Zoloft for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Ash...
• September 10, 2016

"I have OCD & PTSD. Zoloft is the only medication I've been prescribed. I have been taking it for 3 months, but am overjoyed at the results. I started at 25 mg. It took a month to start working. The first thing that I noticed was that I didn't feel as depressed anymore, and I lost the urge to do most of my compulsions. I am now taking 50 mg and barely have any anxiety anymore, and intrusive thoughts do not bother me anymore, though I do frequently have nightmares similar to the intrusive thoughts I used to have. I also have headaches and occasional diarrhea, but the benefits far outweigh these minor inconveniences."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2021

"It has taken me 2 years to have the courage to write this post. I was incredibly desperate to find help for significant OCD (scrupulosity form mostly, among others), and at my worst was desperately combing this page looking and hoping for answers. It was terrifying. I had indications of OCD throughout my life but had some triggers 2 years ago that left me spiraling. I was very afraid to take a high dose of Zoloft and should have increased much faster. My first therapist did not get it. I then found someone on the OCD foundation website who was a godsend. The combination of working with her on ERP and 100 mg Zoloft has me happier than I’ve ever been. It took about 4 months to see a significant difference. I have virtually no side effects. Zoloft got me out of the thick of it, but my therapist brought me back to my best self. “Overcoming Intrusive Thoughts” was also a great read. Please know it’s a tough road but it’s worth it and you are not alone. You can get through this."

• Bla...
• June 29, 2015

"I began taking Zoloft four months ago after being diagnosed with OCD, which I have suffered with for probably 15 years. I started with a dosage of 25 mg and experienced quite a bit of nausea for the first few weeks. I also dealt with a spike in anxiety, which I combated with Clonopin and relaxation techniques. My psychiatrist slowly increased the dosage to 150 mg over the past few months. During that time, with the addition of psychotherapy, I began to slowly recognize that my symptoms were decreasing. It has become much easier to recognize my intrusive thoughts as OCD, and to say 'no' to the multitude of rituals that I engaged in on a daily basis. In fact, since I have reached 150 mg, my anxiety and other symptoms have almost disappeared."

• Jos...
• November 29, 2019

"BEST DRUG EVER! Let's start from the beginning. I'm 17 and about 4 months ago I greened out on edibles. Little did I know my family has past mental health problems :/ and sure enough this brought them out. I was high for a literal week and thought the intrusive thoughts/paranoia would soon stop. It didn’t. My life turned into a nightmare. I started to feel extremely disconnected from reality and had anxiety so bad it was debilitating. Me being a stupid stubborn 17-year-old, I thought I could let it pass. It also didn’t. I finally gave in and told my parents. The doc gave me 100 mg of Zoloft to take. The first week was GREAT. I felt high as a kite, numb, and out of it. I can see how people can’t handle it and panic, but I looked at the bright side. The dreams were EPIC. The next day I woke up and I FELT LIKE THE OLD ME! I just felt normal! Another upside is delayed ejaculation lol can last in the bed for 3 hours now. Girlfriend loves it! 10/10 just push through the first week or so."

• Ave...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 3, 2021

"I started Zoloft after a period of stress led to me having a mental breakdown that led to weeks of crippling existential angst and depression. Before this, I was studying at university and was extremely into bodybuilding and fitness. I would describe myself before this first breakdown as being a very happy person who definitely was highly strung but nothing severe or that I would classify as anxiety. After this mental breakdown occurred, I was left devastated. I lost 10 kg of muscle, and I couldn’t eat or be bothered to look after myself. I started Zoloft at 50 mg reluctantly and continued to live but barely existing. After a horrible couple of months of side effects, I just woke up one morning feeling normal. The things that plagued my mind just disappeared and didn’t matter anymore. I felt myself again. This drug allowed me to save my life."

• mow...
• January 30, 2013

"I have OCD/general anxiety and depression as a result. I was considered a very severe case. A few months after the worst time in my life, I am happy and healthy. I am managing anxiety/OCD a lot better and I have VERY rare bad days. I have been taking Zoloft with therapy for a little over six months. I experienced about a week of side effects (nausea, increased anxiety, fatigue) but over quickly. I get away with taking 50 mg. Apparently the most common side effects are weight gain and loss of interest in sex. I am happy to say I am experiencing NEITHER! I gained a little bit of weight (5-10 lbs) in the last few months, but I lost about 30 lbs before Zoloft due to anxiety-linked anorexia. Now without depression/OCD, I finally have my sex drive!"

