Zoloft Side Effects

Learn Zoloft side effects


In order to understand Zoloft side effects, one needs to learn how Zoloft works in our body.  Zoloft is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor which blocks the reuptake of serotonin from the nerve cell it came from, giving more serotonin to the nerve cells that follow the one that made the serotonin.  Serotonin is effectively increased and it has excellent effects on depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders, among others.

 

What are Zoloft side effects?

As with any drug that affects your mind and body, it is worthwhile to take a look at Zoloft side effects.  There is a small amount of serotonin in the brain and a large amount of serotonin in the GI tract so Zoloft side effects can affect the GI tract.  This can include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.  With Zoloft, weight gain is possible but it is more common to have weight loss.  Zoloft weight gain is hard to lose afterward so if this is a side effect you can’t afford, you should try another antidepressant should this Zoloft side effect occur.  Zoloft and diarrhea are more common together than Zoloft and constipation but there are antidiarrheal agents you can take in order to control the symptoms.

Zoloft side effectsZoloft can affect the sleep cycle and this is one of the Zoloft side effects least tolerated by many people because it tends not to go away with time.  Zoloft can make you sleepy or can interfere with sleep.  You can get nightmares with Zoloft that can make nighttimes difficult.  You can also lie awake at night unable to sleep even though you feel tired.  With Zoloft, insomnia can make you feel just as bad as you did before taking the medication.   There are other antidepressants you can use if Zoloft insomnia symptoms occur and interfere with your daily living.  In addition, fatigue with Zoloft is common so you should try to get as much rest as possible, particularly when you first start the drug.

Some people get “Zoloft headaches”.  This is a common side effect, especially when starting the drug for the first time. The headaches tend to be generalized or more like migraines, with photophobia and a unilateral headache.   A rarer side effect involves Zoloft and memory loss, particularly short term memory.  You can forget where you left your keys or have names and numbers stuck on the tip of your tongue.

Zoloft side effects can affect the hair.  There can be hair loss with Zoloft that is relatively temporary.  With Zoloft, hair loss is usually generalized throughout the scalp and looks like thinning hair.  After you stop the Zoloft, the hair loss tends to reverse itself so your hair will grow back to its normal thickness.

One of the side effects of Zoloft is potentially life-threatening.  It is called “serotonin syndrome” and occurs when starting or increasing the dose of Zoloft or other serotonin reuptake inhibitors.  It can also occur when certain medications to treat migraines (called triptans) are used together with Zoloft for headaches.  The signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include hallucinations, restlessness, rapid heartbeat, hyperactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and eventual coma.  If you develop symptoms like this, you should see a doctor right away and you may be hospitalized.  You will need to be careful about taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including Zoloft, in the future.

Are there long term side effects with Zoloft?  Fortunately, there are no known long term side effects with Zoloft.  It may take some time for the side effects to pass, particularly the anorgasmia and impotence issues but, after a few weeks or months, these Zoloft side effects gradually go away.  The hair loss, if present, tends to improve over time as well.

There are some considerations in giving Zoloft for children with depression.  Children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of about 24 can have increased suicidality and an increased suicide rate, especially when starting Zoloft and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors.  This suicidality doesn’t seem to be a big problem in older adults.  Because of these Zoloft side effects, you need to watch a child or adolescent closely, perhaps in a hospital setting where they can be safe, when starting Zoloft in order to see that the medication doesn’t cause this side effect.

Some people wonder does Zoloft cause acne?  The truth is that Zoloft can cause acne in susceptible individuals but it is a less common complication of taking Zoloft.  The acne does tend to last for the duration of taking the drug but goes away after the medication is stopped.

 

How common are Zoloft side effects?  Is it safe to take Zoloft?


So is Zoloft safe?  Certainly Zoloft side effects can and do occur but they do not occur in everyone who takes the medication and the side effects tend to go away after stopping the medication.  Only two major Zoloft side effects are severe.  These are the tendency to suicidality in young people and serotonin syndrome, which can occur in anyone who takes the medication.  These two Zoloft side effects must be closely monitored.

 

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Zoloft Side Effects | Zoloft Weight Gain | Long Term Side Effects Zoloft

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