Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Side EffectsLess Common EffectsIn Kids and TeensSerotonin SyndromeHow to Cope
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Side Effects
Less Common Effects
In Kids and Teens
Serotonin Syndrome
How to Cope
Close
What is the most important information I should know about Zoloft side effects?While most Zoloft side effects are mild and resolve on their own, some may be severe (such as chest pains and seizures) and require immediate medical attention.Talk to your physician if you are concerned about Zoloft’s side effects; never stop taking this medication suddenly as you might experience withdrawal or a worsening of your symptoms.
What is the most important information I should know about Zoloft side effects?
While most Zoloft side effects are mild and resolve on their own, some may be severe (such as chest pains and seizures) and require immediate medical attention.Talk to your physician if you are concerned about Zoloft’s side effects; never stop taking this medication suddenly as you might experience withdrawal or a worsening of your symptoms.
Zoloft (sertraline) is an antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety and one of the most prescribed psychiatric drugs in the U.S.Some of its common side effects include fatigue, nausea, sleep issues, and sexual problems.While severe side effects are less common, they can occur in some individuals.
Knowing what to expect and finding ways to cope can help you better manage these side effects. Read on to learn more about the most common side effects of Zoloft and ways to reduce them, as well as some of Zoloft’s less common but potentially more severe side effects that require medical attention.
Verywell/JR Bee
Common Zoloft Side Effects
As with all medications, Zoloft may cause certainunwanted side effects. The adverse effects experienced most frequently when taking Zoloft include:
Speak with your healthcare provider if you experience bothersome side effects or if these effects don’t go away. Your physician may change your dosage or switch you to a different medication.
Nausea, diarrhea, and insomnia are the most common Zoloft side effects.Others are less common but may also be distressing. Let’s take a closer look at some of these effects and ways to help deal with them.
Nausea
Nausea is the most common side effect of Zoloft, affecting around one in four people who take sertraline.While it occurs most frequently, this side effect also typically goes away over time.
Nausea is often the greatest when you first begin taking this medication or if your physician increases your dose. Tocope with Zoloft-related nausea, you may find it helpful to take the medication with food. You can also try nausea relief remedies such as drinking ginger tea.
Trouble Sleeping
Around one in five people experience insomnia or trouble sleeping as a side effect of Zoloft.However, some strategies can help people manage this side effect, such astaking the medication in the morning.
If you do find that you have difficulty falling or staying asleep while taking Zoloft, practicinggood sleep habitscan also be helpful. Go to sleep at the same time each night and limit your caffeine intake during the day, especially in the afternoon and evenings.
Sexual Side Effects
Weight Gain
Another potential side effect of Zoloft isweight gain. A long-term study published in theBritish Medical Journal (BMJ)in 2018 found that for up to six years after starting treatment, people taking antidepressants such as Zoloft were 21% more likely to experience at least a 5% weight gain than those not taking the drugs. Participants were also 29% more likely to move up a weight category—from normal to overweight or overweight to obese—than those not on antidepressants.
While experts are still trying to figure out the link, some theories exist. For one, SSRIs can trigger changes in your metabolism, increasing appetite and causing the body to burn off calories less efficiently. Also, many people lose their appetite and lose weight when they’re depressed, so weight gain may just be a result of them feeling better when they’re on the drug.
If you’re experiencing weight gain, don’t stop taking the drug on your own. Instead, talk to your physician. They may switch you to anantidepressant associated with weight lossor suggest eating or exercise changes to reduce this effect.
What to Know About SSRIs and Weight Gain
Less Common Zoloft Side Effects
While less common, there are some serious side effects associated with Zoloft use. For example, in some cases, Zoloft may trigger or exacerbatepsychiatric symptoms.
Call your physician if you experience any new or worsening psychiatric symptoms, including:
Seek immediate medical assistance if you experience any of the following:
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Zoloft Side Effects in Children and Adolescents
Whenprescribed in childrenor adolescents, Zoloft can cause a slightly different range of side effects, some of which are less common in adults. Advise your pediatrician if your child experiences any of the following:
Cautions About the Use of Zoloft (sertraline) and Other Antidepressants in Teens
BecauseZoloft affects serotonin levelsin the brain, it also has the potential to cause serotonin syndrome.Serotonin syndromeis a potentially life-threatening condition in which serotonin levels become too high. Its symptoms include:
This condition is more likely to occur if you take Zoloft with anothermedication that affects serotonin levels, such as a different antidepressant or a supplement such as St. John’s wort. Some other psychiatric medications, painkillers, antibiotics, supplements, and drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, and LSD can also increase serotonin.
Always tell your care provider about any other medications, supplements, or substances you take to avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions.
The Mental Health Benefits of St. John’s Wort
Coping With Zoloft Side Effects
Side effects from Zoloft tend to be manageable and often go away on their own as your body adjusts to your medication. It typically takes several weeks for an antidepressant to begin working, so it is important to give it this time.
The type and severity of Zoloft side effects can vary from person to person. Most symptoms tend to be minimal and generally improve over time. Common side effects often last one to two weeks until you get used to your medication.
Talk to your physician about your symptoms if you are concerned about side effects. They can suggest ways to cope or make medication changes if needed.