• Gp2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2025

"I’ve been on this medication for about 5 months now, and I promised myself that I would return to this site and write a review. In the beginning, I was skeptical and really had no hope that there would actually be medication out there that can help ease my OCD and anxiety. I can say that my obsessive thoughts and ruminations have lessened in a big way. I’m no longer consumed with random thoughts and the uneasiness that came with the ruminations. I started at 50mg and increased all the way up to 150mg, and that’s when I noticed a change in my thought process. The first month is definitely not easy… increased anxiety, no appetite, a ton of fatigue. The anxiety subsides and you get your appetite back, but the fatigue lingers a little bit. The change is not drastic, but it’s enough to not want to pull your hair out from not being able to control your thoughts. I am a big advocate for this medication if you’re struggling."

• Fin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2015

"I have always struggled with intrusive thoughts that manifest in various forms (obsession with being 'perfect', eating disorders, social anxiety, etc.). But for several years of my adult life, I wanted help so badly because I was miserable... Just completely uncomfortable and restless with anxiety that would come and go but stayed with me much longer than it would stay away. I tried talking to local counselors and was very disappointed, as they were not educated on OCD. After a year of no luck with counselors, I found one (university counselor) who knew what I was going through and how to help me. Life is so much better! I started at 50mg and currently take 200mg."

• dud...
• March 29, 2017

"I started on 25 mg and went up to 50 mg/day for a relapse of pure-obsessional OCD. It took about a month for it to start working, but this drug, in combination with learning the principles of Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP Therapy) - a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), have allowed me to regain control of my mind. The depression that came with the relapse vanished in two weeks, anxiety and intrusive thoughts slowly dissipated/reduced in intensity about a month afterwards. I feel normal again, and I couldn't be happier. If you're one of the unlucky folks who have been blessed with OCD, give sertraline (Zoloft) a shot. Just make sure to combine it with therapy, otherwise, it won't be as effective."

• ocd...
• March 7, 2012

"I have been taking Zoloft now for 7 years. I felt almost instant relief for about a week after first taking it, only to come crashing back down again. I guess it was some kind of placebo effect. But sticking it out and upping my dose to 200mg a day, after about six weeks I felt so much better. I could function, and instead of my mind having hundreds of things running through it, I could focus on the one thing and work through my problems. My only side effect was an upset tummy, but that passed. I'm grateful for this medication. It saved my life."

• rey...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 13, 2024

"My OCD reared its ugly head at 22 years old at the end of 2018. My doctor put me on 50mg Zoloft, and within a few months, my life felt better than it had in years. In fact, Zoloft showed me I was suffering from general anxiety and some social anxiety long before my OCD. I just didn't notice because I thought it was just who I was. But with Zoloft, I became outgoing, motivated, discovered I'm in fact an extrovert, and excelled in my career. Unfortunately, after feeling better, I stopped them abruptly and my symptoms came back. I tried in the past few years to stay off meds and take a more holistic approach. However, due to increased responsibilities and life stressors, this was just not sustainable. So, I am back on them and 3 weeks in. The first 2 weeks were rough, but I'm starting to feel much better this week. I'm not saying I have to live on them, but the reality is every time I take them, life is much better. I will stay on them for as long as my doctor says. Therapy and psychiatric visits are important."

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

"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."

• jes...
• November 8, 2015

"Zoloft is an excellent medication for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety, all of which I have. Ever since I started taking it, I have been so much happier and worry-free. However, I am 24 years old, and I enjoy going out to the bar with my friends. Let me tell you, if you want to drink on this medication, be advised that it will completely cancel the drug out. Every time I drink, I have severe anxiety the next day. But other than that, I would recommend this drug."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2008

"I've been on Zoloft (50mg) for 18 months and the results are wonderful. I had a hard time letting kids be kids, everything had to be done my way or I'd lose my temper, and I dreaded going to social events - I'd much rather stay at home by myself with a drink. Not only is family life better but my outlook on life is better as well. I no longer fret over the little things. Heck, sometimes I don't even fret over the large things."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2020

"Zoloft works pretty well after being on it for nearly a month. In the first two weeks, my mood was bad, and I had very jittery hands and whatnot, this was while I was on a 25mg dose. Then I started to feel slightly better, then upped the dose to 50mg. During this time, I felt the side effects all over again, and I believe now it's just leveling off, and I finally feel a shift again, where I am able to appreciate things more, laugh more, etc. The obsessive thoughts aren't gone, but they are way more manageable, and I don't ruminate on them nearly as much."

• Noc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2022

"I am on 200 mg of Zoloft, and I had no worse side effects (compared to lower doses), but it helped me more with my OCD thoughts. Yes, night urination and less sex drive are true, but not a big deal. If it will be needed, I'll go up to 400 mg. 200 mg is the maximum FDA approved for MDD. For OCD, your doctor can take you up to 400 mg. I wish I never had OCD. Stupid pure O total waste of time, thoughts fill us with fear and anxiety."

