Can You Get High on Zoloft?
Oh, Zoloft. You’ve probably heard about this drug due to some of the negative attention it’s received. It’s been accused of causing birth defects, killing user’s sex-drives, and generally wrecking people’s lives.
Beneath the bad press, though, there’s a prescription drug that has provided some genuine benefit for some if its users. The SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) is commonly used to treat depression, OCD, and PTSD. Could it hold some recreational value as well?
In this article:
What is Zoloft?
Here are a few things you may or may not have known about Zoloft. First off, Zoloft is a brand name; the generic drug name is Sertraline. It was discovered in the 1970s by researchers working at Pfizer:
“In 1977, two men known as Kenneth Koe and Willard Welch also working at Pfizer did some other experiments with different forms of tametraline compounds (mixed tametraline and other drugs) leading them to find “a serotonin reuptake inhibitor” that would later be known as sertraline (Zoloft).”
The researchers learned about the mood-altering properties of the drug, and it was approved for use by the FDA in 1991. In the United States, it is available by prescription and used to treat depression, OCD, panic disorder, anxiety, and several other ailments.
It is commonly compared to Prozac, with the major differences being which kind of patient each drug is prescribed to. Zoloft received some hype during the Ebola scare as a possible treatment, but what about catching a Zoloft high? I decided to survey the experiences of users to learn more.
Why is Zoloft prescribed?
Zoloft is a brand of a drug called Sertraline. It’s an SSRI used to combat major depressive disorder, in addition to OCD, panic disorder, and social anxiety.
By limiting the reuptake of serotonin in the body, it increases its availability and can lead to changes in a user’s mood. It’s a mostly tolerable drug (except when you overdo it) and has several off-label uses that researchers are currently exploring.
Is it approved for other uses?
Zoloft can treat several mood disorders, but also has the potential to help with other ills. There is evidence to suggest it can ease the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, premature ejaculation, and PTSD as well.
These effects will take some additional study to nail down, and the treatment for premature ejaculation is somewhat hampered by the fact that it requires continuous daily treatment for effects to manifest. Still, these additional uses are interesting and researchers continue to explore them.
Recreational Use
You can find a story here or there of someone taking the drug recreationally and receiving some sort of a high from the drug. Those stories all seem to be accompanied by extremely high doses of the drug, though. It’s tough to find any information that suggests that Zoloft can get you high at a safer dose.
What Does Zoloft High Feel Like?
I couldn’t find anything about Zoloft producing a short-term recreational high. What I did find, though, were plenty of reports about how Zoloft aided with anxiety and clinical depression. Take this glowing account, for example:
“Basically, I feel like Zoloft has opened my eyes to see the world clearly for the first time, and without the anxiety clouding my vision it is a nicer place then I could have imagined.”
Many others feel the same, though, they note that the drug has some side effects:
“Zoloft saved my life, until it didn’t. After being on it for 20 years, I stopped taking it because of side effects. I’ve tried other SSRIs, but none work like Zoloft. I’m struggling to stay off now. I want to learn to live without it, but I don’t know if I can.”
The most commonly reported effect was sexual dysfunction:
“I’ve been on Zoloft since October and it’s worked wonders for my mind. I think that I’ll need to do something else in the future, though, because I couldn’t cum when I was with my (now-ex) girlfriend.”
One user summed it up with perfect brevity:
“Everyone has their own personal side effects of course but just a heads up: be prepared to say goodbye to orgasms.”
But, other users reported a wider range of side effects, as well:
“When my doctor first put me on Zoloft, he started me on 50 mg per day. It seemed to work a bit for my depression but there was still room for improvement so he upped my dose to 100 mg. My first day on 100 mg was fine, but by early evening the second day, I started feeling as if I was coming down with the flu. It turns out that my temperature was 102.6.
My temperature returned to normal, but I was still faced with side effects that reminded me of 3 or 4 Ritalin, caffeine pills, or ephedrine. I was jittery, talking much more than normal, my hands where shaking, and I had real problems getting to sleep at night.
Ultimately, I wouldn’t call my Zoloft experience a total waste. My depression was lessened, if not removed, by this SSRI and for that I was glad. “
After reading these mixed reviews, it wasn’t clear whether Zoloft would even work, let alone get me pleasantly high. But, I decided to give it a shot anyways.
My Experience
How does Zoloft make you feel? I tried to find out.
I decided to go for an immediate, rapid Zoloft high to see if it was possible. The normal dose ranges from 25-50 milligrams; I downed 150 milligrams. I wish I hadn’t because once it kicked in, I felt like I was going to fall over.
I laid down to try and wait for the effects out but started to feel that telltale rumbling in my gut. I knew what was coming next, and retreated to my bathroom for the remainder of the afternoon. It seems that when SSRIs hit you, they hit you hard.
This stuff probably works great when taken normally for clinical uses, but trying to get any recreational benefit out of Zoloft seems like a lost cause to me.
Users Agree: Use Only as Prescribed
Most users find that Zoloft helps them with their depression and anxiety. The medicine affects users in different ways, though, and many find that they also experience some side effects while taking the drug. Diarrhea and vomiting were common, as was “sexual dysfunction.”
Many users were unable to achieve orgasm while taking Zoloft, and some users who had taken Zoloft for a long time had their sex-drive severely diminished. None of the accounts I read mentioned anything about using Zoloft to achieve any euphoric high.
Side Effects
Zoloft has several side effects. I was a victim of crippling diarrhea that can sometimes occur. Other effects include dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, loss of appetite, and, as discussed, reduced interest in sex.
Final Verdict
Leave Zoloft to the individuals that truly need it. The drug has legitimate uses for treating mood disorders, and even as a smoking cessation aid. But, not much going on for it in the recreational department.
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