Zoloft and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Lun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2019

For Depression "I started Zoloft 50 mg a week ago. I’ve been battling depression for a long time and finally had the strength to seek help, but the side effects have been a problem: diarrhea, headache, panic attacks, and extremely lightheaded to the point that I fainted and ended up at the ER. The doctor recommended to keep drinking and give it at least two more weeks while my body adjusts to it. I hope to start feeling better."

• And...
• March 8, 2012

For Depression "I suffered from inherited depression (chemical imbalance). My family doctor put me and my mother on it at the same time. We both were nauseous and had headaches for the first 2 weeks, they subsided. Then we went up a dose after a month to 100 mg and had the same side effects again, but then they went away. Now we are both happy-go-lucky. Zoloft made me normal again, which I had forgotten what normal was years ago. Saved my marriage and my life as well. I recommend taking it at night, though."

• Anonymous
• April 18, 2008

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I have not been taking Zoloft for very long, but for the little time I have been on it, it has truly made a difference in how I handle stressful situations. I am calmer about situations that I generally get angry about, and the headaches I used to have have decreased dramatically."

• the...
• January 16, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Took this drug for 2 years at 100 mg to treat general anxiety, major depression, and PTSD. It was a lifesaver. I went from not being able to leave the house to being a normally functioning human. However, I had horrible side effects the entire time. I had severe hair loss, I was never hungry - I lost 15 pounds taking this. I was sweaty all the time despite being calm instead of anxious. Could not tolerate any alcohol. Had a lot of headaches. Ground my teeth at night. Could not orgasm EVER. Was also in therapy the entire time I took this - with the goal of getting off of it once I was able to deal with things on my own from therapy. Took a 3 month taper and lots of Benadryl to help me sleep, but I got off it and haven't taken any meds in 5 years. You have to weigh the pros and cons. It was a bridge to get my mental health where I needed it to be on my own. Would only ever take it again if I was SEVERELY depressed and for a much shorter length of time because the withdrawal 'brain zaps' sucked."

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2015

For Social Anxiety Disorder "After trying a few SSRIs that didn't work (Paxil, Lexapro) and a very bad stint with Remeron (ended up collapsing one night on my 3rd week, all the while my sleep was getting worse). Withdrawals from Remeron put me in a black hole. I nearly gave up. Started Zoloft and Ativan 1 mg for sleep. Headaches, dizziness, and exhaustion for several weeks (could also be the underlying depression), but I finally got stable enough to leave my parents' house and get my life together. Medication didn't really help my sleep (no antidepressant has), but it did help my social and general anxiety. Marked somnolence and felt very apathetic on it. No lows, but no highs. Helped GAD/SAD but not depression. I'm sensitive to meds, and I tolerated this one well."

• Tae...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 3, 2013

For Depression "I started these pills when I was 12 for anxiety and depression, and now I am 19. They work, that is to say, I'm not suicidal, and I can function in society, but I have certainly had side effects. No sex drive and cannot orgasm, terrible nausea and headaches, jaw clenching, vivid nightmares, and mood swings. It is definitely a give-and-take medicine if you can live with the effects."

• sti...
• February 27, 2012

For Depression "Zoloft was great for controlling my depression, anxiety, and obsessive thinking. The side effects were not terrible, all but one of them went away in about a month. The ones that only lasted through the first month were: feeling tired and drained as well as an occasional but mild headache. However, the only long-lasting side effect was decreased sex drive, which unfortunately never subsided for me. The drive is still there, it just isn't as intense. This is a great medicine for depression, anxiety, and obsessive thoughts. If you haven't tried it, please do."

• Lif...
• November 16, 2011

For Depression "I have experienced depression and anxiety for the last five years and was prescribed Luvox. However, I was still getting a lot of mood swings, was very low and anxious - struggling to hold down my job due to sleep deprivation. After three months on this medicine, I only wish I had moved over sooner. I have never felt the urge to write a review like this before but felt the desire due to the significant change it has brought to my life and that for my wife and kids. No weight gain for me, although I did have headaches for a few days, but they passed within a week. Highly recommended."

