Sertraline for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Pamel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2023

"I started this medication as soon as possible after learning it would help my depression and dementia symptoms. I was thrilled to know how my life could potentially change for the better after starting sertraline. But I was wrong. I felt so much worse and even more mentally sick and demented than I was before starting any medication. The science is there proving sertraline works, but the medicine doesn't help everyone the same way. Be vigilant. Talk to your doctor about any side effects, worsening symptoms, and other medication options if you are at your wit's end like I was. I still haven't found the right medication for me, and unfortunately, I am still suffering daily with ongoing dementia and depression."

• Anon
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 18, 2022

Zoloft (sertraline) "Was on this drug in conjunction with lamotrigine for a few years as a teenager for MDD/BPD/GAD. It got rid of my sex drive, made me feel more depressed, and I slept a lot of the day away. Wasn’t for me."

• Big...
• March 4, 2017

Zoloft (sertraline) "Developed deep depression. Resisted drugs for a while. GP recommended zoloft. First four weeks were hell then it has been excellent.The best I have felt for years. In Australia so drug very cheap. $13 dollars for month"

• Jaws...
• July 30, 2017

Zoloft (sertraline) "I was on this medication previously and after a week gave up hope and stopped taking it. Recently my anxiety became out of control as did my depression. I literally had no hope left. I felt sad, lonely, out of focus, irritable, suicidal, and hopeless. I would wake up having panic attacks and go to sleep having panic attacks. I started researching ways to off myself and came very close. I decided to finally seek help and while awaiting my referral to see a psychiatrist my doctor gave me this medication. I am taking 100 mg once a day. It took a week of the medicine to feel the full effects but I feel happy again, focused, grounded, and way less anxious. I find myself laughing more, joking, smiling and not constantly anxious."

• Cass
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2021

Zoloft (sertraline) "I’ve had intense anxiety & depression for 3 years. I put off ever taking meds because I was scared of the side effects. Then I hit rock bottom & realised I couldn’t live another day how I was. Long story short, I began Zoloft. The first week was dark. Physically, emotionally, mentally & spiritually dark. Then, on day 11, I woke up completely content. I talked to my family, laughed, hugged. Each day seemed to get 10% better than the day before. It was overwhelmingly good. My thoughts were clear. When anxious & dark thoughts or even days arise, which they inevitably do, I am able to move on. They don’t spiral & debilitate me. 3 weeks on & I am calm. Content. Happy. I socialise?!?! I feel like me again. I look back on the last 3 years & I truly didn’t realise how anxious & sad I was. It controlled my every move. Now, I feel as though I am the one in control of my life. I am so, so deeply grateful for this."

• JustA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2019

Zoloft (sertraline) "No side effects or beneficial effects from taking this medicine. Felt severely depressed constantly. For me I still think SSRIs are just a placebo effect, since when I first took it I felt “good” but then later realised how they work hence knowing that it was just a placebo effect, from having such high expectations and not knowing anything about “antidepressants” particularly the newer SSRI..."

• Koala...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2014

Zoloft (sertraline) "Zoloft is a very good medication for anxiety and depression. For me better with anxiety. I am BiPolar I, am also on Zyban 150 a day. Taking these two medications together is fine as is also taking when you are BiPolar. Only with a specialists direction, though. I have been on Zoloft a couple of times the only side effect before was severe diarrhea. This time when I started taking it I got butterflies in the stomach and flutters, but over time this unusual for me side effect left me. Some say how many weeks to feel a impact. For me this last time was around 6 weeks. Which is normal. It's been proven that any time prior 4 weeks is most likely placebo effect. But if you feel better well, whether a placebo effect or not, it's good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2024

Zoloft (sertraline) "I took Zoloft for years and never had any problems with side effects of any kind. I had to switch to Sertraline due to the price of Zoloft. I have minor benefits with Sertraline. I still have social anxiety and more frequent sadness. So, Sertraline is okay but does not work as well as Zoloft."

• sally
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

Zoloft (sertraline) "I suffer from major depression, GAD, and ADHD and was given Zoloft for my worsening depression and anxiety on top of Wellbutrin and lamotrigine. I began experiencing a lot of gas and digestive issues but that was a minor thing. Never before have I reacted so negatively to a medication. I was already depressed, but usually it was more up and down. This just made me feel very dissociated and completely dead inside. I have cut very occasionally and impulsively, but on this I was compulsively injuring myself with anything I could for hours just to feel something. Was extremely traumatic. I didn’t react well to Prozac when I took it years ago either. I’m going to stay away from SSRI’s. Please be careful! Antidepressants can be amazing and I don’t mean to discourage anyone from getting help. My experience isn’t everyone’s, but nonetheless, they should definitely be taken seriously. The casual way in which they are prescribed nowadays can make it easy to forget that."

