Zoloft and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 3)

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 3, 2014

For Depression "I've dealt with many periods of depression in my life, but I hit an all-time low a year and a half ago culminating in a suicide attempt. This medication helped me get back on my feet. I started with a low dose (25mg/day - I'm small and female) and have slowly increased to the normal dosage my doctor prescribes for adults (50mg/day). I went off of it for two months after five months of taking it and fell back into depression. Went back on it and have been fine since. I don't think I will stop again for a while. Only problems are occasional insomnia and inability to orgasm anymore."

• jan...
• October 31, 2020

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I had an adverse reaction to Zoloft - insomnia, and it was so bad. I had to go to the ward for not sleeping for 8 days. I was also pacing and other bad stuff. I did not have mania. Over a year later and over 20 pills tried on me. Never recovered. I have biochemical brain damage. I only met a tiny few people this exact same thing happened to. (We met in support groups) If this truly happens to others, it may be told that it is something else. I am 37. I slept fine my entire life. My life is a mess now. I never feel sleepy and so on. I am a rare case."

• B10...
• July 3, 2016

For Social Anxiety Disorder "Before taking this medication, I was experiencing sleepless nights. Sometimes this would happen for three nights in a row. There was no reason for me to feel anxiety or feel as if a panic attack was coming on. My panic and anxiety feelings were in my stomach and my throat. I felt like I could scream, but I could never get it loud enough. I was also experiencing stomach ulcer symptoms. I had no clue what was wrong with me. At work, I started to experience social anxiety. I would feel panicked, my face would get flushed, and my neck and chest would break out in hives. One other extremely annoying symptom was getting up during the night to pee when I really didn't have to. My doctor prescribed 25, then 50, then 75, then 100 mg of Zoloft, and I'm 100% better."

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2013

For Social Anxiety Disorder "When I first started taking it, I had a lot of side effects, like nausea, sleepiness, insomnia, muscle twitching, decreased sexual interest, headache, nightmares, a need to move my legs, and others I can't remember, but I was desperate to get rid of the anxiety, so I persisted. Most of the side effects went away after several days. I still have the leg movement and insomnia, but it's manageable. It took about 5 ½ weeks before I noticed any effect when I feel happier, like I can't even think in a depressed way, and I can talk to people online with ease. I still panic about being outside with strangers everywhere, and conversing one-on-one is still hard. But now, after 6 weeks, my doctor has increased my dosage from 50 mg to 100 mg, so I'll see how that goes."

• Aoi...
• December 7, 2011

For Depression "I have been taking Zoloft 50mg for a month now, and I find this med wonderful. It was my first time taking antidepressants, so I was a little nervous. The side effects I experienced were upset stomach, shaky hands, decrease in appetite, and trouble sleeping, but after a week or two, these side effects disappeared, and I'm feeling great! :) I found this medication gave me lots of energy, my body doesn't feel so sluggish and drained anymore. Regarding the weight gain, I haven't gained a pound, I've actually lost weight. My mood has lifted, and I find myself thinking a lot more positively. Simple daily tasks are not so hard to do anymore, and I can gradually feel myself going back to the girl I was before my depression kicked in. Thank God for Zoloft :)"

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2022

"On a vacation, I randomly had a few bad nights of sleep. This quickly snowballed into insomnia after my body went into fight or flight, and the anxiety would not let me sleep or eat for 2 months. It was horrible (especially with kids and a job), and I was desperate for a safe solution. Thank goodness my DR recommended Zoloft. After about 2 weeks on the meds, I was sleeping again. My appetite slowly came back. I still have an off night now and then, but I know that is normal. Very thankful for this medication and sharing my story in case it can help someone else."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2018

For Panic Disorder "I am so glad I stuck to this medication! I was initially worried about taking meds, I didn't know how my body would respond. But my anxiety got to the point where it was unbearable. I could not eat for weeks, that's how bad it got. I finally got prescribed Zoloft 25 mg for a week and increased to 50 mg. The first week I got some nasty side effects like nausea and insomnia, but that all cleared up after 2-3 weeks. All I can say is give this medication some time to work because it actually works! This is my 7th week on Zoloft, and the improvements I see in myself are amazing. The anxiety isn't completely gone, but I am able to feel excited about life again and feel much calmer."

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

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."

• Zol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2022

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I told myself I would post on here after I felt Zoloft had helped me. I'm a 28-year-old female who has never been on medications before or treated for anxiety. Currently, I’m an RN who works in a high-stress area. This summer, I experienced severe anxiety (21/21 on the GAD scale) and was very distraught by it. My GP started me on Zoloft in conjunction with therapy. I started at 25 mg for a week and increased by 25 mg until my dose is now at 100 mg. The Zoloft onboarding for me was HARD. Increased anxiety the first couple of weeks, loss of appetite, insomnia, diarrhea, loss of libido. I think if I would have known beforehand and received better education on Zoloft, it would have been less distressing. BUT I’m here to tell you I’m over 3 months on Zoloft and feel 90% better. I also supplement with CBD gummies when I feel stressed or hydroxizine and propranolol when required when I feel even more anxious. Also, exercising, meditation, and decreasing my caffeine and alcohol intake has helped. My GAD score is now 6."

