Zoloft (Sertraline)

Zoloft (Sertraline) Medication Information:

What is Zoloft?

Zoloft is a prescription medicine used to treat mental and behavioral disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, traumatic stress, and social phobia. It is also used for the treatment of premenstrual symptoms.

Zoloft belongs to a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by restoring the balance of chemicals such as serotonin in the brain. The safety and effectiveness of Zoloft in children under 6 years of age are not known.

Benefits and uses of Zoloft:

Zoloft is used for the treatment of the following health conditions:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
• Panic Disorder.
• Social Anxiety Disorder.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

Side effects of Zoloft:

Patients taking Zoloft may experience some common side effects, including:

• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea.
• Fatigue, sweating, tremors.
• Increased sleepiness or insomnia.
• Anxiety
• Sexual problems such as decreased sex drive and delayed ejaculation.
• Abnormal muscle movement, nose bleeds, urinary incontinence, slowed growth rate in pediatric patients.

Zoloft may also cause adverse side effects, including:

• Suicidal thoughts, violent behavior.
• Worse anxiety or panic attacks.
• Serotonin syndrome, hallucinations, coordination problems, muscle twitching, fast heartbeat.
• Manic episodes, increased energy, talking faster than usual, reckless behavior, excessive happiness, or irritability.
• Seizures
• Angle-closure glaucoma, eye pain, vision changes.
• Changes in appetite or weight.
• Low salt levels in the blood, headache, weakness, confusion.
• Hive, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, tongue, or mouth.

How to take Zoloft?

Zoloft is available as 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablets and 20mg/mL oral solution. The recommended initial Zoloft dosage is 25mg or 50mg per day. The dose can be increased up to 200mg per day ( 25 to 50mg increments once a week) if required. The interval between the dose change should be one week. Take Zoloft tablets orally with or without food as directed by your doctor. If you are taking the oral solution, dilute it with 120 mL of water, ginger ale, lemon soda, or orange juice. Drink the mixture straight away.

Zoloft Drug Interactions:

Zoloft may interact with other medications including:

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) such as selegiline, tranylcypromine, methylene blue.
• Pimozide
• Serotonergic Drugs (SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, St. John's Wort).
• Anticoagulants (aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, warfarin).
• Drugs Metabolized by CYP2D6 (propafenone, flecainide, atomoxetine).
• Phenytoin
• Antipsychotics (ziprasidone, iloperidone, chlorpromazine).
• Antibiotics (erythromycin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin).
• Antiarrhythmics (quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone).

Safety Information:

• Do not take Zoloft if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
• Patients should be watched carefully as the medication may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.
• Caution is advised in administering Zoloft to patients with angle-closure glaucoma.
• Tell your doctor if you have had liver, kidney, or heart problems, bipolar disorder, seizures, low sodium levels, stroke, high blood pressure, and bleeding problems.
• Do not take Zoloft if you take pimozide, disulfiram, and MAOI or have taken MAOI within the last 14 days.
• Consult your doctor before discontinuing the medicine as you may develop discontinuation symptoms.
• Talk to your doctor about the safety of the medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Do not drive or use heavy machines after just taking Zoloft tablets.
• Do not consume alcohol while taking this medicine.

References:

• https://www.rxlist.com/zoloft-drug.htm#description