Zoloft for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• 2Pilots
• March 1, 2008

"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."

• sonoria
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2022

"Zoloft actually saved my life. I'm currently on 50 mg, which I do need to bump up after talking with my doctor. I've been taking it for around 6 months, and the difference between then and now is incredible. I have always dealt with debilitating OCD, intrusive thoughts, and mainly just constant obsessions. I was consistently awake and detached from my surroundings because I was trapped in my head panicking about how I can't fix everybody's lives. I still get those feelings sometimes, and I still get upset like the average person, but I can actually work and sleep and read and eat without the incessant voices in my head. I don't feel like I am being controlled by some external demon manifestation of myself, rather that I am the controller of myself. It's insane. At first, I was very loopy on Zoloft, in the sense that I just felt so awake all the time. That lasted about two weeks, at most. The drug fully kicked in around a month and a half in."

• Grills
• November 5, 2011

"I've suffered from OCD since about the age of 9, but wasn't diagnosed until I was 44. I was prescribed Zoloft at 100mg a day at first combined with some cognitive therapy. After around a month the dose was increased to 200mg/day, which seemed to work more effectively. I have now been taking Zoloft for 10 years now 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 with my meal. Zoloft has helped my life considerably. My wife often comments how much more chilled I am and easier to get along with and we can talk about OCD openly with an understanding of why these compulsions were there etc."

• Calmi...
• November 22, 2014

"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 it's 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."

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

"3 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."

• Alex
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2023

"I have been suffering from OCD since I was young, but always it was manageable for me until I reached 27 years old. I couldn’t handle it anymore and it affected my entire life. Started taking Zoloft 50 mg first 3 days then 100 mg. I started feeling better on day 9. Now I'm on day 16 and I feel amazing. Zoloft changed my entire life with almost no side effects."

• Black...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 30, 2020

"AWFUL side effects!!! Took Zoloft in high school and gained 50lbs along with an eating disorder because the psychiatrist brushed off all my complaints as irrational even though the weight gain was detrimental to my mental health (still cannot drop the weight years after stopping), hair loss, constant cold sores, cavities, very heavy periods (and eventually severe anemia), brain fog, loss of creativity, eventually developed severe Tourettes syndrome after stopping, list goes on!! AVOID if you value your health and well-being! Also did not even help that much! Not worth it at all for me."

• j...
• February 21, 2012

"Zoloft at first helped with immediate lifting of my moderately to severely depressed state, while unergiong treatment with the medication I have been in so many words transformed (as far as OCD) symptomoligies go. I stopped my continuous ritualistic, obsessive habits such as checking, obsessive cleaning, etc. and began instead to be noticed by everyone as having a relatively light and airy disposition as opposed to my former, neurotic and morose self. The dose had to be increased to work optimally, in fact several times. I had no noticeable sexual side effects, as other SSRI's I had used. The change I experienced as far as mood, behaviors, etc. were first in fact noticed by others, than by myself."

• Matts...
• August 26, 2017

"I was on 50 mg for a month and it seemed to help a bit. My doctor and I agreed to up to 100mg last week. Since then my anxiety and intrusive thoughts have been awful. Is this just a side effect until it balances out?!"

• DHH
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2013

"I can remember being on this for just two months last year. What did improve while I was taking it was my concentration--I started reading every book in sight. I stopped taking the Zoloft because I thought it made me sick to my stomach and also gave me tics. I guess I should have waited out the side effects because I thought my ability to read was fantastic."

• Joel
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2021

"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 (150mg), 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2023

"Zoloft was a serious life-changer for me. I cannot express how tormenting and horrific my OCD was. It was extremely unbearable, and I really wanted to die until I took Zoloft. At first, it was amazing (and still is, by the way), but I feel like its effectiveness decreased, or maybe my OCD just became worse because I can't stop thinking about how horrible of a human I am, or at least supposed to be. But aside from all that, I get great sleep at night and feel refreshed in the morning. It really helps with anxiety and worry. I love it so much and seriously recommend it for OCD patients out there. The only side effects I am experiencing are nausea and dry mouth, but you can deal with them!"

• kyriej
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2016

"30/F. I developed severe anxiety due to obsessive "bang your head against a wall to make it stop" intrusive thoughts at age 7. I "grew out" of it as I got older, but it hit back in full swing at 18. After years of walking around with a constant stomachache and having obsessive thought-induced panic attacks (all while living a "normal" life) I finally went to see a doctor. I started out at 50mg and later bumped up to 100. First few days felt like I had mild morning sickness and brain fog, but faded quickly. The only real lasting symptom is restless legs/sleeplessness at night, and I'd rather be awake and restless than awake and hysterical. I do think about/initiate sex less, but have found that (for me) getting started anyway does the trick."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2022

"I have suffered from Pure O for a few months before my psychologist advised to start Zoloft. This medicine is a life saver, and I've currently been trying to wane off after a 7 months remission period but unfortunately my OCD is slowly coming back, so I'm staying at 50mg for now and keep doing my CBT sessions. At 100mg however I never had any symptoms and had 100% gone back to normal. Truly blessed medicine."

• Munir
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2022

"I was having crazy intrusive thoughts, bed bound for about 4 months and very suicidal. Depressed and really had no hope. Started taking 25mg and now 50mg, thoughts are disappearing slowly but left me scared no doubt. Medication working very well but I think I need increase to 100mg. Really good medication, took time to work but doing a great job!"

