Zoloft for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews

• A-Swede
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2024

"I have been suffering from OCD/intrusive thoughts and severe anxiety attacks since I was 7, but always managed. But at 41 with three kids (almost no sleep), house, work, etc., it just snapped. Total panic. Zoloft 50mg for 8 days, then straight to 100mg. (Male, 6'5'' and 230 lbs). My world was spinning. Suffered every single side effect. The thought of my kids and my wife kept me going. 4 weeks of pure hell. THEN gradually things improved. Now, on week 6, I'm helping out at home and being a father again. I lack words to describe the relief. HOLD ON. I used sleeping pills and even benzos for 4 days. Cried A LOT. But it was a spiritual journey. Closer than ever with my wife. Work out if possible, no coffee or sugar, meditate. And DON'T fear the panic, listen to your mind. Rest. Accept your current state. IT WILL PASS. Hope this helps someone. Warm, humble, loving hug from Sweden."

• xxmor...
• August 6, 2021

"I read these reviews over and over again to calm myself with what I was going through. Although thinking back, it might have been obsessive. I have been taking this since December of 2020 when I had a bad mental breakdown where I was crying for a month straight, couldn’t work, and was having panic attacks all day every day! This medication has saved my life! I could not stop thinking these obsessive thoughts every day all day. That absolutely drove me up the wall crazy. It took about a month or two to finally start getting back to myself again. I am able to work again and take care of my family! I have happy moments now. Instead of always being in an obsessive thought and trying to get rid of it, I can now accept the thought as a thought or yeah, maybe that could happen and go about my day. Please don’t give up on this medication. The side effects do subside, and you’ll feel like yourself again, I promise!"

• May...
• October 10, 2019

"I’ve dealt with anxiety since I was 22 (now 28). At the start of this year, my anxiety got bad. At my lowest, I decided to make an appointment to see a doctor. I was sobbing after I got off the phone to book the appointment because I felt my anxiety had defeated me. Little did I know that I was finally choosing to take control. I was prescribed 50mg of Zoloft on 4/1/19 and have stayed there. The beginning was rough. I felt jittery, nauseous, and “weird”. It took a month before I started to notice a difference. My generalized anxiety started to fade, and it felt amazing! Intrusive thoughts began to settle down too! I was sleeping better, handling stress better, I could socialize better, overall I had a lot more confidence. I take my pill at the same time every day. I can’t believe how much better I feel today; it can bring me tears. I needed to feel better to see how bad I was. Please don’t be afraid to try it. Give it time! Don’t judge it after 2 or even 3 weeks. Be patient and allow it to work."

• basic
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 10, 2023

"I left a review 7 years ago and am just coming back to offer encouragement. I started taking Zoloft about 10 years ago for obsessive, debilitating negative thoughts that made me (among other things) unfairly suspicious of my partner, paranoid to let my child out of my sight, and highly restrictive of my own eating habits. The relief that Zoloft brought me was surreal. I have now been taking 100 mg per day for over a decade and have experienced absolutely no negative side effects. My mind is quiet, calm, and although I still experience some anxiety, it does not CONSUME me the way it did for years. I would highly recommend giving it a try if you are struggling - it has truly been life changing."

• Muchb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 29, 2013

"I have now been on Zoloft for a solid 12 months (50mg). It has changed my life. I was prescribed it for depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - it has almost completely resolved issues I have had for most of my life. I hesitated in taking it due to side effects, mostly because I have always been obsessed with my weight. I'm happy to report that if anything, I have dropped weight in the last year. I no longer am tempted to binge eat and just lead a healthy and active lifestyle because I am happier. I really wanted someone to read this who was in my position - who was too scared to try it because of side effects. My only side effects are dry eyes, I need to sleep 8 hours a night (instead of 5-6) and that's the worst of it!"

