Sertraline for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• Bob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2025

"An absolute life changer!! I declined taking any psych drugs because in my early twenties I was hospitalized for depression, and the meds I was given back then didn't do me any good. Fifteen years later, my GP kept after me to try sertraline, but I resisted. I finally thought, 'What do I have to lose?' and started taking it. Please do yourself a favor and try it. The mood swings went away, I'm no longer depressed, and I finally feel like my real self. Don't give up on it, although my results came quickly, it takes some people a while (4 to 6 weeks) for it to kick in. PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GIVE IT A TRY!!"

• Bor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 1, 2020

"Sertraline has saved my life. I am diagnosed with Type 1 Bipolar Disorder and have severe bouts of depression and anxiety. Having taken sertraline for several years now, I would advise anyone starting treatment with this medication to be aware that your depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts might become much more intense in the first week or so. This was certainly my experience. However, hang in there! It will pass! Your mind is playing tricks on you. I noticed positive mood-lifting effects and a reduction of my anxiety within 2 weeks. Please keep taking your mood stabilizers/antipsychotics alongside sertraline, however, as I’ve made the mistake of taking it in isolation before, and I triggered a manic episode."

• SJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2019

"I have bipolar, and I started sertraline 25 mg first week, moving up to 50 mg week two. I’m currently on day 6 of taking it, and I feel fantastic. But scary enough, I feel exactly like I do when I’m in my manic phases, but with more impulse control, if that makes sense. I have had little to no negative thoughts. I wake up feeling okay. I am able to fall asleep without the voices in my head overpowering me. I feel good. I haven’t experienced any of the side effects I was warned about. I’ll update again once I get on my full dosage."

• She...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 18, 2020

"I’m female, 34 years old - borderline, bipolar, major depression disorder. I’ve been on and off 50 mg Zoloft for 10 years, only went off for a few months total to try other meds of all sorts (antipsychotics, lithium, other SSRIs, benzodiazepines) - always came back to Zoloft. It’s just the one that works for me. 50 mg - no more, no less. More than 50 mg makes me manic. I occasionally need Ativan for anxiety attacks. Zoloft doesn’t make any of my mental illnesses disappear. It just takes the edge off (quite well) and helps me cope and not fly off the handle. Without them, I doubt I’d be here today! I have recently developed tremors, and I believe it’s the Zoloft. But I can deal with it. I won’t probably ever stop Zoloft unless I need to for some serious adverse reaction or something - I can’t go back to life without it. I can’t be that unstable person anymore, and I can’t handle the withdrawals either."

• yod...
• December 22, 2016

"I am 42. I don't really have a diagnosis, but after our 3rd child at 37, something changed. What I would describe as 'a mood disorder' stopped me in my tracks. After a lifetime of ups and downs and seasonal depression, I finally got help. I have always been creative, days of high energy and an eventual crash. I've been a parent since the age of 17, so it seemed normal to run on empty. I am obsessive, compulsive, mind racing, loving, overbearing, and extremely defensive and emotional. The lows have helped inspire passion, and the highs have kept me motivated and driven. I called my OBGYN after several months of extreme symptoms: panic, paranoia, emotional breakdowns, etc. Zoloft saved my marriage and my life. 50-150 mg over 4 years."

• Big...
• March 14, 2015

"Unbelievable change, had no idea why I felt the way I did and why my actions were not normal, but normal for me. I am bipolar, and the Zoloft is just letting me function better, and I can be a real dad, not part-time. My family talks to me. Getting this control back has made work a whole new thing. I love my job now and have got tools to help me with situations. I have also become a lot more creative and finish everything I start, and my memory and arithmetic are second to none, which is very important in my job. I am so happy, my family is happy. I love not being up and down and all around and confused. It is a lifesaver for me. I hope everyone gets the help they need. My blood pressure has also come down, and I also write too. Cheers."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2021

"23 yo female with BPD. Been on Lamotrigine 200 mg and Cymbalta 120 mg for years, but the Cymbalta became too sedating. Switched to Zoloft 50 mg a month ago and unleashed TORTURE. Seemed to work initially, less fatigue and more motivation, so increased to 100 mg, but I became ravenously hungry and gained weight instantly. Dropped back to 50 mg and it got bad. Couldn’t fall asleep and my panic attacks, irritability, and mood swings came back. Suicidal thoughts returned heavily. Got so bad that a few days ago I called my husband while he was at work, feeling like I was about to overdose on my medication because the mental anguish was unbearable. I felt literally insane. And I could go on for pages about the anger, the lashing out, etc. Stopped taking it today. I know two people with bipolar disorder in which the doctors prescribed Zoloft, and it screwed them both up so bad. I want to believe this is a good drug, but doctors seriously need to be more careful with its use in bipolar patients."

