Side effect of zoloft

[Anonymous]

I started my first dose last night (anxiety and some related depression). I have never been on these meds before. It's a low dose but woke up in a terrible fog this a.m. Is this normal?

I'm reading the side effects on the insert and it seems it is, along with a LONG list of other things. Now Im wondering a) how long this will last and b) are the side effects worth it?

Anyone have a positive experience on zoloft?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been on Zoloft for years and it’s fine. Don’t read the insert.

[Anonymous]

Was this the first dose you took? I doubt that it had any effect that quickly.

However, drowsiness is a common side-effect especially initially. I take my meds at night to help me sleep actually. It can last a couple of months but if you can't deal with it talk to your doctor and maybe she can put you on something different.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is different. Side effects can happen very quickly but the worst will generally occur in the first 2 weeks. I find the first 2 weeks very challenging and will quarter my dose and go up very slowly to help mitigate that.

Zoloft is activating for me, so I take it in the morning. If you find after a month or two that you don’t like how you feel on it, then I’d ask to switch to another SSRI or similar. They all affect you differently. For example, Lexapro made me foggy but Zoloft does not. I just feel more hopeful and happy, and life does not feel like a painful slog.

For me, the side effects of meds are better than the side effects of depression/anxiety. I’ve gone off them a few times but always wind up back on them. When I’m depressed I find myself hoping my life would just spontaneously be over. That’s a pretty bleak side effect in and of itself. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had a really positive experience with Zoloft. Like for the PP, it’s activating for me so I take it in the morning. I did have some mild side effects (lightheaded, GI issues), but those went away after a few days. You have to give it more time, but also there are many other antidepressants to try if this one doesn’t work out. My DS didn’t like Zoloft or Celexa but seems to be doing well on Cymbalta.

[Anonymous]

My husband gets GI issues at the beginning of Zoloft (he went off and back on).
Said after a week, he’s fine.

Give it 1-2 weeks if you can

[Anonymous]

It made me super-drowsy too. And horribly nauseous. Ended up switching to duloxetine (Cymbalta), which was much better.

[Anonymous]

I've had a great experience with Zoloft but lots of people have to find the right med with trial and error, and maybe this isn't the one for you. That said, I would (1) give it some time to work before making a decision, and (2) ramp up slowly. I do the slow ramp up with anything I'm prescribed (except short-term things like antibiotics) -- e.g., take a 1/4 pill every other day, then 1/4 pill every day, then 1/4 and 1/2 every other day, and so on. Also, fiddle with whether it is a morning or evening med for you. It seemed to keep me up so I take in the AM.

[Anonymous]

I love Zoloft. It has been lifechanging for me. I think for a week or two it made me sleepy and has caused some minor GI issues, but these are so minor that it is totally worth it. Definitely give it at least 2 weeks. Then reassess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Zoloft. It has been lifechanging for me. I think for a week or two it made me sleepy and has caused some minor GI issues, but these are so minor that it is totally worth it. Definitely give it at least 2 weeks. Then reassess.

Thanks. I def had some GI issues today, too. NOthing horrible but present.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a positive experience on zoloft?

Not me. Horrible panic attacks, stomach stuff, sleep problems, brain fog, insomnia then trying to wean with the brain zapps? NEVER again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Zoloft. It has been lifechanging for me. I think for a week or two it made me sleepy and has caused some minor GI issues, but these are so minor that it is totally worth it. Definitely give it at least 2 weeks. Then reassess.

I was on it for a few years - I had almost the exact positive experience as the above poster- once I adjusted it worked well and I never felt tired or "drugged" - just felt better. My side effects were I gained a few pounds that came right off when I went off of it. Also - SSRIs impact sexual function so that is kind of a bummer but you can figure it out....(just skip it if you want to have good sex).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a positive experience on zoloft?

Not me. Horrible panic attacks, stomach stuff, sleep problems, brain fog, insomnia then trying to wean with the brain zapps? NEVER again.

Yeah, it’s been great for me. I stay on the very lowest dose I can be on to see effects, and only go up in dosage if I’m having an anxiety spiral of some kind. My side effects are increased hunger (so I have to pay attention to what I’m eating to not gain weight); less intense orgasms (to solve this, I skip doses when I plan to have sex - I can miss a few days and not have any issues); and night sweats (staying on a lower dose makes this pretty manageable). The higher the dosage, the more these side effects interfere, but I do pretty good on a low dose most of the time. I think all of this benefits from experimentation, which can be hard to do when you’re at the mercy of your provider. Like, they’re not going to tell you to skip doses.

[Anonymous]

Been on it 12 years for general anxiety. No side effects that I know of. Makes life so much better.

I don't know why I have to say this, but if a medication is not working for you, tell your doctor and they will put you on something else. There's a lot of trial and error in prescribing psychiatric drugs.

[Anonymous]

Take it in the morning.