Effectiveness
Users report improvement52%
Side Effects
Reported side effects56%
Would Recommend
To others with same condition51%
Avg. Duration
Average reported usage duration1-2 years
Side Effects Frequency
Percentage of users reporting each side effect
Sentiment Analysis
User sentiment from reviews and feedback
Positive
38%Neutral / Mixed
21%Negative
41%Featured User Reviews
Recent experiences from users
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
If you’re looking for positives, here’s my story! My life was absolutely horrible, i couldn’t leave the house due to trauma, was so anxious and sad all the time. I was a mess of a person. Did not like life at all. I started sertraline about 2 months ago now, on only 50mg and let me tell you, it has done a number on me! I am HAPPY. For the first time since I can remember, I enjoy living!!!! :D. So much that I moved 4 hours away from home where all my trauma happened, got a job as a barista and am now happily living with my partner. Life honestly couldn’t feel any happier for me. I love my job so much, my apartment is lovely and I am just ecstatic to wake up each morning and face the beauty of what is, my life. I understand Sertraline doesn’t...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
100 days on Sertraline (50 mg) for panic disorder – my honest experience Hi everyone, I (m 35) wanted to share my 100-day experience with Sertraline because posts like these helped me a lot when I was at my lowest. I’ve been dealing with panic disorder and anxiety since around 2020. No depression diagnosis, just anxiety and panic — often intense, physical, and seemingly “out of nowhere”. For years, I still functioned: I went to work, to the gym, to family events, restaurants, meetings. But internally, life was exhausting. Constant body scanning. Fear of fear. Panic attacks that made eating, social situations, and even relaxation feel dangerous. It wasn’t a life I wanted to keep living like that. I started Sertraline very cautiously: first three weeks 25 mg at first then 50 mg, where I stayed The first weeks were rough, not gonna lie: increased anxiety, inner restlessness, morning panic,...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I was on Zoloft for a year (worked up from 25-100 in 25mg increments). Stopping it was relatively easy. My dr cut my from 100mg to 50mg and then to 25mg and then to 0. This took Approx 5 months? It was horrible when I stopped and took no medication - I had the worst anxiety ever it’s like it came back in full swing. I am on Pristiq now because Zoloft did not work for me - it made me super numb and emotionless.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I’ve been on 100 mg of sertraline for maybe 10 years. I honestly am not sure when I started, I was probably around 13. I never had an issue with it until my doctor recommended I ween off. It went great at first and I realized how much Zoloft has messed with my life. I was so much more emotional and had a better experience overall when it came to sex. However my anxiety was so horrible that I gave up and went back on 100mg. Ever since, I’ve been trying and failing and trying an failing to ween off again. Every time I get to 0mg, I have to give up. I was off of it for about 2 weeks once and the symptoms never got any better, so I went back on it. My schedule was weening off 25 mg every 2 weeks, which is very slow. But...
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Sooo... Currently doing it and I was doing pretty good. Have been on 200mg for about seven years so a long time. Went down to 150mg for two months, then down to 125mg for a month then went to 100mg. Everytime I reduced I got the same symptoms basically. Tiredness, crankynesss, nauseous day three a little down, diarrhoea, extremely vivid dreams, to the point that one night I bit my cat in my sleep 🤦🤦🤦😭😭😭she forgave me thank god. Most of the withdrawal symptoms stopped after a week but the vivid dreams took about a month each time to settle down. (I'm not joking about how intense the dreams are, I usually have quite memorable dreams but these are another level) Mentally I have noticed my intrusive thoughts are a little more spicy but otherwise no lingering effects. However... After coming down to 100mg after a few days my ADHD...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Hey mate, i was 2 years on Zoloft 50mg. I went 50 => 25mg before three weeks, without trouble….But im now 7 days without zoloft and today i feel dazed, tired, headcache, weird…
But its litle bit better because 2 - 3 days ago i have it really strong brain zaps (like somebody inside my brain giving me elektroshocks), fog and vivid nightmares.. I realize its not good idea drink coffeine.. like caffe, energy drinks, coca cola… so im now one week clear and i hope the strongest windraw symptoms are gone..i will see.. good luck to you !
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I [26F] have been on varying doses of Zoloft for the past 10 years. Tried going off a few times in college but ultimately ended up back at a 100mg dose which is where I’ve been for the past 4 years. I never wanted to be on SSRIs forever but life kept being difficult. Now I have my own place, steady job, removed myself from the church, and live in a walkable community. I met with a medical professional to layout a tapering plan where step one was halving my dose from 100 to 50. I’m now on day 4 and I feel physically fine but I get these thoughts of doubt or regret that no one will like me if I’m “off my meds”. I think that’s part of the withdrawal paranoia so I’m not giving up hope yet. I’m keeping a journal (per drs request) and I noticed...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I tapered dose in half each day for two weeks then quit after on it for 2 yrs..that stuff did nothing for me except make me sweat all the time even in bed with a.c. at 70..cold sweats..my sweats have stopped...im way better
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Yes sure speak w health care provider before you start to taper down, but also visit surviving antidepressants.com. Most doctors were not trained how to properly down dose SSRIs, so there are tons of folks tapering way too fast and then suffering so much that they think they’ve “relapsed” or are stuck w the drugs forever. I’m on my 5th YEAR of tapering zoloft. Very slow and very tiny dose reductions are necessary for me. I still feel the small reductions but they’re manageable. When I’m stable I do another reduction. If there are life circumstances that are making my stress load higher than normal I just hold my dose where it is. Most docs advise a weekly reduction that’s finished within a month or two. If I did that I’d be in an institution, where ironically they would prescribe more drugs. When I was tapering too fast I didn’t...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Strangest thing for me was that I was fine throughout 100mg -> 75mg -> 50mg -> 25mg, but being on 25mg for over a week and BOOM its hit me like a truck. All of a sudden I feel like hell!!! Nausea, gastro problems, anxiety, numbness and tingling, headaches, dizziness….everything. I keep telling myself it’s the weaning process starting but I’ve never rlly heard anyone talk about side effects showing after 4+ weeks?
