Sertraline for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• EE ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2020

"I went to the doctor due to an extreme episode of acute insomnia. She quizzed me and ended up diagnosing me with moderate major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety. Finally, things made sense to me: the shaky feelings, the racing thoughts, the restlessness and insomnia, the angry outbursts, and the fatigue. I thought it was just who I was. After 6 weeks and upping the dose to 50 mg, I felt like my old self again and going strong after 6 months. I've gotten lucky and haven't experienced any side effects. I wish mental health wasn't so stigmatized in the US. If more people were empowered to get the help they needed, we'd be so much better off as a people."

• El ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2016

Sertraline "I have been taking Zoloft for 20 years. I started on 50 mg a day and remember the very overwhelming feeling of 'normality' within a month. I was at one stage, 12-15 years ago, on 400 mg per day. Since then, I have been on 300 mg per day. It is the only SSRI that seems to work for me. Of late, Zoloft has been difficult to obtain, and I have tried several generic brands. For me, contrary to the statement that they do exactly the same thing, they don't work as well as Zoloft. In fact, some are quite detrimental. I have MDD, OCD, ODD, and minor agoraphobia. Zoloft has saved my life."

• Bea...
• May 8, 2015

Sertraline "I started off with sertraline (generic for Zoloft), 100 mg. It lifted my mood, I was happier, less angry, calm, and it helped with my moods before my cycle came along. After a while, it started to wear off, so I started taking 150 mg. Finally, I increased it to 200 mg with my doc's permission. I loved this dose because it seemed to suit me better, but after a while, I noticed my hair shedding really badly. So, I switched back to 150 mg, and it stopped. Everyone is different with side effects, but I recommend this drug. It has changed my life for the better, it helps my anxiety, and it helps me not to worry as much. I'm glad I tried it. It does mess with sex drive, but some may be able to work around that."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2019

Sertraline "I have pros and cons with Zoloft. I suffer from MDD, panic disorder, and bipolar. I noticed my anxiety moments are not that intense as they used to be, and I don’t dwell on my thoughts as much, which is a plus. I don’t feel my anxiety deep in my gut like I used to. Some cons are my sex drive is almost completely gone. I usually don’t even like to be touched, I’d rather be left alone. My agitation is almost always at an all-time high. I also really have no motivation to get out and do things, I’d rather be inside hiding away. I necessarily don’t feel happy or sad, I just feel “blah.” As of right now, I’m on 100 mg, I just don’t feel like it’s helping me the way I’m wanting it to. At this point, I’m really wanting to wean off. I don’t feel “happy.” I feel like I’m just here, and it’s the worst feeling ever."

• Mis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 27, 2022

Sertraline "This medication saved my life. Before I started Zoloft, my depression and anxiety were out of control. The depression was so bad it physically hurt, and my anxiety kept me from leaving the house except to go to work, and even that was a struggle. I had intrusive thoughts of driving my car into a tree or off a bridge every day. I noticed the benefits from Zoloft within the first couple of weeks. The first thing I noticed was it took the edge off my anxiety. I was still anxious, but it wasn't overwhelming anymore, and the intrusive thoughts started to go away. My depression started to improve about 2 months in. Stick with this medication, take it every day, don't skip doses. It's slow to help, but when it does it makes a huge difference! My only side effect was a mild decrease in appetite for the first week or so."

• not...
• April 15, 2016

Sertraline "I have had good results with 200 mg of Zoloft and 0.5 clonazepam 3 times a day for ten years. I've tried many SSRI meds, and Zoloft has been the best so far. I suffer from depression, agoraphobia, panic, and ocular migraine. This current combo (sometimes I add gabapentin if I'm still anxious about leaving my house) has been the most effective for my mood. I gained weight on Paxil, and getting off was a nightmare. No additional weight gain with the Zoloft."

