Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2008

Sertraline "I've been on Zoloft (50mg) for 18 months and the results are wonderful. I had a hard time letting kids be kids, everything had to be done my way or I'd lose my temper, and I dreaded going to social events - I'd much rather stay at home by myself with a drink. Not only is family life better but my outlook on life is better as well. I no longer fret over the little things. Heck, sometimes I don't even fret over the large things."

• rch...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2014

Sertraline "I was offered sertraline (Zoloft) after a relapse of generalized anxiety disorder, which brought with it a severe case of pure-O intrusive thoughts of the harm variety. These thoughts were ruining my life and making me depressed. I was prescribed 50 mg per day. The first three days were hell, with a huge increase in fatigue, depression, and intrusive thoughts. I almost gave up, it was that bad. I was using diazepam 2 mg in those first three days and thought they weren't playing nice with the Zoloft, so I stopped them. I saw instant improvement after doing so. Now I am seven days in and have had the best day ever. My intrusive thoughts are far fewer and far easier to simply dismiss. I'm amazed."

• noi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2020

"Sertraline can make you feel on top of the world, or want to hide in the darkest depths of your mind. I struggled with OCD for 8 years (early signs at 11, bad at 15, now 19), and along with anorexia and high-functioning autism, I hid in my brain and let it demonize everything that made me happy. I was losing myself. Been on it for 2 months. 50 mg was numbing to begin with and felt distant. Had the nausea and insomnia. 100 mg was the worst. I felt so irritable and annoyed and hot and stressed. 150 mg was amazing, I felt so much better about myself and my OCD thoughts were massively reduced. 200 mg reduced thoughts further, but the insomnia is bad. Without sleeping tablets, I can't sleep, with them, I'm lucky to get more than 4 hours a night. My advice is to push through it, don't focus on how sh*t it makes you feel in the moment, think about your life free from OCD, make that your goal, your motivation. Hope this helped and that you all find peace one day :)"

• Lav...
• March 12, 2020

"This is my 3rd time being on sertraline, and it did not take full effect until 16 weeks of using. Till that time, I experienced really hellish, crazy side effects. My anxiety improved slightly after 1 month, my sleep also improved, but my depression got really worse. I experienced the worst side effects of suicidal thoughts for 3 months. They all went away at week 16. They appear randomly now but are not a danger for me anymore, and I know they will pass away. As I have pure OCD, this is medicine for it. And for this condition, it really takes at least 4 months to feel a positive effect to fully work. Another important thing is that you should not rely only on the medication itself... It is also your faith to get better and lifestyle with the drug before it turns your head clear. Never ever give up. Once you realize that depression is like being stuck in a prison of your overwhelmed mind, you can easier open the doors to your new thinking habits to stay healthy. Working with a therapist is essential, but you can be the key to your life. Kissxx."

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2011

Sertraline "I was diagnosed recently with purely obsessional OCD and social anxiety and started on 25mg/day of Zoloft. Aside from a brief period of what I would call adjusting to lack of anxiety and a few mild side effects (nausea from time to time), Zoloft has given me peace and stability. The obsessive thoughts are mostly gone, but even when they do rear their ugly heads, the anxiety isn't there. It's also had an awesome mitigating effect on my ADHD. The side effects show up once in a while, but I'm willing to take a little bit of nausea over constant obsessing and crippling anxiety any day."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2024

"I had a mental breakdown from extreme ROCD, which made me doubt absolutely everything and led to dark depression and anxiety-unable to sleep; waking up all night with panic attacks and walking up and down at night, unable to sleep. This chaos all led me to break up from my 7-year relationship. I put off taking anti-depressants as I was worried about them. I took 2 sessions a week of therapy and slowly felt a little better; 8 months after our breakup, my ex and I bumped into each other again, and at first, it was amazing. We started dating, but then my ROCD crept in and filled me with doubt again. This time I decided to take sertraline for my OCD and depression. At first, it was so, so bad; it made my anxiety worse, but I held on for 2 weeks and gradually started to feel better. Now I’m 6 weeks in, and I feel the best I have in 2 years. My partner and I are working through things, and I'm seeing a specialist in this type of OCD. Don’t give up! Things get better with time!"

