Zoloft Side Effects: What's Common and How Long It Lasts
The most common Zoloft side effects are nausea, diarrhea, tremor, indigestion, sweating and sexual side effects. The stomach is the one people talk about most. Here is what trials found, what 358 people on Reddit described and what helps.
By withClaro Editorial · 2026-10-23 · 5 min read
Medical review pending. Written by the Claro editorial team from the FDA label and published studies.
Key takeaways In FDA trials, the most common side effects at least twice as often as on placebo were nausea, diarrhea, tremor, indigestion, decreased appetite, sweating and sexual side effects. In 358 people we counted on Reddit, stomach problems came up most, followed by anxiety or restlessness and sexual side effects. About one in eight people stopped a Zoloft trial because of a side effect, against one in 25 on placebo. Of 117 people on Reddit who said how long their side effects lasted, 47 said they eased within weeks and 65 that they were still going; sexual side effects are the most likely to stay. On this page
What are the most common side effects of Zoloft? Which side effects people on Reddit named on Zoloft How long do Zoloft side effects last? Which Zoloft side effects are serious? Are Zoloft side effects different for women? What helps with Zoloft side effects? What should you tell your prescriber about Zoloft side effects? Zoloft side effects are most noticeable in the first weeks and after a dose increase. Many early ones fade as your body adjusts, while some, sexual side effects most of all, can last as long as you take it. A same-day call is needed for suicidal thoughts or signs of serotonin syndrome.
What are the most common side effects of Zoloft?
In pooled placebo-controlled trials in adults, nausea affected 26% of people on Zoloft against 12% on placebo, and diarrhea or loose stools 20% against 10%. The label's own short list, side effects at least 5% and twice as common as on placebo, is nausea, diarrhea, tremor, indigestion, decreased appetite, sweating, ejaculation failure and lower sex drive. Insomnia, dry mouth, fatigue and dizziness were common too but closer to placebo. About 12% of people on Zoloft stopped a trial because of a side effect, against 4% on placebo.
Side effect in trials Zoloft Placebo Nausea 26% 12% Diarrhea or loose stools 20% 10% Insomnia 20% 13% Dry mouth 14% 9% Dizziness 12% 8% Fatigue 12% 8% Sleepiness 11% 6% Tremor 9% 2% Indigestion 8% 4% Ejaculation failure (men) 8% 1% Decreased appetite 7% 2% Sweating 7% 3% Lower sex drive (all participants) 6% 2% Lower sex drive (women) 4% 2%
The placebo column shows what people also feel on a dummy pill. The NHS adds headaches, sexual problems and putting on weight to its list of common side effects.
Which side effects people on Reddit named on Zoloft
We read 100 recent threads about Zoloft side effects on r/zoloft, comments included, and 358 people described their own side effects. These are people's own accounts, and people who struggle are more likely to post, so treat the counts as a range of experiences rather than odds. The stomach came up most, as it does in the trials, followed by anxiety or restlessness and sexual side effects; one person could name several:
What people reported Of 358 people Nausea, diarrhea or stomach upset 87 More anxiety, jitteriness or restlessness 77 Lower sex drive or trouble reaching orgasm 75 Trouble sleeping 58 Tiredness or sleepiness 50 Sweating 42 Less appetite or weight loss 35
More anxiety is the one big item on our list that the trial table doesn't show, and it is what people mention most after the stomach. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says feeling agitated, shaky or anxious is often why people stop an SSRI, especially if nobody warned them, and that it usually eases a couple of weeks after starting.
How long do Zoloft side effects last?
On r/zoloft, of 117 people who said how long their side effects lasted, 47 said they eased within the first weeks, 5 that they lasted months and then eased, and 65 that they were still going. That is gloomier than the NHS, which says most side effects should ease after a couple of weeks but some can last longer, partly because many threads are written in the first weeks, before there has been time to ease. The NHS advises speaking to a pharmacist or doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away, and keeping taking the medicine unless you are told to stop. Sexual side effects are the ones most likely to continue.
The FDA label recommends at least a week between dose changes, because of sertraline's 24-hour half-life. Many people on Reddit describe early side effects coming back for a while after an increase. For the timeline, see how long Zoloft takes to work .
