Sunday, March 17, 2024

Does Zoloft Help With Depression

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How Long Will I Need To Take Sertraline For

Do Antidepressants Work? (Help, I’m Depressed)

You will need to take sertraline for several months after you feel better, otherwise your symptoms can come back.

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.

If you stop taking the sertraline too soon, there is more chance that your symptoms will come back.

If you have bipolar disorder, it is likely that the doctor will advise for the sertraline to be stopped sooner. This is because, in bipolar disorder, there is a risk of your mood becoming too high if an antidepressant is used for too long.

See your doctor if you want to stop sertraline.

How Do They Compare On Side Effects

You may experience side effects while taking Zoloft and Prozac. But these are often mild and temporary and may last a few weeks. The medications have very similar side effects, but according to clinical trials, Prozac is more likely to cause headaches, while Zoloft is more likely to cause dry mouth, stomach problems, and sexual side effects.

Common side effects include:

  • Sexual problems, such as decreased libido and ejaculation problems

  • Dry mouth

  • Diarrhea

If the side effects are bothering you, talk to your provider. They may be able to adjust the dose to minimize the effects or change your medication.

Some side effects of Zoloft and Prozac can be serious. These effects are rare, but if you think you are having them, notify your doctor as soon as possible.

These rare side effects include:

  • Suicidal thoughts. This is more common in younger adults.

  • Heart rhythm issues. If you have a heart condition, Zoloft or Prozac could worsen your condition.

  • Worsening of symptoms. On rare occasions, these medications can make anxiety worse.

If you are pregnant, let your doctor know before you start or stop taking Zoloft or Prozac. Although studies show low risk to your unborn baby, you should use these drugs with caution, especially in the third trimester.

What Else Can Sertraline Treat Besides Depression

Sertraline is commonly used to treat depression. But, aside from depression, sertraline can also be used for:

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder : OCD is a type of anxiety that can cause someone to have repetitive behaviors or unreasonable thoughts in an attempt to lower anxiety levels.

  • Panic disorder :PD is a type of anxiety that causes someone to have multiple anxiety attacks. Symptoms may include sweating, fear, and shortness of breath.

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder : PTSD is a condition that happens after directly or indirectly experiencing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include nightmares, flashbacks, and insomnia.

  • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder : PMDD is a condition that happens in the days before someone assigned female at birth starts their period. Symptoms may include fatigue, irritability, and mood swings.

  • Social anxiety disorder : Also known as social phobia, this is when someone feels extremely anxious in social situations. One example of SAD is performance anxiety.

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What Other Information Should I Know

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking sertraline.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

When To Go To The Hospital

Zoloft (Sertraline) Drug Information

If you have taken more sertraline than the dosage recommended by the doctor who prescribed it to you, you must get medical help immediately even if you do not feel any different. Go to A& E. Take your medicine with you to show to the doctors. Tell them how much you have taken. Get a friend to go with you, if you can, just in case you feel ill on the way.

You might get some of the following signs:

  • drowsiness
  • dizziness
  • in very rare cases, going unconscious

You are also at risk of getting serotonin syndrome. Symptoms include a high fever, agitation, confusion, trembling, or weird movements of your muscles. This is rare, but you should watch out for it.

If you have any thoughts of taking your own life or of other ways of hurting yourself, go straight to a hospital with your medicine. This may be a side effect of taking sertraline, and you need urgent help. This can happen to anyone but is more likely to happen if you are under 25 years old.

Go to a doctor or hospital straight away if you get any of the following symptoms:

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Any Positive Experiences Of Zoloft Controlling Anxiety & Depression

Psyched_Out_Kim

There’s many negative stories out there about Zoloft, so I’m wondering if anyone can share a positive experience from taking it.

I was on it many years ago, but don’t remember the start up effects, how long it took to work, etc. The time has come to use this medication again, but my anxiety is so bad that I’m afraid to take it. I do use Xanax, but I can no longer pretend that that’s enough to help me. There’s a lot of depression involved as well, so my back is against the wall.

Thanks for reading,

  • 4 years ago

    I’ve only been on sertraline for a week on 50mg. I only had a few sides lasting a couple of days, headache and dizziness. Still experiencing a bit of anxiety but I feel it’s doing something. my mood has lifted. I’m increasing in another week, just hoping I don’t have any bad side effects.