• Ken...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 29, 2015

"I'm 26 and had been on Zoloft for about 13 years at a low dosage for depression and social anxiety disorder. However, in August, I had it increased to the highest dosage I had ever been on. I subsequently incurred depression, suicidal states, vicious angry mania, irrational thinking, and mixed states, almost another evil personality. It turns out I was misdiagnosed with severe depression and not bipolar disorder. It's been reported that antidepressants like Zoloft can make symptoms of bipolar disorder worse. It was a very bad way to find out you're bipolar and even worse that the medication you take is causing you to be worse. It had worked for me for about 12 years, with no weight gain nor sexual side effects."

• coy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2019

"I switched meds to sertraline. After 3 weeks, I started to feel the clouds were lifting. I had major depression, my psychiatrist switched me from vortioxetine to lithium and sertraline. I have been on it before. I am starting to feel as though I can concentrate and meet people. During my depressed phase, I withdrew from going out and avoided friends, stopped working, and took 2 months off sick. Be patient, this drug is my lifeline."

• aan...
• December 21, 2020

"(50 mg/day) It made a huge difference for me! I was in severe depression and anxiety before I started, and it made me feel again. The first week is hard, with very severe anxiety, but hang on, it's worth it! Now when I have a difficult time, I have the mental energy to deal with it. It gave me back who I am as a person. I still get very low, but it happens way less and lasts only 1-2 days. I didn't gain any weight (even lost some because of having the energy to eat healthier). The only side effect is night sweats 3-4 days/month, clear, water sweat, making me very cold and itchy, having to shower and change clothes at 3 a.m. It isn't as bad as it sounds, though. I also have vivid dreams and remember them a lot more, which is actually pretty cool. Doctors were very dismissive of me restarting sertraline (took it for anxiety previously), but I eventually convinced them, because for me that wasn't a big risk, and had good experiences with it beforehand, so stand up for your opinion."

• nor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2016

"I'm diagnosed with Bipolar I since one year and a half. Since then, I have tried many medications (almost all available on the market), some anti-psychotics and antidepressants. By far, Zoloft is a miracle drug for me. I had lost all hope to ever feel happy again one day. But this medication finally does the job. I have more energy, a lot less anxiety, and I can focus on the tasks that I want to accomplish in my life. I have tried Prozac and Wellbutrin previously, but they didn't do anything for me. Never give up, finding the right medication can be very long, but when you find it, it's worth it. The medication kicked in after 3 weeks of use."

• woo...
• August 11, 2008

Sertraline "I use Zoloft for my depressive episodes due to bipolar disorder. I have unsuccessfully tried about fifteen other antidepressants in the past. Zoloft works wonderfully! With Zoloft, it doesn't take long for my depressive symptoms to fade. The only side effect that I experience is the complete loss of my sex drive. It is very common with SSRIs. Fortunately, I talked to my doctor about it, and he prescribed Periactin to take with it. Periactin is very effective at addressing the issue."

• Bon...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 3, 2017

"Been on it for 16 years now. Was on 100 mg daily but changed my lifestyle and reduced this to 50 mg about 15 years ago. About a year ago, I weaned myself off the medication (over a period of 3 months), but bipolar began to manifest itself to a point that I resumed the 50 mg dosage. I am not aware of any side effects of my medication, but I do appreciate the overall feeling of well-being and contentment that was not there during my recent trial of not taking medication."

• Mal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 2, 2014

"I was prescribed sertraline a few years ago for MDD and bipolar disorder. Even though it took some time to produce positive effects, sertraline was, indeed, effective (especially when combined with bupropion and escitalopram). The mood variations disappeared, and depression decreased. From the negative side, it produced a decrease in libido and an extreme decrease in creativity. If you are a composer, a painter, a writer, etc., you should, in my opinion, expect a possible and very pronounced decrease in creativity during its use. The temptation to interrupt the treatment for the benefit of recovering creativity should be strongly resisted."

• A6X...
• June 9, 2015

"This is by far the best medication of about the 5 I have been tried on. Doesn't make me feel like a zombie. I agree with others, though I do experience slight rapid cycling, and I have gotten myself into a financial pickle lately over spending. But to be able to control my anxiety and my compulsive behavior really has helped me to feel 'normal' again."

• Wyn...
• March 31, 2011

Sertraline "I was originally prescribed Zoloft for depression, but in 6 months, I had a severe manic episode and was diagnosed with Bipolar 1. Now I take Zoloft with other medicines. I would not recommend taking it alone if you may be Bipolar. I like that I have very few side effects, and it does help with anxiety and compulsive behavior too. One problem is no sexual desire, I feel like I am neglecting my boyfriend."