Which Zoloft side effects are serious? Clinical section: medical review pending
Zoloft's strongest warning, a boxed warning, is that suicidal thoughts and behavior can rise in children, teenagers and young adults 24 and younger, especially in the first months and after a dose change. Its other warnings cover serotonin syndrome, a higher bleeding risk with aspirin, NSAIDs and blood thinners, and triggering of mania. Two more are rarer: low sodium, which can show as headache, trouble concentrating, confusion, weakness or unsteadiness, and angle-closure glaucoma, which can show as eye pain, changes in vision, or swelling or redness around the eye. These are uncommon, and a few of them need a call the same day. The clinical view:
Most early side effects of antidepressants ease within the first weeks, while a few tend to last and are worth raising.
Call your prescriber the same day, or get urgent care, if you notice:
new or worse thoughts of suicide or self-harm, especially early on, after a dose change, or in young people agitation, heavy sweating, fever, muscle twitching or confusion, which can be signs of serotonin syndrome unusual bleeding or bruising a sudden burst of energy, little need for sleep, racing thoughts or unusual risk-taking If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or find a crisis line .
Are Zoloft side effects different for women?
Some are. In the label's pooled trials, lower sex drive was the main sexual side effect in women, at 4% against 2% on placebo, while men had ejaculation and erection problems as well. Zoloft is also approved for PMDD, a severe form of premenstrual mood change. Periods, libido and what passes are covered on the page about Zoloft side effects in women .
What helps with Zoloft side effects?
For the stomach, time and food are the first things to try. For antidepressants in general, the NIMH says people sensitive to side effects sometimes benefit from a lower start, slower increases, and changing when or how they take the medication. The NHS says to take it once a day at the same time, morning or evening.
In our Reddit count, people said moving the dose to morning or night (16 people) and waiting it out (12) helped; 20 described a second medication their prescriber added, which is a decision made with the prescriber, not alone. If sleep is the problem, start with the time of day, and talk any change over with your prescriber before you make it.
Sexual side effects are less likely to pass with time. Waiting rarely fixes them, and putting up with them or stopping are not the only choices; the dose, the timing or the medication can be looked at, and that is a decision for you and your prescriber. Say what has changed, such as desire, arousal or orgasm, and since when.
What should you tell your prescriber about Zoloft side effects?
A specific account helps your prescriber decide whether to wait, adjust the dose or change the plan. Stomach problems, sexual side effects and feeling flat are all worth raising, because something can usually be done. It helps to tell them:
what the stomach problems are like, how often, and whether food helps which other side effects started after your last dose increase how you sleep, and at what time of day you take your dose changes in sex drive, weight or how much you feel, however small whether a side effect has you thinking about stopping Many people also ask whether the time of day matters; the page on taking Zoloft in the morning or at night covers it.
Download on the App Store In the first weeks it is hard to tell which side effects will pass. The withClaro app lets you log mood, energy, sleep and side effects each day, linked to your dose, and turns it into a report for your doctor.
Frequently asked questions What to avoid when taking Zoloft? The Zoloft medication guide says not to drink alcohol and not to drive until you know how it affects you. Do not combine it with MAOIs or pimozide, and check painkillers and supplements such as St John's wort with your pharmacist.
What if Zoloft side effects come back months later? New side effects after months on a steady dose are worth raising, since other medicines, illness or life changes can play a part. Note when it started and tell your prescriber.
Can Zoloft cause headaches? Headaches are listed among the common side effects by the NHS and usually fade in the first weeks. Note how often they happen, and ask your pharmacist which painkiller is safe with Zoloft, since some raise the risk of bleeding.
Does Zoloft make you tired? It can. Sleepiness affected 11% and fatigue 12% of people on Zoloft in trials. Others get insomnia instead. Ask your prescriber whether moving your dose to the evening would help.
What are the pros and cons of Zoloft? Zoloft is approved for six conditions and is the most prescribed antidepressant in the US, so there is a lot of experience with it. The main drawbacks are early stomach upset and sexual side effects that can last. Weigh both with your prescriber against how much it helps you.
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Sources FDA label: Zoloft (sertraline), DailyMed NHS: Sertraline Royal College of Psychiatrists: Antidepressants National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications MedlinePlus: Sertraline NHS: Antidepressants, overview and types Cipriani et al., 2018, The Lancet: Comparative efficacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs ClinCalc DrugStats: The Top 300 Drugs of 2024 NHS: Side effects of sertraline 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Claro articles are for self-monitoring and educational purposes only. They are not a medical device, therapist, or diagnostic tool, and do not replace care from your prescribing clinician. If you are in crisis, contact your care team, emergency services, the Samaritans (UK: 116 123), or the Crisis Text Line (US: text HOME to 741741).