Sertraline and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2018

Sertraline for Depression "I was placed on Zoloft after being on citalopram for 3 years. I was on 25 mg of Zoloft for about a week and bumped to 50 mg for 21 days. Then bumped to 75 mg where I’ve been for 3 weeks, so about 7 weeks total. My anxiety is gone & I’m way more mellow. I had two job interviews and didn’t have any panic or meltdowns, so that’s great. I noticed I’m way more apathetic and that my libido is gone. I still have days where I’m feeling empty (even though I have tons of friends and family that I adore) and where I cry. I also feel very spacey at times. I function okay I think and I am able to take care of errands, the household, and my child. I may lower back down to 50 mg if I continue to feel numb on 75 mg after 8 weeks. This medicine isn’t scary, don’t be afraid to try it. Please also remember that it takes months for it to start working and some people stop taking this medicine early before it could have begun to help."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2018

Sertraline for Depression "I was placed on Zoloft after being on citalopram for 3 years. I was on 25 mg of Zoloft for about a week and bumped to 50 mg for 21 days. Then bumped to 75 mg where I’ve been for 3 weeks, so about 7 weeks total. My anxiety is gone & I’m way more mellow. I had two job interviews and didn’t have any panic or meltdowns, so that’s great. I noticed I’m way more apathetic and that my libido is gone. I still have days where I’m feeling empty (even though I have tons of friends and family that I adore) and where I cry. I also feel very spacey at times. I function okay I think and I am able to take care of errands, the household, and my child. I may lower back down to 50 mg if I continue to feel numb on 75 mg after 8 weeks. This medicine isn’t scary, don’t be afraid to try it. Please also remember that it takes months for it to start working and some people stop taking this medicine early before it could have begun to help."

• Pea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2019

For Depression "I took 50mg for over three years, and they were the best three years of my life. Due to some weight gain, and I guess curiosity as to whether I could manage without them, I tapered off. After a few months, although over a stone in weight had fallen off me, I was becoming increasingly irritable, emotional, and dark thoughts returned. After this triggered several nights of no sleep whatsoever, I recognized the signs and began taking Sertraline again. I had forgotten how brutal the initial side effects were, I basically did not sleep for around 2 weeks, felt more depressed and anxious than before, and generally felt like I’d been hit by a train. I also felt they were taking longer to work than last time, and I despaired wondering if they would work again. But of course, they did. I am in week 5 now, back to sleeping like a baby, and feel actually happy and able to cope with my life. It’s a wonder drug, I cannot explain how much Sertraline has changed my life! I will never stop taking it."

• esg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2025

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Please give sertraline a chance. I have used it three times now, and every single time it’s changed my life. I was plunged into insomnia, anxiety, and depression seemingly out of the blue 7 weeks ago. I started sertraline knowing from previous experience what I was in for. I had every side effect under the sun: nausea, vomiting, explosive stomach, severe insomnia, weird awake dreams, uptick in intrusive thoughts. The first 4-5 weeks were a living hell. I was on zopiclone every night just to get me two hours of relief. I had diazepam when the side effects got too much. Then, in the 5th week-50 mg and two days into 75 mg-the lights came on, and my life was saved. Give this drug a chance. You will get better. It takes time, patience, and courage. The end result is worth all the pain."

• Oph...
• October 7, 2019

Sertraline for Depression "I started this medicine, Zoloft, in June. Day one was totally fine. I started on 50 mg. Day two is when everything went downhill. I had constant panic, I couldn’t sleep because I had awful nightmares. I swore I could hear voices while I drifted off to sleep, so that would scare me. I didn’t eat, and if I did, I would just vomit later. I had suicidal thoughts, which I’ve never felt before. I was getting treated for anxiety, not depression. I also felt so spaced out and so sad, I cried a lot. My husband was so afraid for me that he missed a week of work because he was afraid to leave me alone. After an awful week, things started to slowly improve. I believe by week 5, I started to feel normal. I also had my medication increased to 100 mg. I carried emergency Xanax with me everywhere the first two months, but stopped using it after week 8. After all that, I feel completely normal and back to my old self. I do have some bad days, and recently I had an increase in the medication, but I’ve been pretty normal."

• Cat...
• July 12, 2015

Sertraline for Social Anxiety Disorder "My 15-year-old daughter was practically a recluse. She is bipolar and taking Seroquel, Lamictal, and Intuniv, but she was depressed and had such social anxiety that she couldn't even leave her room. After 3 weeks, she is the daughter I knew to be. She still has issues, but going outside of the house is not one of them. I am so happy with this medication. She started at 25 mg and is now at 50 mg. What a godsend."