• you...
• July 22, 2021

"I have OCD, and honestly, this medication has given me my life back. This was the second med I took; Lexapro was horrible for me. I have been taking Zoloft for 3.5 months. I was also seeing an OCD therapist through NOCD. You will definitely see better, faster results if you use this medication in conjunction with therapy. I first did have some negative side effects: GI upset, increased moodiness, fatigue, etc. This lasted for 8 days, and with dosage increases I also felt wonky for a few days. I also lost weight, which was an added bonus. :) Please know this med is not a magic pill; it does take time to work, which can be terribly frustrating at first. But WOW, I cannot tell you what a different place I am in. I just feel like myself again. I do still have intrusive thoughts, but I am ruminating much less, and I no longer give these thoughts attention. My anxiety is significantly less, and I am just so much happier. God bless everyone, I know OCD can be tormenting, but you have GOT THIS!!!"

• Things...
• January 3, 2021

"I had a random thought one day that has felt like it destroyed my life. I had the worst thoughts imaginable, and it had gotten so bad to where I had to take a leave of absence at work and could not stop crying. I had thought about committing myself because I felt like I was losing my mind. I started working with an OCD therapist that confirmed I had Pure O. It helped me by doing ERP and ACT that I was able to go back to work and manage to live life. I was still struggling every day, and meditation was my only way to calm myself. I'm on Zoloft 25mg now. I have had no side effects. I noticed being able to see my thoughts clearly and distinguish what’s real and what’s in my head now. I am enjoying life and feeling more happy in every aspect. I still get thoughts, but they don’t bother me since I don’t feel the need to ruminate or find out what’s 'true' anymore. I plan to stay on this low dose as just enough to help me while I continue to do the work."

• Emiwis
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2021

"I was just recently diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder a few months ago. I developed a strange form of OCD in which I engage in mental compulsions and have to repeat the same words in my head to relieve anxiety. A little after a week and I’m already noticing SUCH an improvement in symptoms. I don’t feel so overly aware of everything, and the best part is that I can focus at school! I was studying for an exam yesterday, and I could digest every word without my thoughts screaming at me or distracting me. It really feels as if a switch went off in my brain. My thoughts are so much more positive. This medicine has given me my life back."

• Char
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2019

"Been going up slowly on Zoloft to help my OCD. I started on 12.5 mg for 2 weeks, 25 mg for 3 weeks, 37.5 mg for 2 weeks, then 50 mg for 3 weeks, now 62.5 mg. Overall, I’m feeling better. Intrusive thoughts related to harm OCD have gone. General anxiety is still there but not constant. When I started this medication for OCD and panic attacks, I was literally having panic attacks every hour due to the OCD. My anxiety was at a 10, now, most days it’s 0-2. Every day I do have some sort of anxious feeling, but for the most part, it’s a fleeting feeling. BEST THING ABOUT THIS MEDICATION... I LOST 20 lbs and continue to not want to eat junk food. I also started working out. Good luck! I wish you the best and hope to continue getting better with time."

• Kelly
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 10, 2020

"I have been taking 100mg Zoloft daily for almost 8 years, and I find it really helps with OCD, especially the dulling of intrusive thoughts that would normally cause me a lot of distress, anxiety and were quite frankly ruining my life. I am now at a stage where I am wondering whether I should attempt to wean myself off this drug, but am increasingly anxious about coming off the drug, as it has been so successful. I've had a few side effects, such as a reduced attention span and weight gain, but all in all, the drug has helped me live a normal life, with only two relapses in the eight years I've been on them. Both times I've relapsed, I have received help from a counsellor or CBT, but have stayed on the drug throughout, maintaining a steady dosage."

• Krist...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2020

"Suffering with existencial OCD alongside with DP/DR episodes. I went to the psychiatrist and was prescribed Zoloft, 1st week 25mg, 2nd week 50mg, 3rd week 100mg until the end of month 1. The first 3 weeks were so awful, especially when I started with the 100mg tablets, I even had suicidal thoughts to the point where I couldn't even relate to anything. 4 days after the 100mg dose adjustments and everything is fine, more like a magic pill. This drug is awesome, but beware that you will feel way worse before you start to feel better! And every dose adjustment seems to reset the process."