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I've relapsed into depression 5 weeks ago on 200 mg sertraline, so started lowering the drug , feel freezing cold non stop n have goosebumps on my skin non stop , feel awful , but duno if it's withdrawal or depression. Symptoms , did 2 weeks on each lower dose , now 2 days on 50 but non stop chills n had nausea all day
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I’m weaning off a 75mg dose down to 0mg been on it since 2019 Had a great experience with it up until my doc had me mix in a new med and I felt absolutely horrible for a week, decided it’s time to get off meds on total for a while. Am worried about being in medicated but it’s been so long and I’ve had a chance to figure out how to cope and listen to my body so I’d like to try being med free. I’m curious why these side effects are so harsh. I’m down from 50 this is my first week down and I’m unable to tell at times if I’m panicking over nothing or if somethings super wrong. Vagal out from stress overload from googling my own symptoms like a dummy. Happened four times in an hour and I was also stoned. Never greened out so...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I’ve been on sertraline for probably 15 years. The last 3 years I’ve been on 150mg as my father was dealing with aggressive cancer and I had to take care of the family and could not break down for them. Started my taper last year went from 150 to 137.5. No problems. Stayed there for six months. Went from 137.5 to 125mg and the first week or two was fine but now I’m getting some nasty withdrawal (diarrhea, brain fog, insomnia, etc). I’ve had those symptoms for about a week or so and I’m hoping the go away soonish. Once I stabilize, I’ll stay there for another 6 months and continue downward. Slow but steady. Lord knows the withdrawal doesn’t make it easy though.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I don’t sleep as well as i did but i also feel like my old self so it’s a fair trade imo.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I think I’ve chose the wrong option, I asked to taper from 100 to 50… after two months at 50 be gone cold turkey and oh wow I feel rough. For me, I was getting horrible side effects in setraline that was effecting my bones, and getting dehydrated so I took the decision it was time to get off them. Psychologically I’ve dealt with the issue that lead to me needing them, but time will tell! My brain has awoken like never before, with a million’s thoughts and questions going through my mind, it’s like I’ve worked up (but with a horrible hangover) While my symptoms have eased for the pains I was having on Setraline, I feel like my head is mashed up, I’m dizzy, feel sick and in another world all day long. I can’t think straight, my speech can sometimes be garbled or I can’t get out...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
First day tapering from 100 to today 0. Was put on a very slow multi month process and it’s been very smooth. Feeling the best I have felt in a decade. Had an 8 year run and was grateful to be able to have something that really helped.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I got put on sertraline 25mg, because I was planning on getting pregnant and pregnancy makes my depression and anxiety unmanageable.. a year into it I got bumped up to 50mg. I’ve been on it for 2 years. I had my baby 1.5 years ago and feel like I’m ready to get off of it! I liked Zoloft but definitely gained weight and felt bland and tired all of the time. Helped with my anxiety and intruding thoughts a lot. Any who, I traveled for Christmas this year (2024) and forgot my meds! So I guess I quit cold turkey and am just trying to get through the withdrawal as best as I can. I’m on day 8 now and still feel dizzy at times, heart palpitations, bouts of horrible anxiety/intruding thoughts, spacey, crazy dreams, depressed-mainly because my boyfriend is overwhelmed by my mood/vibe turning upside down and he has...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I have been on 50mg since August and have gained 25lbs.
The weight gain is making me feel depressed now. I’m going to message my doctor about how I can stop it entirely. It has helped so much with social anxiety. But now that my weight is climbing…I feel worse!
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Hi everyone. I'm glad I found you all. In 2018, I was placed on 75 mg of sertraline. A year in started taking the generic of zoloft. I have been on 100mg of sertraline for the past 2 years now. I am also in generic of Wellbutrin cause my sex life was suffering In December 2024, I started taking control of my life and decided to taper off my meds. I don't dear do it on my own. I got together with a Kaiser Doctor and I wanted to allow enough time to get rid of this from my system. 75mg for 30 days. 50mg for 30 days. 25mg for 30 days. Lastly 12.5 mg for the remainder 30 days. I wouldn't taper off in a week. Heck no! I have been on it for 6 years. Things don't just change overnight. I haven't had any major side effects. I...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
my doctor weened me off 150 sertlaine too fast and the side effects are horrific. the pressure in on my chest head neck been to ER everyone looks at me like im nuts. how can a psych dr do this to people? when will this go away
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I would like to add my experience so far (if its any help) I was put on sertraline 100mg ( eventually up to 200mg) in 2011. I was also later put on Quetiapine .. Mid 2024 after lots of therapy I thought I wonder if I could cope without these meds. So I decided to start tapering off, I went really slow, I'm talking reducing it by quarter of a tablet every 2 months or so, this week is my first week with no sertraline and in terms of my mental health I don't feel it's any worse than when I was on it or on any high dose, in fact I feel very positive about not taking them. I have experienced, everytime I've lowered the dose, a strange buzz dizziness feeling that moves back to front in my head but it lasts no more than a second at a...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
My psychiatrist started to wean me off on Friday, but I didn’t experience withdrawal symptoms until Sunday. It’s been three days of withdrawal symptoms and I wish my dr had put me in the hospital for this process.
