Sertraline and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Kri...
• June 6, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "SERTRALINE WORKS! I have been on Zoloft for about 2 weeks now like the doctor said. At the beginning, it was horrible. Really bad anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts got worse. I felt so hopeless. I didn't want to get out of bed. My stomach hurt, and I stopped eating. I lost around 15 pounds and had issues sleeping. I get really tired and drowsy and take a nap in the morning. Now all the side effects are gone. The next week I felt really calm. Felt like I had no emotion. It was hard. It was more depression than anxiety. But now it's been 2 weeks, and I'm doing fun things and laughing and smiling again. It's like my anxiety is gone. It's great. I still get a moment of it, but it's not all day like before. This really works, and it's rough at the beginning, but it will pay off in the end! You got this!"

• Fra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I started Sertraline at 25mg 3 weeks ago. I've had every side effect. I was on the verge of quitting every day. Nausea, tremors, uncontrolled anxiety, sweats, no sleep. This website kept me going. If you have nausea and related symptoms, you must eat if you want to survive this period. I ate my first full meal in weeks yesterday. I slept a full night. My mind is not racing today. Maybe I am over the nightmare stage. So God help me and help you all. Fight."

• Ano...
• March 1, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I have had anxiety issues my whole life, but I was able to keep it at bay most times. Before quitting my job, I had a particularly debilitating episode of intense anxiety and panic attacks. I was not able to eat or sleep. After about a month, I decided to seek help and was put on 50mg sertraline and beta blockers. I didn't have any side effects apart from difficulty falling asleep. The beta blockers kept the panic attacks away, but my anxiety got only slightly better after 2 months. The effect was minor, and I was disappointed. I decided to stick to it anyway and finally saw an effect after 3 months. After 3 and a half months, not only is my anxiety gone, but I am able to deal beautifully with tough situations. For example, I have never thought one could be as relaxed as I was during an interview. I was reading reviews on this website when I was desperate, so I hope this helps someone. Probably good to mention that my appetite has increased a lot and I suddenly developed a sweet tooth."

• Was...
• September 3, 2020

Sertraline for Depression "About 6 weeks ago, I started Zoloft at 25 mg for GAD, mild depression, and some PTSD and OCD symptoms. Before you continue reading, please understand that my experience likely will not be yours, as is the case with every single review you'll read. Do not be scared to start. It absolutely helped. My overall mood didn't change much, but it helped the physical symptoms of my anxiety and helped me cope with my life stresses. I began to enjoy doing things I love again. I still had bad days, but I was overall functioning well and productive, although I still had not the best outlook on life. Side effects I experienced: insomnia, daily headaches similar to hangovers, shakiness, increased depression the first week, decreased appetite, menstrual changes, and decreased libido. Again, this is just my experience. Do not be afraid to give it a try, people are much more likely to leave negative reviews, I just wanted to leave a review to help others. Best of luck, you've got this!"

• Spo...
• May 22, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I’m an anxious person and self-managed for many years. After 12 months of struggling, I finally decided to take meds. Beforehand, I poured through all the side effect information/experiences, worrying! I just want to say... wish I’d done it sooner. Side effects lasted 4 weeks, worst in the first 2. Makes you feel a bit rubbish: headaches, nausea, jaw tightness, insomnia...brain fog and brain fizzes that feel a bit like anxiety/panic attacks (come in waves and pass in an hour). It *all* goes away eventually! I worked while starting this drug & didn’t need any time off - don’t worry. You will feel back to normal by week 4! On my 5th week and I’ve begun to notice the difference. There’s still a bit of rumination, but the restlessness is gone. The last week I’ve felt happier and dare I say braver than before! If you’re reading this, worrying about the side effects...Trust me, it really isn’t that bad. Be patient - you will get there!"

• Hop...
• July 8, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I’ve always dealt with anxiety, which I’ve dealt with on my own until a stressful job and the COVID pandemic. I started getting panic attacks and just cry hysterically out of nowhere. Finally, after day two of my husband calling out of work to stay with me, I told him I needed help. My PCP started me on 50 mg of sertraline after being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. The first week was awful. I had every side effect under the sun. Sleep was hard to come by. I was pretty much bed-bound the first week, except to get up and shower. I had to push myself to take care of the dogs or eat. My anxiety was 100 times worse. I knew that it was to be expected and the medicine takes weeks to feel the effects. I was determined to stick with it. I’m glad I did. After a week, each day I felt better. It’s been a year since I started it, and I feel amazing. I never realized how crummy anxiety made me feel until now! If you are having a tough time starting it, don’t give up. It will get better."