• KBS...
• March 19, 2015

Sertraline "Although I have only been on this med for 12 days so far. I feel wonderful. I have had severe depression due to being sick the past 3 years, and nothing has been helping me get better (spinal nerve damage and severe migraines every day); sometimes I just felt like I wanted to die. I felt no hope. I haven't felt any side effects, and my migraines are almost completely gone. I get up and do more around my house, more than ever, and I am taking better care of myself. I'm happy for the first time in my life. I know most people will think it's too good to be true; but really, you should ask your doctor if it might be for you. I am so glad I am on this; never had a medicine work so good. Hope it lasts. Plus, right now I have the flu and still happy!"

• Ser...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2018

Sertraline "Lifelong depression sufferer. First 3 days felt like Valium, floaty and nice, but symptoms were largely unaffected. Next fortnight was harrowing, with vastly increased anxiety and insomnia, mind roaring the entire time. After that, things chilled out a bit and life has gotten progressively easier since. First good day came at the end of week 4. Now in week 7, and it's as if depression is a thing of the past, any fog thoughts are controllable and no longer dominate my outlook. Should also mention a weird taste that stuck around for the first few weeks, has either gone now or I've gotten used to it. Sexual desire dropped off for a while but has returned, orgasm is definitely less intense, though. Weighing up pros and cons, I'm functioning better than for a long time and am seeing aspects of myself that were unthinkable just 2 months ago. I'd happily stay on it forever at this point."

• the...
• January 16, 2019

Sertraline "Took this drug for 2 years at 100 mg to treat general anxiety, major depression, and PTSD. It was a lifesaver. I went from not being able to leave the house to being a normally functioning human. However, I had horrible side effects the entire time. I had severe hair loss, I was never hungry - I lost 15 pounds taking this. I was sweaty all the time despite being calm instead of anxious. Could not tolerate any alcohol. Had a lot of headaches. Ground my teeth at night. Could not orgasm EVER. Was also in therapy the entire time I took this - with the goal of getting off of it once I was able to deal with things on my own from therapy. Took a 3 month taper and lots of Benadryl to help me sleep, but I got off it and haven't taken any meds in 5 years. You have to weigh the pros and cons. It was a bridge to get my mental health where I needed it to be on my own. Would only ever take it again if I was SEVERELY depressed and for a much shorter length of time because the withdrawal 'brain zaps' sucked."

• Fan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 10, 2017

Sertraline "Zoloft actually changed my life. It's helped me cope with everyday situations in a non-reactive way. My thoughts have calmed down and my anxiety is minimal. I've actually lost 15 lbs on Zoloft. I started on 50 mg and now I'm up to 200 mg per day. I've been on it for about a year now and I like that it doesn't numb everything or make me super emotional or tired. I'm very well balanced. I just wish I could sleep better."

• Izz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2020

Sertraline "Zoloft literally saved my life and I wish I were exaggerating. I was in a deep depression for about 2 years, then started having manic episodes on top of erratic behavior. The first week, it felt like someone had poured cold water on my brain. I felt so relieved. For the first month or so, I was emotionally flat, but that improved with time and I no longer have that symptom. I started out on 50 mg and now moved up to 150 mg. There's no cure for depression/anxiety, and I still have episodes, but nothing compares to how I used to feel. I'll be sure to stay on this for as long as I can."

• Rub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2021

Sertraline "For months, I was struggling with anxiety, and then I had a depressive episode, where I had suicidal thoughts. I knew there was something that I should do about this, so I booked an appointment with a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with depression, GAD, and SAD. While first taking Zoloft (50 mg), I didn't notice any immediate changes, I was still struggling to get to school and with my racing thoughts, that would leave me in bed all day. However, as days went on, I noticed I wasn't overthinking as much, my brain just felt much quieter, and I noticed myself getting an interest back into things. My family even commented that I seemed much like myself once again, laughing and smiling, etc. I've now been on Zoloft for about 2 months, and I only occasionally feel anxious (which is an improvement from every single day). I'm able to go to work as normal, study (and concentrate!), gym — overall, my quality of life has improved! (My sleep has also improved.) Zoloft is life-changing."

