Zoloft and Tiredness: What Users Say

• 43...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2017

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I have dealt with ups and downs, anxiety, social anxiety, depression, etc. for years. My life overall is normal and I managed the episodes, but I always knew they were there and didn't like feeling that way. I am married, we have children, combine that with everything else, and at times it was just too much. The doctor suggested Zoloft. I was nervous at first and really didn't know what to expect. In fact, I waited a month or two to even fill the prescription. The side effects were obvious at first: dizziness, tiredness, minor confusion. I don't want to scare anyone because I still functioned. I was still able to work, take care of the kids, everything was pretty much normal, but I could tell my mind was a bit off. After about a month, the side effects faded away. After two months, my mind became clear, and my attitude towards life improved dramatically. Little things didn't bother me anymore. I started working out, and that didn't bother me anymore. My wife would argue with me about normal marriage stuff, but I wouldn't yell back. In fact, I was able to see how foolish most of the fighting was and how pointless it was to yell back. My work life improved, my conversations with other people improved. I found myself more interested in what the person was saying and focusing more on what they were saying. At a follow-up visit with my doctor, he asked if I'd like to stay on the medication. I told him that my life has never been better and my mind never more clear, so why would I choose to stop. He agreed and was happy with my progress. He initially prescribed 100 mg, but I found 50 works well for me at this point. So, every night before bed, I take my pill and wake up the next morning feeling ready to go instead of wanting to stay in bed. For those just starting or thinking about starting this medication, I can honestly tell you it has changed my life for the better. Initially it was rough, but after a while all that fades, and you're left feeling really good. For me, it took about two months, for others, it may take longer or shorter. I hope this helps as I read a lot about this medication prior to starting and found a lot of the write-ups were negative. I honestly think those people may have other issues or conditions that this medication can't help, or they may have not been able to get through the initial break-in period."

• And...
• March 1, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I used to cry uncontrollably, be extremely irritable, uncomfortable in my body, lethargic, so depressed I couldn't get out of bed, have suicidal ideation, etc. Now with Zoloft, I have NONE of those symptoms anymore. My relationships are no longer being torn apart. I don't feel embarrassed by illogical mood swings or uncontrollable blabbering. I don't cry myself to sleep. I feel happy, optimistic, peaceful, and completely BALANCED. Zoloft has given me my life back. I had to stop taking it for 2 months due to a different health issue. ALL of my symptoms returned. I was basically losing my mind for two months. A couple of weeks back on Zoloft and I was again calm, happy, peaceful. I don't have any noticeable side effects. I started at 25mg for the first 5 months (still got quite lethargic and depressed) and now I am on 50mg, and I'm like all those women running through fields in white dresses in tampon commercials. Who knew, it isn't the tampons making them so happy...it's the Zoloft!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 19, 2013

For Depression "I have been on Zoloft 100mg for the last 3 years. It has been a lifesaver for me. Before Zoloft, everyone kept telling me I was depressed and experiencing anxiety. I didn't believe them. I thought that was just me. Then, at my doctor's strong recommendation, I started with the Zoloft. It did make me tired at first, but I continued to take it and am so glad I did. I no longer have crying spells or lay in bed not wanting to get up. I no longer freak out (as my kids would say) or obsess about small things that really didn't matter. I no longer have a short fuse. I am calm, relaxed, nice, and very happy. I cannot imagine my life without Zoloft. Zoloft has made me a much better mom and person."

• Lis...
• February 10, 2020

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I am in my 40s and I suffered a panic attack for the first time while driving. My friend said try Zoloft, so I saw the doctor for it. I kept a log first entry dated May 1, 2018. Day 1 on Zoloft: 'I felt tired, a little dizzy, brain fog - woke up a couple of times feeling weird, not myself. I had stomach upset and diarrhea.' Day 2: 'I woke up feeling like a zombie. I was very tired, no emotion, but I had to get up. When I was driving & came to a stoplight, I felt very anxious.' 'I hope I'm making the right decision to start meds but do I have a choice???' Day 3 & 4: '...felt tired, having brain fog. My stomach is rumbling & a little nausea but it is manageable.' Day 8: 'I woke up feeling tired and right now I feel a little anxiety.' Day 17: 'It's been over 2 weeks & I am driving with little to no anxiety!' I have been on Zoloft 25 mg for 2 years now. Because of reading other people's reviews, I knew what to expect & that kept me going!"

