Sertraline for Borderline Personality Disorder User Reviews

• don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2022

"It ended the vicious cycle of despair, rage, and sadness for me. While I’ve selected Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), I was prescribed this for PMDD and later discovered through blood testing that I was suffering from thyroid disease. It’s uncertain if BPD, PMDD, or thyroid is the cause of my mood swings, but here is my experience either way: Pros: no longer suffering from emotional outbursts, impulsive or compulsive behavior, no negative thoughts, bitterness, fear, rage/sadness/despair, or anxiety, am sleeping better, socializing well, feeling HAPPY (omg!), noises and textures are less… sensory? (Think misophonia). Cons: a couple of weeks of diarrhea, sweats, nausea, tiredness, and ongoing but mild jaw clenching. For anyone with BPD, you may be interested to know this drug has given me the stability and emotional strength to view my relationships objectively. Identifying abuse and walking away from the toxic individuals who have kept me trapped in this cycle of dysfunction."

• Man...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 20, 2018

"I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder 7 years ago, along with major depressive disorder and anxiety. After 6 years on Zoloft, I can report zero depression for the past 2 years and minimal anxiety attacks. 4 weeks ago, with the help of the doc, I came off Zoloft. Depression is still gone, but my BPD is in full swing. The rage I feel is killing me, my crazy behavior is back, and it’s safe to say I’m going back on Zoloft ASAP. It’s funny I didn’t notice how well I’d been with my BPD until I stopped my meds haha. I have to say Zoloft worked wonders for me!"

• red...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2019

"I have been taking sertraline for 3 years now on 200 mg, which has increased gradually through the years. I have not had any rage outbursts at all in that time. It has numbed me to things that would have pushed me over the edge emotionally. I have tried over 10 types of medication and found this is the only and best one I've had."

• Sos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2021

"I struggle with borderline and GAD/depression since forever. I must say, this med has been a lifesaver. I started a month ago following an appointment with my psychiatrist. The pain, emptiness, and knife in the heart I always felt is finally gone. I only take 25 mg. The first week was kinda rough because I felt nothing, I couldn't feel sad, horny, or whatever. Everything came back by week 2/3. I feel better, normal, without the pain. I'm working on myself as well, but the med helped me lose 4 kg so far, regulating my overeating due to bad emotions. I feel healthy and good. Thanks to this med! I'm 22, by the way."

• Tyr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 30, 2020

"I recommend sertraline but only with a mood stabilizer like Lamictal. I was on sertraline for depression and Buspirone for anxiety, and I went to a psychiatrist who said I needed a mood stabilizer. My mania, mood swings, irrationality, irritability, highs and lows, alcoholism went away or became manageable. I got off Zoloft and Buspirone. I am going back on Zoloft as the mood stabilizer didn’t fully fix my lows. I still had spontaneous crying episodes over nothing and melancholy emotions randomly. I love sertraline and Lamictal together!"

• MIS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2020

"Been on this sertraline for about 3 months, and it has definitely helped with my co-morbid depression and anxiety. Day to day, I'm much more stable and able to focus on other things opposed to my emotions spiraling all over the place. If there's something that I find particularly triggering, however, it doesn't do much to dampen the immediate response. Also, my impulsivity is still an issue but now taking shape in binge eating opposed to self-harm. That said, the difference has been big and positive for me. Some of the side effects are not pleasant (lethargy, nightmares, no libido), but there are probably worse."

• Tiz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 10, 2019

"I take 200 mg of sertraline, and I have been for years now. I used to use it in combination with quetiapine, but now just take it on its own, and it allows me to live a ‘normal’ life. Nobody would know I have/had borderline personality disorder. This drug has been a lifesaver for me, combined with metacognitive therapy and mindfulness. Only fault was the insomnia during the first week of taking them, but that passed."

• Boo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 23, 2021

"I've been on 200 mg of sertraline for over 20 years. It really helps control my mood swings, which would constantly change many times in an hour. I have tried many drugs, but this is the only one that has controlled the angry mood. I still struggle every day with chronic depression, lack of motivation to do the normal daily tasks, or cooking, washing, and housework. I do believe I've been misdiagnosed, but after all these years, it's pointless trying to get any further help."

• mm3...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 3, 2017

"200 mgs daily... BPD-ADHD +GAD. The only effective antidepressant for me, reduces panic, depression, agitation, aggression, and very few side effects in the first few weeks of treatment (personally). Couldn't cope with citalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 26, 2021

"For years, I was bounced around from one medication to the next, could never cut the edge of outrageous behavior, mood swings to the point people were distancing themselves from me... nor would I have blamed them. After many years of seeing doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, and many different medications, sertraline has finally made my life a lot easier. Work is no longer a dread, my friendships are restored, and I have never felt such happiness. For many years, I looked 20 years older than what I was due to the immense stress and anxiety. Changed my life!"

• Tyl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 7, 2023

"This was my third antidepressant to help with my BPD, c-PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and it worked amazingly. I didn’t have any side effects, and I have been feeling so much better. My panic attacks have cut down, and my mental breakdowns have become less frequent. I haven’t been very impulsive, and my mood swings have calmed down and aren’t as intense."

• Nes...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 6, 2018

"I was on Zoloft 50 mg for 2 years, but I was in and out of the hospital for help as I went off it, then when back on it. My doctor put me on 100 mg as I was okay for a while. Then one day, I went to pick up Zoloft from a local pharmacy, and it was not Zoloft, it was sertraline Generic 100 mg, and wow, it was really good, but I still have the mood swings problem, so they put me on the contraceptive pill Estelle. Now, as people can't tell that I have BPD, I am so good now. I have been taking sertraline for over 11 years now straight."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

"So my doctor told me this drug (sertraline) isn't for everyone with borderline personality disorder, and boy was he right. For me, a few hours after taking it, I showed all the symptoms of a fever, sweating, vomiting, light sensitivity, hot and cold flushes, and complete disorientation. Please note that this is just what happened to me, and I know that it works for others, so please, like I did, try it if a doctor has recommended it, as it could help. I'm only posting this so that others who may get these side effects know that it is normal and that they shouldn't panic like I did, haha."