• FLG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 6, 2017

Sertraline "I've had a lot of success with Zoloft, both as an antidepressant and for generalized anxiety disorder. It has worked for me for almost 2 years now and has really kept my symptoms under control. I'm of very small weight and sensitive to medications, so 25 mg works for me reasonably well. I have had to up my dosage to 50 mg during times of high stress, and it has helped so much. The only side effects I have experienced were a little nausea, some apathy, and insomnia. Other than that, I have tolerated this medication very well. It helps me put things into perspective and stops me from having such negative, anxiety-ridden thinking patterns. It helps me live in the moment and takes away a lot of my worries. I would definitely recommend."

• jUS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2015

Sertraline "I've been on Zoloft for almost four weeks now, and it's been a life changer. I used to suffer from poor impulse control, anxiety, and bad depression. About two weeks in, I started feeling better, happier, like the feeling of dread has been removed. The demons are silenced. I feel like I want to live. I want to succeed. It's like a dream come true. I've suffered from drug addiction in the past, and since starting Zoloft, I don't feel the craving, that overwhelming desire to get high. The only downside to Zoloft is the restlessness when trying to sleep, but it's worth the trade-off. I started on 50 mg and am now at 100 mg per day. Thank God for Zoloft."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2019

Sertraline "I took sertraline 50 mg for two months and found myself sleeping through most of the day, decreased appetite, and no motivation. I was less social as well, so not sure how my anxiety was treated by it. I cut it down to 25 mg and still found myself sleeping way too often. This wasn’t the fit for me, but when I was out of bed, my friends and family said they felt I was less anxious. I just didn’t want the anxiety to come at a price of oversleeping!"

• Doo...
• September 10, 2019

Sertraline "I’ve been taking 50 mg of Zoloft for a year and 2-3 months now. I’ve had depression for a while and only started medication recently. Before Zoloft, I was on Wellbutrin for about a year. I switched after ending up in the hospital. Both made me feel numb, which I guess is better than crying and crushing sadness all the time? Lol. Zoloft, unlike Wellbutrin, has killed my sex drive. I think it helped with my depression, but it’s hard to say. I started taking it after leaving a horribly abusive relationship, so I can’t say for sure if it was the Zoloft that made me feel better. I didn’t have any side effects in the beginning, but for the past 6 months or so, I’ve been feeling exhausted all the time. I’m weaning myself off now because I want to try and feel joy, have great sex, and not be so tired all the time. We’ll see. It’s different for everyone, and I’ve heard many success stories. If it’s gonna keep you here and keep you going, definitely give it a try."

• Kir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 1, 2023

Sertraline "Spoiler: This is trash! Worst medication out there! Seriously, do yourself a favor and do not take this. I gained over 100 pounds in a year on this medicine back in 2011 when I was in high school. It caused my liver enzymes to shoot up, and the doctor said I had the liver enzymes of an alcoholic at 13 years old. I am 28 now and have had problems with losing weight and morbid obesity ever since. Before I took this crap, I was underweight, but now I have a BMI of 41.2. I am 284 pounds, I was 164 pounds before I took this stuff. I should have sued them when I could. This is a dangerous medicine that needs to be pulled off the shelves. I know everyone is different, but oh my God, it ruined my whole life and my metabolism. I also still have problems with my liver to this day, according to my blood work."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2022

Sertraline "I promised I would share my experience to offer hope to those who might be struggling like I was. This spring I suffered from major anxiety resulting from medical issues. When I began Zoloft at 50 mg, I had so many side effects! Insomnia, tremors, muscle twitching, jittery feelings, buzzing in my extremities, night sweats, and sexual side effects. I was discouraged because so many others felt better in 4-6 weeks and, while I had seen some improvement, I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. I started taking the medication in the morning to address insomnia, and that helped tremendously. Tomorrow marks week 8 for me, and I can honestly say this week has been a turning point. Side effects have reduced significantly, and I now am beginning to feel like my old self. Sexual side effects remain, and my doc said they would likely not improve. At some point, I will likely wean off. That said, it has still helped me tremendously, and I was slower to respond than others! Hang in there!"

