Zoloft and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2017

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Only day three, but the physical stress symptoms are totally gone. To be honest, though, the physical tremors and the weird yawning are rather unnerving, but I am sure they will die down. I will comment each week for four weeks to update."

• Buc...
• June 9, 2014

For Panic Disorder "I started taking birth control for acne a month ago and felt as if my anxiety had only gotten worse. After talking to my doctor, she recommended I try a low dose of Zoloft. I've been on the medication for a week and have had 2 panic attacks. One yesterday as my plane was taking off. The most embarrassing experience ever! The flight attendants had to get me a bag to throw up in and had ice over the back of my neck. Today I am feeling exhausted and down. I have read there are serious side effects within the first 2 weeks of taking this medication, so I'm hoping I start to feel better. I am definitely cutting out any coffee, energy drinks, or alcohol."

• Cor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I just got off of Paxil, and they switched me to Zoloft… I’m taking half of 100 mg, so 50 mg for 7 days, then once that’s done, I’ll take 100, but I’m telling you my anxiety is so bad right now. I’m shaky, panicking all the time, tired, heart racing. I feel so agitated, like my emotions are all over the place. I feel sick to my stomach, constantly have diarrhea. Is this normal? I told my doctor, and they won’t take me off of it. I don't like this, my anxiety is horrible right now, and I think I’m having panic attacks. I just want to know if this is normal and will it subside because my doctor wants me to stay on it."

• Pee...
• May 2, 2016

For Social Anxiety Disorder "In a desperate effort to get help for my anxiety, depression, and PMDD symptoms, I turned to Zoloft. I was happy with it at first, as I did feel better. I was very tired, however. A happy zombie, really, with poor concentration and memory and a huge appetite. But after a few months, the effects started to wear off. My Dr. increased my dose steadily, and with that, my weight increased rapidly. Other side effects were uncontrollable diarrhea and TMJ. I discontinued the medication, and after 9 months on it, I was left with a 17-pound weight gain, mostly in my belly and back/upper sides. The other side effects are over, and I didn't have many withdrawal symptoms. After 2 months, my appetite and energy are back to normal, but I've not lost a pound yet."

• vin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2017

For Social Anxiety Disorder "My doctor prescribed this for anxiety. 10 mg. Although it seemed to help my physical effects of anxiety, it made everything else much worse. Tired, anxious, headaches, brain zaps, ringing in ears, spacey, edgy, and not myself at all. I was turning into a walking zombie. It was awful. I couldn't tell if it was my anxiety or the side effects. I thought I was going crazy for 6 months. I finally talked to a therapist, and he took me off of Zoloft and put me on Lexapro, which was much better but still pretty awful. I finally found the courage to wean myself off over a period of two months, and I feel GREAT! So thankful to be myself again. Please make sure you really need to be on these before you take them. Do your research and good luck!"

• Qui...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2018

For Depression "Took 150 mg for 2 years. Helped a lot, but always tired and lack of motivation. Dropped to 100 mg, and motivation is better, but a tad more anxiety. But I guess it’s better to be on the lowest possible dose for less side effects and dependency."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2020

For Depression "Have been on Bupropion 300 mg for about a year for depression, anxiety, and SAD, which helped SAD and general dysphoria. Spoke to therapist about anxiety of selling home and loss of work due to age, and he prescribed 150 mg Zoloft, which made me lethargic and disinterested in activities. Have gone to 75 mg, better alertness, although some constipation, unsure if it's from Zoloft or Bupropion. Anxiety and depression reduced overall."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2023

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I took Zoloft for a year. The side effects were extremely strong for the first week, I could not sleep, and I was having constant panic attacks. Those subsided after that week. I did not have a single panic attack for the rest of the year I was on it. My paranoia and checking went away completely, and I felt content for the first time in my life. I cannot give the medication a higher review because it made me so exhausted that I could not really function. I had to sleep around 12 hours a day, often more. That said, I was on the maximum dose as a very small person-180 mg. I ultimately went off it due to the drowsiness."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "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!"

• Lil...
• April 19, 2016

For Panic Disorder "Horrible. I was put on it right after the birth of my second son for anxiety. It took me two years to realize that the Zoloft was the cause of my increased desire to drink (I would drink a bottle of whiskey and think nothing of it, and before Zoloft, that never would have happened), weight gain (over 30 lbs), and an overall depersonalized and foggy feeling. I felt like a robot going through the motions. I became very lazy (I am a go-go-go person. Never have I been lazy in my life), and it negatively affected my relationships with my husband and kids. I was just disinterested in everything. I was really unhappy. I never thought it was the Zoloft, I just thought I was a stressed, tired, and burned-out mom... I've successfully weaned off and will never take it again."