• Mel...
• October 7, 2019

"I have been on this medication, sertraline 25 mg, for about 2 weeks now. I feel completely 'out of it.' No energy, no motivation, things seem to affect me more, cannot concentrate, I avoid talking to or seeing people, and feel more depressed. I hate this medication and was put on it because of my BPD and OCD, which has helped with OCD but not BPD. Feeling discouraged, wondering if these side effects will pass soon."

• Tam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2016

"I first started taking this in 2012, and at first, all it did was make me incredibly tired, but then it also made my moods more up and down and caused me to have psychotic episodes. I abruptly stopped taking it at that point (stupid I know... I should've tapered off), and from doing so, I had extreme psychotic episodes. Ever since taking it all those years ago, I've had numerous psychotic episodes. My doctor thinks it was the sertraline that reacted badly with my brain, leaving me now prone to having psychotic episodes. I tried different dosages too, starting from the smallest dosage. I would never recommend it to anyone after what I experienced with it, but then again, everyone is different. All I know is that sertraline made me worse mentally."

• mav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2018

"I’ve been prescribed Zoloft since September 2018 to ease my BPD/severe depression/GAD. I started at 50 mg and noticed my anger, emotional outbursts, and suicidal thoughts become less frequent. My lows were still low, and I increased to 75 mg after a month. I found my motivation and desire to take action increased but found implementation to be extremely difficult. My self-esteem, self-confidence, and the codependent traits are still where they were before medication. Recently increased to 100 mg a few days ago and have not been doing too well - excessive sleeping, constant headaches, nausea, vomiting, frequent bathroom visits."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 20, 2020

"Started Zoloft for borderline personality disorder a year ago. Took a few months to get used to the feeling of being on it. It has helped stabilize my mood greatly, but I do go through periods of time where everything feels surreal or like every sensation feels very different, especially during sex. It seems to come in waves and then normalize again."

• rub...
• May 30, 2019

"I’ve been on sertraline for the past couple of months, and I found that it’s made me extremely numb in a lot of situations, and I am unable to feel quite often, and I don’t have a very fast reaction time. My depression symptoms are not as bad, although it’s pretty bad at regulating emotions. I would suggest it for people who can remember to take it regularly, but if you’re not someone who can do that, then I wouldn’t suggest it. It makes you very lethargic."

• sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 23, 2021

"I’ve been taking sertraline (50-150 mg fluctuating throughout the years) for approximately 5 years now - before I had been diagnosed with BPD. I can absolutely say it keeps me grounded and level-headed, as well as helping me with mood fluctuations. There is a very noticeable difference when I am off sertraline. It was my 2nd SSRI tried. Negative side effects included weight gain and nausea."

• dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2020

"I started sertraline a week ago. I just don't suffer from a personality disorder. Also, visions of things, social anxiety, panic attacks, and severe depression. On my first three days, I was terrible, wanting to chuck the towel in, but stayed the course and now I am feeling brand new. I am on 50 mg tablets daily and will get increased next week to 100 mg, so I am feeling positive unless the more I take them, the worse it gets. DON'T KNOW......"

• Blo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2020

"I have tried over 10 medications due to a misdiagnosis. I was finally diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety, and borderline. I have been on Zoloft for 2 months now. I feel like it is helping as my manic paranoid episodes have decreased. About a week before starting this medication, I was fully convinced my employer was plotting to get me arrested by planting evidence on me... so yes, the manic episodes were quite severe. I have experienced little to no side effects from Zoloft, aside from decreased/non-existing libido. I know a lot of medications made my anxiety worse, especially Cipralex, which was also BRUTAL to come off of."

• meh...
• November 27, 2019

"It helped me for a year, then it just didn't work for me. I use sertraline to keep me stable. My ups and downs have gotten more severe, my doctor prescribed me 150 mg/day, but it doesn't help me at all."

• Dia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2021

"Anxiety worsened as soon as I started this medication at 25 mg. Went to the ER, they increased it to 50 mg. Have had nausea every time I take it. Last night I woke up in a panic attack. Apart from the anxiety, it does help increase my mood. I will further monitor this drug, hopefully, the side effects wear off."

• No ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2017

"I have started taking Sertraline 13 days ago. I had 25 mg (half pill), and after the 10th day I got a full 50 mg. I have Borderline Personality Disorder and light depression, which becomes extremely severe when I have a breakup. In the past, I had suffered from panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and obsessive thoughts. After my last breakup, I didn't want to jeopardize being in a similar situation, so I practically requested from my psychiatrist to prescribe something that could ease my ups and downs. The first week was tough: cold sweats, frustration, emotional outbreaks, and loss of control, along with diarrhea. The last 3 days, I am feeling more stable, and the outbreaks are not that intense. I'm more apathetic."

• kta...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 5, 2024

"First time I took it, 50 mg? Big no-no. Worst nausea of my life, got off it as soon as I could. Second round of taking it, though, I thought, 'Well, it has to be done,' and it's helped me so much. I have not felt as psychotic and suicidal as I did off sertraline, and it's helped a lot. It did dull down, so I doubled my dose to 100 mg and have been on it like that since. It's good, and it helps. Although I don't recommend this to anyone with untreated ADHD, as I've panicked and forgotten to take my sertraline - and the withdrawal is quite insane with this one."