• Rin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was suffering from depression my entire life, and I didn't even know it. I'm 32 years old and started taking Zoloft three weeks ago. At first, I suffered from many side effects: insomnia, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, tired feeling, and even nervousness. It was the worst 10 days of my life. After enduring those 10 days, I was able to look at life differently. I'm able to accept flaws in anything, pardon excuses, laugh with my family and friends comfortably. I can see why people thought I was high maintenance. I was horrible to my family with unrealistic standards."

• Jga...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 4, 2019

For Depression "Zoloft was life-changing for me. For a long time, I had doubts about starting an antidepressant. I took a chance and started with Lexapro. It was okay, but I was always so tired, and I felt like something was missing. So, I went to my doctor and switched to Zoloft, and I feel like this drug helped me in so many ways! I'm no longer worried about everything, I no longer don't want to go to work or school, I'm more social and happy. Zoloft gave me back my normal life, and I'm so grateful for it. If you feel generalized anxiety or panic disorder all the time, it is not normal. If you want to take a chance and start medication, you will see that it's not as bad as everyone thinks!"

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2014

For Depression "On 50mg for 4 weeks then increased to 100mg for depression, panic attacks, and obsessional thinking. I had few side effects: a slight hand tremor, yawning, and difficulty sleeping. The only thing that lingered was the insomnia, but now that has settled down and I sleep okay. I feel so much better, panic attacks gone, obsessive-compulsive disorder gone, and my mood is lifting daily. I am enjoying life again, and this medicine has been so right for me."

• bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I was so nervous about starting this Zoloft. I read these reviews over and over for days. I was experiencing extremely bad panic attacks and suffered from depression. I finally bit the bullet and took it. The first day (took it in the morning as directed) I felt really weird, super drowsy and lethargic. Switched it to taking it at night and it was much better. I was still drowsy during the day for about a week, though even after taking it at night. I didn't have much of an appetite at first either and lost some weight which I'm not complaining about. lol. Now, after almost a month of taking it, I am so glad I did. I feel like myself again. It might be weird at first, but please if you need it then try it, and if it sucks tell your doctor, but if you can handle the side effects stick with it, it really does get better and totally worth it! I'm having almost zero negative side effects now and am out and about doing the things I had a seriously hard time doing before."

• Cha...
• August 13, 2009

For Depression "I started taking Zoloft about 3 1/2 weeks ago. The first week, I started to feel better. Though about 5 days in, I had a really bad hot flash where I had to lay on the floor for about 5 minutes, and then I felt like I was going to throw up. Haven't had that since. I do feel tired so I've started taking it at night. Also, I feel like I have restless leg syndrome. But other than those things, I am now able to focus, and my OCD seems to have calmed down a lot. I still get anxious, but it doesn't stick around as long, and I'm able to move on from it easier. I feel like I can live in the moment and not worry about my past or present or what issue I need to stop before it happens. I am able to focus better at work too. I think my husband likes me now."

• Kri...
• May 5, 2013

For Depression "My fiancé and I broke up, which made me depressed. Three weeks later, my mother passed away. I couldn't stop crying. A hospital was testing antidepressants on me. We decided that Zoloft worked best for me. It made it easier to cope, and I finally stopped crying. Eventually, I was able to get back to my normal life. I took it for about two months. If it makes you tired, take it before bed, which I did. I believe it saved my life."

• JOa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I started having severe panic attacks and anxiety attacks, and I was diagnosed with depression as well. They started me off at 25mg of Zoloft for my first month. The first week was... interesting. My anxiety initially got worse and my appetite was gone. I also felt so tired and exhausted, it sucked. But after the first week, I’ve felt AMAZING. I went from having so much anxiety and constantly panicking to not having any panic attacks at all. And my anxiety is very minimal. There are some days I’m not even anxious at all. I’m just super calm and mellow, it’s great. They upped my dosage to 50mg to see how I would handle it, so I’ll update this after a month of 50mg. But so far, Zoloft has positively changed my life, even though the first week taking it sucked."