• Kid...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 20, 2021

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I fell sick during my 2nd year of college, and I was in and out of the hospital. They couldn’t find what was wrong with me. The doctors kept telling me that I was just dehydrated when I knew it was more than dehydration. I couldn’t eat or even drink something as simple as water. After seeing a specialist, I was diagnosed with a nervous stomach. My anxiety caused my stomach to literally stop functioning. I fell into depression and cried every day for no reason at all. Exams, classes, and COVID all took a major toll on me. I finally decided to see a psychiatrist, and she prescribed me Zoloft. Taking Zoloft was the BEST thing I could have ever done. Although the first two weeks were hard due to headaches and drowsiness, it was worth it. I finally feel like I can breathe. Honestly, stick to Zoloft. Get through the first two weeks. Everything will change for the better."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2013

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, aggression, paranoia. I started with sertraline a few months ago, 100 mg. Before that, I used citalopram for a year, 30 mg, which caused head pressure, so I wanted to stop with it. 100 mg sertraline made me feel zombie-like, low concentration, so after two months, I lowered it to 50 mg a day. My aggression came back, but I had more concentration and was willing to get out of the house. At one stage, I felt like this medicine was not helping, so I decided to quit, and I began to take 1/3 of the 100 mg tablet a day (approx. 35 mg). I've read that one is never to go cold turkey with SSRIs (side effects). My paranoia came back with a vengeance! So I went back to 50 mg, and paranoia went away. I think I will try 100 mg again."

• Mik...
• September 19, 2013

For Depression "I was prescribed Zoloft because of sleeplessness, anxiety, and stress related to marital issues. It helped me with sleeping and seemed to lower my anxiety and stress (my marital situation improved at the same time, so hard to say if Zoloft or my situation helped lower those). I had to stop the medicine after a month because of severe side effects, including suicidal thoughts, weight loss, generally feeling flat all of the time, and mild headaches."

• Rhi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2016

For Depression "I've never taken antidepressants before (I'm 19). Back in November, I started Zoloft at 25 mg for one week. I felt good, my energy was high. But after about 5 of those days, I got bad headaches. Then I started my 50 mg dose. I was even more depressed. I stayed in bed all day. I had panic episodes more frequently. I barely ate, I lost close to 10 pounds, which really scared me. I couldn't take care of myself. I thought I was losing myself. Then I was told to go back to 25 mg. I felt better, less of a lump, but I was still having depressed feelings. I got off Zoloft back in December. Consult your doctor before completely cutting off! I hope my doctor will prescribe me something else..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2016

For Postpartum Depression "I started Zoloft about a week ago. I think I feel better. My anxiety and the 'what if' thoughts do not seem to bother me as much. I still feel sad at times. I am going to stay on it longer to get the full effect. Side effects: loss of appetite, stomach pain, headache, mood swings. I was in a bad place. My anxiety was terrible. Racing thoughts-my brain just would not shut off. I had no control. It's just a really bad feeling. I didn't want to try any medicine, I put it off for a week, but my doctor kept calling me and convinced me to come in. She said PPD is a real thing and it's nothing I did wrong. I felt ashamed of my feelings. I should be happy, I just had a beautiful, healthy newborn baby. All I felt was sad and worried about everything."

• jon...
• July 23, 2010

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I've been taking 50 mg of Zoloft for OCD now for 9 days. I stayed off medicine and dealt with the OCD for a long time until I could not take it anymore. Since I have been on it, I've been improving every day, although I still do the same routines. I seem to have let some go, and the constant worrying all day, to the point where you are making yourself sick, has improved so much. I'm finally able to joke with my friends and not have to worry about something so irrational. So far, I'm very happy I started taking the Zoloft. The side effects that I get are sometimes randomly during the day, I can't stop yawning, along with being very tired, but I heard the sleepiness goes away after a few weeks. I've had a few headaches and dry, bloodshot eyes when I wake up."

• Mas...
• July 24, 2009

For Depression "Zoloft is not a good medicine for 'severe' depression. I have OCD, and that is what this medicine is best used for. It does help with the anxiety and the headaches that go along with it. It keeps the obsessive thoughts to a minimum. My compulsive need to make everything perfect is also gone. It makes you more social, too. It has not made me gain weight. It is a good drug if used for OCD."

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2012

For Panic Disorder "After working with a therapist for 4 months to overcome my panic disorder and obsessional thoughts, I realized I needed some extra help. I began to take Zoloft, first at 25 mg to ease into the symptoms, and later increased to 50. I began to notice relief from symptoms after about 2 weeks of taking the medication. I still have bothersome thoughts that circle in and out through my mind during the day, but the nausea and the heart pounding that comes with the thoughts do not happen anymore. I am able to recognize my symptoms as those of panic disorder and can move forward feeling positive. The only side effects I experienced were headache and nausea the first few days. I am going to continue therapy and hopefully one day overcome this."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 20, 2024

"Zoloft (50 mg) really helped with anxiety and depression; I no longer wake up wanting to call it quits at life, spending hours lost in the thoughts in my head, and I have way more capacity to handle stressors. I don't even remember the last time I had an anxiety attack, which I never thought would be possible as someone who used to have them daily. The first 4 weeks of side effects were the worst (headache, dry mouth, nausea), but around week six, the initial side effects wore off. The one thing I'm noticing though after a year of taking it has been excruciating migraines and about 30 lb of weight gain, which have been brutal - I'm beginning to realize it's the Zoloft."