• Psych...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 16, 2017

Zoloft (sertraline) "Zoloft is a fantastic AD. It gave me motivation and helped me get back out there into my life. It didn't work that well for anxiety, but your mileage may vary. Even switching up as little as 50mg would bring back the "punch" if it "pooped out." Highly recommend."

• Sasha
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2019

Zoloft (sertraline) "I started on 50mg of sertraline for two weeks and had nausea and a dull headache as side effects. I am now on 100mg and have been on the 100 for two weeks and I can honestly say I feel dreadful. Nausea, fatigue and no motivation. Doctor would like to try me on Venlafaxine but have heard that these are even worse. Don’t know what to do"

• Karab
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2019

"If you are here reading these reviews on sertraline it is because your in my shoes 2 months ago. I suffer from panic disorder, social anxiety, generalized anxiety and major depression. I started taking a small dose of sertraline 2 months ago and it made me extremely sick. Fast forward 2 months and I’m so much better. I didn’t give a 10 because I’m still not 100% but I am 95% better!!! Sertraline saved my life, you need to GIVE IT TIME TO WORK and work towards the maximum dose. I’m still not at the maximum dose and I feel like once I’m there I’ll be 100% better. This was worth all the sickness I went through. Insomnia, nausea, loss of interest in EVERYTHING, shakes, headaches you name it this will cause it in the beginning but PLEASE STAY ON IT. It works but takes time. I got clonazepam from my doctor to help along the way but NEVER take clonazepam for more than 2 a week or you will be reliant and you don’t want that!! I feel for everyone in this review board."

• Kfry
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 23, 2016

Zoloft (sertraline) "I've been on zoloft for about a year, at 25mg. But I've recently developed panic disorder can't seem to handle the side effects of going up. I believe I'm not even at the optimal dose yet. My doc perscribed me effexor XR and I'm on day one of taking that and I feel completely emotionless. I'm going back go zoloft tomorrow because initially it worked for depression and anxiety. Everyone is different, but I've tried citalopram, etsicitalopram, and now effexor and they all make me feel numb and like a zombie. Zoloft all the way. My doc won't prescribe me benzos and I feel that zoloft will be great with xanax! Going back to the doctors next week to tell them to shove the effexor and I'm staying in zoloft."

• Elixaa
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2021

"I started taking Sertraline at the beginning of June this year. For 2 years, I never left the house. I was agoraphobic, so severely depressed that I forgot what joy even felt like, and I was beginning to believe that suicide was a genuine option in my future. I’d have panic attacks so intense I thought I was dying. It’s now 2 months later and I cannot believe I’m able to say I haven’t had any of the above symptoms since. Before, I only had moments of “happiness” when eating. I binged on food every day and gained over 100lbs because it was literally the only thing that made me feel any type of emotion other than anger and doom. Now, just 60 days later, I don’t even think about food that much because I don’t need that mood boost I would get from eating. I’m no longer scared to leave the house, I haven’t had a single panic attack, and I’m genuinely excited for life. I’ve never been more grateful."

• Zolof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2021

Zoloft (sertraline) "I predict this drug will be taken off the market. My neutral days are greatly reduced. I'm at 95% my life is over. My whole life is trying to take care of myself. There is zero hope. I am full blown anti-psychiatry now. I can't risk being badgered and rolled again by the 'profession' and made weaker."

• KiloMan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2018

Zoloft (sertraline) "Triggered Depersonalization, blank mind and anhedonia which I didn't have prior Zoloft At first I felt good, even too good which I can now consider as hypermania (lack of need to sleep, running around the house, insisting that I'm an art piece) 2 weeks later not feeling my self, as if my head is filled with cotton, the world appeares different and I can't feel anything towards my GF, I wish I have never touched this full apathy inducer of a pill. Later on I found that I have a short/short version of the "Seratonin transporter gene" AKA SLC6A4 or 5-HTTLPR, which is known to cause more side effects with SSRIs and SNRIs, beware."

