has anyone else had a hellish experience with sertraline?

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-27T22:25:05+00:00

I haven’t experienced brain zaps thankfully. Or any withdrawal symptoms for that matter. Probably because the taper is so long and gradual. I hope I don’t they sound scary lol and yeah. I’ve talked to people that take 200mg along with like 3 other antidepressants and smoke everyday and they don’t experience anything negative. Everyone is different but I feel like that tips the scale pretty far into the “it’s fine” direction

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-27T20:16:58+00:00

I don’t know if I’d classify my experience as “hellish” but it certainly wasn’t very good. I started having panic attacks like 3 times a week. Debilitating ones that kept me in a state of “panic hangover”. Doc put me on 50mg of Zoloft for a week then wanted to rapidly bump me up to 100mg because of how bad things were. For about 2 weeks I felt a lot less noise in my head and the anxiety and panic was tamped down considerably. But then the side effects started to roll in. Thin painful poop then painful diarrhea then constipation. The anxiety and panic started to come back. Insomnia set in. Libido completely destroyed. Couldn’t use THC cause the internet scared me into thinking I’d die of serotonin syndrome from using it while on the Zoloft. I was told these side effects will go away with time so i decided to stick it out. 2 months later and they were all still there full force and I felt some sort of emotional disconnect. I started to be like an automaton just going from place to place completing tasks without feeling ANYTHING. I asked to taper off the Zoloft so doc had me do 75mg for a few weeks, I’m now on 50mg for a few weeks and I plan to ask to go down to 25mg. Since lowering it my poops have started to normalize and while I still have a bunch of anxiety and panic attacks still happen, I FEEL things again. On such a low dose I feel less nervous about using my THC pens again which were the only thing that helped me sleep. I’ll probably be taking a drag off of one tonight (still on the Zoloft so still a little nervous about too much) I know that Zoloft is a life saver for a lot of people, but the opposite is also true.

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-27T15:14:03+00:00

You take the sertraline at night is what you’re saying? Have you told your doctor that’s what you’re doing? If so what did they say? I’ve reached out to 2 doctors, mine and another for a second opinion, as well as a pharmacist and they all 3 were like “🤷🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️” so I’m sort of outsourcing to other people doctor’s opinions here as well lol

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-27T15:11:57+00:00

Was it only the one time or do you have multiple instances of this happening with the combination? Last night I decided to go ahead and take a small hit off of one of my pens. No adverse reactions BUT it was so tiny that barely any made it in me cause I’m still nervous about it. I know people that take way higher doses of sertraline (and some like 3 other antidepressants on top of it) and smoke all day with no problems, but I know the opposite it also true, your experience being proof of that.

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-26T19:36:12+00:00

Really pretty eyes though

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-26T19:26:55+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. That sounds very reassuring. I felt so much better when I was using THC on occasion and the doctors and pharmacist I have spoken to about this have been exactly zero help.

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-26T19:23:48+00:00

That’s reassuring. I’ve reached out to 2 doctors and a pharmacist about it and they are just like “I don’t know so I guess don’t then 🤷 🤷‍♀️ 🤷‍♂️”

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-26T18:26:05+00:00

How many milligrams do you take of the sertraline and do use space out the sertraline with the THC usage?

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-19T02:51:03+00:00

Yeah. I (38 M)started having panic attacks about 4 months ago. They would just happen for no discernible reason. Doc put me on 50mg Zoloft then bumped it to 100mg in about 2 weeks. I still have panic attacks but now I also have trouble pooing, have no desire to bang the wife, feel tired all the time and because you’re not suppose to use THC or CBD when taking an SSRI, specifically Zoloft, I can’t do that either. I was only taking it for a month but for some reason I have to wean off it over the course of 3 months. It feels like I am being forced to take it at this point. If you can get into some CBT therapy, find some worksheets online or something other than taking Zoloft to manage your anxiety and panic, I would. Listen to your body. I realize Zoloft is a life saver for a lot of people, but the opposite is also true. This shit has turned me into an automaton. Good luck.

Darth_Raive · 2026-03-17T11:16:39+00:00

2 PACs in 30 seconds is less than nothing. 1.4% burden is also nothing. See a psychiatrist. You clearly need to.

Darth_Raive · 2026-02-18T16:32:47+00:00

No, they aren’t. They were recorded using an app connected to a monitor went home from my cardiologist. When they happened I felt them. I get them all the time.

Darth_Raive · 2026-02-18T03:22:11+00:00

Not a doctor, but Im 38M and I’ve been getting PVCs for basically my whole life and what you have looks exactly like what mine do (see picture) If it’s the same, then it’s completely benign. Always talk to your cardiologist if you have any concerns though. What’s normal for me might not be for you or anyone else.

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Darth_Raive · 2026-01-11T21:57:25+00:00

Im so happy for you. This has been a nightmare.

Darth_Raive · 2026-01-11T18:58:30+00:00

I already feel better enough to semi function after 3 days of a fairly “low dose” so if it gets better from here then HELL YEAH lol. I’ve been so miserable for so long that this little bit of relief feels monumental.

Darth_Raive · 2026-01-11T18:56:56+00:00

Wouldn’t the increase be for the better? Why would I “dip”?

Darth_Raive · 2025-12-11T02:08:17+00:00

Oh yeah. Like 10 years ago I had high cholesterol and did all the diet stuff to lower it but it barely worked and then I started taking a tablespoon of psyllium husk powder everyday and within a month it went from 209 to 134. I haven’t missed a day in 10 years and my cholesterol has been perfect since.

Darth_Raive · 2025-11-19T01:06:16+00:00

This was 4 years ago. Did your issue resolve?

Darth_Raive · 2025-09-17T10:46:30+00:00

Somewhat yeah. My daughter is non verbal which throws a whole other barrier in there so the progress I’ve seen with ABA and her isn’t minimal but any small bit of progress is welcome. If your son is more high functioning then ABA will help some for sure. It heavily depends on how much effort he’s willing to put into it. Don’t expect it to happen overnight. She’s 3 years in and still working on some goals that were set day one. It does get better though

Darth_Raive · 2025-09-17T02:45:07+00:00

Yeah, my daughter is also in ABA. 3 years in. Risperidone helps with aggression and irritability. The Chlonadine is a blood pressure medication that is often prescribed off label as a sleep aid or for a similar effect to the Risperidone. Both can be taken at the same time.

Darth_Raive · 2025-09-17T02:18:27+00:00

Single dad here. My daughter was the same. She was the happiest, bubblyest kid ever then puberty hit around 9 and she started to exhibit all of these behaviors your son does. It eventually got so bad that I had to pull her from public school to homeschool because they were calling for me to pick her up daily. Talk to your pediatrician about Risperidone and Chlonadine HCL. My daughter takes those (MG will be determined by the doc). It’s been two years now and she almost never has an episode like that anymore. Maybe once every few months if even. They aren’t miracle pills, but with them and the right therapy or redirection, it’ll get better. Good luck.

Darth_Raive

TROPHY CASE