How Does It Feel to Take Zoloft? 3 People Describe Their Experiences
Key takeaways:
Zoloft is the brand name for sertraline, an antidepressant medication.
It’s primarily used to treat depression, but it can also help treat other mental health conditions.
Those who take it say it can improve their mood and reduce anxiety.
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Zoloft is the brand name for a medication called sertraline.
It is an antidepressant medication primarily used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It works by increasing the levels of a chemical called serotonin in the brain, which helps to improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety.
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Those who take it may experience less sadness, worry, and feelings of being overwhelmed. Some people also report side effects, such as nausea or drowsiness. Here’s how three people describe what it feels like to take it.
Navigating the world with a new lease on life
Brooke Knisley has experienced depression for years.
As a teenager, she took Zoloft (sertraline) for a while to treat it.
When she was 25, she fell out of a tree as tall as a two-story building.
“I ended up in a 10-day coma with severe traumatic brain injury,” she says.
Brooke, who’s now 32 and lives in Oceanside, California, learned her brain injury meant her depression could get worse. So she began taking generic Zoloft again and has been on it consistently for about 8 years.
She says she’s happy with how well it has worked.
For instance, after the accident, she recalls, “I kept thinking over and over again: ‘If I get out of bed, terrible things are gonna happen, so I should stay here.’” That no longer happens.
When she started taking it, she didn’t experience side effects — such as nausea, diarrhea, or dry mouth — unless she took it on an empty stomach.
“It’s just such a stark difference between when I wasn’t on it versus now,” she says.
Taking Zoloft during pregnancy and going ‘from darkness to light’
Danie Watson-Goetz also takes Zoloft for her depression. She started taking it when she was almost 10 weeks pregnant.
At first, she couldn’t tell the difference between side effects caused by the medication versus pregnancy. “I was in my first trimester and I was absolutely miserable. One day, I threw up 17 times.”
Seven weeks later, she says, “I feel amazing. I really really do. The side effects in the beginning were awful, but now it’s really, really working.”
Her anxiety and depression haven’t completely disappeared, she says, but she feels like her emotions have leveled off.
“I feel like myself for the first time in a long time,” she says. “I have energy to get up and do things. I can handle things a lot better.”
She resisted taking medication during her pregnancy, but she says her obstetrician and her therapist agreed it could be beneficial.
“I was just in such a dark place,” she says, “And I’m not there anymore.”
Stopping intrusive thoughts in their tracks
Zoloft can treat different conditions related to mood or behavior. Sometimes, it’s prescribed to stop intrusive thoughts.
For Corey Seiderman, sertraline has been a mainstay for about 10 years to treat his obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Corey, a 33-year-old software product manager, says the medication helps to “ease the process of controlling compulsions, whether it’s physical or mental.”
Since on sertraline, Corey says he feels occasional side effects, such as drowsiness. But, “not all the time, and nothing major.” He’s careful to take the amount his provider prescribes on schedule.
“I tried just not taking it on my own when I was in college, which was not a good idea,” he says. “Now I’m a lot more wary about skipping it.”
Corey says his lifestyle choices also help him manage his health. “Exercise is a big one,” he says. “I also have a dog. I feel like that’s always good for mental health.”
What does the pharmacist say?
Christina Aungst, PharmD
Pharmacy Editor
Zoloft (sertraline) is one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. It belongs to a group of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These antidepressants work by raising levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is believed to play a role in mood and anxiety.
Zoloft is typically taken once a day, around the same time every day. Some people find it makes them drowsy, especially when they first start it. In this case, taking your dose in the evening can help limit daytime drowsiness. Other people find Zoloft can keep them awake. In this instance, taking it in the morning can help prevent sleeping troubles.
Zoloft can be taken with or without food. But nausea is a common side effect of the medication. Taking your doses with food can help cut down on that upset stomach feeling. Staying hydrated while taking Zoloft is also important, because it can make you sweat more than usual.
Zoloft takes some time to start working. It may take about 4 to 8 weeks for the medication to fully kick in. So try to be patient if you’re not feeling a difference right away. If you’re still not seeing any improvement in your symptoms after several weeks, let your healthcare provider know. They may suggest trying a different medication.
It’s important not to stop Zoloft suddenly or change how you’re taking it without a provider’s OK. Stopping or lowering your dose too quickly can lead to flu-like withdrawal symptoms. If you need to adjust your dose or get off Zoloft, your provider can help you slowly lower your dose to limit withdrawal symptoms.
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