• miran...
• May 6, 2016

Zoloft (sertraline) "Zoloft has been hard for me. At first it was okay (besides the side effects, those were brutal) but now that I've been on it for almost 2 years, im starting to forget things and my mindset is never balanced. Some days are okay, but some days I'm panicky, shaky, can't remember much even if it happened less than a minute ago, and my depression starts back up. I really don't wanna move on to another medication because the withdraws of this medication is as brutal as the side effects but i feel like Zoloft isn't a long term drug for me."

• LPatr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

Zoloft (sertraline) "The effect of the medication appeared on the first day of taking it. That seemed so weird to me, because I've tried several other SSRIs and needed to wait at least 7-8 days to feel something. It was like the mood swing, in the morning I felt a little brain fog, and a little shaky. Then later that day my mood as well as my motivation dropped drastically to zero, I couldn't move, couldn't work, so for around 2 hours I sat in the chair trying to get myself together. After that episode I figured, that I need to eat something, so I went to the nearby store. When I've gone outside, I felt like I was high, colors were much more vivid, sounds were intensified to the degree I felt overwhelmed. This state lasted for around 4-5h, can't tell for sure, because I lost a track of time. Also there was this feeling that my soul was separated from my body and the metaphysical and physical world was in different point in spacetime (not sure if it makes any sense).0/10"

• Lola
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2019

"I'm on this for MDD, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Sertraline has genuinely made the world of difference. I've been struggling with my mental health for years now and have been constantly up and down, I've always avoided going on medication as I didn't want to be dependant on a drug. Been on it three months now and it has really stopped my world from spiralling again, it has made me realize that when nothing else works (counselling, mindfulness, diet & exercise etc) and you need the help from an antidepressant that it is totally worth taking it, rather than not being in control of your mind and life. Now that I'm taking it I wish that I started years ago instead of avoiding it."

• Mareko
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2023

Zoloft (sertraline) "I started on 50mg I started feeling good the first 2 weeks then going on the third week the side effects were too strong so today I halved it to 25mg see what happens. I can’t handle the side effects."

• Stuar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 3, 2015

Zoloft (sertraline) "Has helped enough that I still take it. A word of warning though, you may experience incontinence soon after (that lovely 'd' word). In my case, it only takes about 5 minutes before nature comes calling (!) Up until recently, I attributed it to the coffee I have every morning with my breakfast, as caffeine is apparently a common cause. Then I spoke to a friend who'd stopped taking Zoloft because of this side effect and it suddenly dawned on me. So I tested it. Had my usual breakfast & coffee, this time without the meds. 1/2 hour went by, no complaints down below. Took the Zoloft and sure enough, 4 or 5 minutes later, off to the the toilet again. It's not a huge problem for me since it's predictable, only happens in the morning, and the drug does help depression-wise but some people may not feel the same way (no pun intended). Interestingly, I take the same dose again in the evening with no side-effect, so I suspect the morning combination with coffee may play a part."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2016

Zoloft (sertraline) "I've been under going some health issue for the past 3 months. Doctors believe it's my anxiety & depression that are the problem. I've had anxiety & depression for about 16 years & never had issues like I'm experiencing now. But to rule out depression & anxiety I decided to start taking Zoloft as the doctor recommended. I took my first dose last night 50mg. (Side note, I had been on Zoloft before when I was younger). the night I took the first dose... my head felt kind of funny, still feels a little funny. I got drowsy. A little shaky. This morning I felt sick to my stomach. My eyes were dilated & I felt wired. I'm going to cut it in half tonight & see how that goes."

• Otsut...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2019

Zoloft (sertraline) "This is the best antidepressant I’ve been on. I wouldn’t consider it a miracle drug, but it did make me feel happier and a little less anxious than normal. The best thing about Zoloft was that it GREATLY decreased my anger and irritability. My diagnosis’s are Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder w/ Agoraphobia, and ASD. Due to being in a bad situation, I was taken off of Zoloft about 5 years ago. In the almost 2 years that I took it, I would still feel down occasionally but I never came close to being re-admitted to the psychiatric hospital. Will probably look into getting back on it soon."

• Lucy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2016

Zoloft (sertraline) "During a stint in the hospital, I took the generic for about a month with lithium, seroquel and lamictal. I also recieved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation during that time. I was very hopeful about all of these treatments, but things got worse. I am normally a very verbal person who expresses herself by writing, making jokes, etc, but after a few weeks of these combined treatments I found it much more difficult to write, and I still do; 4 months later."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2019

Zoloft (sertraline) "I took Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. I quit taking it after a couple months due to horrible side effects (I was suicidal, had worsened insomnia, irritability, and akathisia). Apart from the side effects, it didn’t even help me."