• Uni...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2016

Sertraline for Depression "Zoloft has given me the last leap I need to heal my mind. I have been struggling with severe anxiety, insomnia, and bouts of depression for 3 years. While I have been off work, in therapy, and trying other means of rehabilitation, for the first time in years, I actually feel calmer most of the time and mostly happy. I'm so grateful. It's been a trial and error and a slow process, but I know my self-care is my main priority now. See more of my story: mental-health-matters-a-womans-story-of-the-struggle. Good luck to all."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 3, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "Has completely changed my life for the better. It's like I am the person I truly am and want to be - I am now without the anxiety, fearfulness, and depression. It has made me able to live life and enjoy it! I couldn't believe I had fallen into a 'what's the purpose' mindset, but now I see it wasn't my fault. I truly needed this medication and will probably be on it long term. It has without a doubt changed my life and brought the joy back into everyday living. It has also boosted my energy. I was tired all the time for no reason, no matter what. Now I wake up in the mornings excited for work. Truly a Godsend medication!!!"

• Ely...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2019

For Depression "Before I was on sertraline, I was on fluoxetine, which didn’t help in the slightest. But then I got put on 50 mg of sertraline instead, and at first it made my depression, anxiety, and BPD really bad to the point I couldn’t move out of bed, and when I did, I just zoned out into my own bubble. After about 3 weeks, this all changed, I wanted to live, I was so happy and excitable, and now I’m at the peak of happiness in my entire life. This medication completely saved my life and changed it for the better. It does make you worse before better, but I promise it is so worth it."

• N12...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 22, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "To start with, I was very nervous taking this medication as I had been told it would get worse before it got better. And this was true. For 6 weeks, I had constant nausea, depressive episodes, loss of appetite, vomiting, and go nights without any sleep at all. After those 6 weeks, I woke up one day and instead of feeling extreme anxiety and terror as I had done for 7 months, I woke up feeling surprisingly okay. However, I still had some symptoms during the day. After about 12 weeks, I was honestly a different person. I genuinely felt like it was magic. It was crazy to think how a tablet every night could change your life. Please, if you are struggling with severe anxiety, try this medication. I have been on over 5 different medications, and nothing has helped my anxiety the way this has. It has changed my life completely. I was so close to giving up during the first 6 weeks, but now words can't express how glad I am that I didn't."

• Bor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 1, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Sertraline has saved my life. I am diagnosed with Type 1 Bipolar Disorder and have severe bouts of depression and anxiety. Having taken sertraline for several years now, I would advise anyone starting treatment with this medication to be aware that your depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts might become much more intense in the first week or so. This was certainly my experience. However, hang in there! It will pass! Your mind is playing tricks on you. I noticed positive mood-lifting effects and a reduction of my anxiety within 2 weeks. Please keep taking your mood stabilizers/antipsychotics alongside sertraline, however, as I’ve made the mistake of taking it in isolation before, and I triggered a manic episode."

• Cke...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "After at least a year of worsening anxiety, I tried essentially anything I could think of to manage it, but resorted to something I never wanted to: medication. I started off taking 25 mg once a night before bedtime, and it made me have some really vivid and bizarre dreams (I probably dreamt more in the past month than I have in the last three years combined) and kind of felt like I hadn't slept at all the next morning. The day after I started taking it, I felt really exhausted and depressed. The second day I felt almost manic, but every day after that, I've felt amazing. No sickness to my stomach at thoughts that used to rule my life, and I've got so much more energy. Give it a shot and keep in mind that it can take a few weeks to help. :)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 10, 2017

Sertraline for Depression "I have been on Zoloft for 7 months now, and it has really improved my life. The first few weeks were absolutely brutal. I couldn't focus, was super dizzy, nauseous, and more depressed, etc. However, I stuck with it, and after about a month, the depression started to get much better. Of course, I still have my days (who doesn't?), but I would highly recommend trying Zoloft if you can get through the first few weeks. It truly has changed my life for the better."

• rob...
• November 19, 2013

Sertraline for Social Anxiety Disorder "Been on 50 mg for 2 days now (started for a week on 25 mg) and now that I take the higher dose, my mood is a bit better, but my social anxiety is a lot better. The feeling of making people laugh is amazing when you are not afraid to speak, although maybe not drink on this? I had 3 drinks and became so upset and depressed."

• Gan...
• August 7, 2018

Sertraline for Depression "I'm a 31-year-old male who has had challenges with depression and anxiety throughout my life. I have been on several different meds in my past, including Lexapro, Paxil, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, and some others as well. Of all of these meds, I've found Zoloft works the best for me. However, the worst thing I experience with Zoloft is decreased libido, as with all of the other meds I've tried, except for Wellbutrin. This side effect truly sucks. Zoloft also kind of makes me feel robotic and emotionally numb. Currently, I'm experimenting with another medication (Viibryd) in an attempt to find a med that works without having sexual side effects. However, Zoloft is my fallback option because this med at least stabilizes me and helps me function in society. Therefore, I give this med a 7 out of 10. My advice to everyone is to keep being patient with meds and realize that it might take some time and trial and error. And always keep hanging in there no matter what. Good luck."

• lan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 14, 2022

Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I told myself when I started this drug, 10 months later I would come back and write a review because I remember when I first started Zoloft, how helpful the reviews were. We are 10 months in! I had a baby 10 months ago and suffered from severe postpartum OCD. I also suffered from postpartum depression and anxiety. I cried every day, had very bad OCD thoughts, and it would make me depressed and have anxiety. I started Zoloft, and all the reviews said to give it time. I started out at 25 mg, and I got a little better, but it was still very bad. She moved me up to 50 mg. It was about the same. After she moved me up to 75 mg, I quit crying every day and was happier, but I still was having OCD thoughts, and it was still bad and not where I wanted to be. She put me on 100 mg, and I am so much better. I think I finally found my dosage. I’m very happy I didn’t give up on this drug. I still have OCD thoughts, but it’s 90% better. Zoloft saved me. I hope you decide to give it a try."