• Anonymous
• August 12, 2010

For Depression "I've been on Zoloft (generic) for a few weeks now. I'm on a low dose (25 mg) to get me started. I haven't noticed much of a lift in my mood, in fact, I tend to get sad more easily. But I have fewer headaches, which used to be a big problem for me. Also, I've noticed it makes me really tired, so I take it at night to help me sleep."

• Anonymous
• July 10, 2010

For Depression "Been taking Zoloft for about 2 months (50 mg). At first, my hands shook badly, I yawned all day long and was tired, and lost complete interest in sex. I do feel better, I am not yawning and tired anymore, and my hands don't shake as badly (still shake, though). Still zero interest in sex."

• Pri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2019

For Panic Disorder "In two years, I just had four panic attacks, but my mind doesn’t stop overthinking. That was the issue why I started Zoloft. I started with 50 mg, but then the doctor says 25 mg because of side effects. Today is the third day, very lethargic and nauseous... it’s been three days I haven’t slept... hopefully that’s normal with this medicine... any idea when I will be out from side effects..."

• Pee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 11, 2016

For Panic Disorder "Went to a therapist who suggested Xanax, and the doctor refused to do that and gave me Zoloft, so I gave it a shot. The first week was hell, was falling asleep sitting up, which I had never done before. I was tired, sick feeling, and dizzy among other side effects. Once these subsided, my panic attacks stopped, however, I was sleeping 20 hours at a time, waking up then four hours later, going back to sleep another 20 hours. I did notice I became better in social situations, yet I lost interest in things I enjoyed doing and left the house even less than before. I have been diagnosed with GAD, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety, major depression, dermatillomania, and trichotillomania. Not worth the negatives to fix only a few of these."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2010

For Depression "I suffered from panic attacks that led to severe depression as I have a disease with no cure (Crohn's). Things got hard in life. They put me on Effexor, which made me tired 24/7, and I swear I would hear things. Then they switched me to Zoloft. It has been a week and a half. I'm calm, I have had 3 panic attacks since I started. They say 6 months before seeing any signs. I have no sex drive. I really can't tell a difference. I just feel numb. With Effexor, it worked. I just was tired. Thinking about switching back to Effexor at a low dose."

• yve...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2018

For Depression "I had a difficult time on this medication. I was given 25 mg for depression and anxiety. I have bipolar disorder, but due to perimenopause, my depression and anxiety have become extremely horrible. I am sensitive to medication and took only half (12.5 mg) of a pill to start. Within 30 minutes, I was so amped up I could not stop talking or sit still. I had a headache, electric feeling through my whole body, dizziness, muscle cramps, and sweating. About four hours in, after trying to eat, I got hives and was really itchy. When I went to bed, I stayed somewhere between awake and sleeping mixed with anxiety and nightmares. The next day, I felt sore and exhausted and fuzzy-headed. I will say I was not depressed or suicidal, but obviously I had a bad reaction. I won’t be taking another one, which is a shame. It took me a month to try it due to being afraid of taking an antidepressant because of possible side effects. Hopefully, this med can help someone else."

• Hop...
• November 19, 2011

For Depression "Recent depression creeping up; extreme lows and mood swings, general and especially social anxiety, lethargy, nighttime binge eating ... so gained weight (52 lbs) in the last 1.5 years, which destroyed my self-confidence/image. I've been spending my life in bed, only getting up to go to work where I'm very distracted and have difficulty concentrating, mind racing with negative thoughts and having anxiety. I finally decided that it was time to try medication. Started 50 mg with dinner tonight. Halfway through dinner, I lost my appetite and became very tired, decided to take an hour nap and woke up 1 hour later with pupils dilated, jaw clenched, shivering, and diarrhea, feeling cloudy mentally. Hope it gets better."