I feel very flu-like. Exhausted, nausea, aches all over, fatigue. Had diarrhea on Sunday. Very shaky and off balance. But the worst are these intense episodes of crying and much more panic than usual. Also I’ve been experiencing electric like zaps in my chest, feeling lots of weird heart rhythms and I have a defibrillator so I really should have been inpatient.
NOT a fun experience at all.
I can’t imagine going off cold-turkey! That is a very dangerous idea so please first talk to your psychiatrist!
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I initially started taking Zoloft primarily to manage anxiety and mild depression. I had been on it for 50 mg for three months. However, I decided to taper down with my primary care physician and am now at 6 mg. I stopped taking it because the side effects (anhedonia and brain zaps) outweighed the benefits. So far, the hardest part for me was reducing from 25 mg to 12 mg due to the significant brain zaps, sleepless nights, and nausea.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Hello
I have the same problem,
I'm on 200mg sertraline daily but I really feel. That the dose is now too strong,
Since losing my 2 babies, the doctor increased my dose from. 100 to 200 and I've been on that since August 2024 but my memory is terrible, I'm constantly so tired and I feel nauseous a lot of the time.
I am not myself at all, I know grief is a big factor in all of this but I do believe the medication makes me worse, can anyone give me any advice on how to deal with this please, should I wean off them? I suffer ptsd also so am I taking the correct medication.
I just want to feel better 😢
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I did not know weight gain is a potential side effect of sertraline (Zoloft). Gives me cause to pause and rethink my dosage. In addition, I am having trouble (over a decade) with body temperature regulation. I think I want to wean off now for those two big side effect. Naive me: I did not know those "brain zaps" were a universal experience. I guess i feel better that I am not alone, but it sure is a strange sci-fi-ish sensation. Can anyone comment on 75 mg max weaning with success in weight loss and body heat regulation after getting to 0?
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I am currently decreasing my zoloft dose with my Dr's ok from 100mg to 75mg and going down slower than she advised, after reading these comments. I have had concentration issues and memory issues and was also taking Lorazepam for sleep. I was able to stop the Lorazepam on my own. Reading the comments from others made me realize that I needed to go slower on the taper. I have been on the 75 for 2 weeks and am going to continue for another 2 weeks due to the advice of others. I am wondering how cutting the tablets have worked for others. I am using a pill cuter, but it doesn't cut them exactly. Comments about that would be appreciated too.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Hey all. I've stopped almost cold turkey about 3 weeks ago. I was on 150mg for a little over a year (first time ever). I went from 150 to 100 to 50 to nothing in a week. I'm not recommending anything but I'm glad I stopped without tapering. I'm scared going slower would have drawn out the withdraw. I felt super weird the 1st week/ 1.5 weeks. The brain zaps are pretty psychedelic. I've been rememberin how weepy and hype I was before Zoloft. Emotions feel "louder" than they did 3 weeks ago but I'm into it. The thing that seems the hardest is I often feel angry. I've heard that anger can turn into depression without an outlet so I wonder if my depression treatment has anything to do with that. I'm riding out the new brain chemistry pretty well. The first bits so far were very headachy, vertigo-y,...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Nothing... It did nothing for me and when I stopped it I didn't even notice a differnrts
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I was on 50 mg for nearly 3yrs decided it was time to come off so GP put me on liquid version and gone down 10%every 2-4weeks
However I have been getting really bad stomach issues gas, pain , diarrhea etc
Reached 35mg so far and determined to get off it as o am not convinced it is doing me any good
Anyone else had bad experiences even with slow titration.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I started Zoloft August 2023 at 25mg. Then coincidentally the week of my mom's sudden death I went up to 50mg February 2024. It helped me get through that dark period and helped me get a new job and plan a wedding all within 4 months. Then I got laid off from that job December 2024. My husband and I thought maybe it's time for us to try for a baby soon. He wanted me to be completely off my meds before trying to conceive so i started the process of weaning off. I went from 50-25mg. My symptoms came back. I was in a lot of credit card debt. I gained an extra 20 pounds. I would have bouts of anger/rage which looked like yelling at my husband when I felt he was dropping the ball or misunderstanding me. I managed to find a full time job in Aug...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I have been visiting this thread for a while, and finally decided to try to taper off Zoloft. I have been on it for years, currently 100mg/day. I have tried to taper for 2 weeks, down to 75 mg and I can't stand the problems any more. The brain zapping is the worst. Also I realized it's turning into winter for where I live, and this is not a good time to be getting off an antidepressant. But it is so helpful for me to read everyone's experience, and come spring I am going to try again, but much slower this time.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I was on it for 2 and a half years. Weaned off of it pretty seamlessly. No withdrawals whatsoever!