    Give it a go.. let me know how it goes

  • Posted 4 years ago

    Good for you! I have a friend who reacted the same way, very little side ffects, and she felt like she could come off after only three months. Her depression never cam back! You are lucky one

  • Posted 4 years ago

    You should try another med. I didn’t get on with flouxtine.. but some people swear by it. Everyone reacts differently.

  • Posted 4 years ago

    I’ve read that the first week can be okay, but side effects get worse the following weeks as the med builds up. That’s the part I’m afraid of, especially the increased anxiety.

How Will Sertraline Make Me Feel At First

Even though sertraline is a preferred medication to treat depression, it might actually make you feel worse before you feel better.

After you start taking sertraline or after your dose is changed thoughts of suicide are possible. This mostly happens in people ages 24 or younger. If these thoughts occur, they usually happen during the first few months of treatment and go away with time. If youre taking SSRIs like sertraline and have thoughts of suicide, talk to your healthcare provider right away.

You may notice other side effects within the first days to weeks of starting sertraline. These also tend to go away with time but often include nausea, diarrhea, and dry mouth.

Other side effects of sertraline are discussed later on.

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Can Zoloft Make You Gain Weight

Yes, Zoloft can make you gain weight. Up to twenty-five percent of most medications including the popular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, drugs like Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft can cause a weight of ten pounds or more. However, this weight gain will be evident only after about six months of consumption of these drugs. Other antidepressant medicines like tricyclics and MAO inhibitors may also cause patients to gain weight with both long-term and short-term use. Both appetite and metabolism get affected.

These medicines sometimes bring about a carbohydrate craving that gets hard to control. Also, while consuming antidepressants, everything can seem more pleasurable and hence you might tend to overeat which could go unnoticed.

How To Take Zoloft

Zoloft 1 month review| side effects| results| identifying depression and anxiety.

Use Zoloft exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take sertraline with or without food, at the same time each day.

Sertraline liquid must be diluted with a liquid right before you take it. Read and carefully follow all mixing instructions provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you need help.

Measure the mixed medicine with the supplied syringe or a dose-measuring device .

Sertraline may cause false results on a drug-screening urine test. Tell the laboratory staff that you use sertraline.

Do not stop using sertraline suddenly, or you could have unpleasant symptoms . Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.

Store tightly closed at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

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What Are The Most Serious Side Effects Of Sertraline

Rare but serious side effects are possible while taking sertraline. Side effects that may require medical attention if experienced can include:

  • Serotonin syndrome: This is a very rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can happen when your body has too much serotonin. Symptoms may include hallucinations, a rapid heartbeat, and seizures.

  • Bleeding: SSRIs like sertraline can raise your risk for bleeding, especially stomach bleeds. Symptoms of a stomach bleed may include stomach cramps, dark stools, and blood in your vomit.

  • Low sodium levels: Sertraline can lower the amount of sodium in your body. If sodium levels get too low, its possible to have trouble with concentration, confusion, fainting, and more.

  • Certain heart problems: In very rare cases, sertraline can greatly raise your heart rate or cause it to be abnormal.

If you have any of these side effects or other ones that are bothersome, seek medical attention right away.

Doctors Can Help With Antidepressant Side Effects

Most antidepressants are well tolerated, but side effects are a possibility. When first starting antidepressants, some people have mild stomach upset, headache or fatigue, but these side effects often diminish in the first few weeks as the body adjusts. Some people gain weight, though many stay weight neutral, and some even lose weight, Dr. Cox says.

Problems with sexual desire or function are fairly common, but this isnt inevitable or irreparable, she says.

A lot of patients feel nervous talking about that with their provider, but I want people to feel free to talk to me about that, she says. There are things we can do to help, such as adding a low dose of another medication.

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You Should Only Take Sertraline As Agreed With Your Doctor

You will get the best effects from your medicine if you take it every day at the dose prescribed by your doctor.

Make sure that you know your dose. If it is not written on the label, check with your pharmacist or doctor.

You will usually take it once a day. When you start treatment, it is recommended that you take it in the morning and not at night, in case it affects your sleep.

To help you to take you tablet regularly you should choose a time that you will remember. This could be a mealtime or when you brush your teeth.

You will start with a low dose, which will be increased slowly to a dose that is effective for you. This may take several days or weeks.

You can take it with or without food.

Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water – it tastes bitter if you chew it.

Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking sertraline – the juice increases the amount of sertraline absorbed from your gut.

Variables That Influence The Onset Of Zolofts Action

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There are likely multiple variables that influence the length of time it takes for Zoloft to start working OR a person to notice Zoloft working. Variables that likely influence time it takes for Zoloft to work include: Zoloft dosage user genetics prior medication use concurrent substance use preexisting medical conditions and/or self-awareness.

