Sertraline for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Packi...
• May 9, 2017

Zoloft (sertraline) "I'm a combat veteran with PTSD. My dose was 25mg daily for 2 weeks, then 50mg daily. I Started out with severe headaches and diarrhea for the first 2 weeks. After that the headaches went away. However, I started vomiting every night and morning. Not just minor vomiting, but exorcist looking vomiting. Sometimes about a gallon. I would fill up my toilet pretty good. The diarrhea never went away. I was constantly dehydrated. After a few months I couldn't take the side effects. Tapering off made my PTSD 1000% worse. I would have been better off not taking it at all. Before you start SSRIs look up other people's horror stories. These things are worse than hardcore illegal drugs."

• poppy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2012

Zoloft (sertraline) "I have been on this medicine for 3 month for my PTSD and I find it has helped somewhat, I can think straight, calm, centered. It's wonderful in combination with Lyrica for my GAD in which I'm in the-4% that gets euphoria from it."

• Musafir
• December 6, 2022

"I'm taking sertraline for the 3rd time in my life now. I started in my mid 20s, weaned off, had to go back on in my early 30s, weaned off again, and now back on it again in my late 30s. This time I will stay on this medication and probably won’t be weaning off for the remainder of my life. This is an excellent medication for any type of anxiety disorder including generalized anxiety and panic disorder. I take it now for PTSD, anxiety and depression after having to face sexual violence. Thankfully, this med is a lifesaver. I take 50 mg. My side effects were nausea, headache, constipation, and slight insomnia, as well as energized feeling upon starting the med and at any dose increase, which only lasted a week. The side effects are really not bad compared with other medications. As with any psych med, please give it a full 2 months to work properly before you make a decision on whether or not it’s for you. All the best."

• Freaky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2017

Zoloft (sertraline) "Only day three but the physical stress symptoms are totally gone. To be honest though the physical tremors the weird yawning are rather unnerving but I am sure they will die down. I will comment each week for four weeks to update."

• AndiB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2023

"Sertraline has transformed my life. I have complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from childhood trauma, am often triggered, and have high levels of anxiety. In lockdown life improved as I didn't have to deal with many people. I used the time to do trauma work (although I can not afford trauma therapy). This really helped, but the introduction of sertraline has made a profound difference. I am calmer, much more able to take things in my stride, and feel more capable confident, and competent and a bonus is my bowels are now regular. I have been on 150g for 4 months and am currently discussing going to 200g with my GP."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2022

"After recently being diagnosed with PTSD my GP prescribed sertraline.first 3 days I was told to take half a tablet (25 mg), then after that take one full tablet (50mg) a day. The first day on the full tablet was not nice, felt horrendous and had all main side affects, this made me question if I should continue taking them. I went back down to 25mg for next 2 days then back up to full tablet. I can honestly say my mind isn’t half as busy already and don’t feel as if I’m on constant high alert half as much. All side affects now gone and feel quite calm. It is still early days but I can definitely feel the benefit of sertraline. As lots of other people have said, just crack on with the side effects because they do settle down. Very best of luck to everybody who has taken time to read this."

• Arell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2020

"I started 25gm sertraline 5 days ago for PTSD and feel a huge difference in a good way. I take it mid day because it does give me a boast of energy. I feel much more calm, I haven't woken up in panic which I was suffering from on top of being anxious, worrying, aches and pains, mind racing, heart racing, bad PMS, tangled thoughts, panic attacks in the middle of no where, flash backs still come but not as intense. (My 2yr old passed away 2 yrs ago) I fought as hard as I could to not take meds but God spoke to me and said I don't have to carry these heavy burdens any longer. By His grace and His will He gave me peace about trying these meds and again I feel like I can finally function and hold a conversation and just enjoy life a bit more. Interesting many say it takes weeks to feel the effect but I felt the effect the day I started. I think for me this is what my body really was lacking so its liking this med. I may update over the next few weeks."

• KMano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 27, 2019

Zoloft (sertraline) "I have PTSD and concomitant major depressive disorder from being a paramedic. My Dr. prescribed sertraline, starting off with a 50mg dose. No noticeable difference. My dose was increased to 100mg which worked well enough for a while. Decreased intrusive thoughts/images, almost no olfactory flashbacks, no panic attacks. However, like most other people, my libido was completely wiped out, insomnia hit me hard AND I became incredibly paranoid, believing my husband of 23 years was cheating on me (he wasn't and has never). Unfortunately, it seems that my body has adapted to it and my symptoms are coming back. I would say for me, it's an okay short term drug (6-12 months) but definitely not a long term solution. Other than that, there were no contrainteractions with my other medications (ivaberadine, propranolol, flecanaide, celebrex, aspirin, diazepam, paracetamol SR)."