• MuchH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2017

"I started Zoloft because I was struggling with obsessive, repetitive thoughts about bad things happening to my children, which made me anxious all the time. The first 3 weeks were hell. Even the Klonopin the doctor gave me to get through it didn't help. It felt like my anxiety levels tripled. I could barely function. Between weeks 4-5, I transitioned to just feeling as anxious as I had been before. Then it felt like a balloon was inflating inside my head (in a good way), and the anxious thoughts were bouncing off the balloon instead of being allowed to collect and swirl around torturing me. Then I started having moments of feeling GOOD. And those moments grew into my new reality. My anxiety is 90% better. Zoloft gave me a new life."

• Rina
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2020

"I was suffering from depression my entire life, and I didn't even know it. I'm 32 years old and started taking Zoloft 3 weeks ago. At first I suffered from many side effects; insomnia, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, tired feeling, and even nervousness, 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."

• Severe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2014

"I have suffered with severe health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder related to this anxiety for about 6 years. I would spend countless hours a day googling symptoms and doing certain health-related rituals, and it was taking over my life. I finally talked to my doctor at the urging of my family and ended up on 50 mg of Zoloft. I didn't want to take it because part of my health anxiety is a fear of any type of medication. After about 3 weeks of it sitting untouched in my cabinet, I started to take it. I didn't feel strange - no side effects. Maybe a little more sleepy at night? After about 3 weeks on Zoloft, I noticed that I didn't have the urge to Google health symptoms anymore, and I would forget to do some of my daily rituals."

• JimMb...
• August 18, 2013

"I went years without getting help until about 8 months ago when I finally broke down, saw a doctor, and was prescribed Zoloft. This pill has given me my life back. I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, specifically intrusive/disturbing thoughts and obsessions. This disorder occupied all of my time and energy, to the point where life was unbearable and hopeless. About two weeks after starting Zoloft, there were noticeable improvements. After 6 weeks, I was a different person. Anxiety-0, OCD still there but more of a minor inconvenience than life consuming. Side effects were typical at first: nausea, diarrhea, lightheadedness, and insomnia. All of which subsided after a few weeks. I highly recommend that if you are diagnosed, ask for Zoloft."

• Zovy
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 29, 2016

"It took a while, but Zoloft has been a total lifesaver for me. I had severe OCD/anxiety and later on depression as well. Anyone who's ever had crippling anxiety knows what mental torture it is. I was so afraid to try Zoloft but finally gave in when I felt like I had nothing to lose. I was on 50mg and the first few days I only felt a little dizzy but nothing else. On day 11, I first noticed some kind of shift. I remember looking at a tree and for the first time in years feeling joy, like I felt as a kid, and just enjoying its beauty vs fearing getting killed by a falling branch. About 6 weeks in I felt less tense overall but still felt it could be better. Started 100mg and my anxiety is gone. I feel normal again! Please give this a try!"

• Marta
• October 30, 2013

"Zoloft has changed my life. I used to feel like I wanted to stop living. I had anxiety with racing thoughts, feeling short of breath, social anxiety, and obsessive bad thoughts. I no longer feel suicidal and my irritability has gotten 100% better. I still get short of breath sometimes and worry about things but overall just feel so much more even keeled. I waited a month before taking it after getting the prescription because I didn't want to take meds and felt like it was a cop-out. I'm so happy I decided to give it a try. I haven't gained weight and don't feel like my emotions are dulled. I feel happier and more hopeful. Strongly recommend."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2022

"For those suffering from OCD, bad thoughts, overthinking, depression, terrible headaches, give ZOLOFT a chance. First month don't expect much. I am on 100 mg. This medicine helped me so much. Get rid of your rituals and ruminating. Find peace with the help of zoloft. You can't make it alone. It is so hard. I had no hard side effects. Just some night urination and less sex drive. But mind peace is so important. I was ready to collapse !! Zoloft helps your neurotransmitters. It is not our fault. Just brain "malfunctioning"."

