, I have been having irregular memories that I keep seeing repeat in my mind. I wanted to see if it was safe to use to help with catching up on sleep."

• Pop...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 15, 2023

"It has helped me so much with my emotions, especially on/before my periods. I would cry daily over little things, anxiety attacks most days, and generally became more depressed until I was put on 25 mg of sertraline, but now I’m on 100 mg after a year, and it’s the best dosage for me."

• LSA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2021

Sertraline "Okay, but not great, still irritated in luteal phase, gained a lot of weight on this pill, pretty sure it played a part. The most difference I noticed with the drug was my focus improved very little in the luteal phase, but not so much it was worth continuing."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2022

"I took sertraline medication before for stress, anxiety, and social anxiety and was in such a bad place mentally I didn’t get any of the side effects mentioned here, and only felt the benefits of it. I took 50 mg daily. After 2 years, I have decided to start taking it again as I began struggling with negative thoughts, 0 motivation, and depression. All of this made 100% worse at the time of the month. Went to the doctor, and apparently, it’s called PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), basically an extreme version of PMS. I’m on day 7 of taking sertraline (50 mg again), and this time around have experienced almost every side effect mentioned here. The ones I’ve experienced most are insomnia, complete loss of appetite, even less motivation than before, increased anxiety, upset stomach, and am very jittery. I will update in a couple of weeks' time. I’ve been reading every review on this website, and it’s giving me hope and reassurance that these side effects will pass!!"