• Wat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 19, 2020

"This medication, sertraline, has put the following into remission: depression, anxiety, OCD, trichotillomania, as well as PTSD and insomnia. Sertraline works, and I have my life back, and I have never felt this stable till now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2014

Sertraline "I've been on Zoloft for the past four months, and it's worked great! I'd been on three other medications before that, and none of them have worked as well as Zoloft when it's coupled with 15 mg of Buspar and 20 mg of Adderall. My anxiety has dropped, my mood has improved dramatically, and I've even lost weight, which I haven't been able to do since I recovered from my eating disorder. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to have my dosage upped because of my Seasonal Affective Disorder, but otherwise, it's worked very well."

• DAT...
• January 28, 2016

Sertraline "For the past 9 months, I have had a mixed major depressive/anxiety episode. I have started therapy from the beginning of the episode, which helped me cope for a while, but it was going nowhere. Finally, I went to see a psychiatrist last week and was put on 50 mg Zoloft. Don't know if it's placebo or not, but I'm already starting to feel better. My anxiety level has gone down, and I'm feeling more clear-minded, level-headed, and hopeful. The first 4 days were hell because it was making me nauseated, bloated, and extremely tired and restless at the same time. On day 7 now, and I'm feeling great."

• sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

"When I was 18, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. It was extremely hard for me to do anything, and any time a minor inconvenience happened, I would spiral into a pit of sadness and crying, which wouldn’t end for hours. For so long, I thought that this was normal. I thought I would just have to live with being overly sensitive about everything and feeling that deep pit of sadness inside my heart because what could possibly help something that felt so severe? Luckily, sertraline was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I have currently been taking it for about 2 months now, and the difference is astounding. I don’t overthink everything I do, I feel an inner peace inside of me, and I’m even able to focus way better on my course, and it’s shown by my grades. Please, to any teenagers (or adults) out there - your feelings are valid, and you deserve to get the help you rightfully need. Do not give up, and you are not alone in this fight! ❤️"

• BGP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2021

"DO NOT STOP. I re-read reviews on this site for weeks. I struggled with the side effects, especially nausea and increased anxiety. Nobody is the same, your body will be unique in adjusting to this medication. But it WORKS. Trust the process. I remember reading reviews like this, sick to the stomach and praying it was worth it. My side effect symptoms lasted longer than most (about 9 weeks), the average is much shorter, so don’t let that scare you! I went from not being able to get out of bed and feeling completely hopeless, panic attacks, etc., to waking up and enjoying a new day and being thankful for each bit of life I have. If I’m brutally honest, I was in such a dark place… this medicine brought me out and back to the me I recognize. Do NOT let anyone shame you for taking medication. Some brains are wired differently, and that’s what it is for. You’re not less than them. Stay on the path and keep hope. I was so close to giving up around week 5 and again at week 8, but finally, I am back! YOU GOT THIS!"

• Els...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2016

Sertraline "Started at 25 for about two weeks, then went to 50. Each dosage change brought back a few symptoms, but all are gone in a few days. Zoloft helped me a lot, I had never taken an antidepressant before, so I was nervous. My intrusive thoughts are gone one month later!! Don't read too much into this page, it caused me to have anxiety/panic attacks. My biggest problem was swallowing, but that was due to anxiety. I didn't want to take the anxiety meds on top of Zoloft, so I just waited the attacks out, last max two hours. Just know to gradually increase your dosage and to check in with the prescribing person when you have concerns. Side effects: nausea, fatigue, loose stools, blurry vision in the morning, breast felt numb (gone now), dry mouth (gum!!)."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2021

Sertraline "Been on 25 mg of Zoloft for four weeks, upped it to 50 mg. Felt like I was on an amphetamine. Tried 37.5 mg, and I still feel revved up in my brain. Can’t handle this drug. Some people don’t always respond well, even though the psych nurse tells me Zoloft does not create this reaction. I say everybody is different in brain chemistry."