The antidepressant Zoloft, also known as sertraline, is a member of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is primarily used to treat panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) by increasing the serotonin activity in the brain. This drug is primarily available in the form of capsules, tablets, and solutions taken orally.
Our primary concern is Zoloft week by week improvement. So, why is a patient being monitored while taking Zoloft?
Zoloft usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to relieve the symptoms of depression. During this treatment period, the patient may experience negative emotional changes, which can worsen his condition. Doctors usually recommend patients to avoid taking Zoloft during this condition.
Keep reading to learn the main facts!
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Table of Content
Zoloft Week By Week Improvement
Zoloft usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to cure anxiety symptoms in a patient. During this treatment period, there is a severe need to keep a close eye on the patient.
Firstly, to check on the patient’s progress. Secondly, to check whether it is causing any side effects or not. During the intake of Zoloft, the patient can become emotionally numb. This may worsen the patient’s condition and even lead to suicide.
In the event of adverse changes in a patient, a doctor may recommend avoiding Zoloft intake.
Here we discuss the week-by-week improvements of Zoloft in detail.
During 1 to 2 Weeks After Taking Zoloft:
A steady-state plasma level of sertraline was observed approximately one week after users began taking Zoloft. The doses were 50-200 mg once per day.
During the first two weeks of Zoloft intake, a patient may experience positive changes in his mood.
If a patient notices some improvement, it is a sign that this drug is working and can be effective if administered regularly.
However, most patients did not notice any improvement or change in their mood. Not even after taking the recommended dose of Zoloft!
According to them, their symptoms continued at the same level as before the intake of Zoloft.
But the improvements that may occur in everyone after the first two weeks of Zoloft include positive changes in appetite and adequate sleep.
During 3 to 6 Weeks After Taking Zoloft:
It is common for patients not to notice any improvement during the first two weeks of Zoloft.
After the first 3 weeks of starting Zoloft, they may notice a difference. Although in some cases, even after 4 to 5 weeks of Zoloft administration, patients might not see any improvement!
So, Does Zoloft help anxiety? Depending on the patient’s condition, you can extend the period beyond six weeks.
There are patients whose anxiety, mental stress, sleep disturbance, and mood swings did not change even with medication.
At the end of the fifth week, some improvements may help them get better. Patients recovering within 3 to 6 weeks after starting Zoloft usually notice decreased symptoms of disorders, including PTSD, OCD, MDD, or PMDD.
Actually, every treatment requires time to cure complications. This time is generally prolonged while talking about antidepressants because antidepressants work by changing the hormonal level in the blood. The hormonal changes are often extended and occur gradually.
Patients may experience mood swings, a normal appetite, less fatigue, better sleep, and more interest and concentration in a particular activity.
They may also feel less stress, more confidence, less bloating, relief from overthinking or obsession, as well as relief from compulsions in 3 to 6 weeks of treatment with Zoloft.
What to Consider Before Taking Zoloft?
Most of the drugs can result in severe side effects if taken unchecked.
There are some Zoloft warnings and precautions to check before administering Sertraline or Zoloft.
- Zoloft is not for patients on pimozide or who have been administered MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors, including methylene blue injection, in the last 14 days before taking Zoloft.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors include phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, isocarboxazid, and tranylcypromine.
- This medicine can cause severe mood swings, even leading to thoughts of suicide. Be careful while using this drug if a patient notices this type of emotional distress.
- Many symptoms are associated with serotonin syndrome, including nausea, vomiting, loss of coordination, sweating, muscle rigidity, shivering, twitching, and agitation. Request medical attention at once if you experience any of these symptoms.
This mainly occurs when a patient has an allergy to sertraline or is taking some opioid drugs, herbal medications, or medications to treat mental disorders, including migraines, stress, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Moreover, breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women should avoid taking Zoloft.
How Long Does Zoloft Take to Work?
People often ask, how quickly does Zoloft take effect? Nevertheless, all medications begin working immediately after they enter the body.
But it requires time to show proper recovery.
This recovery time can extend for psychological disorders, as discussed earlier. But we can estimate the duration at which the drug shows all of its effects.
In the case of Zoloft, it usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to eliminate the symptoms.
People can recover earlier than four weeks, and others may take more than six weeks to recover. So, this duration usually varies from person to person depending on the severity of the disorder.
Recommended Doses of Zoloft
Zoloft treats different disorders, including depression, OCD, PTSD, PMDD, and panic disorders.
- At first, 50 mg of Zoloft is recommended once per day to treat depression and OCD. This dose is increased to anywhere between 50 and 200 mg, once per day.
- For treating panic disorders and PTSD, the initial recommended dosage is 25 mg once per day. This is then increased to 50 mg once per day and 200 mg once per day.
Can Zoloft Cause Weight Gain?
Weight gain can be associated with antidepressants such as Zoloft.
An individual taking Zoloft may consume more food due to the drug increasing their appetite. The drug can also prevent the body from burning large amounts of calories.
Indeed, fewer nutrients are consumed by the body, and the rest are stored in the body, resulting in weight gain. Actually, SSRIs interfere with the body’s metabolism, leading to weight gain.
The British Medical Journal published an official study in 2018 that found people taking antidepressants such as Zoloft for up to six years gained more weight than those who did not.
Side Effects of Zoloft
Is Zoloft safe? Like many other medications, Zoloft can also cause many side effects.
The most common Zoloft side effects are listed below:
- Loss of appetite
- Sleep disturbance
- Tiredness
- Diarrhea
- Improper digestion
- Vomiting or nausea
- Excess sweating
- Sexual complications
- Tremors
Rare Side Effects of Zoloft:
There are some severe but rare side effects of Zoloft. They are listed below:
- Anxiety or stress
- Agitation: a condition involving random body moves due to stress or uncomfortable emotions.
- Hallucination: a condition in which a person can feel things that do not exist.
- Impulsiveness: the inability to foresee the consequences of actions before taking them.
- Depression
- Memory loss
Adolescents’ And Children’s Side Effects:
Zoloft’s side effects in children include:
- Muscle twitching or agitation
- Retarded growth
- Urinating more than usual
- Bleeding from nose
- Heavy bleeding during menstruation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What side effects are associated with stopping Zoloft?
If someone skips taking Zoloft, he can experience many side effects. It can cause anxiety, stress, tiredness, muscle twitching, inadequate sleep, poor digestion, dizziness, mood swings, blurred vision, and mood swings.
Can Zoloft make you feel high?
Zoloft is often thought to make one feel sleepy when taken in high doses. In reality, Zoloft is an antidepressant, so it does not cause patients to get buzzed. Zoloft works to relieve the symptoms of depression and stress.
What are the dangers of Zoloft?
Zoloft can cause many side effects in a patient. It can cause fatigue, unexplained weight gain or loss, tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, impulsiveness, and memory loss.
Conclusion
Zoloft week by week improvements can vary depending on the condition of the disorder a person is suffering.
Some people get relief from their symptoms in 4 to 6 weeks. While many patients have to wait for more than 8 weeks to recover properly.
Zoloft can cause many side effects in both adults and adolescents, but their side effects are quite different. Nevertheless, make sure to not change your doses or stop taking Zoloft without a doctor’s recommendation!