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
This thread is old but I recently found it when starting my wean so figured I’d provide my result. I was on 50mg sertraline for 9 months or so. When I started I started at 25mg for a handful of weeks and then went to 50mg. I didn’t experience any side effects except mild sleep disturbance which was brief when I started. I weaned slower then my doctors plan. She told me I could take 25mg for 6-7 days and then stop taking it. I took 3/4 tablet for (37.5mg), 1/2 tablet for a week (25mg), 1/4 tablet for a week (12.5mg) and then I took like 6.25 mg for a couple days and was off. I had almost zero side effects. I was on it for specific event related anxiety though I do also experience day to day anxiety. I am also on trazodone and have not changed that...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I quit cold turkey off 150 mg, but I feel fine just nauseous, dizzy, but I feel more like myself really. Im excited about things again and not just numb.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
My positive experience with Sertraline I thought I’d share my positive experience starting sertraline since before I started it, I checked out others experiences on Reddit with it and almost didn’t take it because other people’s accounts put me off so much and now I’m so glad I did as my life has majorly improved since taking sertraline. :) So, this is for anyone who was in the same boat as me! I also want to add that people who have good experiences are less likely to voice it versus someone who has complaints, it’s like when you see a bunch of hate comments on a influencer’s posts but they have a bunch of followers so it doesn’t quite add up! All in all, I hope this helps someone in some way and they have the same or better experience as me with the medication. I started Sertraline (50mg a...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
If you're anxiously scrolling through side effects like I was: please read this 💛 I just wanted to post something for anyone doing what I was doing not too long ago: scrolling through this subreddit anxiously, reading every possible side effect, trying to “prepare.” I was terrified to start sertraline, and it felt like the bad stories were everywhere and I promised myself if it worked for me I would post it here. And here I am, a fully different person. I’m currently on 100mg of sertraline (Zoloft). Here’s how I got there: * 25mg for 1 week * 50mg for 1.5 weeks * 75mg for 1 week * and now on 100mg And honestly? Life has never felt this amazing. I finally have energy to do things I love. I don’t spiral into deep anxiety or sadness when something bad happens, I just feel a normal amount of sad,...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Stopped taking it after 8 years (have tried others prior). Slowly tapered off over months. I was fine for about 6 months, then my anxiety and depression got so out of control i had to start taking it again at 9 months. I did everything I could to white knuckle it, but it was miserable. Two or three days after restarting sertraline again I felt completely better. I felt like myself again. I’m a 45yo woman, and I’m settling into the idea i may need to take it forever. It’s not that much of a bummer now though, i’m more grateful for the meds now that I’ve seen the starkness of the benefits.
That said, if I had never taken them, would I be dependent on them now? maybe not.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I lost weight when I weaned off. Almost 30lbs. I also just feel overall less swollen and puffy. My chin acne cleared up a bit as well. Less brain fog, more energy. My memory has improved a lot too. Zoloft is a double edged sword for me, it helps my anxiety and OCD tremendously. But it negatively impacts my physical health. After being on it long term, it took me a while after stopping it for my body to recalibrate. The first couple months I felt out of whack, emotional, panicky, irritable. I’ve almost gone back on it a couple of times because it felt unbearable at times. I’m about 6 months off now and am feeling more leveled out. My anxiety is definitely worse being off of it, but I’m finally starting to feel like I can start working through some of the mental barriers now that the physical...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Fairly recent perspective because I just stopped entirely this December (after a long 2025 taper)... you will feel veryyyy emotional afterwards if you're anything like me; crying spells, about a month of "this is the end" and what feels like endless pity parties. It has been *so* tough but really rewarding to stand on my own two feet again, especially knowing that it's entirely my own progress. You will definitely notice a lot of your depressive/anxious symptoms coming back, but that's a part of it, and if you're committed to moving forward then it'll be good to finally learn your own coping skills! It's a challenge, best of luck to you (but from someone on the other side, it's a worthwhile venture)!
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I quit it cold turkey because I ran out of my prescription and mostly because I had been on it for 5 years and other ssris before it. I didn’t like the side effects that I thought just stopping them wouldn’t be a big deal, DO NOT quit it without tapering. At first it was physical withdrawal, dizziness, on the verge of tears constantly, tiredness, brain fog, and tingly feelings in my lower limbs. It’s been only two months and I’ve noticed I get short depressive episodes and anxiety. I feel these physically now where before i would still feel depressed and anxious but Zoloft made my body numb it out. I think I’ve also realized that I might have adhd and the reason I get depressed and anxious sometimes is because of emotional dysregulation and burnout from trying to cope with masking the symptoms of adhd. Now that I...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I had a six month break once and actually lost weight lol
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Yes—easy bruising, poor blood coagulation, and vomiting. I never connected this to Zoloft until I stumbled across an article about it and then began tapering. All of these problems stopped when I halved my dose.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
It gave me horrible never passing heartburn and reflux. Stopped after I quit.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Didn’t experience it with Zoloft, but got off of lexapro after 7 years (probably way too fast, but it had stopped working and I was over it). Had horrific anxiety and more depression than normal a few months after coming off so I started on Zoloft. Haven’t had a panic attack since Christmas but still feel “off”. I love the idea of not being on SSRIs anymore but I’m so nervous to ever try again.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
My sex drive.. I was on Sertraline for about 7 years, whilst on it my sex drive was very low, since coming off it i feel like my sex drive has never really recovered... F27
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Curious why you would think you’d be okay without it? I was a total disaster without it. Life is much more manageable now.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I tapered off in August and was still feeling vertigo like symptoms for 3 months after
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
i stopped taking my 200 mg daily for a couple of weeks when i was having some other health issues and i can feel myself losing my ability to interact normally in social situations. even people close to me said i seemed off or different and when i try to tell a joke or make a funny comment it doesn’t hit how i intended. its as if it is the reason i was normal. i also noticed how much it suppressed my emotions, i couldn’t cry for a good year ish and that was difficult but sertraline is the only ssri that has actually made a difference so i might have to deal with the emotional issues to keep the benefits of it