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2019

Sertraline "I have bipolar type 2 and have been diagnosed for 10 years. Once I turned 29, OCD manifested itself in my life. I could no longer drive, performing poorly at work, and could barely leave the house due to checking. After a year of trying various combos of lithium and anxiety meds, I had enough and begged my doctor to put me on antidepressants. They were reluctant because I could induce mania, but heard me out and started me at 200 mg. It changed my life. Two months and I was free of OCD symptoms and driving again. No side effects, however, I tolerate medication well. This is a lifesaver."

• Joj...
• June 21, 2018

Sertraline "Zoloft really changed my life for the better. I was struggling with intrusive thoughts and rituals as part of my OCD, and while Zoloft didn’t completely eradicate all that, it really helped me combat it. 150 mg gave me some minor side effects, 100 mg is great."

• Nea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2020

Sertraline "I have moved on and off sertraline, as well as increased and decreased doses, for the last few years. Consistently (at all doses) I find that it has helped alleviate obsessions, as well as the anxiety and distress associated with the obsessions. Thus far, I have found the best results when mixing a medium dose (~100 mg/day for a 200 lb male) with exercise and CBT. I’ve found 50 mg doesn’t help me very much with obsessions, but it does help with some of my GAD symptoms; 200 mg w/ CBT alleviated almost all major obsessions, but the dose was too hefty, and I was struggling with side effects such as energy levels and fatigue. I am currently on 50 mg and planning to push it back to 100 mg while maintaining CBT & consistent exercise."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 29, 2021

Sertraline "I have strong and scary intrusive thoughts that have been driving me crazy. At about 17 years of age, I started off with fluvoxamine for about 2 years. I was okay, then it started to come back, so the doctor eventually increased my dose from 50 mg to 100 mg. I felt better for 6 months, then again increased from 100 mg to 150 mg and so forth, up until I reached 300 mg. I saw a new psychiatrist and he changed it to fluoxetine, went for months and didn’t help, then I was put on clomipramine for months. Also didn’t work. The psychiatrist put me on clomipramine, risperdal, and Zoloft that was just added now, so I can’t say much about Zoloft just yet, but I feel so hopeless. No medication is helping at all. What do I do? Someone help me through this nightmare. :(("

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2019

Sertraline "I recently got diagnosed with OCD (almost 2 months ago). My therapist suggested I start taking something to better deal with this issue and recommended a Zoloft dose of 50 mg per day. I can honestly say it changed my life for the better. Usually, antidepressants work for OCD patients to around a 40%-80% improvement rate, and I can proudly say I am one of the people with a higher percentage. When it comes to side effects, I do get a little bit nauseous, and I'm generally more tired, but apart from that, I feel much better, and my only concern at the moment is it stopping to work for me."

• Eng...
• April 27, 2021

"25 mg for the first week - this was hands down the worst week of my entire life. Crippling anxiety, suicidal thoughts, OCD in overdrive... just horrendous. I then moved onto 50 mg for 2 weeks and noticed some improvement but left with terrible anxiety and OCD thoughts. I was really questioning whether this medication was right for me, but I was encouraged to stick it out, which I did. I upped to 75 mg and noticed the OCD thoughts were dulling down, but my anxiety was still there. I also started to get some muscle twitches, which were quite annoying. I upped to 100 mg, which was always the target from the start. I was apprehensive about upping to 100 mg as I thought I'd get more unwanted side effects, but still yet to see any. Week 7-8 is where I noticed the real difference. It literally felt like a switch overnight, and I was me again. I still get thoughts, but they are less regular and cause me no distress. Sertraline has been a lifesaver for me."

• FlB...
• April 18, 2015

Sertraline "I've suffered from OCD for about three years. It was pretty bad but still manageable, but then, two months ago, it became unbearably horrible, my life was a nightmare. I would spend almost every waking hour ruminating about my obsessions while feeling intense anxiety. Then I began taking Zoloft. I was started on 25 mg, and I noticed some improvement within 5 days, and there was massive improvement within 9 days. I've been on it for a month now, and I'm at 100 mg. The OCD is definitely still here, but it takes up much less time, and I am able to ruminate without feeling intense anxiety. I didn't have any major side effects. At the beginning, I was yawning a lot, and I felt more irritable. There's also a lack of appetite, and I've lost 4 pounds."

