I have been on Zoloft for 3 months now and feel too like it has changed my life. I take 25 mg a day, and no longer get nervous in groups of people or dread social situations. I'm also a lot nicer to my husband! I used to worry about EVERYTHING, but now I don't let things get me down. It's great. I can, however, feel some "twitching" (for lack of a better term) going on in my brain which makes me think about brain aneurysms. I"m curious about the long term effects of Zoloft use on the brain. Does anyone know?
Does anyone know the long term side effects of taking Zoloft?
Question posted by happymomof2 on 3 March 2011
Last updated on 6 March 2021 by LaurieShay
19 Answers Page 2
I'm pleased to here about your success with Zoloft. As far as the long term effects of taking Zoloft, the longest studies done to determine this were over 52 weeks. You can read about the common side effects by going to:
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/zoloft-side-effects.html
As with any antidepressant, how Zoloft actually effects the brain is not well understood. It controls the brain chemical serotonin in the brain synapsis from being uptaked by the receptors, therefore affecting mood and anxiety production. Why you are experiencing these "twitching" sensations is unclear to me. The possibility of a brain aneurysm is unfounded and probably nothing to worry about. If the symptom continues or becomes more bothersome, please contact your doctor.
You are on a low dose of Zoloft and are having excellent results, relax and enjoy!!
Keep in touch
Hi there happymomof2 I was on this drug for 8 years due to depression,anxiety and stress.The first few years it worked & helped mainly my depression due to stress, anyway as the years went by I noticed different side effects appear these are as follows !
itchy dry skin,stomake cramps,leg pains,weight gain, headakes,diarrhea everyday ,lack of sex drive, indigestion & reflux which was chronic bruising, also crying when stressed.I decided to go to my doctor because my life was out of control due to chronic anxiety & stress Zoloft was not helping so I then had to withdraw of the drug slowly over a period of nearly 3 weeks & then went onto a drug that has just had its second testing which found it to be very good at treating depression,anxiety & stress, the name of this drug is called Pristiq, I am now on the end of my second week using this drug.The only down side for me is the drug does not help me sleep my dose is low 50mg but I dont want to go any higher so have found a alternative product to aid my sleeping it is a herb called Valerian Fort which is for insomnia,I take the 1000 mg tablets x 2 at night 1 hour before going to bed ,works like a dream.I wish you well on the decision you make & hope my advice offers some help to you ! take care Candypq
I have been put on zoloft and taken off over the years and even though it did seem to work in keeping me active and focused I dealt with alot of side effects from the drug... Insomnia, clenching teeth, a little nervous, extremely dialated pupils... rubbing and scratching at times and a few other's... I was then put on klonopin at one time .05 to offset the side effects and shaking from alcohol withdrawal, and then switched to diazepam. Zoloft is the only other psych med that I have been on for about as long as Celexa which I am on now and have been taking for about a year... The only way to see How you believe it will effect you is to give it 2-10 weeks and see how things go, if no, then speak with your doctor about swithching the medicine... blaze22
Hi, I only took zoloft for about 2 weeks and this was 7 years ago. That drug did not like me. Check with your doctor or drug store and ask. Iam weening off effexor right now and it is very hard because I was on a high dosage for a long time.
Related topics
zoloft, social anxiety disorder, postpartum depression, side effect, anxiety and stress, nervous
Further information
- Zoloft uses and safety info
- Zoloft prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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