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I haven't been on zoloft for that long, but total time on SSRI is getting closer to 15 years for me. I tried the hyperbolic taper using liquid Lexapro while I was still on that and even that was rough. I reduced by 10% a month starting from 10mg, made it to 6.5mg before I turned back to the full dosage because of emotional instability (feeling like the world was ending). Having a few years worth of perspective from that experience, I can see now that it was the withdrawal induced suicidal ideation. The only times I've ever felt that in my life is either ramping up SSRI dosage or tapering down. How to deal with that in the moment you are experiencing it? I have no idea. It's the biggest thing keeping me on a SSRI honestly, which is pretty depressing.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I was on Zoloft for like 8 years due to panic disorder/anxiety/ocd, 150mg. I will say that in terms of it stopping all anxiety and panic disorder, it’s incredible. Like it fully stopped all of it. Overtime though, I realized the side effects weren’t worth the benefits. I gained so much weight, I was constantly tired/yawning, and the world just felt like it had less….color? Like someone turned the saturation down on everything. I realized I wasn’t able to experience those high-highs, and low-lows anymore, I rarely ever cried. It kind of emotionally blunts you after a while. It also absolutely will murder your sex drive, and make it take forever to cum. I spent an entire year tapering off, and I feel “human” again…and I love that I can experience a full range of emotions, have energy and be excited about things again. My anxiety has definitely come back...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Yes that getting off is impossible for me. I had 14 years. Only given it for PND. If only I’d known. Anyway I spent a year weaning off. After 6 months I was climbing the walls and had to go back on again. I know I’ll never get off it.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Weight gain, and high body temp. Realised a lot of weight I had attributed to my eating habits was actually down to the pill I eat the same and I’ve lost a lot of weight. Sad thing is I miss the weight. High temp, I was just always hot with little on (I live in the UK btw) but it was extreme this time last year I’d walk out to the store in a T-shirt and shorts locals looking at me and saying are you not cold and I’d just say no not really. On vacations to the Caribbean yes it was hot but I felt like I was on a deep roast. Love the pill my mood was so good but the side effects were too much. Sex life was ruined and terrible hand jitters, so bad others noticed I didn’t care for it all that much but it...
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Only been taking it for a year, now getting off of it and I’m starting to lose weight. I don’t binge eat till I puke, or go days without eating. I have a semi normal eating schedule. Also turns out it was causing me medical induce mania. I thought I was supposed to feel high, euphoric and colors were so VIVID! I was addicted lowkey, would genuinely freak without it. So…yeah :3
About a month off so far..lost 5 pounds, Zoloft has made me gain 40+ pounds due to the overeating and did I mention insulin resistance? Also starting to think my old psychiatrist just hated me because I told her all of this and she said it was normal. My new one is so sweet and he enjoys looking at my crochet projects
Also still getting over the brain fog…
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
my OCD picking got better, acne clearing up, having normal poops, no more constant fatigue, less executive dysfunction, more motivation. i'm feeling things i forgot i could, im tearing up at songs and movies. i'm healing things that zoloft didn't let me feel.
i am also more irritable and sound sensitive and reactive- but i am only about 2/3 weeks off and was in it for 5 years
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Read till the end: Almost non existent libido. As a woman, i was so dry down there couldn’t do anything without lube. Also very “balanced”. Never too happy, never too sad. But thats the whole point of Z. To reduce your nervous system from the over stimulation of anxiety or depression, it kind of numbs you. And sadly that numbing effect can extend a little further than needed sometimes. But with ALL that said, it also really helped me ground myself and gain a better understanding of my anxiety and what my triggers are etc. The clarity you gain during that period where you are “balanced” really helps you later on in life if you ever decide to taper off / eventually stop.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I’m def lazier, I’ve barely exercised since being on it (2+ months now) and before starting it went on average 4 times per week lol. So that’s a big change that I need to figure out. Tbh otherwise I find that my motivation to do stuff is unchanged. I do notice I get less stressed about issues at work and am able to take a step back more easily which I see as a plus
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Holy fuck the night sweats and the terrifying dreams. Abytime someone brings up Zoloft I have a heart palpitation. I would be 75% of the way asleep having dreams I was working and talking out loud in full sentences. The night sweats were so bad I had to get 43 blood tests over the course of two months because we couldn’t figure out if I had a thyroid problem or a tumor on a gland or something.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Less reactive, which is good. But I feel like there’s not as much of a positive reaction to things that used to make me happy. Fatigue and drowsiness. Weight gain. No motivation.
I got it primarily for anxiety and OCD tendencies and it helped those a lot on a temporary basis. But I kept wanting more relief, and kept asking for a dosage increase. But my doc suggested therapy instead, which has helped a lot. I’ve been tapering off and am down from 150 to 50 mg.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Right now feeling a little lazy, no sexual desire, no appetite.. these are all good because I feel like I was over indulging in everything before
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I only started a few weeks ago, but so far, I’ve experienced constant headaches, nausea, fatigue, feeling “numb” and endlessly bored.. none of my old hobbies interest me whatsoever, but weirdly enough, it feels easier to focus on my college courses. Oh, and no sexual desire most days. Despite the side effects that kinda suck, I feel a lot less anxious.. and despite feeling numb, it’s the first time in a long time that I actually feel peaceful. So there are definitely pros and cons.
I’m sure I’ll have different or changing side effects as time goes on, but that’s what it has been like so far.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
There is such a fine line. And it works different for everyone...about the time I realized I wanted to taper off was when I was in situations where you should Def be on guard and worried and I just didn't give a sh!t. I didn't like it I got on it for panic attacks which clearly it worked but I didn't like finding out it made me not care about anything. So I decided I would rather find an alternative to bring myself down from the panic attacks. And I can handle the depression I'd rather feel too much then nothing at all. But my biggest complaint? The diarrhea was insufferable. It was supposed to even out after the first few weeks. It never evened out so I'm like either I'm gonna be crying in the bathroom or crapping in the bathroom for the rest of my life lol. Just...