• OhN...
• April 16, 2011

Sertraline "I got diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in February of 2011. I started taking Zoloft at 50 mg in the morning on April 8 (1 week ago), and my oh my, what a difference! The depression is lifting significantly! I'd say it has gone from a 2 to about a 7 in just a week's time. The intrusive/obsessive thoughts have dropped about 75-80%, the compulsions are all but gone, and the general anxiety is all but gone. The next to go are the annoying ruminating thoughts and the difficulty concentrating and organizing thoughts (but since I've been so depressed for so long, I think those parts of my brain had forgotten how to function). Starting tomorrow, I kick it up to 100 mg a day. Hoping for the continued improvement."

• Lis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 20, 2024

"I have been on Zoloft off and on for 20+ years. Do not stop taking it unless you have bad side effects or your doctor advises. I suffer from bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and more. I have been in clinical drug trials at Emery for PTSD all in hopes of a cure. Do not think of this drug or other drugs as a cure, but as lifelong treatment. My first experience coming off of Zoloft. After several years on a 50 mg to 75 mg daily dosage, I felt so good, my unending list of fears was gone, I could socialize with others, I could be calm and rational with my children, I didn't have to control every aspect of my life and those around me, my brain was no longer running thoughts through my head non-stop, it was great, I thought I was cured, so I stopped taking it one day. Side effects weren't bad, all was good for several more years, then bam, it was all back. I repeated this failure for many years until I realized I will not be cured, this is an issue that must be managed long term."

• H23...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2020

"Best medicine ever for CD, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, it has been a real lifesaver. I have been on this medicine, sertraline, for 11 days and feeling great. The first 4 days were rough due to lack of appetite and lack of sleep, which comes with negative thoughts in the middle of the night. No panic attacks either. Negative thoughts and my anxiety decreased by 80%. I'm still a little depressed, but it's because of the fatigue side effect, but otherwise, it's perfect. Never give up. Life is great, we don't deserve to be sad. P.S.: I started 100 mg, but due to the fatigue, I'm taking 50 mg now at night before sleep."

• geo...
• May 10, 2017

Sertraline "I had OCD for 3 years. I could not sit down. I was eating while I was unable to concentrate on anything else than my thoughts. I would avoid going to the bathroom because I could not sit down on the toilet. In order to avoid my thoughts, I was walking about 11 km per day. I would fall asleep thinking about something, and in the next morning, I would wake up thinking the same thing. I had the same exact thought for 3 days until something else stuck in my mind. I am taking 250 mg a day now, and everything is good. The only thing is that coffee and alcohol mess up the medication. One day after two coffees, I had to take something else to calm myself down."

• 2Pi...
• March 1, 2008

Sertraline "Very effective in controlling OCD and associated panic disorder. However, gained 70 lbs (not by changing eating habits, but it's as though it raised my metabolic 'setpoint'). Decreased sex drive. Despite the side effects, this medication has been a Godsend."

• Lee...
• June 1, 2015

Sertraline "I have suffered from OCD for over a decade, and it has taken over my life. I've been on Zoloft for three months and am seeing progress. It has helped mildly with the anxiety. I am finding that my life choices are changing. I am eating healthier, going outside more, taking up new hobbies, reconnecting with old friends, maintaining a healthier relationship with my family members, my anger has decreased significantly, and I am not ruminating on repetitive thoughts quite as often. This medication is very helpful for getting on the road to recovery. I am using it in conjunction with meditation and mindfulness therapy. The only drawback is that it gives me diarrhea and short-term memory loss. I have been using Post-it notes."

