Multiple factors can change the way your body responds to an antidepressant, including: Drug or alcohol use. Illicit drug use and alcohol can cause strong mood changes, which can make antidepressants ineffective. Pregnancy.
Hypomanic or Manic Episodes
Zoloft can trigger a hypomanic or manic episode in a person with bipolar disorder. 12 Before taking Zoloft, tell your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed or suspected of having bipolar disorder, or have a family history of it.
The prescribing information for Zoloft says not to drink alcohol while taking it. This is also true for other SSRIs.
“Your sertraline is working if you feel calmer. Your negative moods or anxiety will not be as intense. You should be enjoying activities more. And your sleeping and eating habits should be more stable,” says Doughty.
One of the widely-reported side effects of SSRIs is 'blunting', where patients report feeling emotionally dull and no longer finding things as pleasurable as they used to. Between 40-60% of patients taking SSRIs are believed to experience this side effect.
A person may experience withdrawal symptoms due to chemical changes in the brain. The body adjusts to changes that an antidepressant such as Zoloft may cause. Stopping or reducing the antidepressant can throw the brain into a state of imbalance. This can have a physical and mental impact.
It has been shown to reduce fear, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and panic attacks. It may also lessen the desire to perform repetitive tasks (compulsions like hand-washing, counting, and checking) that obstruct everyday life. Sertraline is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is selective.
The starting Zoloft dosage for depression in adults is 50 mg by mouth once daily. If needed, your healthcare provider may raise your dose by 25 mg to 50 mg per day once a week until you find the dose that works best for you. The maximum recommended dosage is 200 mg once daily.
Common side effects during the first week or two of taking Zoloft include nausea, headache, fatigue, and constipation. These side effects should go away once your body gets used to the medication. If you continue to have side effects after a few weeks or experience any serious side effects, call your doctor or 911.
A common side effect is Zoloft weight gain. Not everyone experiences sertraline weight gain. Much of the time, research shows that body weight gain is modest or temporary. That said, it's still important to understand the potential side effect and discuss it with your doctor before starting treatment.
Zoloft (sertraline) "For those suffering from OCD, bad thoughts, overthinking, depression, terrible headaches, give ZOLOFT a chance. First month don't expect much.
The most common side effect of sertraline in clinical trials was nausea. About 1 in 4 people taking sertraline experience it. It's most likely to occur when you first start sertraline or right after a dose increase. Luckily, nausea with sertraline doesn't tend to last.
Your doctor will advise you how long to take sertraline for, as it depends on why you are taking it. For depression it might be six months, for OCD it might be 12 months and for other anxiety related conditions such as PTSD and panic disorder it might be up to 18 months.
The medication itself will be out of your body in 2-4 days, but making a full recovery back to normal may take several months. The readjustment period will last at least 3 months. Still, there are some common timeframes. Acute Zoloft withdrawal peaks, on average, between 2-4 days after last dose.
It's important not to miss any of your doses, as this could make your treatment less effective. You may also get withdrawal symptoms as a result of missing a dose of the medicine. If you do miss 1 of your doses, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
On antidepressant medication, it is possible that you might experience a sense of feeling numb and less like yourself. Though the symptoms of depression have decreased, there may be a sense that other emotional responses – laughing or crying, for example – are more difficult to experience.
Zoloft works in the brain by increasing the availability of serotonin. Serotonin is one of the brain's neurotransmitters, sending signals between neurons that affect your mood.
The timeline of when you might start feeling the effects of Zoloft can vary from person to person. Some people experience relief almost immediately, while others might need several weeks before noticing any changes in their mood or behavior. On average, Zoloft can take 1 – 6 weeks to start working.
If your prescription dosage is too high (which is rare), you may feel physically ill, more anxious, or experience reduced libido. Talk with your provider if you're concerned that your antidepressant isn't working well for you.
SSRIs are usually the first choice medicine for depression because they generally have fewer side effects than most other types of antidepressant.
Once you've been taking Zoloft for long enough to feel its effects, you should start to experience feelings of relief, relaxation, and calm as the weight of your anxiety begins to lift. Some other changes that you might notice are an increase in your energy levels and appetite.
Sertraline boosts Serotonin levels, thereby making you feel confident, happy, and energized.