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I also experience the “nothing matters” thing, but I don’t think it’s the Zoloft. I think that’s the depression causing it, it’s a very common symptom of that.
I’m on 50mg and I am increasing to 75mg tonight. When I was on 50 (I started on this), I had tremors when I woke up, increased libido (apparently this is unusual), nausea for a week, and loss of motivation.
I just passed 2 months on Zoloft and honestly, keep going. I’m sure you know that already, but 25mg is a very small dose and honestly, even 50 hasn’t done too much for me. It’s definitely helped.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
This post a year later took the words out of my mouth. I’m on Zoloft. Have been for a long time. And then recently started Wellbutrin and gained a libido back. But the Wellbutrin isn’t doing much for me besides that. So now I’m super upset about losing the intimacy that me and my husband have been able to have being on Wellbutrin. But I feel careless as well, “lazy” but don’t want to be. It’s like a constant battle between things I want to be doing, things I SHOULD be doing, my anxiety, and carelessness. I WANT to do something but my carelessness makes me not want to while my anxiety makes me worried I should be doing such. The carelessness makes my SHOULD be doing things not matter so then my anxiety is in the glass house looking out like “wtf are you doing you HAVE to do...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I should preface that at 25mg to 100mg I had NO side effects luckily.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
5 months at 100mg, first month incredibly lazy, poor sleep, fatigued, dry mouth, body aches, however absolutely zero anxiety or panics. Sleep did improve, happiness improved, and thoroughly enjoying not being anxious anymore. But, I’d lost interest in most of my hobbies, had major fatigue (despite sleeping a lot), apathy, low motivation, brain fog, heat intolerance, not much interest in food. I wouldn’t say I’ve felt depressed on it at all though, just feelings of calm and numb. Have tapered down recently to 35mg, some sleep issues, but I can feel my enthusiasm and excitement building about getting on with my life again. Sertraline has been amazing for me, it got me through an extremely difficult time, and I’m so thankful. Im happy to stay on, if I can be anxiety free like I have been, as well as happy, motivated, productive, and the side effects at a much reduced...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I’ve been on it just over a year now, my dreams are absolutely wild but I love it haha. I also still can’t drink much alcohol, it gets me drunk super quick
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I am just recently off of it, but my biggest concern was my short term memory was basically fried. Could not remember shit at all from 5 seconds ago, constantly. It got to the point where the people around me were starting to notice and ask if I was alright. Still is that way and have no idea if it will last. Took it for 5 years, been off about a month!
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I've been on 50mg for like 6 months now. Initially had eye pains and some loose stomach. Had some mild insomnia when taking at night so switched to AM.
No real noticeable side effects now. Maybe a 10% decrease in erection strength.
Honestly this sub really dramatized the side effects in my opinion.
Majority of my paranoia disappeared, I stopped crying daily, stopped a lot of negative self talk.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Almost a year on, still get crazy night sweats (it’s winter and SO cold but I sleep with just a thin blanket or else I wake up soaked), short term memory is terrible (my memory was always something I was proud of), vivid dreams.
However I’m happy putting up with that for how much more mentally stable it’s made me 😅 While my short term memory is fried, it also means I’m not overthinking or ruminating, stuff mostly goes straight over my head - I’d definitely take this over how I was before!
Interesting to see most of the comments say similar side effects!
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I've been on 50mg for 3 weeks. I just started noticing a calmness over myself. It's definitely starting to help with my anxiety and overall depression.
The only downside I'm experiencing is a strange ringing in my ears. Very hard for me to get used to this, hope it fades and not worsens with time.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I have been on Sertraline for the better part of 13 years and I experience a variety of side effects. The most prominent of which consist of tremors in my hands, strong body odor when sweaty and night sweats. Some other ones that don't effect me as much include vivid dreams, excessive thirst/dehydration. While I'm not particularly fond of these side effects, I recognize that this drug has been extremely helpful in regulating my mood and emotions so in my personal experience the pro's outweigh the con's.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
150mg since 2019. Vivid dreams, night sweats, major brain fog, teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Also I’ve noticed I don’t cry as easily
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Wow I learned so much off this thread, it was actually so damn useful. I couldn’t figure out what was giving me such intense dreams, and now I know clearly a lot of people experienced the same.
I also just assumed my appetite increased from being more balanced?? Then I saw multiple people say their hunger cues are just off… holy smokes is that right up my alley. I usually just forget to eat, but I gained around 25 lbs being on it for a good year just because I don’t stop eating.
What an absolutely great post to find. I tapered off of zoloft because of my weight issue being so ridiculous and think I’m gonna try something else, I think. Unless maybe a lower dosage helps with the hunger cues….?
TBD! Thanks for speaking up people!!!!
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
Constant jaw clenching and a weird “shiver twitch” (feels like a shiver up my spine that makes me shake my head/shoulders for a sec like dogs do when they sneeze). Also the brain fog/ forgetting what I’m doing as I’m about to do it.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
On 100mg about 6 months now? And still have bouts of diarrhea, I am so sweaty (which is awful when you gots tig bitties) and as a lot of people have already said, the got damn dreams. I've started trying to write some of the really vivid ones down when I first wake up and when I read the notes later I'm like wtf even was that and me and my partner often get a good laugh out of them, he describes them as like an Old Spice advert lmao. Some of them are weird, some are funny, sometimes I get a really nice one, and then some are just insanely scary. My cat has started waking me up when it's a bad one, which is kinda cute I guess.