• cra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2014

"I've been on sertraline for about 6 months now, and I have started to notice I am much more confident in social situations and outside the house. I suffer from Bipolar 2 and anxiety and often won't leave the house because of this anxiety. My social anxiety is much better on sertraline compared with other SSRIs. It has made getting to sleep more difficult, but I tend to take the tablet mid-afternoon, which helps. It's had no effect on my trichotillomania and not a huge effect during my depressive periods. The mood stabilizer lamotrigine has been a better antidepressant."

• JWA...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 18, 2022

"Sertraline 50 mg a day has miraculously kept my mood cycles in check. Lamictal was a miracle drug, but significant memory problems (a side effect that wasn’t ever confirmed by studies in my understanding) caused me to look for an alternative. So grateful that this little drug can keep my mood stabilized!"

• emi...
• September 9, 2017

"I just begun taking this medicine for bipolar depressive/borderline personality disorder, and the result is a sore throat, hot face, no emotion other than sad. I possibly have erratic mood changes and not sure of many questions people ask me. It takes a little while for me to find the words to answer."

• Cra...
• October 25, 2011

"I've just switched from venlafaxine to sertraline (four-week switch-over) because the former was affecting my sodium levels. However, I've only just stopped the last of the venlafaxine last week and am on 100 mg. POSITIVE EFFECTS: not depressed, not dead. NEGATIVE EFFECTS: moderate manic symptoms (four hours' sleep in 24, talking and laughing too much for others' comfort, easily distracted, spending money like water, intolerance of quiet and calm). However, it could be that I'm just on too high a dose for my sensitivity to the medicine, and I haven't done anything dangerous nor lost insight like I can do on other medicines."

• Ash...
• January 7, 2017

"I take this medication at 50 mg once daily for the least severe form of bipolar depression, usually the mild type. Additionally, I take it for social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the slightest degree of obsessive-compulsive behavior or thoughts due to anxiety and stress. It seems to also help with my emotions during premenstrual syndrome linked to depression. Zoloft has helped a lot. I also take Ritalin 20 mg twice daily as part of the treatment, not to mention that I have suffered ADHD/ADD symptoms too. Not a miracle drug, but it works well, giving me a lot of relief in my symptoms."

• Dep...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 1, 2015

"I lost medical coverage 1 1/2 years ago and had to quit my Sertraline. Remember, folks, all of our chemistries are different, so different anti-depressants will work for some but not others - you have to keep searching for what works for you. I tried Prozac, Lithium, and Wellbutrin - all made me feel worse. But Sertraline works for me. The only thing is, like many things, it loses its effect after prolonged use. So I am about to get back on it after almost 2 years of non-treatment. I am looking forward to the results again, which will last 2-3 years then dry out again, and start again. Another vicious cycle included in depression ..."

• Rhi...
• March 13, 2008

Sertraline "I take Zoloft along with Trileptal for my bipolar disorder. It is a very good medicine that hasn't given me any side effects at all. The only problem is it makes me really manic at times, which is common. Besides that, I have no complaints! It is one of the best medicines I have ever taken."

• Abs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

"Started 25 mg sertraline in the morning, about 2 weeks ago. Only negative effects I can recall were feeling tired and almost too relaxed at times, messed up stomach, along with on-and-off headaches. My doc then upped the dose to 50 mg. Yesterday, on the first day taking 50 mg, I felt extremely tired, fighting sleep throughout the day. Later in the evening, I developed quite possibly the worst headache I've ever had. Tylenol and ibuprofen combo eventually soothed it, but it was unbearable. Mostly in the front and right side of my head. Throughout the night, I kept waking up sweat-covered. Woke up with a slight headache, feeling all around hungover with no interest in food. Even coffee made me a little nauseous. Really hopeful this medicine will work and be worth these awful negative effects. Going to continue... with Tylenol on hand at all times. Work prefers I continue giving it a shot, and I get a boost of confidence from these forums, they hopefully all will be good in the end."

• zol...
• September 26, 2008

Sertraline "Zoloft's been a lifesaver for me. I've been stable for over ten years. I've had to have my dose adjusted, but that's part of life. It hasn't made me manic, knock on wood. My friends and family are a huge support. I take my medicines as directed, and I don't use alcohol or other drugs. No serious side effects. My doctor's also very careful. I get upped or lowered slowly, and he watches me closely. The only hard time with Zoloft was running out. I did get withdrawals."