• JOa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I started having severe panic attacks and anxiety attacks, and I was diagnosed with depression as well. They started me off at 25mg of Zoloft for my first month. The first week was... interesting. My anxiety initially got worse and my appetite was gone. I also felt so tired and exhausted, it sucked. But after the first week, I’ve felt AMAZING. I went from having so much anxiety and constantly panicking to not having any panic attacks at all. And my anxiety is very minimal. There are some days I’m not even anxious at all. I’m just super calm and mellow, it’s great. They upped my dosage to 50mg to see how I would handle it, so I’ll update this after a month of 50mg. But so far, Zoloft has positively changed my life, even though the first week taking it sucked."

• Gen...
• September 11, 2019

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I finally asked about going on meds for anxiety after a rough year of being victims of a home invasion and our house flooding. I wanted something to take the edge off as I felt like any little thing would send me spiraling. My doc prescribed 25mg of Zoloft. The first day I felt a little high and had diarrhea. The second day I felt tired. The third day I slept through the night for the first time in months. I felt like a new person. Then the exhaustion crept in, the worst being exactly a week in. It felt like someone put a wet blanket over my brain. I read the message board and felt encouraged to keep going. Today marks exactly a month on Zoloft. The spiraling is no more. I don’t fixate on issues like I used to, and even when our dryer died and a pipe on our softener burst in the same week, I felt like I handled it well. All in all, I’m thankful I tried this as I’m hoping it gets me back to seeing that, despite some unfortunate circumstances, I’m very blessed and should enjoy every moment."

• Gen...
• September 11, 2019

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I finally asked about going on meds for anxiety after a rough year of being victims of a home invasion and our house flooding. I wanted something to take the edge off as I felt like any little thing would send me spiraling. My doc prescribed 25mg of Zoloft. The first day I felt a little high and had diarrhea. The second day I felt tired. The third day I slept through the night for the first time in months. I felt like a new person. Then the exhaustion crept in, the worst being exactly a week in. It felt like someone put a wet blanket over my brain. I read the message board and felt encouraged to keep going. Today marks exactly a month on Zoloft. The spiraling is no more. I don’t fixate on issues like I used to, and even when our dryer died and a pipe on our softener burst in the same week, I felt like I handled it well. All in all, I’m thankful I tried this as I’m hoping it gets me back to seeing that, despite some unfortunate circumstances, I’m very blessed and should enjoy every moment."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2015

For Depression "I think Zoloft for me is great. The only downfall I have with it was headaches. They started right when I began taking Zoloft daily. They were intense and hurt like hell. Lasted about 2 weeks. Then bam, they were gone. I took it at night before bed. I thought they made me tired. Since I've been on it, I've lost about 20 lbs. I don't have the munchies at all & honestly I have to tell myself to eat because it curbs my appetite. I don't feel bloated like I did on Lexapro, that's why I switched. Zoloft really works for me and I'm on a low dose. Headaches suck the first few weeks but what a difference from Lexapro. Everyone's different."

• coc...
• May 10, 2016

For Social Anxiety Disorder "After having several panic attacks over a 12-month period, I was prescribed Zoloft. I had no idea that it would also help with so many other problems which I just thought were variations of 'normal.' I started on 25mg in the morning but found it made me feel tired, so I changed to taking it before bed. Miraculously, I was able to fall asleep within a few minutes instead of the usual 30 to 60 minutes. I also stayed asleep through the night, rarely waking but easily returning to sleep when I did. I felt less agitated and irritated by what now seems like fairly trivial things. Big problems in life still exist, but they do not dominate my mind every waking moment. I no longer feel embarrassed in social situations and just feel generally content."

• per...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2014

For Depression "I am 24 years old and have a 14-week-old son. I have fought with depression most of my life due to childhood and whatnot. After having my son, everything came crashing down. I was on the brink of a divorce and suicidal. So I asked my doctor, he put me on 50mg of Zoloft, and I'm now on day 4. Side effects for me are headache, tiredness, dizziness, and nausea. But I'm sticking to it, hoping those will go away. My mood is so much better."

• new...
• July 21, 2013

For Depression "I've been taking Zoloft for about 3 months. I've felt very few side effects, all of which I did experience was tiredness, but other than that, I went from an emotionless zombie to feeling great all day long."