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I was still super tired after adjusting to it for a while. I finally started tapering off and though I still get tired, it's not quite the same level.
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I’m at almost two years on sertraline and the only side effect I still suffer through daily is the fucking sweating 😭
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
I have been on it for 12.5 years, I still experience: vivid dreams, night sweats, occasional insomnia, fatigue, and insane appetite if I’m not on top of my protein
ID
Neutral
1/1/1970
8 years here, 200mg. I still have intermittent night sweats.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Much less crippling anxiety and zero panic attacks
ID
Mixed
1/1/1970
Im on my 6th or 7th year of it now and the side effects I have noticed are;
Major brain fog
Night sweats
Tiredness
Major jaw clenching
Weight gain (Always hungry)
Or if I miss a dose I’ll feel so anxious, shaky and emotional
Also vivid dreams but also consistent nightmares
I love sertraline but it’s definitely something your body becomes easily and quickly dependent on - just need to way up your pros and cons ie. For me I’d rather deal with these side effects than what my issue was beforehand to even cause me to go on these (for reference I’m on 100mg)
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
fatigue and dreams
love the dreams, they’re so fun lol
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I started feeling like I didn't have feelings anymore. So I let my doc know and we reduced it half of what it was and now I'm reducing that to "As needed" Other than that it's been great! Even Stepping down from 100Mg to 50 wasn't bad!
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I've been on sertraline for several years now and feel that I was immensely lucky in having no lasting side effects. The initial transition to starting it was horrendous - I was violently ill for maybe the first week, but maintenance has been a nonissue. No significant weight gain, no weird dreams, and my memory was always bad, so there were no huge changes there either.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I’ve been on sertraline for several years. I no longer experience any noticeable symptoms
ID
Negative
1/1/1970
I used 25mg for 2 days. The first night I dreamed alot and had some broken sleep. Morning i had direhea and was a little tired. Mid day I started to over think and worry. Night time i had a increase in anxiety lots of dreams and could barely get out of bed in the morning. Feel like trash. I stopped taking it after 2 days. Made me feel worst than ever. My Dr told me to get off and use my adavain for now. I think I'm just gonna stick to adavain as needed and see a therapist first before I try a new antidepressant
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I was terrified to start it too. I was writing posts just like this and reading everyone else’s experiences incessantly. The first two weeks were tough, but stick to it. Ask your doctor to prescribe hydroxyzine to help with the adjustment, it will help relax you and slow your racing thoughts. Taking this medication has helped me SO much, there’s so many things in life that I just DO now instead of worrying about them. You’ve got this!
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I’m on sertraline for anxiety and depression. The only side effects I had were nausea and dizziness for the first few weeks. I took it before bed cuz it makes me sleepy. I also have a nervous system disorder so I was told by my dr I would probably experience mild nausea and dizziness.
Every person has different experiences with side effects. But I’ve never met anyone that actually had increased anxiety or suicidal thoughts when starting sertraline.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Been on Sertraline for 4 months now and it's working for me. Took a few weeks to kick in so I guess you just have grit your teeth until it kicks in. I excersised everyday during the 1st few weeks which helped. You'll get there and be ok justvhang in there. All the best 👍
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I've been on Zoloft for almost 2 years and had no issues at all. Every anxiety and anti-depressant has that warning. Don't let it scare you into not trying it.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I've been on sertraline for 2 years now, with a few month period off of it in between as I couldn't get my prescription renewed. Currently on 75mg but my highest dose was 100mg which I might switch to. I have had a really good experience with it and plan to continue taking it. I feel way more clear in the head and have less moments where I feel controlled by my anxiety and depression. Definitely more energy to be productive as well. My only complaints are the weight gain. I didn't experience it as strongly on the 100mg compared to the 75mg. Not sure if its because I have more of an appetite or if its causing me to hold onto weight more. Also definitely less of a sex drive but that doesn't bother me. I have noticed that if I miss a dose or forget to take it...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Hi! Sertraline was also my first medication and I am still on it. I put it off for years because I was so scared. I wish I would have started it sooner!
Anyways, the first couple weeks I had headaches, stomach problems, and my brain felt a bit “laggy” if that makes sense. After a couple weeks for me they were still there a bit but eventually went back to normal. I was really scared for any mental side effects, but for me personally I didn’t experience anything like that. My anxiety was debilitating so I was so afraid of it getting worse but again I had no issues. Personally Zoloft literally changed my life
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
My husband has been on Sertraline for years, and honestly it’s been a godsend. He was in a terrible state trying to manage his anxiety and depression after coming out of rehab for his alcoholism. The only side effects he experienced were nausea and tiredness in the first few weeks. He took it at night so he could take advantage of the tiredness to sleep through the nausea. He’s been taking it in the morning now for 10 years, and he credits the Sertraline with helping him to stay sober.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I've been on Sertraline for about 4 months. The first 2 weeks were the worst, mainly a dizzy/lightheaded feeling, nausea, and some insomnia. My anxiety and depression did not worsen. After the few weeks, I have felt good. Focused, motivated, and able to function. I still had some mild insomnia up until the last couple weeks. Now I have been sleeping deep through the night and waking up feeling pretty good. It's definitely been very beneficial for me.
Not everyone reacts the same way, give your body some time to adjust, and hopefully it works for you.