• AnS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2016

For Depression "I started taking this drug to battle mild depression. 50 mg a day. Pros: 1) more energy than usual. I go to the gym more than I used to (losing weight). I go the 'extra mile' at work, I got a promotion (financial industry/hedge funds). 2) depression started to fade. Cons: 1) the doctor told me to take it before bed. Insomnia was so severe I switched to morning. 2) no desire for sex. 3) I started to feel numb, not literally. Stuff I care about, I no longer do. This is where the depression starts to fade (partly). Hard to explain this one... 4) I'm alienating myself from friends. I like spending time alone, but I'm spending even more so now. 5) I have to take Ativan before bed from time to time due to extra energy."

• Cra...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 19, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I took Zoloft for 5 years. I went off it 9 weeks ago, and now I can't sleep. I have panic attacks day and night. I see a new psychiatrist in 2 weeks, considering asking for something else. Life sucks with all the panic attacks, always afraid of thoughts that I can't seem to get out of my head. I have issues leaving my house and being around groups of people."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2012

For Panic Disorder "I'm 23, and after 5 years, I decided to do something about it. I was put on 50 mg of Zoloft. To be honest, whether it was me being paranoid or whatnot, my panic was worse in those first 3 days than in years. I felt insane and crazy. I stopped it and talked to the doctor. He upped it to 100 mg and gave me Xanax to take in the meantime. I read online that 50% of people get worse in the first few days, but then it gets better (brain sensitivity to mess). I do feel calmer (been a week), but I barely eat and I can barely get to sleep. I also wake up shaky out of the blue when I do go to sleep and have to take a Xanax to calm me down and put me back to sleep. I'm hoping to get counseling too. I'm hoping this will help. One week down... It's hard being patient."

• Its...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 13, 2019

For Postpartum Depression "First off, don’t stop taking Zoloft. I learned it the hard way. I suffered from postpartum depression (PPD) severely after I had my son in 2009. I was hospitalized for 2-3 weeks. Zoloft did give me side effects the first couple of weeks, like headaches, insomnia, loss of appetite, anxiety, panic, and diarrhea. It felt like I was a zombie the first 3 weeks. My PPD gradually subsided the 3rd week. I weaned off of it when my son was 3. Fast forward 2 years later, I went through a rough patch and needed to be on Zoloft again. Then again, I tapered off of it after 2 years. Then I had another child 10 years after 2009, and my PPD came back, so I’m on it again. So far, I’m trying to pull through this tough time again. Zoloft has helped me plenty of times, and I hope this will help someone that is going through PPD."

• sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2014

For Social Anxiety Disorder "Diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, I was very hesitant at the start to try medications and thought I'll battle through with the help of therapy. Three months later, I gave in for medication. Couldn't get through a day without my anxiety being an obstacle. Was prescribed Zoloft for the first time at 25 mg. For the first week, things were fine, just the usual upset stomach and dry mouth, nothing I couldn't handle, but surprisingly it made me depressed (never was), but anxiety DID settle a little (hence 5/10). Then was pushed up to 50 mg... the upset stomach stopped, the dry mouth decreased, but restlessness and insomnia kicked in, including the zombie feeling. This went on for over two weeks, but had to stop, it was affecting my work. Withdrawal symptoms, depression."

• pin...
• January 6, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was prescribed Zoloft and Klonopin twice in the past, both for depression and anxiety-related issues. The first time, it took about 5 months to recover, 3 the second time. I stayed on Zoloft the first time for 7 months, the second time for 12 months. During Covid, after being 3 years free of antidepressants and depression, I found myself falling back. This time, the main concern was insomnia. Zoloft and Klonopin helped me restore healthy sleeping patterns. It took a few months. I also went on a low sugar diet, worked out, went to therapy, meditated, did breathing exercises, found support, followed CBTI. Today, I am depression-free. I generally sleep fine. I am on 75mg! I am off of benzos as Zoloft took full effect in month 4. If you have been on any medication for more than 8 weeks and do not feel better or feel worse, talk to your prescriber. Again, Zoloft can be helpful to someone at 25 mg and to others at 150mg. You have to play around and give it time."

• jor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2015

For Depression "Been on Zoloft for 3-4 months. The usual side effects. Worst insomnia when I upped the dose from 50 to 100 mg, which lasted about 2-3 weeks. Insomnia returned when I upped to 150 mg, but not as bad. I am at 150 mg. I take it at 5-6 am now, which knocks me out, and I sleep an additional 1-2 hours, in a very relaxed state. I kind of use it as a morning sleeping pill. If I take Zoloft at 10 pm, it has the opposite effect, and I can't sleep. Depression is mostly gone, generalized anxiety is completely gone, social anxiety is reduced significantly. It took 2 months for the anxiety to go away. For public speaking, I still use 40 mg propranolol 1 hour before the event, and the results are overall great."