• Cha...
• February 28, 2016

For Depression "I have suffered with depression for about 10 years. Every time I'd go to the doctors, I was told, 'It was just hormones' or 'It's your pill.' But about 18 months ago, it became unbearable. I didn't want to be here anymore, I couldn't handle being on my own, I almost lost my job, I couldn't sleep, I literally couldn't make it through the day without having a breakdown. Since taking the tablets (150mg), my life has changed. For the first time in a long time, I am genuinely happy with my life. I still have my moments, but I only get upset when something worth getting upset about happens, which I am glad for as my main fear was that the tablets would make me emotionally numb. I am so pleased I finally got the help I needed."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 7, 2019

For Panic Disorder "After having panic attacks, nightmares, lack of sleep, loss of appetite, extreme fears, and feelings of hopelessness, I began taking Zoloft 50 mg. It took one week for panic to go away. I am so thankful for this medicine. It is truly a blessing to have these medications in healing. To anyone who is out there struggling, you need to take the medicine. Even if you're scared, it can help you if you give it time. God bless you."

• Mer...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 9, 2019

Sertraline for Depression "I have taken Zoloft for about 22 years. When the generic came out, Sertraline, I was overjoyed. At times, I did not have insurance, had to pay for Zoloft out of pocket. Very expensive. So when Sertraline came out on the market, I switched right over. Three months later, my bubble burst. I felt like I wasn't taking anything. I felt very depressed. Had to go back to the brand name and have been on it since. Please do not let anyone tell you it is the same medication. I have had arguments with doctors and pharmacy workers. They insist it's the same. If Sertraline was the same as Zoloft, it should have worked the same. I tried it again, with the same results. The doctor said to me, we just have to adjust the dose. I told him where to go."

• Yas...
• February 5, 2009

Sertraline for Panic Disorder "I have been on Zoloft 100mg for a few months now for my anxiety/panic disorder. It has completely controlled my panic attacks, which is awesome. When I first started this medicine, I became depressed, had suicidal thoughts, and no appetite. But those have since gone away as well. The only issue I have noticed still is I have no sex drive. Just wondering if this is normal with this drug and if it will eventually go back to normal."

• Way...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "My doctor started me out on 25 mg a day for a week, then 50 mg a day after that. The first 3 weeks were not good-symptoms became somewhat worse. However, I had read enough reviews to understand that I needed to stick with it. After the 4th week, I could tell I was not nearly as anxious and worrisome but still didn't feel 100%. My doc upped the dosage to 100 mg a day, and it's the perfect dose for me. Stay with this drug! It has really helped me! At first, I had diarrhea for a few days, but that's gone. I yawn even when I'm not tired and catch myself clenching my jaws, but I will tolerate that to feel like myself again. Oh, I also had mild depression, which this drug also helped. Hope this helps someone else."

• Lal...
• July 5, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been on Zoloft for about two months, the lowest dose, and have had wonderful help with it and therapy! I had severe panic attacks daily, depression, and I had withdrawn from life and fun! I am improving daily and see the light again, but I believe you have to do your part with therapy and find the triggers to the anxiety to truly heal. However, this medicine has helped me get out of the dark place!"

• rch...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2014

Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was offered sertraline (Zoloft) after a relapse of generalized anxiety disorder, which brought with it a severe case of pure-O intrusive thoughts of the harm variety. These thoughts were ruining my life and making me depressed. I was prescribed 50 mg per day. The first three days were hell, with a huge increase in fatigue, depression, and intrusive thoughts. I almost gave up, it was that bad. I was using diazepam 2 mg in those first three days and thought they weren't playing nice with the Zoloft, so I stopped them. I saw instant improvement after doing so. Now I am seven days in and have had the best day ever. My intrusive thoughts are far fewer and far easier to simply dismiss. I'm amazed."

• McP...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 30, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Since my twenties, I would have anxiety from time to time. In 2003, my mother passed away, and my anxiety came on to the extent that I thought about suicide. My doctor put me on sertraline, a packet to start 12.5 mg, 25 mg, and then 50 mg. While the first 2 or 3 weeks I still had some anxiety, and for maybe a month or so my emotions were flat, eventually I felt normal again. I can even drive on the interstate without fear after years of struggle. I have been on sertraline for 14 years now, and although I still have some issues with sleep, I feel normal most of the time. It takes a few weeks for your body to adjust, so hang in there if you can."

• gra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 5, 2013

Sertraline for Depression "I am 74 years old and have been taking 100 mg of Zoloft once a day for 10 years. But I am feeling some depression, and my doctor wants to increase it to 150 mg per day. I sure hope this works. Also, I am not sleeping well, only about 4 to 5 hours each night."