Zoloft for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Kfr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 23, 2016

"I've been on Zoloft for about a year, at 25 mg. But I've recently developed panic disorder and can't seem to handle the side effects of going up. I believe I'm not even at the optimal dose yet. My doc prescribed me Effexor XR, and I'm on day one of taking that, and I feel completely emotionless. I'm going back to Zoloft tomorrow because initially it worked for depression and anxiety. Everyone is different, but I've tried citalopram, escitalopram, and now Effexor, and they all make me feel numb and like a zombie. Zoloft all the way. My doc won't prescribe me benzos, and I feel that Zoloft will be great with Xanax! Going back to the doctors next week to tell them to shove the Effexor, and I'm staying on Zoloft."

• Psy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 16, 2017

"Zoloft is a fantastic AD. It gave me motivation and helped me get back out there into my life. It didn't work that well for anxiety, but your mileage may vary. Even switching up as little as 50 mg would bring back the 'punch' if it 'pooped out.' Highly recommend."

• Jaw...
• July 30, 2017

"I was on this medication previously, and after a week, gave up hope and stopped taking it. Recently, my anxiety became out of control, as did my depression. I literally had no hope left. I felt sad, lonely, out of focus, irritable, suicidal, and hopeless. I would wake up having panic attacks and go to sleep having panic attacks. I started researching ways to off myself and came very close. I decided to finally seek help, and while awaiting my referral to see a psychiatrist, my doctor gave me this medication. I am taking 100 mg once a day. It took a week of the medicine to feel the full effects, but I feel happy again, focused, grounded, and way less anxious. I find myself laughing more, joking, smiling, and not constantly anxious."

• Sas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2019

"I started on 50 mg of sertraline for two weeks and had nausea and a dull headache as side effects. I am now on 100 mg and have been on the 100 for two weeks, and I can honestly say I feel dreadful. Nausea, fatigue, and no motivation. The doctor would like to try me on venlafaxine, but I have heard that these are even worse. Don’t know what to do."

• AlB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2023

"I've been on Zoloft for four months and would come and read the reviews nearly every day to hold onto hope that I would eventually feel better. I was on Seroquel for more than 15 years for sleep and anxiety, but I believe the side effects and long-term effects aren't worth staying on that drug (unless you actually have a mood disorder, which I don't) and was able to eventually wean off completely. I also came off because my anxiety was so bad I had severe insomnia, even on 30mg of Seroquel, and I was beginning to have anxiety attacks that would last all day every day. I'm glad I trusted myself to change doctors, come look at these reviews, and find someone who would treat me appropriately."

• sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

"I suffer from major depression, GAD, and ADHD and was given Zoloft for my worsening depression and anxiety on top of Wellbutrin and lamotrigine. I began experiencing a lot of gas and digestive issues, but that was a minor thing. Never before have I reacted so negatively to a medication. I was already depressed, but usually it was more up and down. This just made me feel very dissociated and completely dead inside. I have cut very occasionally and impulsively, but on this, I was compulsively injuring myself with anything I could for hours just to feel something. Was extremely traumatic. I didn’t react well to Prozac when I took it years ago either. I’m going to stay away from SSRIs. Please be careful! Antidepressants can be amazing, and I don’t mean to discourage anyone from getting help. My experience isn’t everyone’s, but nonetheless, they should definitely be taken seriously. The casual way in which they are prescribed nowadays can make it easy to forget that."

• mir...
• May 6, 2016

"Zoloft has been hard for me. At first, it was okay (besides the side effects, those were brutal), but now that I've been on it for almost 2 years, I'm starting to forget things and my mindset is never balanced. Some days are okay, but some days I'm panicky, shaky, can't remember much even if it happened less than a minute ago, and my depression starts back up. I really don't want to move on to another medication because the withdrawals of this medication are as brutal as the side effects, but I feel like Zoloft isn't a long-term drug for me."

• Stu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 3, 2015

"Has helped enough that I still take it. A word of warning though, you may experience incontinence soon after (that lovely 'd' word). In my case, it only takes about 5 minutes before nature comes calling! Up until recently, I attributed it to the coffee I have every morning with my breakfast, as caffeine is apparently a common cause. Then I spoke to a friend who'd stopped taking Zoloft because of this side effect, and it suddenly dawned on me. So I tested it. Had my usual breakfast and coffee, this time without the meds. Half an hour went by, no complaints down below. Took the Zoloft and sure enough, 4 or 5 minutes later, off to the toilet again. It's not a huge problem for me since it's predictable, only happens in the morning, and the drug does help depression-wise, but some people may not feel the same way (no pun intended). Interestingly, I take the same dose again in the evening with no side effect, so I suspect the morning combination with coffee may play a part."

• Fra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2017

"Week 1 and 2 was hell. Week 3 and 4 was a bit better, but still hell. I could not function really, and I was thinking about death, along with some insomnia. No appetite, and I lost 15 lbs. At the beginning of Week 5, I felt the transition in a few hours. I put on the pants, went outside, and bought a burger. I was just OK with being, and I felt a transformation. I also started Bupropion for smoking a few days ago."

• Kil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2018

"Triggered depersonalization, blank mind, and anhedonia, which I didn't have prior to Zoloft. At first, I felt good, even too good, which I can now consider hypermania (lack of need to sleep, running around the house, insisting that I'm an art piece). Two weeks later, not feeling myself, as if my head is filled with cotton, the world appears different, and I can't feel anything towards my GF. I wish I had never touched this full apathy inducer of a pill. Later on, I found that I have a short/short version of the 'serotonin transporter gene,' AKA SLC6A4 or 5-HTTLPR, which is known to cause more side effects with SSRIs and SNRIs. Beware."

• Ots...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2019

"This is the best antidepressant I’ve been on. I wouldn’t consider it a miracle drug, but it did make me feel happier and a little less anxious than normal. The best thing about Zoloft was that it greatly decreased my anger and irritability. My diagnoses are Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, and ASD. Due to being in a bad situation, I was taken off of Zoloft about 5 years ago. In the almost 2 years that I took it, I would still feel down occasionally, but I never came close to being readmitted to the psychiatric hospital. I will probably look into getting back on it soon."

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

"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)."

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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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."

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

"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."

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

"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

"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

"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."

• Che...
• March 7, 2016

"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!"

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

"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

"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!"

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

"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."