Zoloft for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• JustA...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2019

"No side effects or beneficial effects from taking this medicine. Felt severely depressed constantly. For me I still think SSRIs are just a placebo effect, since when I first took it I felt “good” but then later realised how they work hence knowing that it was just a placebo effect, from having such high expectations and not knowing anything about “antidepressants” particularly the newer SSRI..."

• Cass
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2021

"I’ve had intense anxiety & depression for 3 years. I put off ever taking meds because I was scared of the side effects. Then I hit rock bottom & realised I couldn’t live another day how I was. Long story short, I began Zoloft. The first week was dark. Physically, emotionally, mentally & spiritually dark. Then, on day 11, I woke up completely content. I talked to my family, laughed, hugged. Each day seemed to get 10% better than the day before. It was overwhelmingly good. My thoughts were clear. When anxious & dark thoughts or even days arise, which they inevitably do, I am able to move on. They don’t spiral & debilitate me. 3 weeks on & I am calm. Content. Happy. I socialise?!?! I feel like me again. I look back on the last 3 years & I truly didn’t realise how anxious & sad I was. It controlled my every move. Now, I feel as though I am the one in control of my life. I am so, so deeply grateful for this."

• sally
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

"I suffer from major depression, GAD, and ADHD and was given Zoloft for my worsening depression and anxiety on top of Wellbutrin and lamotrigine. I began experiencing a lot of gas and digestive issues but that was a minor thing. Never before have I reacted so negatively to a medication. I was already depressed, but usually it was more up and down. This just made me feel very dissociated and completely dead inside. I have cut very occasionally and impulsively, but on this I was compulsively injuring myself with anything I could for hours just to feel something. Was extremely traumatic. I didn’t react well to Prozac when I took it years ago either. I’m going to stay away from SSRI’s. Please be careful! Antidepressants can be amazing and I don’t mean to discourage anyone from getting help. My experience isn’t everyone’s, but nonetheless, they should definitely be taken seriously. The casual way in which they are prescribed nowadays can make it easy to forget that."

• Psych...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 16, 2017

"Zoloft is a fantastic AD. It gave me motivation and helped me get back out there into my life. It didn't work that well for anxiety, but your mileage may vary. Even switching up as little as 50mg would bring back the "punch" if it "pooped out." Highly recommend."

• Sasha
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2019

"I started on 50mg of sertraline for two weeks and had nausea and a dull headache as side effects. I am now on 100mg and have been on the 100 for two weeks and I can honestly say I feel dreadful. Nausea, fatigue and no motivation. Doctor would like to try me on Venlafaxine but have heard that these are even worse. Don’t know what to do"

• LPatr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

"The effect of the medication appeared on the first day of taking it. That seemed so weird to me, because I've tried several other SSRIs and needed to wait at least 7-8 days to feel something. It was like the mood swing, in the morning I felt a little brain fog, and a little shaky. Then later that day my mood as well as my motivation dropped drastically to zero, I couldn't move, couldn't work, so for around 2 hours I sat in the chair trying to get myself together. After that episode I figured, that I need to eat something, so I went to the nearby store. When I've gone outside, I felt like I was high, colors were much more vivid, sounds were intensified to the degree I felt overwhelmed. This state lasted for around 4-5h, can't tell for sure, because I lost a track of time. Also there was this feeling that my soul was separated from my body and the metaphysical and physical world was in different point in spacetime (not sure if it makes any sense).0/10"

• Kfry
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 23, 2016

"I've been on zoloft for about a year, at 25mg. But I've recently developed panic disorder can't seem to handle the side effects of going up. I believe I'm not even at the optimal dose yet. My doc perscribed me effexor XR and I'm on day one of taking that and I feel completely emotionless. I'm going back go zoloft tomorrow because initially it worked for depression and anxiety. Everyone is different, but I've tried citalopram, etsicitalopram, and now effexor and they all make me feel numb and like a zombie. Zoloft all the way. My doc won't prescribe me benzos and I feel that zoloft will be great with xanax! Going back to the doctors next week to tell them to shove the effexor and I'm staying in zoloft."

• Zolof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2021

"I predict this drug will be taken off the market. My neutral days are greatly reduced. I'm at 95% my life is over. My whole life is trying to take care of myself. There is zero hope. I am full blown anti-psychiatry now. I can't risk being badgered and rolled again by the 'profession' and made weaker."