• Alf...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I was prescribed 50 mg of sertraline due to panic attacks and general anxiety. The first 2-3 weeks were almost unbearable (increased anxiety, insomnia, and nausea), but slowly but surely, after about a month, I started to feel like I could finally relax. I would not recommend coming off this medication instantly-I tried it, and I had horrible withdrawal symptoms, so now I'm on 25 mg every other day, and it's worked out great for me! Stick through the bad times because it's so worth it!"

• Gyp...
• March 22, 2016

For Postpartum Depression "I suffered terrible depression and anxiety after I had my son. It was the worst experience because I had no control over the worrying, sadness, and hopelessness. I wasn't able to enjoy my newborn because I felt so down and anxious about everything. After I developed insomnia and would sleep for 3 days at a time, I decided to get help. I felt embarrassed and shameful for feeling this way, but I can assure anyone dealing with postpartum anxiety/depression that it's NOT your fault! It's a very real disorder and can take a person's life if they don't seek help. Zoloft literally saved mine. I have been on 100 mgs for one year and feel like the happy person I was before pregnancy. Best decision I've ever made!!"

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 27, 2022

For Panic Disorder "Due to health problems, my anxiety and panic disorder became worse, wherein I cannot function anymore. My panic attack crippled me to the point of not showering, not eating. It’s so bad. I have tried all the antidepressants, escitalopram, etc. The first week was hell. Anxiety was worse, but I’m sleeping more. In the second week, I’m eating more, I’m sleeping more, less anxiety. In the third week, eating normal, sleeping normal, less panic attacks, less anxiety. In the fourth week, my life is back to normal! I’m on this treatment for 1 year and 6 months, and my doctor weaned me off as I don’t need it anymore. Of course, I made a lot of changes in my life. I did everything that makes me happy. I removed toxic people from my life. I moved to another country. And I’m okay now. Zoloft helps me a lot. Don’t be scared to try. Be patient. I thought I was hopeless, but this medicine is here to help."

• BPr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I'm 25 F. Six months ago, I started having panic attacks every day and suicidal ideation. I couldn't leave my house. I quit my job, I couldn't go grocery shopping, and I couldn't even sit outside. I had derealization and felt like I was on a bad trip of mushrooms every waking moment. I was prescribed 50 mg of Zoloft, and the side effects were so awful that I hid the bottle away. After a few more months living in a nightmare, I decided to try again, but starting at 12.5 mg. I upped my dose 12.5 mg every week until I reached 50 mg. The side effects were so awful, but the payoff was SO WORTH IT! It was about five weeks of heightened anxiety, insomnia, grinding my teeth, intrusive thoughts, etc. There were so many days I felt like this medication wasn't working. I wanted to give up, but one day it clicked. I still have all my emotions, and I feel so at peace. My agoraphobia still needs work, but I have my life and spirit back. Slowly but surely, I am coming back to life. It will get better, you got this!"

• Cry...
• October 21, 2011

For Depression "I love, love, love my Zoloft. It's been a life-saver. I'm on 25 mg, and I did have some insomnia and jitteriness for the first two weeks, but that has subsided. Doctor tried to 'up' my dosage to 50 mg, but side effects came back, and I was happy at 25 mg, so I went back down in dosage, and I'm content. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have some self-control and am not constantly on the verge of a meltdown. I feel put back together, and I can enjoy my family. I am a 35-year-old female who works full time and has two children."

• Rej...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2018

For Depression "I've been taking 50 mg for stress/adjustment disorder (i.e., not diagnosed depression/anxiety) and feel a lot better. The first week was tough (nausea, insomnia, feeling very, very low), and I did use temazepam to sleep due to the alertness. It's been 2 months, and I use the stimulating effect to my advantage - if I take it at night, I wake up at 6 a.m. WIDE AWAKE. It's so good! I don't feel drowsy, and I don't wake up during the night. I also have noticed that I don't get breast tenderness with my periods anymore! Yay!"

• Lau...
• November 13, 2013

For Depression "I had social anxiety and depression and some OCD thoughts, but on Zoloft after the first day taking it, I had a clear mind, and I feel free and in control of my life. Some side effects, though mild for me, were feeling tired on the first day only and not being able to fall asleep at night, but overall no side effects over here. But I am only on day 2."

• Zol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2017

For Social Anxiety Disorder "This is my third day on Zoloft. The symptoms are like a roller coaster. 50 mg/day. I feel like I'm on speed. No appetite, can't sleep, wake up shaky, have the sweats with a light headache, and now today I can't get out of bed and my vision is weird... Everything I've read online says these are normal, and one day I'll wake up and feel like a million bucks. I hope this is the case because these side effects are super weird."

• And...
• July 27, 2013

For Panic Disorder "I have struggled with panic disorder off and on for 11 years. I was previously on Lexapro but built up a tolerance after 4 months, so I switched to Zoloft. After week four, I am FINALLY getting some relief from the anxiety. Started on 12.5 mg due to sensitivity to SSRIs. The reason Zoloft does not get a 10 is because of terrible side effects: increase in depression and anxiety, nervousness, derealization, and insomnia. I could care less about my sex drive right now. Word to the wise: BE PATIENT, IT WILL GET BETTER."