• Nai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2017

For Depression "After a little over two months taking 50mg of Zoloft, I feel happier, calmer, less anxious about things. I look forward to things again, I enjoy things I had forgotten I cared about. I laugh more, I enjoy sex more (when I am depressed, my mind is on other things whenever I want to have sex). I sleep whole nights, I used to wake up in the middle of the night EVERY night and stay awake for 1-2 hours before falling asleep again. I wish I had tried it sooner. Part of me wants to quit taking it now to see if I feel better still without the side effects (such as crazy vivid dreams, lower libido than when I am not depressed, yawning, etc.), but I think I am fooling myself. It is not perfect, but so much better than I could've hoped."

• Sig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 27, 2014

For Depression "Generic Sertraline gave me some relief, but it made me jittery and gave me headaches. After reading testimonials, I insisted on the name brand Zoloft, so glad I did. It's like a completely different medicine. More relaxed and not full of negative thinking. I still get overly anxious if something stressful happens, but it doesn't last long. Side effects are more tolerable, though it does make me tired."

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2015

For Social Anxiety Disorder "From bad to good. Week 1 was great. Obviously placebo. Week 2 was a low week. So tired all day long. I struggled to concentrate. Work performance was affected. I learned that alcohol brings you right down. DON'T DO IT! Some anxiety in Week 3. Another low week in Week 4. I felt zombified. Tired all day. I could barely stay awake in meetings. I couldn't pay attention for more than a minute. Noticed my hands are shaking. Some anxiety. Week 5 was better but still tired. Small improvement but still zombified and shaking hands. Week 6 was less tired but still shaky. Mood is lifting. Strange confidence. Loving it! Confidence and mood grows in Week 7. Little anxious in Week 8. Feeling great. There is hope! Avoid too much alcohol and coffee. 2 or 3 per day is okay."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2021

For Panic Disorder "For the last 12 years, I have experienced anxiety, however, I have always been able to cope without medication. Then, last March, my random bouts of anxiety and panic attacks became crippling. I suffer from health anxiety and, most recently, panic disorder. I started having panic attacks that would last days. I couldn't go anywhere. I started on 50 mg, and the first day, extreme drowsiness, tiredness, and just felt off. I really did not like the side effects, so I switched to 25 mg and took it at night before bed. The first week sucked, but the anxiety really went away. I'm on week 5 now. Last week, I went back up to the 50 mg. I feel great! I feel like my old self again. My heart rate's down, and I have had no panic attacks at all! My husband and daughter are so happy. Side effects suck, but they do get better! I promised myself to write a review because the others helped me get through that first week. It was scary, but I'm so grateful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2012

For Depression "I swore that if Zoloft worked for me, I would come back here and write a review. I hope this gives some people hope who are too scared to take it or try something new. I was first put on Lexapro for serious anxiety, which then led to depression. I was on that for about 9 days. It was terrible! Made my anxiety way worse, vomiting, couldn't sleep. So then I was put on Pristiq. I took it one day (fast-acting) and felt so weird, shaking out of control, sick to my stomach, etc. FINALLY. I was put on 50mg of Zoloft. I am on my 4th week of it now and I can honestly say I feel like myself again! Only side effect was extremely tired. So I started taking it at night and that has helped! Good luck!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 11, 2012

For Panic Disorder "Zoloft has been a life saver! I have been on this medicine for about 7 years now. Two kids (3 and 6 months) later, I still have to use this medicine, and it works miracles. My husband deployed to Afghanistan, and I do not think I could have made it through that time while taking care of our kids without this medicine. The only side effects I had were loss of appetite, tiredness, and mild headaches, but that only lasts about a week. If you're just starting this medicine, hold on, I promise this will help you feel like yourself again!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 9, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I have had PMDD for some time. I was initially prescribed Prozac, and it did nothing. I take a high dose of 100 mg during the luteal phase of my period, and it helps. Not symptom-free, but more manageable. The side effects are tiredness (too mellow and not hyper-motivated) and weight gain, but I can live with this instead of extreme mood changes prior to Zoloft. It also helps me manage work and personal life better. It takes the edge off. My symptoms include racing, obsessive thoughts, anger, raging, paranoia primarily (general distrust of all human beings). I still get food cravings and some thoughts, but they are dramatically reduced. I try to manage PMDD with diet, supplements (magnesium), yoga, etc. Too. It is a tough mood disorder, and I wish I knew what I had years ago."