• KiloMan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2018

"Triggered Depersonalization, blank mind and anhedonia which I didn't have prior Zoloft At first I felt good, even too good which I can now consider as hypermania (lack of need to sleep, running around the house, insisting that I'm an art piece) 2 weeks later not feeling my self, as if my head is filled with cotton, the world appeares different and I can't feel anything towards my GF, I wish I have never touched this full apathy inducer of a pill. Later on I found that I have a short/short version of the "Seratonin transporter gene" AKA SLC6A4 or 5-HTTLPR, which is known to cause more side effects with SSRIs and SNRIs, beware."

• miran...
• May 6, 2016

"Zoloft has been hard for me. At first it was okay (besides the side effects, those were brutal) but now that I've been on it for almost 2 years, im starting to forget things and my mindset is never balanced. Some days are okay, but some days I'm panicky, shaky, can't remember much even if it happened less than a minute ago, and my depression starts back up. I really don't wanna move on to another medication because the withdraws of this medication is as brutal as the side effects but i feel like Zoloft isn't a long term drug for me."

• Stuar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 3, 2015

"Has helped enough that I still take it. A word of warning though, you may experience incontinence soon after (that lovely 'd' word). In my case, it only takes about 5 minutes before nature comes calling (!) Up until recently, I attributed it to the coffee I have every morning with my breakfast, as caffeine is apparently a common cause. Then I spoke to a friend who'd stopped taking Zoloft because of this side effect and it suddenly dawned on me. So I tested it. Had my usual breakfast & coffee, this time without the meds. 1/2 hour went by, no complaints down below. Took the Zoloft and sure enough, 4 or 5 minutes later, off to the the toilet again. It's not a huge problem for me since it's predictable, only happens in the morning, and the drug does help depression-wise but some people may not feel the same way (no pun intended). Interestingly, I take the same dose again in the evening with no side-effect, so I suspect the morning combination with coffee may play a part."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2016

"I've been under going some health issue for the past 3 months. Doctors believe it's my anxiety & depression that are the problem. I've had anxiety & depression for about 16 years & never had issues like I'm experiencing now. But to rule out depression & anxiety I decided to start taking Zoloft as the doctor recommended. I took my first dose last night 50mg. (Side note, I had been on Zoloft before when I was younger). the night I took the first dose... my head felt kind of funny, still feels a little funny. I got drowsy. A little shaky. This morning I felt sick to my stomach. My eyes were dilated & I felt wired. I'm going to cut it in half tonight & see how that goes."

• Otsut...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2019

"This is the best antidepressant I’ve been on. I wouldn’t consider it a miracle drug, but it did make me feel happier and a little less anxious than normal. The best thing about Zoloft was that it GREATLY decreased my anger and irritability. My diagnosis’s are Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder w/ Agoraphobia, and ASD. Due to being in a bad situation, I was taken off of Zoloft about 5 years ago. In the almost 2 years that I took it, I would still feel down occasionally but I never came close to being re-admitted to the psychiatric hospital. Will probably look into getting back on it soon."

• Lucy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2016

"During a stint in the hospital, I took the generic for about a month with lithium, seroquel and lamictal. I also recieved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation during that time. I was very hopeful about all of these treatments, but things got worse. I am normally a very verbal person who expresses herself by writing, making jokes, etc, but after a few weeks of these combined treatments I found it much more difficult to write, and I still do; 4 months later."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2019

"I took Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. I quit taking it after a couple months due to horrible side effects (I was suicidal, had worsened insomnia, irritability, and akathisia). Apart from the side effects, it didn’t even help me."

• Mareko
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2023

"I started on 50mg I started feeling good the first 2 weeks then going on the third week the side effects were too strong so today I halved it to 25mg see what happens. I can’t handle the side effects."

• wanna...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2015

"This med worked for me years ago but this time after taking it for 2 days I'm worse (50 mg). Bad headache, stomach upset, and anxiety. My pharmacy switched generics & that also could be part of the problem. I am a mental wreck & a shell of my former self. I really just want to stay in bed all day. I don't have a psych just a GP. I also have horrible OCD & every decision I make I feel is wrong. I have refills left on my Celexa & that worked a little better but didn't do the trick. I asked my GP for Wellbutrin at my last visit & for some reason she didn't want to give it to me."