• YourV...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 13, 2013

"I was on 150 mg Zoloft for about 2 years. It worked fairly well at combating my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and depression however, it gave me horrible insomnia/nausea. I probably would've given it a seven if it weren't for the side effects. They're just something that everyone who takes it should be aware of."

• TSG...
• January 18, 2017

"I'm a young man 24 years old, I have several issues with my brain since many years ago.... I have a Major Depression, GAD, SAD, OCD, and Panic Disorder. I've been tried many option, I tried Hypnotherapy, Emotional Therapy, CBT , also I been to some psychiatrist in Indonesia and Singapore. Finally I met the best psychiatrist in my country, and with him I found best med and finally cure my problem. You all have to try this too and talk to your psychiatrist to ask for prescription. Every Morning I take 1mg Ativan and Every Night I take 5mg Zyprexa and 150mg Zoloft Please try this, please.. Enjoy your life.. Also CBT is good as well..."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2010

"I was prescribed Zoloft in late of 2008 and I have been on it ever since. I have a minor case if OCD which is all in my head. I tend to be obsessive with repetitive thoughts and if I don't think about it then I basically freak out with anxiety. I know it's so weird, but I guess God made everyone unique in their own way. Anyway, did Zoloft help me? I must say definitely YES. Although my OCD does come back from time to time, it is no where nearly as bad now compared to how it used to be. The repetitive thoughts have decreased by about 80% and that is more then I can ever ask for. However, I experience weird side effects when I forget to take it like nausea, light headedness and "brain zaps." Got to take the good with the bad I guess."

• nellie...
• June 4, 2016

"First month, bad side effects. Felt worsening anxiety, and felt like a zombie. After about 4 weeks the magic happened. My obsessions became minimal, and my depression/pmdd improved imensely. Sideeffects include some weight gain like 15 lbs, and loss of sex drive. However I was on 50 mg, and the improvement in my mental state was worth it. I could only take this drug at night, in the morning it would make me dizzy. I was in this for 4years, it does improve obsessive worrying and depression."

• Obses...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 8, 2016

"I was prescribed this for OCD, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder and severe depression. First, it didn't do so much, if anything, for my depression. In fact, I had less energy and experienced apathy on this drug . That being said, when it came to my OCD, hyper-vigilance & anxiety, this drug was a miracle drug. It took away 85% of my obsessions & became apathetic to my rituals. Unfortunately, after being on this for 5-6 years (and being above the absolute maximum dose @ 250mg), I've been experiencing major "poop-out" effect. I'm worried that something is not going to work as well and work with the very minimal side effects that I experienced with Zoloft, as I have exhausted countless drugs."

• Cvinkie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2022

"Summary: 9/10 for me. I know I’m in the minority but just my luck, an SSRI actually does it’s job and doesn’t leave me feeling flat as a pancake. Something does look flatter much more often though. I have been taking Zoloft for 3 months now, and it has, quite literally, transformed my perception of almost everything. I began at 25 mg. A normal starting dose for those sensitive to medicines like this. I then began to work my way up to, get this, 400 mg. I took 2.5 months to get to that dosage. Nonetheless, I am essentially asymptomatic. Sure I probably still have a personality disorder but I’m able to put myself out there, act the way I feel, and just be able to focus on the thing that I want to be focusing on, not focusing on “did I set the thermostat to exactly 68 degrees” every 10 minutes."

• xoxob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2017

"I have been on this medication for two days and I have had a significant improvement in obsessive thoughts and my anxiety. I had insomnia last night, but I heard that subsides. I have tons of energy and want to go do things I had lost interest in doing. I don't know if this is just going to be in the beginning, but I have read it only gets better. I have a little nausea, but I have stomach problems as well so I'm used to it. I will put an update later on. I am going to stick this out! update: two weeks on zoloft and my OCD going insane. going to up to 50mg tomorrow. will update."

• Anonymous
• March 8, 2008

"I have been on Zoloft for a year to treat OCD. This drug has taken away my painful and destructive symptoms, though this is a process that has been aided by intensive talk therapy. My side effects are increasing in intensity as time goes on; mainly dry mouth and nausea. However terrible these side effects may sound I would rather deal with them than the symptoms of OCD and depression on any given day."

• steve
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 21, 2022

"My 37-year-old son has taken this drug. It helps a bit but still has problems. Anyone who lives with someone that has these tendencies, your life is hard. Be prepared for that. Don't pretend it will get better. It won't."

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2022

"I am suffering from HOCD, harming OCD and Pure O. Harming OCD came recently. Little more than a month ago I broke up. This triggered a mental break down for a reason! Headaches, depression. I was like losing my mind. Uncontrollable thoughts made me feel scared & desperate. I had panic attacks & I was thinking so much. Couldn't sleep. Feared of the worst. I was so tired from my brain & my thinking rituals (that were a "solution" for many years now). Lexotanil (Bromazepam - sth like zanax) helped me at the begining of my break down but I had so many intrusive thoughts. I was prescribed Zoloft. I started with 0.25 mg & went up to 0.50 mg & stayed there for some days. Then I went up to 0.75 mg for 2 days but it was feeling "too much" & went back to 0.50 mg. I am less than a month on zoloft and started feeling better. More relaxed and my mind did calm down a bit. At the beginning I was against medication. It was my only choice. Needs time. I am optimistic. Side effects subside I guess."