Zoloft (Sertraline): What are the Side Effects? Watch Before You Start!

Get a doctors perspective on the medication Zoloft or Sertraline. Is it right for you? What side effects should you look out for? Learn about what conditions it works for including depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and severe form of PMS call PMDD. Learn how this medication can play a role in treating these conditions and some common as well as some rare side effects that can happen.

Zoloft (Sertraline) is in the family of medications called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). They influence the amount of Serotonin that is available to help with mood and other functions of the body.

With depression you tend to have symptoms like difficulty concentrating, remembering things or making decisions. Fatigue, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness or hopelessness. People experience sleeping problems, mood swings, a loss of interest in things that you once enjoyed, appetite changes, generalized pain, persistent sad or empty feelings and even suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Those who are going through anxiety you may have symptoms such as sudden and unexplained onset of a rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, pain in your chest, fear of dying, numbness and tingling throughout your body or just a generalized feeling of anxiousness all the time that you just can’t explain.

If you are experiencing these symptoms you need to seek help from a professional. Go see your doctor and get an accurate diagnosis to figure out a good treatment plan for you. Remember depression and anxiety are real medical conditions and should be treated just as diabetes or high blood pressure need to be treated. You shouldn’t feel any different treating any one of these medical conditions.

We'll give a good overview in the video of the common side effects but its important to remember that most side effects if any are transient and can be minimized by working with your doctor. We will discuss more concerning side effects such as serotonin syndrome as well.
For other ideas on how to treat your depression may I suggest the following books:

The Happiness Advantage- Shawn Achor

The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs- Stephen S. Ilardi

The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (Book & CD)- Mark Williams, John Teasdale et. al

The Mindful Way through Anxiety: Break Free from Chronic Worry and Reclaim Your Life- Mark Williams, John Teasdale et. al

The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time- Alex Korb PhD

** The information in this video is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/mental health professional *

Equipment I use for filming:

Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera Kit w/EF-M15-45mm and 4K Video - Black

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens

Canon EOS M Mount Adapter

TAKSTAR SGC-598 Interview Microphone for Nikon/Canon Camera/DV Camcorder

Glide Gear TMP100 Adjustable iPad/ Tablet/ Smartphone Teleprompter

HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit Professional Studio Photography

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[violam]

Hi! I’m a 21 year old Italian girl andI’ve been taking Zoloft (50 mg) for three months now. I suffered from severe depression, anxiety and binge eating.
I constantly isolated myself from people and my life was a nightmare so I finally dedicate to take this medication.

I feel so much better and I’m socialising a lot more than before. I feel like I’m living my life.
I surprisingly lost a lot of weight, maybe because I stopped binging all day.

Mental health is so important.

[tibbysteve]

I have been taking it for sever anxiety and ptsd. I was at an loss and couldn’t function. And finally went to the doctor cause my anxiety and ptsd was affecting my life severely. And my doctor put me on this. And it has been a god send. Especially I’m typing this within the midst of the severe Covd pandemic. It’s not an cure all but helps me stay sane and level headed. Like I said was an god send. I can actually act like an normal person.

[Briyi]

I wish he was my doctor, the compassion in his voice is so comforting when discussing things like this.

[serenityb]

I’ve been taking Zoloft for 18 months now. The clouds parted, and the sun shone through. I resisted taking it because other anti depression meds didn’t work. I’m glad I listened to my doctor.

[Mikuchan]

I hate my anxiety. Whenever I am about to catch a sleep some little irrational bad ideas goes in my head and then I start to think a lot of things ending up having a faster heart rate and all that jazz and then I wont sleep. Thank goodness I have mentioned this to my doctor I hope I get better.

[awkweirdkitty]

This guys voice is so calming. I feel some of my anxiety washing away already.

[briandavenport]

I've been on Zoloft for 18 weeks and I'm just now starting to see relief from my anxiety and depression. No more shakes, panic attacks, headaches or heart palpitations. The medication works, but the timeline for it to work is just ridiculous.

[bergwilly_on_instagram.]

Psilocybin saved my life. I was addicted to heroin for 15 years and after Psilocybin treatment I will be 3 years clean in September. I have zero cravings.
This is something that truly needs to be more broadly used in addiction treatment.

[Buttercup-if]

Been doing research. I’m starting off at 25mg today. Have been hesitant but I’m tired of being tired. Tired of trying to figure out how to tel my mom I don’t want the life she gave me. I’m so ready to be happy again.

[bonb]

I have been taking this since 2010, after the birth of my twins I suffered postpartum depression. I loved how this med made me feel, been taking it every since.

[tarahigdon]

I’ve been using Sertraline for about 4 years and it really makes a difference in my mood & perspective on life. I’ve run out a couple of times and decided not to refill it, but I can tell that I really need it. My son can tell a difference in my mood when I’m not taking it.

[orionanderson]

Thank you very much for this content, doc. The comments are very helpful too. I been on zoloft since June and it's making a positive difference in my life. I've had worse days mentally prior to zoloft. At least now when I think, it isn't so gruesome like before. I'm glad zoloft defeats my PTSD. Have a great day and night to you reading this

[smashmonster]

Was diagnosed with OCD/PTSD and prescribed Zoloft. I've been on it for two months and have lost twenty pounds. My bowel movements have been massive. I needed to lose the weight, so it's a win win. I feel better and lost the weight fast.

[gabbsdad]

Started taking this six weeks ago. In the beginning the effects were horrendous and like it says on the packet I did feel worse. Six weeks in and I’m feeling a lot better and more optimistic. My advice is to persevere with the side effects, although you feel you’re getting worse you will get better 👍

[yvonnealexander]

Hi I'm from England and I'm having treatment for mental health problems.
You are the first person that has explained about what different types of medication you can have and reassurance that these different types of help and medication you can you can take.
It makes a huge difference when things are explained in the way you have done in this video thank you very much for your videos as it's a great help and I know you have probably have saved lives .
Stay safe and thankyou.

[FineDayWasted]

Personally, it feels like a mental fire blanket that neutralizes dark waves. I actually feel it working, bringing the light back.

[wjds]

Ive been taking sertraline for 8 months now and it really works for me to recover from depression..experiencing some mild headache thou..

[FashCrochet]

I’ve been taking sertraline for 4 days now and I am so thankful I decided to talk to my Dr. about my depression and anxiety. The benefits far outweigh the side effects.

[asterianspirit]

I'm starting this meds tomorrow, wish me luck

[thelatenightclub]

I'm starting on Sertraline today, and I'm really nervous about it. Had I not watched this, I probably wouldn't have agreed to take them.
Thanks so much for being such a calming and reassuring person.