• Gri...
• November 5, 2011

Sertraline "I've suffered from OCD since about the age of 9, but wasn't diagnosed until I was 44. I was prescribed Zoloft at 100 mg a day at first, combined with some cognitive therapy. After around a month, the dose was increased to 200 mg/day, which seemed to work more effectively. I have now been taking Zoloft for 10 years with no significant side effects (only feeling slightly hotter than before). I found if I didn't take the Zoloft with a meal or on an empty stomach, I would feel very nauseous. But all is great if taking it with my meal. Zoloft has helped my life considerably. My wife often comments on how much more chilled I am and how easy it is to get along with me, and we can talk about OCD openly with an understanding of why these compulsions were there, etc."

• zol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2022

Sertraline "Three months ago, I was a total mess. Suffering from the way my mind was working. Was feeling like I am losing it. I went up to 200 mg by increasing doses by 25 mg after 6-7 days. Side effects? Night urination, less sex drive, and sometimes dry mouth. My sleep time got more peaceful, although sometimes I couldn't sleep. Sometimes I feel tired but never felt like a zombie. I have started feeling like depression is leaving me, and my OCD is better. I know it will always be with me. I visit a psychiatrist, and I won't stop having sessions. Started feeling like my mind is approaching a more normal state. I had reached the bottom, and I want to forget all the negative thoughts I had. Fear of my thoughts. Harm OCD, etc. OCD is so hard, but there are other mental illnesses that are worse, i.e., bipolar. Luckily, I am still thinking logically, although my mind is working in a tricky way ... always there to stress me and to harass me. I read fluvoxamine is good for OCD too. Good luck, OCD survivors."

• jim...
• October 19, 2015

Sertraline "I started having panic attacks when I was 20. The docs put me on Zoloft, and it helped me tremendously. Not only that, I stopped being the shy person that I had been prior to that. However, I stopped taking it after a year because I figured I had been cured. I spent years after that without any anxiety until I had a severe bout of OCD at the age of 27, which was threatening to really destroy my life. I resisted taking medication for 2 years, which was such a stupid idea. I don't know why I chose to suffer, even though I knew Zoloft would help me again. Anyhow, I went back on Zoloft, and poof! Problem solved. But then I quit again, and now after many years that I tried going back on it, it's not working as much. I wish I had stayed on it :("

• Cal...
• November 22, 2014

Sertraline "There was a point where I had been forgetting to take the Zoloft that had been prescribed to me for social anxiety (and it had worked quite well in decreasing the symptoms of that disorder), and during the time I had been forgetting to take the meds, things took a turn for the worse. It all started with an intrusive thought, and that was what triggered my first, horrific episode of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It took me a while to piece together the reason why the OCD had developed and persisted, but finally, I realized that my Zoloft had possibly been suppressing an earlier development of OCD due to its anti-anxiety effects (OCD is characterized by anxiety). I then got back on the medication, and it literally only took an hour for the OCD to significantly vanish."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2018

"I had OCD and depression with anxiety after I started birth control (BC). I was waiting long enough for my body to accept hormonal changes, but after 3 dark months, I gave up. My doc said that emotional changes are normal while you are on BC. But these were too much for me to handle. I started sertraline 50 mg, and after 2-3 weeks, I was my old happy self again, and I don't even have PMDD anymore, only light PMS for 2-3 days before the period. My OCD was mostly intrusive thoughts. It was a really dark place, and I am so glad that sertraline helped me, and of course, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. But I still believe that OCD is about chemical imbalance in the brain, for me caused by BC and my own female hormones. So if you are reading this and you think that life is never going to be good and you want to give up, don't! Try sertraline, seek help! P.S. don't drink too much alcohol and coffee while you are on sertraline."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2021

Sertraline "I've come to the realization over the past year that all my life I've struggled with OCD. Intrusive thoughts and obsessive behaviors have just been something I've grown to accept without knowing it. Prozac made me way too anxious, and I gave up and thought I just wasn't meant for SSRIs. I was prescribed Zoloft a few months ago, and it was the perfect fit. It took a while for me to find my perfect dose (150 mg), but now I am a completely different person. Of course, prescription meds are only one part of the equation (in addition to diet, exercise, therapy, etc.), but this was a miracle. I'm writing this to say to anyone who is curious about medication for OCD or anyone who is struggling in general, there is hope, and if you are patient, you will see the light and find something that works. Give it time, it took me over a month to get it just right, but it was so worth it!"