• Frank...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2017

"Week 1 and 2 was hell. Week 3 and 4 was a bit better but still hell. I could not function really and I was thinking about death with some insomnia. No appetite that I lost 15 lbs. Beginning of Week 5 I felt the transition in a few hours. I put on the pants and went outside and bought a burger. I was just OK with being and I felt a transformation. I also started Bupropin for smoking a few days ago."

• Jenni...
• August 28, 2016

"I had a horrible experience with Zoloft. I started on a low-dose liquid form and at first it seemed to be really lifting my mood, reducing my anxiety, and boosting my self esteem. But I soon began experiencing extreme irratibility and episodes of destructive rage aimed at my belongings or myself. I loved the benefits, but the side effects were ruining my life and relationships, so I discontinued. In addition to rage, I also experienced severe prolonged pms (3 weeks duration), constant breast pain and swelling, unrestorative sleep, and awful vivid lifelike nightmares. In terms of reducing depression and anxiety, I'd give it a 9, but the side effects didn't enable me to continue taking it."

• Cheye...
• March 7, 2016

"This medication really helped my anxiety and depression. I felt so much better--but it came with a cost. This medication gave me severe Hypoglycemia. I am not diabetic thankfully but on this medication it made my blood sugar drop severely low where I would almost pass out at work (and I work in a factory). So I'm sure you can imagine how awful I felt. It's a catch 22. I felt better with my anxiety but then I got severe blood sugar drops. So I'm off it now and have to start all over again on a new medication. If this medicine works for you then great, I envy you. This made me so sick I couldn't stand it. So if you take this medication and start getting severely low blood sugar (you'll know trust me) stop taking it!"

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2019

"I have a genetic problem breaking this medication down therefore I was on a very low dose - 12.5 mg. It caused me severe side effects and had to discontinue. I had a hard time standing, was dizzy, nauseous, suicidal, extremely tired, easily angered. It gave me tachycardia, made my migraines worse, and gave me blisters on my face around my mouth/chin. It did help with restless legs. The only other treatment I've had success with are ketamine infusions. Unfortunately they are much more expensive. I know my experience sounds awful but most will not react how I did. Everyone's body is slightly different so it's worth a try!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2015

"I was on Prozac for a month & I got super bad nauseas feelings & sick all the time. I got off & my doctor put me on Zoloft & I feel so much happier. I feel happier, but not fixed. I guess it's a work in progress"

• Jujub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2022

"First I wanted to say that I was prescribed it for depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety. I started it 4 months ago and I’m currently on 125mg but just recently changed it back to 100mg. I realized that it was I felt happier and almost manic for the first month. The second month I was on 50mg and it was ok, however I will say that the negative side effects started at 100mg. I have ZERO love for my boyfriend currently and I feel like my libido has decreased. It’s really hard to climax even by myself. All my romantic feelings for my bf are basically gone. However, I am sexual still, as in my thoughts, I am still a sexual person, but I just don’t feel it when it’s actually happening if that makes sense. I know this because I have a huge crush on my bf’s brother which is not good but that means I’m still capable of feeling love and emotions but they’re less intense for sure. Also insomnia is pretty bad. It def works. Almost too well."

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2017

"The first day I tried Zoloft, I sat and looked out the window all day, watching it snow. All I could think of was how pretty it was. But it also made my heart beat VERY hard. I could feel my blood pounding through my head and neck harder than I'd ever felt before. My doctor had me try smaller doses, but even at 25mg the same thing happened. So no Zoloft for me. Which is a shame, since it really did show promise."

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

"I have been taking Zoloft for a few months now and I can honestly say this has helped me. I was so depressed I could barely take care of my toddler and I had so much anxiety I didn't like leaving my house. Since taking this I do not have panic attacks anymore and I do not feel as depressed all the time. Now my depression comes in waves and does not last for long, whereas before, I would feel depressed for days at a time. I will say the side effects are annoying. I experienced nausea, nightmares, decreased appetite, followed by increased appetite, extreme fatigue and jaw pain (weird I know). After taking this for a few months most of the side effects have subsided. I do still have VERY vivid dreams which I have never had before, but it's not a big deal to me as long as they are not nightmares. As far as dosing, I started off with 50mg after two weeks increased to 100mg and have just recently been told to up it to 150mg to help with lingering anxiety."