• Keinua
• May 20, 2024

"The first time I ever had an OCD flare-up was in December 2022. I was in a constant state of panic. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t eat. I had compulsions to reveal all my secrets. I ended up revealing way too many things I wish I would’ve kept secret. After meeting with a psychiatrist, he recommended Zoloft. Then it happened. Just 1 week later I started feeling better. And it just kept getting better and better. Then I stopped taking it because I thought I was okay. April 2024, I had an OCD flare that lasted 1 week. I was panicking about past mistakes, OCD changing themes from real events, false memory, relationship, and the list goes on. Started back on Zoloft and on the second day, I started feeling better. I know how it feels, the dread of waking up another day in a state of severe anxiety, the intrusive thoughts, the nightmares… Give it a try. I love Zoloft."

• Ocd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 8, 2023

"Dear OCD sufferers. I am 10 months on Zoloft. I guess I'll stay for life on this medicine. I don't want to go through the same situation again. 10 months ago I wasn't even able to sleep. I still remember the terror I lived during that period. My God, it is so sad to remember how I was. My OCD is still around but I live a better life. I work more, I am better. My terrible headaches left me. I am only on 50 mg now. Thoughts are thoughts created by us. We are like a machine producing them. Hope you will get better like I did and hope things will get even better for me too. Thank you for reading this. OCD is like a curse, but as you will experience your worst thoughts, you'll get to know what is tormenting you, you will get to know yourself better. You will get used to it! I am closer to a 'normal person' now, thanks to this medicine and my doctor. Remember: it needs time and the right dosage to see if the medicine will help you."

• Ashley
• November 24, 2014

"I am a little over 2 weeks in. I was diagnosed with panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder 2 months ago. I tried everything to avoid taking medicines. Did therapy, yoga, changed my diet, etc. I started to feel better, but it was still a constant effort to lift my moods and stop my obsessive thinking. I was beyond nervous taking medicines but finally decided to after my sister convinced me (she's been on sertraline) for 2 years. I am loving it now and so happy I am giving it a shot. The adjustment was tough for me, but so happy I persevered. I realized you don't get extra points in this world for suffering."

• LOLO
• December 12, 2014

"I used to spend hours searching the web for some sort of cure for my obsessive thoughts. I was looking for answers and had fear of depression and anxiety. I have been taking this medication for two months and I can honestly see an improvement in the person I am becoming. I am more patient for sure. I still have minimal anxiety but I am able to think through it without sitting in my bed and crying. I am someone who is terrified of all medication but I knew I had to do something for myself. At age 20, this has been such a positive experience and I plan on moving up my dose to see more improvements. I was in CBT for a year prior to this medication but found myself actually becoming worse. Stay off Google and take it."

• Milky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2014

"It's my third time returning back to Zoloft and I'm 21. First time I've used Zoloft, I was only 15, and it was for Social Anxiety/Severe Depression, and it helped me tremendously. Stopped it after one year and maybe... 6 months later my anxiety was back along with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anyway, I'm back on it, and after 1 month, I can say this, IT'S PERFECT. I'm lucky to not have any side effects (except maybe a little bit of dizziness, but I don't care), and I feel so much better!!! I'm way LESS ANXIOUS, OCD is diminished by 3/4 (I still need to follow therapy for this problem), no more black thoughts, I'm also more focused at school, and my thoughts are more coherent/clear. I don't think I'll ever stop this medication... For me, it's a lifesaver."

• Sisi
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

"I never write on Pages like this, but after taking Zoloft for 3 months I have to write! Just so others that might be in a difficult situation can get help! (Sorry if my English is bad, I don't speak this language in my country) I started taking Zoloft after 2.5 years with anxiety, OCD and on/off depression. I was scared to death when I tried SSRI the first time (Prozac) and realised that was not the right drug for me. After another 6 months trying to cope with my problems on my own I was not able to go to work in the end. My doctor recommended Zoloft and the first 3-4 weeks were though. But slowly I started to feel more like my self! I still have some days that are worse than others, but now I can manage. And most days I feel fine and like my self. If you are afraid to start this type of medicine, just try it out! It can change your life, and if it don't you can just quit"

• Ryan
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2021

"Before getting on Zoloft 50 mg, I had severe anxiety and my brain would constantly find something to worry about. I had rituals I had to follow and I was super obsessive and that was leading to severe anxiety and depression. Zoloft helped me so much as far as changing my state of mind. I am now happier with so much less anxiety."