• KGr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2018

Sertraline for Depression "I suffer from SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, depression, and anxiety. All of my symptoms have increased as I've gotten older. Last year I took Lexapro, which was too numbing, affected my executive function, focus, short-term memory, and libido in a bad way. This fall, I decided to be proactive and got on 50 mg of Zoloft. Completely life-changing experience! Side effects were nothing compared to Lexapro. Maybe 1 or 2 days of mild nausea, slight insomnia for the first 2 nights. Now, at 5 weeks, I feel clear, happy, functional, and optimistic. Libido intact. Takes a bit longer to orgasm, but it's kind of amazing because it prolongs the intensity. Zoloft has truly changed my life for the better, hopefully it will continue to work, will take it forever if possible! Wanted to leave this positive review because there are so many negative ones out there, which don't paint an accurate picture of any drug. Negative experiences are always reported more than positive ones. :)"

• Muc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 29, 2013

Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have now been on Zoloft for a solid 12 months (50mg). It has changed my life. I was prescribed it for depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - it has almost completely resolved issues I have had for most of my life. I hesitated in taking it due to side effects, mostly because I have always been obsessed with my weight. I'm happy to report that if anything, I have dropped weight in the last year. I no longer am tempted to binge eat and just lead a healthy and active lifestyle because I am happier. I really wanted someone to read this who was in my position - who was too scared to try it because of side effects. My only side effects are dry eyes, I need to sleep 8 hours a night (instead of 5-6) and that's the worst of it!"

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been battling anxiety for about 6 years. I suffer from really bad intrusive thoughts. I’ve taken Zoloft (sertraline) in the past and it really works. I started to feel like the normal me again, no intrusive thoughts anymore. I decided to stop taking it, and what happened 1 year later and 3 months my anxiety came back, and my thoughts too. So, I am back on Zoloft. I am on 50mg. I’ve been taking it for 1 week and a half already. I am again experiencing side effects like anxiety spiking, sweating, insomnia, and upset stomach, but it only lasts for a couple of days. I have experienced the side effects before when I first took Zoloft. I just hope this review helps people who are going through the same situation that I am experiencing. What I do recommend is to stick with the Zoloft. The first days feel like a nightmare, but then one day you will wake up and no more anxiety and intrusive thoughts."

• Me7...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I could do a commercial for this medication. It has completely turned everything around for me. I have always had anxiety, but it became significantly worse after having children. I feared being alone, ruminating thoughts, insomnia, panic over the insomnia, feeling like the worst mother, feeling like I couldn't care for myself or my children. I fought taking medication for so long. I finally gave in. I started with 25 mg and moved up to 50 mg. I began to feel better in a week, and I felt the full effects by 4 weeks. It has given me my life back. I'm happy. I'm not stressed. I feel normal again!"

• Car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 12, 2021

Sertraline for Panic Disorder "I started having panic attacks/anxiety since I was 16 years old. Things got real bad in my late 30s/early 40s. I would drink alcohol at night to self-medicate. I tried therapy and my doctor would always try to put me on an antidepressant. I was too scared, thinking it would make it worse! After having a nervous breakdown and being hospitalized 6 years ago, they put me on Zoloft 50mg and Lamictal 25mg, and I finally have my life back! It was like a light switch finally came on in my head! So much more calm, not worrying all the time, not wanting alcohol to cope. I haven't had a drink in 6 years! It has truly been a lifesaver for me, and I give God all the glory. Side effects were minimal, 1st week - insomnia and night sweats, after that, completely fine! I wish all of you the best of luck, and it will get better! Trust me, I thought I was hopeless!"

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "This has been one of the toughest medications I have ever been on. I've been on countless numbers of antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers... Around 25 medications in total. I was wrongly diagnosed as borderline personality and suffered greatly as a result. Sertraline made everything so much worse for about three weeks, but then, it was like a switch had been pressed in my head. My racing, obsessive thoughts stopped, my constant headaches, insomnia, sweating, worrying, heart pains, vanished. I can think, I can feel, and I can, for the first time in a long time, be 100% completely myself without the pain. You don't get points in this world for suffering, and this has improved my life by about 100000000%. Stick with it."