If you find you are unable to cope with the side effects, call your healthcare provider immediately. There may be strategies they can offer (including a dose adjustment or adjunctive therapies) to help you better adjust to the prescribed treatment.
The important thing to avoid is stopping or changing treatment without input from your physician. Suddenly stopping your medicationcan lead to withdrawalor a return of your symptoms.
Not only might you undermine the goals of treatment, but you may also experience a condition known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS), which can manifest with symptoms ofsertraline withdrawal(including nausea, dizziness, irritability, and abnormal sensations).ADS can occur as early as six weeks after starting therapy.
Instead, it’s often best towean off Zoloft. This involves taking smaller and smaller doses over time until you eventually stop taking this medication altogether.
Symptoms of a Zoloft Overdose
9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lunghi C, Antonazzo IC, Burato S, et al.Prevalence and determinants of long-term utilization of antidepressant drugs: A retrospective cohort study.Neuropsych Dis Treat. 2020;16:1157-1170. doi:10.2147/NDT.S241780National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sertraline (Zoloft).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlight of Prescribing Information: Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use.Gafoor R, Booth HP, Gulliford MC.Antidepressant utilisation and incidence of weight gain during 10 years' follow-up: population based cohort study.BMJ. 2018;361:k1951. doi:10.1136/bmj.k1951U.S. Food and Drug Administration.6.1 clinical trials experience.Khazaie H, Rezaie L, Payam NR, Najafi F.Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction during treatment with fluoxetine, sertraline and trazadone; a randomized controlled trial.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2015;37(1):40-45. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.10.010Herstowska M, Komorowska O, Cubała WJ, Jakuszkowiak-Wojten K, Gałuszko-Węgielnik M, Landowski J.Severe skin complications in patients treated with antidepressants: a literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(2):92–97. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40930Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Sertraline: pediatric medication.Cleveland Clinic.Serotonin syndrome.
9 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lunghi C, Antonazzo IC, Burato S, et al.Prevalence and determinants of long-term utilization of antidepressant drugs: A retrospective cohort study.Neuropsych Dis Treat. 2020;16:1157-1170. doi:10.2147/NDT.S241780National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sertraline (Zoloft).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlight of Prescribing Information: Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use.Gafoor R, Booth HP, Gulliford MC.Antidepressant utilisation and incidence of weight gain during 10 years' follow-up: population based cohort study.BMJ. 2018;361:k1951. doi:10.1136/bmj.k1951U.S. Food and Drug Administration.6.1 clinical trials experience.Khazaie H, Rezaie L, Payam NR, Najafi F.Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction during treatment with fluoxetine, sertraline and trazadone; a randomized controlled trial.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2015;37(1):40-45. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.10.010Herstowska M, Komorowska O, Cubała WJ, Jakuszkowiak-Wojten K, Gałuszko-Węgielnik M, Landowski J.Severe skin complications in patients treated with antidepressants: a literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(2):92–97. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40930Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Sertraline: pediatric medication.Cleveland Clinic.Serotonin syndrome.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lunghi C, Antonazzo IC, Burato S, et al.Prevalence and determinants of long-term utilization of antidepressant drugs: A retrospective cohort study.Neuropsych Dis Treat. 2020;16:1157-1170. doi:10.2147/NDT.S241780National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sertraline (Zoloft).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlight of Prescribing Information: Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use.Gafoor R, Booth HP, Gulliford MC.Antidepressant utilisation and incidence of weight gain during 10 years' follow-up: population based cohort study.BMJ. 2018;361:k1951. doi:10.1136/bmj.k1951U.S. Food and Drug Administration.6.1 clinical trials experience.Khazaie H, Rezaie L, Payam NR, Najafi F.Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction during treatment with fluoxetine, sertraline and trazadone; a randomized controlled trial.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2015;37(1):40-45. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.10.010Herstowska M, Komorowska O, Cubała WJ, Jakuszkowiak-Wojten K, Gałuszko-Węgielnik M, Landowski J.Severe skin complications in patients treated with antidepressants: a literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(2):92–97. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40930Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Sertraline: pediatric medication.Cleveland Clinic.Serotonin syndrome.
Lunghi C, Antonazzo IC, Burato S, et al.Prevalence and determinants of long-term utilization of antidepressant drugs: A retrospective cohort study.Neuropsych Dis Treat. 2020;16:1157-1170. doi:10.2147/NDT.S241780
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sertraline (Zoloft).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlight of Prescribing Information: Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use.
Gafoor R, Booth HP, Gulliford MC.Antidepressant utilisation and incidence of weight gain during 10 years' follow-up: population based cohort study.BMJ. 2018;361:k1951. doi:10.1136/bmj.k1951
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.6.1 clinical trials experience.
Khazaie H, Rezaie L, Payam NR, Najafi F.Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction during treatment with fluoxetine, sertraline and trazadone; a randomized controlled trial.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2015;37(1):40-45. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.10.010
Herstowska M, Komorowska O, Cubała WJ, Jakuszkowiak-Wojten K, Gałuszko-Węgielnik M, Landowski J.Severe skin complications in patients treated with antidepressants: a literature review.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(2):92–97. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40930
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Sertraline: pediatric medication.
Cleveland Clinic.Serotonin syndrome.
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