• Rach
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 28, 2021

Zoloft (sertraline) "I have been on sertraline/Zoloft for 5 years. It has saved my life. I have experienced a lot of trauma growing up especially through my teens. It wasn’t until my 20s that I was finally diagnosed with PTSD and after being misdiagnosed with depression for years and treated with many other meds which never helped me, sertraline was a saving grace. I no longer go from 0-100 with my mood and episodes. I no longer have panic attacks. I no longer have suicidal ideation or attempts. It saved my relationship and I have been a better mother. I am wanting to see my doctor to slowly decrease from 100mg a day (I started on 200mg), and eventually come off them completely. The only negative I have had is slight weight gain. I’m still healthy but I have gained around 7kg - I exercise and eat well. I’m not overweight but IO do struggle to shift the excess weight I’d rather not have!"

• Anonymous
• April 22, 2016

"I have been takin sertraline now for nearly a year. .I was adamant I would never take tablets for anything psychological but after confiding in a Dr about things from my past I thought I had nothing to lose...I will never ever b able to envision just how much these tablets have changed my life. .I didn't know people's brains actually worked so slowly!!! Mine had done over time for the last 30 years!!!! ...absolutely given me my life back :)..ohh..no side effects at all btw :)"

• Scorp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2020

"Severe PTSD which effected my life quality for over 6 years. My mental health just got worse and worse . I started on 50mg sertraline and after one week raised it to 100 mg Plus points . I feel better Take away my bad thoughts Takes the unbalance and racing thoughts away Feeling relaxed and life got more taste Minus points Headache that fades after time I eat first then I take the pills or ill not eat Feeling sleepy after taking the pills by few hours but when I sleep and get awake I feel more and more better !! I couldn't have orgasm in the beginning but after while and few tips like good breathing I can orgasm without having headache any more . Sure it's very good medication to people with PTSD I am so optimisitic about this drug . That's week 3 now for me ."

• Mario
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2021

"I was suffering from stress and panic attacks since Xmas 2020. I had been on mirtazapine for long time but it stops working. My GP put on sertraline 8 weeks ago. The first 4 weeks were very bad but I stuck on it after reading so many reviews about the side affects. I could not sleep for month. Now I am on week 8 I feel my self about 90% better. Please give this medicine at least 8 weeks before deciding to quit. I'm at work again after 3 months being away from work sick"

• MissC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2019

"I have complex PTSD, basically a panic disorder. Sertraline caused the anxiety to get worse at first. I couldn’t eat very much. I felt very weird, experiences dark thoughts, but I noticed that certain days I felt better than ever. For the first four weeks I felt like I had bipolar disorder. The anxiety was so difficult. I lost a lot of weight, but eventually I started to see those good days multiply. Sertraline changed my life. Everyone is different. Just remember, if you’ve tried everything and sertraline is your last resort but you start out feeling awful, give it time. Take something else like hydroxyzine to help mellow you out. Eventually it will work. It has completely cured my Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It’s well worth the side effects for me."

• Mon
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 19, 2023

"Wanted to share my story and give you a bit of relief. I've heard a million horror stories about them but after years of alcoholic abuse from my parents, I decided to give them a go as I was having suicidal thoughts. I would spew the second I opened my eyes as the anxiety of the day was too much. I couldn't sit still unless I could lay in a dark bed scrolling on my phone. I didn't brush my teeth, my hair, started self-medicating, stopped eating, started smoking and gambling, and everything else you can think of ruining your life! I first started on 50mg, which calmed me down after 2/3 days (maybe placebo as I had really high hopes for this medicine). However, after about 4 months, I increased to 100mg, which works like magic. The second I take it, all the 'background voices and thoughts' are quiet. Although it is really hard to feel real happiness, I would take no feelings any day over the thoughts and feelings I had previously."

• Eliza...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2022

Zoloft (sertraline) "I switched to Zoloft after many failed years of Lexapro. Last week I started Zoloft at 50mg, this week I’m on 100mg. I have severe PTSD that has gotten to the point where I literally can’t stop panicking no matter what and I also have extreme mood swings. Even the short amount of time I’ve been on Zoloft I’ve felt a noticeable difference in my mood. My panic is getting better, I’m not swinging from guns blazing to depressed void. I have some side effects right now while I’m adjusting, been sweating and have a fluttery feeling in my chest (anxiety probably). But, I’m really looking forward to next weeks and months on Zoloft!"

• Kwadl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2023

"Please give this medication a chance. It has been life-changing for me. The weird thing is, I took it 2 or 3 times before and got side effects, but the fourth time I tried it, it was absolutely a game changer. Sometimes our minds are our own worst enemy when it comes to taking psych meds. Don't wait. Push through the negative side effects, trust me, it'll be worth it. I have PTSD, OCD, and ADHD. I take Vyvanse 30 mg and hydroxyzine pamoate 50 mg at night, and more if needed. I started sertraline at 25 mg, upped to 50 mg after one week, and now 4 weeks later, I start 100 mg tomorrow. I finally see the light. Most side effects were in my head. I noticed some intense tiredness for 2 days after each dose increase, but it levels out more and more every day. Start it on a weekend. I recommend taking it in the morning, as it leaves your system quickly as it builds up, so you may not get as much daytime relief starting at night."