• Mad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am on 50mg of sertraline. It did take a long time for the medicine to fully level out. I experienced some of the initial side effects: increased anxiety, insomnia, headaches, shakiness, jaw pain, and dizziness. But all eventually went away after a month or so of use. My husband noticed a difference in me around week 4, but I didn’t really notice much of a change until week 6/7. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure the medicine was truly working until about 12 weeks in. I have had a lot of ups and downs, but the downs have been less often since about week 4. Now at a little over 14 weeks, I feel like things have really leveled out for me. I still feel emotions. I cry, I laugh, I joke around, I get excited for family outings. All of the normal feelings are back. I don’t feel emotionally blunted. The side effects can be tough in the beginning… and from my experience, the doors and windows don’t start to open very quickly. But once they do, it can feel really incredible."

• Jul...
• January 13, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking this pill over 3 months ago, because something bad has happened in my life. I had very intense panic attacks and shaking, couldn't sleep, constant anxiety. If you are someone who just started to take these pills, brace yourself: the first 5 weeks are gonna be HORRIBLE. But hold on, it starts to get better afterwards if you keep taking them. I started with 50mg, which was soon raised to 100mg. I got almost every single side effect that was listed in the pill's warning: Shaking, worsening panic and depression, fear of death etc. These thankfully gradually faded after the first 2 weeks. The longest lasting side effect was that I kid you not, I couldn't sleep more than 45 minutes a night for almost a whole month! INSOMNIA! Now I have been on these for almost 4 months. The panic attacks are absent, and even on the worst nights, I can easily sleep 4-5 hours. On weekends, I can even sleep in :) A very tough medication, but in the end, it works like magic!"

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2019

Sertraline for Social Anxiety Disorder "I feel so obligated to leave a review. I was sitting where you are now almost 4 weeks ago. I was terrified after reading the reviews, however, I knew I needed help. I had postpartum depression and let it go unchecked for a long time. When that seemed to subside, I was hit with debilitating anxiety that really started to rob me of my life. I had severe insomnia as a result. I started on 25 mg for a week, then went up to 50 mg where I am currently at now. It was a very difficult med to get on. I had increased anxiety, panic, still fought insomnia. After about two and a half weeks and help from my family, I felt like the world felt brighter. Every day since has been getting better. I can’t tell you enough that if you can weather the first 2-3 weeks, you will not regret it. I am getting back to my old self and it feels so good. I am so thankful, and feeling so blessed. You got this!"

• ner...
• June 7, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am a pharmacy technician and been one for over a year now. I had developed GAD due to my job, and it was then taking over my life and mental health. I started losing weight fast. Second time having an anxiety panic attack at work and got sent home early due to my body going to fight or flight mode. My doctor then quickly prescribed sertraline 25mg. Finally, I read all the reviews, and it gave me so much hope that I wasn’t alone. For the first few days, I had the runs every morning bad, increased anxiety all the time, insomnia in the morning, hot flashes during the night, some jaw clenching for the first two days. By week two, all the side effects lifted. By week three, I didn’t notice too much, but my mood was so much better. I finally started eating happily, playing with my family more, sleeping well, and even working out! I finally feel normal again BUT better. Please know that you are not alone, and keep pushing. I am only taking 25mg, and it really does make a difference!"

• pia...
• October 15, 2008

Sertraline for Depression "I'm writing this post because I spent a lot of time researching online about Zoloft side effects before I finally decided to try it for my OCD/depression. I made a mental note to let other people considering this drug know what it was like after I tried it as well. I was worried that it might cause weight gain and that there may be sexual side effects. I was on this medication for 2 years and DID NOT experience weight gain or sexual side effects. The first few months I was on it, I had some stomach upset and trouble sleeping, but that disappeared shortly after. I have maintained a consistent body weight (within 5 lbs.) for years, and Zoloft did not seem to affect my weight at all. I lost a few pounds at first because of the stomach upset."

• Moo...
• June 1, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Sertraline for 7 weeks. The reviews on this site gave me reassurance when I started taking it, so I feel it is only right that I should share my experience. For the first 2 weeks, I felt nauseous, so I ate little and often. I recommend that if you don’t feel like eating, make yourself eat as the feeling will go. I also had feelings of low mood, but again, these feelings did subside. The main problem I had for a month was insomnia. I took a low-level prescribed sleeping tablet for a month with help from my GP. This has to be taken with caution, so I weaned myself off after a month. The GP, after 3 weeks, suggested that I swap to another antidepressant to take at night, which may help me sleep. However, as Sertraline had helped my anxiety and I had overcome the other side effects, I said that I would persevere for another 2 weeks. I then tried a herbal sleeping aid after a month for 2 nights, which worked, and since then, I have slept naturally."