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
I was on sertraline for about a year and a half due to work stress causing me to have severe anxiety (including panic attacks at the mere thought of going into work). Sertraline definitely helped, though it took about a month for me to notice much of a change (probably because of the low dose I started at). I did notice some side effects including nausea, difficulty sleeping, inability to orgasm and fatigue, but overall, it was worth it for me because it really helped stabilize my anxiety. I eventually requested weaning off and stopping the medication because I changed jobs, went to therapy and was managing my stress well enough that I felt I could do it without medication. My anxiety occasionally rears its head but it's nowhere near what it was before. I'm thankful for sertraline for helping me get back to some type of "normal" when things...
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
My therapist told me many with anxiety have the fear of taking it for the first time. Since I told her I took it before I was like “yeah I’ll take it why will I be scared?” Then I actually stalled on taking it. First off my thoughts were “what will change if I take it?” I felt as though it would disrupt everything I’m USE to. But once I took it, it did help relieve my anxiety. Please take it, I know it’ll feel scary at first but that’s your anxiety controlling you
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
The first two weeks were the hardest part. I personally experienced increased anxiety at night. However, after those weeks I feel more social, my pangs of anxiety feel muted, and I’m not constantly looping doom thoughts in my head anymore. The negative side effect that bothers me the most is the lethargy. However, I choose to stay on the medication because it has drastically improved my quality of life. Best of luck to you! ❤️
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
Hi so I’ve been on Sertraline for about a year now and honestly the outcome is so worth it. Yeah you do feel a little crappy but after those couple of weeks things do become more manageable. Just remember to be gentle and patient with yourself and this whole community is here to support you. Remember the anxiety is just a feeling, it’s not going to kill you, it’s just uncomfortable. Don’t give in to the anxiety, don’t give it the power to control you because YOU ARE IN CONTROL. You’ve got this and we are all here to be your personal cheerleaders! Xx
ID
Positive
1/1/1970
11 Weeks on Sertraline (50mg) — finally feeling calm again Hey everyone, Just wanted to post an update for anyone still in the tough early stages. I’ve been on sertraline 50mg for about 11 weeks now, and honestly, it was rough right up until week 10. I had constant anxiety, intrusive thoughts, guilt, and that horrible background tension that just wouldn’t lift. Then, around the 10-week mark, things suddenly started to shift. My anxiety has calmed right down, I’m not ruminating anymore, and my mind feels quieter than it has in months. It’s actually strange not to feel anxious — like my brain doesn’t know what to do with the calm yet. If you’re reading this in the early weeks and thinking it’s not working, please don’t lose hope. It really can take a long time to click, but it’s worth sticking with. For those further along — did the...
Effects Overview
Side effects and benefits reported by users
Anxiety Management
Anxiety Management encompasses various strategies and interventions aimed at reducing anxiety symptoms. Users frequently report feeling calmer and experiencing fewer panic attacks. Common items include reduced anxiety levels, improved management of anxiety disorders, and stabilization of emotional responses. This category reflects the importance of mental health support in alleviating anxiety-related challenges.
Examples: reduced anxiety, stopped panic attacks, improved anxiety management
19%
reported
Mood Improvement
Mood Improvement focuses on enhancing emotional well-being and overall happiness. Users often report feeling more balanced and experiencing a greater sense of joy. Key examples include improved mood, increased happiness, and better emotional regulation. This category highlights the significance of emotional health in fostering positive life experiences.
Examples: improved mood, increased happiness, better emotional experience
16%
reported
Energy and Motivation
Energy and Motivation reflect the enhancement of physical vitality and drive. Users frequently report feeling more energized and motivated to engage in daily activities. Common examples include increased energy levels, reduced fatigue, and improved overall quality of life. This category emphasizes the importance of physical health in sustaining motivation.
Examples: increased energy, more motivation, boosted energy
9%
reported
Emotional Regulation
Emotional Regulation involves managing and responding to emotional experiences effectively. Users often report improved emotional control and reduced negative self-talk. Important examples include better emotional regulation and mental stability. This category underscores the significance of emotional health in achieving a balanced life.
Examples: better emotional control, reduced self-hate, reduced negative self talk
6%
reported
Social Interaction
Social Interaction pertains to the quality and effectiveness of interpersonal relationships. Users frequently report enhanced social skills and emotional expressiveness. Key examples include improved social interactions and increased emotional range. This category highlights the importance of social connections in overall well-being.
Examples: improved social interactions, better social interactions, increased emotional range
5%
reported
Sleep Improvement
Sleep Improvement focuses on enhancing the quality and duration of sleep. Users often report experiencing better sleep patterns and reduced insomnia. Common examples include improved sleep quality and fewer sleep disturbances. This category emphasizes the critical role of sleep in maintaining overall health.
Examples: better sleep, reduced insomnia, improved sleep
4%
reported
Overall Well-being
Overall Well-being encompasses a holistic view of health, including physical, mental, and emotional aspects. Users frequently report improvements in their quality of life and a sense of hope. Key examples include life-saving experiences and enhanced life satisfaction. This category highlights the interconnectedness of various health dimensions.
Examples: improved quality of life, life-saving, hope for improvement
4%
reported
Cognitive Function
Cognitive Function refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension. Users often report enhanced focus and clarity in their thinking. Important examples include improved decision-making abilities and better clarity of thought. This category emphasizes the significance of cognitive health in daily functioning.
Examples: better focus, improved clarity, improved decision making
3%
reported
Physical Health
Physical Health encompasses the overall condition of the body and its systems. Users frequently report improvements in physical health and well-being. Key examples include normal bowel movements and clearer skin. This category highlights the importance of maintaining physical health for overall quality of life.
Examples: improved physical health, normal bowel movements, cleared acne
3%
reported