• VPa...
• April 25, 2020

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Started taking Zoloft on September 8. The first month was very tiring with headaches. October: headaches and no appetite that persisted until the third month. Had some hair loss and diarrhea for a month or so in December. Then I had nausea and bad brain zaps around February 9. That was when I was fully off for a week. January: I was taking half dosage the whole month. Now it’s April, and I still have a few dull brain zaps when I’m really tired or if I cried. Plus the sexual side effects did not go away. Decreased libido, and I don’t feel horny anymore. There’s literally not the same feeling as before I started taking the medication. Not as much natural lubrication either. The doctor that gave this to me told me nothing about it but gave me a printout. Always ask what medications your doctor is supposed to be upselling before accepting ANY. ALWAYS look at the warnings. Sadly, this did not work, and it’s taking me a long time to try to get back to a normal libido and mind again."

• red...
• May 14, 2012

For Depression "I absolutely love Zoloft. It took my panic attacks away on 150 mg. But I had 40-pound weight gain, sexual side effects, no orgasm, lack of interest, very tired all the time. I could sleep any time of day. I'm a 22-year-old female, just stopped it to try Viibryd."

• Anonymous
• October 8, 2010

For Panic Disorder "I'm a 21-year-old male. I started to have severe panic attacks. I smoked marijuana heavily for years and had a stressful situation a year prior to the attacks. I've been taking Zoloft for 7 months now, and I want to wean myself off it. I take 100 mg. It works to an extent, but I think the rest is all in my head. When I first started, I felt tired all the time, but that passed. After a month, I could barely ejaculate, and it's been like this for months. I want my libido back."

• Que...
• February 16, 2018

For Depression "I started Zoloft on Feb 2, 2018. It helped a lot with my anxiety! At first, I was super anxious for a couple of days. I had insomnia due to anxiety. Still can't sleep with Zoloft, I feel really tired during the day! I still feel waves of depression. I'm still new to it, so hopefully, it'll help more in a few weeks. I also see a therapist and meditate! I work out when I can to boost my mood."

• ESa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 26, 2019

For Panic Disorder "So, the first year or so on Zoloft was awesome. I had little anxiety, and it took care of my GAD/Social Anxiety/Panic disorder. My grades went up, too. Although, it made me extremely tired, and I found it hard to finish schoolwork. Unfortunately, this past September, I had an awful relapse while on the medication, and despite increasing the dosage multiple times, my life felt like hell until January. I was back to having panic attacks frequently, and the medication no longer was useful. I’m switching to Lexapro soon. My social anxiety has been gone for almost two whole years, which I can contribute to the medication and therapy, but after the relapse, the medication was useless at preventing panic attacks, and I felt miserable and tired. After the relapse, sometimes it felt like it even exacerbated my symptoms. But I’m sure it works differently for everyone. TL;DR, it worked well at the start; effectiveness seems to lessen over time, even while increasing dosage, and it made me very tired."

• LAC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2021

"I had trouble in life ruminating, worrying about things that other people don’t. I’d been prescribed this medication a few times but couldn’t take it. I worried about feeling like a zombie, etc. After a bad weekend, I took 25 mg, I took it for 4 days and felt no side effects, then I went to 37.5 for 3 days and up to 50 mg, which I have been on for 8 weeks. I feel normal, everything about me feels the same except my tolerance and ability to let things go. I maybe felt sick here and there, but the side effects have been absolutely fine. In fact, I felt some were pleasant. I have brain zaps, which I thought were only when you come back off it. They are fine though, and don’t cause me any trouble. I’ve drank alcohol on a night out and felt fine, no tiredness or sleepiness. I know the leaflet says don’t drink, but the NHS (UK health service) website writes that you can. I can’t imagine a time when I go back to my ‘old’ stressed life."

• Anonymous
• October 24, 2011

For Depression "I took Zoloft for a few months for depression. I did notice a slight improvement in my mood, but stopped taking it due to side effects. I felt tired most of the time and lost any sexual interest. These side effects disappeared after a week off Zoloft."

• que...
• August 17, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Okay, I know these meds are supposed to help people, but I have been on a train to hell with these dang antidepressants! Zoloft.... ICK!!!! My God in heaven, I was sick for eight weeks on this stuff!! It never went away, in fact, the longer I was on it, the sicker I seemed to get. I lost five pounds, and just the sight or thought of food made me want to throw up! It made me feel even more depressed the whole time I was on it... I felt like a zombie, I was tired ALL of the time. Finally, I threw it away. My husband decided he wanted to give it a shot, so he went to the doctor to get a prescription for it. Eight weeks later, he was worse!"