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

"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."

• Gor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2024

"I had taken Prozac and Lexapro separately as a middle-aged male and had horrible urine retention where I had to stop taking both. My last hope was Zoloft and I have been taking it for 1 month and the urine retention was not as bad and eventually I overcame it. The beautiful thing about Zoloft is it has less side effects as well for me than other SSRIs. It's been almost seamless as far as it working well with my system. After one month, it's caused my ruminations to decrease at least roughly by sixty percent. I never thought this was possible because my ruminations had gotten so bad I could no longer function. Anyone that is thinking of using this drug, just give it a chance. It is true you need at least 4 to 8 weeks to see the benefits."

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2011

"I was diagnosed recently with purely obsessional OCD and social anxiety and started on 25mg/day of Zoloft. Aside from a brief period of what I would call adjusting to lack of anxiety and a few mild side effects (nausea from time to time), Zoloft has given me peace and stability. The obsessive thoughts are mostly gone, but even when they do rear their ugly heads, the anxiety isn't there. It's also had an awesome mitigating effect on my ADHD. The side effects show up once in a while, but I'm willing to take a little bit of nausea over constant obsessing and crippling anxiety any day."

• Nea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2020

"I have moved on and off sertraline, as well as increased and decreased doses, for the last few years. Consistently (at all doses) I find that it has helped alleviate obsessions, as well as the anxiety and distress associated with the obsessions. Thus far, I have found the best results when mixing a medium dose (~100 mg/day for a 200 lb male) with exercise and CBT. I’ve found 50 mg doesn’t help me very much with obsessions, but it does help with some of my GAD symptoms; 200 mg w/ CBT alleviated almost all major obsessions, but the dose was too hefty, and I was struggling with side effects such as energy levels and fatigue. I am currently on 50 mg and planning to push it back to 100 mg while maintaining CBT & consistent exercise."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2019

"I have bipolar type 2 and have been diagnosed for 10 years. Once I turned 29, OCD manifested itself in my life. I could no longer drive, performing poorly at work, and could barely leave the house due to checking. After a year of trying various combos of lithium and anxiety meds, I had enough and begged my doctor to put me on antidepressants. They were reluctant because I could induce mania, but heard me out and started me at 200 mg. It changed my life. Two months and I was free of OCD symptoms and driving again. No side effects, however, I tolerate medication well. This is a lifesaver."

• Joj...
• June 21, 2018

"Zoloft really changed my life for the better. I was struggling with intrusive thoughts and rituals as part of my OCD, and while Zoloft didn’t completely eradicate all that, it really helped me combat it. 150 mg gave me some minor side effects, 100 mg is great."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 29, 2021

"I have strong and scary intrusive thoughts that have been driving me crazy. At about 17 years of age, I started off with fluvoxamine for about 2 years. I was okay, then it started to come back, so the doctor eventually increased my dose from 50 mg to 100 mg. I felt better for 6 months, then again increased from 100 mg to 150 mg and so forth, up until I reached 300 mg. I saw a new psychiatrist and he changed it to fluoxetine, went for months and didn’t help, then I was put on clomipramine for months. Also didn’t work. The psychiatrist put me on clomipramine, risperdal, and Zoloft that was just added now, so I can’t say much about Zoloft just yet, but I feel so hopeless. No medication is helping at all. What do I do? Someone help me through this nightmare. :(("

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2019

"I recently got diagnosed with OCD (almost 2 months ago). My therapist suggested I start taking something to better deal with this issue and recommended a Zoloft dose of 50 mg per day. I can honestly say it changed my life for the better. Usually, antidepressants work for OCD patients to around a 40%-80% improvement rate, and I can proudly say I am one of the people with a higher percentage. When it comes to side effects, I do get a little bit nauseous, and I'm generally more tired, but apart from that, I feel much better, and my only concern at the moment is it stopping to work for me."

• FlB...
• April 18, 2015

"I've suffered from OCD for about three years. It was pretty bad but still manageable, but then, two months ago, it became unbearably horrible, my life was a nightmare. I would spend almost every waking hour ruminating about my obsessions while feeling intense anxiety. Then I began taking Zoloft. I was started on 25 mg, and I noticed some improvement within 5 days, and there was massive improvement within 9 days. I've been on it for a month now, and I'm at 100 mg. The OCD is definitely still here, but it takes up much less time, and I am able to ruminate without feeling intense anxiety. I didn't have any major side effects. At the beginning, I was yawning a lot, and I felt more irritable. There's also a lack of appetite, and I've lost 4 pounds."