• turbur
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2016

Zoloft (sertraline) "Yo so I was prescribed Zoloft for Depression, Adult Major Depressive Disorder, and PTSD. It has only been a couple months so maybe I'm not one to judge yet. I guess I feel okay. Like I feel less extremely depressed, I'm still a sad girl tho, and honestly I feel like I could stop and feel pretty much the same. Although withdrawals are a bitch. There have been weekends where I have left my pills somewhere or not gotten a re-up from my doc and believe me my boyfriend, friends, and fam can all tell something is up when i'm not on my meds. I'm just quicker to react to shit and not really okay and feel kinda insane. I'm getting off Zoloft now. I wouldn't say it was bad I just need more help. I didn't feel motivated to do anything ever. soo... :/ yah"

• Criss...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2017

Zoloft (sertraline) "I was put on Zoloft for PTSD. I took 25 mg daily for just over 3 months. It really did help my anxiety and allowed me to finish the school year. With Zoloft I have been a lot calmer, and it really helped me with day to day activities. If you just started this medication and are experiencing side effects, hang in there! My first week made me very nauseous and gave me insomnia. The nausea lasted only a week for me. Even though it did wonders for my mental health, it gave me a lot of physical health issues, so I had to stop taking the medication. It caused me to gain a lot of weight in a short amount of time. Furthermore it caused a slight bedwetting issue and very elevated liver enzymes. Good for anxiety, but my body didn't like it."

• Deano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2019

Zoloft (sertraline) "I shared yesterday on here what I've been going through on zoloft. Well, I just flushed them all down the toilet. I woke up with anxiety so bad all I could do was cry. This drug is gone out of my life. I will take the depression over this."

• Shan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2021

Zoloft (sertraline) "Zoloft did not go well for me. I was taking 25 mg for only two days and couldn't keep going due to side effects. The side effects started with extreme nausea on day one, then diarrhea, heart racing. Day two was horrific I fell asleep and woke up with heart racing, sweating, shaking, and dry heaving. I considered going to the hospital. I took a xanax and a shower and luckily it calmed down. I only had that one episode but continued to have the extreme nausea and heart racing into day three. I stopped taking it after the second dose and the nausea has gone down significantly and I could eat a little. Definitely couldn't brave through the side effects. It truly scared me."

• Anna
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2022

"I had a pretty severe reaction day 1. I was prescribed 25mg. I had a severe reaction on Prozac, didn’t sleep for days. I took it around 6pm. Within a few hours the headache started and I started having trouble focusing. My puppy was trying to get me to play but I didn’t have the energy to. The next day I felt heavy, my body, face, thoughts, all had a weight over them. I couldn’t think and when I tried they felt very far away. I had a therapy session that day, but could not focus or visualize anything. Accidentally drove through a red light because I was trying to remember which turn to take. A task at work that normally took 2 minutes took half an hour because I just couldn’t think. I felt completely shut down."

• Lady...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2016

Zoloft (sertraline) "I was prescribed this med last spring (over a year ago), I am professionally diagnosed with PTSD, OCD, depression, ovary issues and severe anxiety attacks.. these were diagnosed PRIOR to being on Zoloft. It helps me feel less in need of doing things NOW with my OCD "rituals", my ovary issues are getting better, it does also help with social anxiety for me. I'd like to say and point out, I heard of a lawsuit going on with Pfizer on this med and I'm very upset on that. First off, if your going to become pregnant, ANY doctor should tell you not to be on anything except for prenatal vitamins. It's the doctors getting the money for prescribing the meds, don't let that fool you. If you are nursing, pregnant or want to have a baby, do without!"

• Jeff
• March 7, 2017

Zoloft (sertraline) "Tinnitus that is constant. Loud all the time and gets louder occasionally. It drives me crazy to the point of wanting to get off zoloft. I ask every Dr I see if anything can be done for tinnitus. Answer is always no. Is it this medication? Anyone with tinnitus will understand. I also have various problems urinating and sexual stuff. Thank you for giving me this forum."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2021

Zoloft (sertraline) "Took 25 mg for PTSD and panic disorder. I'm a 23 year old male, I was put on the lowest dose because I didn’t want any terrible side effects. Even at the lowest dose I suffered almost all of them. No appetite whatsoever. I felt disassociated from reality. My mood was all over the place and I got hot flashes and tremors. They say to stick it out and it all gets better but how is that possible when you can’t even function for three weeks straight? My advice would be to not take Zoloft. It’s just not worth it I would rather have panic attacks and deal with them normally. I was insane on that drug literally crazy."

• XXX
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 18, 2022

"I have been taking Sertraline for about a year now, I started on 25mg, I was very cautious to start with but I had been seriously struggling with anxiety and PTSD which had gradually got worse over years of fighting it. I had increased to 50mg after a couple of months, then 75mg for a couple of months and have just increased with the full support of my amazing GP to 100mg. I was really worried this feels a high dose but three days after the increase, I am already feeling so much better. I feel more settled and I am so grateful reading other people's experiences this feels like it is hopefully the right level for me. Thank you so much to the makers of Sertraline you really have made a huge difference to my life"