• Jim...
• August 18, 2013

Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I went years without getting help until about 8 months ago when I finally broke down, saw a doctor, and was prescribed Zoloft. This pill has given me my life back. I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, specifically intrusive/disturbing thoughts and obsessions. This disorder occupied all of my time and energy, to the point where life was unbearable and hopeless. About two weeks after starting Zoloft, there were noticeable improvements. After 6 weeks, I was a different person. Anxiety-0, OCD still there but more of a minor inconvenience than life consuming. Side effects were typical at first: nausea, diarrhea, lightheadedness, and insomnia. All of which subsided after a few weeks. I highly recommend that if you are diagnosed, ask for Zoloft."

• Rin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2020

Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was suffering from depression my entire life, and I didn't even know it. I'm 32 years old and started taking Zoloft three weeks ago. At first, I suffered from many side effects: insomnia, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, tired feeling, and even nervousness. It was the worst 10 days of my life. After enduring those 10 days, I was able to look at life differently. I'm able to accept flaws in anything, pardon excuses, laugh with my family and friends comfortably. I can see why people thought I was high maintenance. I was horrible to my family with unrealistic standards."

• Sed...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2025

For Anxiety and Stress "I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and stress, combined with severe depression. It arrived to the point I could not function normally anymore, I could not sleep, I could not work, life was just impossible. My GP decided to put me on sertraline 50 mg, one pill per day. I had all possible side effects during the first two weeks: severe anxiety, severe insomnia, severe suicidal thoughts, loose stools... You name it, and I had it. Then, by the third week, it started to get somewhat easier, I was even able to go out a little bit. Week after week, I noticed some subtle changes, and I got better and better. But the process is definitely very slow, it took two months to get sertraline's full effects. The most important thing is that my GP insisted that I couple sertraline with full EMDR-Tapping Therapy, which has literally saved my life. My advice is to be patient, when you are at rock bottom, things can only get better, and sertraline will help you a lot."

• Ros...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 10, 2019

Sertraline for Depression "I have been on Zoloft and the generic sertraline on and off for many, many years, on 50 mg. Recently, I developed symptoms of depression, panic, etc., due to health issues. I have a great GP who encourages me to manage my depression, so with his agreement I increased my dose to 100 mg and suffered every symptom for weeks. Anxiety, nausea, shaking, insomnia. After 10 weeks, these symptoms have all but disappeared. After reading all the reviews, I vowed to share my experience too. Remember, the symptoms WILL go away. It may take longer for some people than others to feel better. You may feel good one day but not the next. Hang in there. It takes time. I now feel almost ready to go back to 50 mg."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2014

Sertraline for Depression "On 50mg for 4 weeks then increased to 100mg for depression, panic attacks, and obsessional thinking. I had few side effects: a slight hand tremor, yawning, and difficulty sleeping. The only thing that lingered was the insomnia, but now that has settled down and I sleep okay. I feel so much better, panic attacks gone, obsessive-compulsive disorder gone, and my mood is lifting daily. I am enjoying life again, and this medicine has been so right for me."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2014

Sertraline for Depression "On 50mg for 4 weeks then increased to 100mg for depression, panic attacks, and obsessional thinking. I had few side effects: a slight hand tremor, yawning, and difficulty sleeping. The only thing that lingered was the insomnia, but now that has settled down and I sleep okay. I feel so much better, panic attacks gone, obsessive-compulsive disorder gone, and my mood is lifting daily. I am enjoying life again, and this medicine has been so right for me."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I started sertraline on September 9th, 25 mg for two weeks, then 50 mg for two weeks, moved to 100 mg for two weeks, and finally on October 25th, started 150 mg. All I can say is the first 4 weeks were horrible. I experienced every single side effect: constant nausea, migraines, diarrhea, anxiety/panic attacks, shakiness, tremors, heart palpitations, sweating, lack of appetite, blurred vision, dry mouth, no energy, and insomnia. Sometimes by the end of week five, I started feeling improvement, and for about a week now, I feel incredible. I finally got my life back, this is the old me that I didn't experience for the last year and a half. I am so grateful for this medication, I can say it's saved my life. All I can say is stick to it, don't stop taking the medicine. You will feel worse before it gets better. Keep in contact with your doctor for instructions, and read what people are posting. That's exactly what I did day after day, and that's what kept me going."