A person who is very self-aware and medication-sensitive may notice Zoloft kicking in on the first day of treatment. On the other hand, a person who starts treatment at too low of a dose and/or lacks self-awareness might not notice any effect until 4 to 8 weeks of treatment.

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What Is Zoloft What Does It Do

Zoloft is a prescription-only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor . SSRIs work by decreasing the re-uptake, or reabsorption, of serotonin into the brain, thus making more of it available.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, sexual desire, social behavior, and other necessities of everyday functioning, such as memory and sleep. Having more serotonin available in the brain allows many of those with depression and other psychiatric disorders to function more effectively.

Zoloft is used most commonly to treat depression, along with obsessive-compulsive disorder , post-traumatic stress disorder , panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder .

Zoloft is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the U.S. and the second most commonly prescribed psychiatric medication. Millions of adults take it every year.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

SSRI drugs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and are often considered the first line of defense against depression. They increase your brain’s level of a neurotransmitter called serotonin. This neurotransmitter is associated with feeling happy and content. SSRI side effects tend to be mild, and depression symptoms improve significantly for about 60% of people with moderate to severe depression.

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How Long Does It Take For Zoloft To Work Or Kick In

Zoloft is a selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor prescribed for a variety of medical conditions, including: major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. On occasion, Zoloft is even used off-label to help manage symptoms of premenstrual syndrome , body dysmorphic disorder, vascular headaches, and premature ejaculation.

Though the effectiveness of Zoloft is generally regarded as analogous to other antidepressant medications, one meta-analysis published in The Lancet reported that Zoloft may be superior to a majority of serotonergic antidepressants in terms of efficacy and tolerability among adults with major depressive disorder. Because Zoloft is an effective treatment option for numerous conditions, and is sold for a low cost due to its generic status it remains a popular medication.

In the event that youve been prescribed Zoloft to treat a medical condition, you might be wondering how long itll take for the medication to work or fully kick in. In fact, youve probably been Googling how long it took for Zoloft to start working and are finding all sorts of mixed reviews: some suggesting that it works rapidly and others noting that it takes weeks to reach full effect.

Is It Better To Take Sertraline In The Morning Or At Night

Fluoxetine (Prozac) & Sertraline (Zoloft) for Depression: UNDERSTAND the Benefits & Side Effects

It depends on the person. Sertralines effectiveness doesnt depend on the time its taken, but your sleep schedule may be better if you take it at a certain time of day.

For some people, sertraline can make you feel tired and sleepy. For others, sertraline can cause insomnia or difficulty sleeping. But, thankfully, sertraline tends to cause less drowsiness than other antidepressants.

If sertraline makes you feel tired or sleepy, try taking it in the evening before bed. If sertraline makes it harder for you to fall asleep, try taking it in the morning after waking up.

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What Are The User Reviews For Zoloft Sertraline

User Reviews for Sertraline to treat Anxiety and Stress Also known as: Zoloft Sertraline has an average rating of 7.2 out of 10 from a total of 611 ratings for the treatment of Anxiety and Stress. 61% of those users who reviewed Sertraline reported a positive effect, while 18% reported a negative effect.

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Rated For Depression Report

I started on 25mg if Sertraline a year ago and have worked up to 150mg. I take it along with Aripiprizole. Im a 17 year old female with depression and anxiety. At first this drug makes me feel a little bit worse the first 2 weeks of a new dose and I get heart palpitations. However, after the first two weeks I feel way better and I cant cry!! My panicked attacks happen less often and are less severe. My depression has also eased off quite significantly. I would highly recommend.

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Antidepressants Take Four To Six Weeks To Reach Full Effectiveness

When you start taking an antidepressant, you probably wont feel better right away. It takes about a month and a half for the medication to build up in your body, and your doctor will increase your dose gradually, Dr. Cox says.

People sometimes get discouraged when their medication doesnt work quickly, but patience is key, she adds.

For fast-acting anxiety relief, doctors may prescribe as-needed medications that work more quickly to be used temporarily until the SSRI, SNRI or atypical antidepressant reaches full effect. These medications include benzodiazepines, such as Ativan and Klonopin.

These can be helpful when appropriate, but caution should be exercised as they can be addictive and cause sedation and falls, Dr. Cox says. Safer, nonaddictive alternatives include Vistaril or Inderal.

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