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2008

For Anxiety and Stress "I started using Zoloft one and a half years ago. It definitely helped my mood, especially anxiety and depression. I also have a much more stable mood throughout my day. It did cause me to gain weight when I started taking it, but I was not eating enough prior to taking the medicine. Occasionally, I would get headaches, and after a while my body started having panic attacks again. But for the first year at least, I would say it was the perfect medication."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I am suffering from HOCD, harming OCD, and Pure O. Harming OCD came recently. A little more than a month ago, I broke up. This triggered a mental breakdown for a reason! Headaches, depression. I was like losing my mind. Uncontrollable thoughts made me feel scared and desperate. I had panic attacks, and I was thinking so much. Couldn't sleep. Feared the worst. I was so tired from my brain and my thinking rituals (that were a 'solution' for many years now). Lexotanil (Bromazepam - something like Xanax) helped me at the beginning of my breakdown, but I had so many intrusive thoughts. I was prescribed Zoloft. I started with 0.25 mg, went up to 0.50 mg, and stayed there for some days. Then I went up to 0.75 mg for 2 days, but it was feeling 'too much' and went back to 0.50 mg. I am less than a month on Zoloft and started feeling better. More relaxed and my mind did calm down a bit. At the beginning, I was against medication. It was my only choice. Needs time. I am optimistic. Side effects subside, I guess."

• Mum...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 13, 2017

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Took this for anxiety and depression but found out later that I actually had severe PMDD. I had to stop taking Zoloft after six months due to bad vertigo, but it definitely helped the PMDD symptoms. Switched to venlafaxine and found that to be great, but the first three days are so hard. Headaches, low mood, heavy feeling in head and body. It worked, though. Zoloft also fixed my restless leg syndrome, which had not responded to any other treatment."

• Ano...
• April 3, 2018

For Depression "Loved the mood on this drug... hated the side effects. Thought I was just getting older, but I had constant, inexplicable headaches every single day for months. Also had excruciating back pain that ended up being my gallbladder, and severe changes to my menstrual cycle. I didn't put 2 and 2 together until I stopped the drug. Suddenly, everything normalized. My advice: if you have weird things happening to you but they aren't listed as classic 'side effects'-listen to your body!"

• Rob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 27, 2022

For Panic Disorder "I started taking Zoloft about 3 years ago, and yes, the first 4 weeks were hard. Increased anxiety, insomnia, sweaty hands, headache, and nausea eventually went away, the last one to go was insomnia. After about 6 months, we added Wellbutrin to counteract the procrastination that Zoloft caused. During the period of having the side effects, I went back to the doctor several times, and the following helped: 1) Valium to help ease the initial increase in anxiety, 2) First Valium to help overcome the insomnia, but it did not help, so I was put on trazodone, 3) Going to the gym and having a good 30-minute intense aerobic exercise session (had to take Valium first, so anxiety went down and I had the motivation to go). Zoloft comes with side effects, if you get them, go back to your doctor and get meds to ease the side effects. Don't continue to suffer. I came off Zoloft and recently started it again. Made sure I got a prescription for Trazodone and Valium. Week 3, and side effects have been well managed."

• jhu...
• February 7, 2010

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have had great success with Zoloft after only taking it for 1 week. I suffer from OCD and mainly intrusive and compulsive thoughts. I dealt with them for a long time (I'm only 18), but I'm feeling the effects of Zoloft, and already it's great. I had side effects after the 1st pill (upset stomach, headache), but that was only for 24 hours after that, and still to this day the only side effects I'm having are excessive yawning and a weird jaw feeling, which feels kinda cool."

• NoM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2021

For Depression "I likely have permanent tinnitus. Was on it up to 150 mg. I developed tinnitus at 75 mg, and she said it should help and to keep taking it. It's been a few months since I quit. I had to taper myself. Ugh. What an awful drug. At least I lost 20 pounds. I have insane headaches now from the tinnitus."

• Kri...
• March 2, 2012

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I have general anxiety disorder. I see a therapist weekly. She said I suffer from anxiety and depression. I lost my best friend in January, and it triggered my anxiety and depression. I'm a stay-at-home mom of two kids. Daily activities became a hassle, and I stress and worry so much now. This past week, I've noticed a change for the better, but I felt I was still battling it. I had bad tension headaches and went to my doctor, and he gave me 25 mg to take for a month. I took one almost two and a half hours ago. I started yawning and became tired. I'm laying in bed now and feel awake. So far, it seems to be working. I feel calm and not stressed. I'm hoping it works like it has for everyone else."