Patients, their families, and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their health care provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment.
Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions. Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein. The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein.
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Advocacy Crisis Intervention. Advocacy State Fact Sheets. Advocacy Public Policy Reports. Sertraline Zoloft. Know the warning signs Learn the common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents. Mental health conditions Learn more about common mental health conditions that affect millions. Missing doses of sertraline may increase your risk for relapse in your symptoms.
Caution is advised with breastfeeding since sertraline does pass into breast milk. Symptoms of your condition that bother you the most If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself Medications you have taken in the past for your condition, whether they were effective or caused any adverse effects If you experience side effects from your medications, discuss them with your provider.
Some side effects may pass with time, but others may require changes in the medication. Any other psychiatric or medical problems you have, including a history of bipolar disorder All other medications you are currently taking including over the counter products, herbal and nutritional supplements and any medication allergies you have Other non-medication treatment you are receiving, such as talk therapy or substance abuse treatment.
Your provider can explain how these different treatments work with the medication. According to the National Library of Medicine , a person should mix 4 ounces half a cup of medication with one of the following beverages, then drink it immediately:.
Typically, a healthcare provider will prescribe a low dose and increase the amount over time, but no more than once per week. It can take several weeks before a person feels any effects of sertraline. People should not stop taking the drug without speaking to a doctor, even if they are feeling better. This may mean that the drug is working, and missing a dose can result in a return of symptoms. Side effects can vary from person to person. Talk to a healthcare provider if severe side effects occur or if any side effects do not go away.
These side effects usually go away after the first week or two. However, sexual dysfunction often does not reduce over time. The package insert for Zoloft states that it and other antidepressants can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in people aged 24 years or younger.
Pay close attention to any new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, and speak to a healthcare provider about these changes. In children, sertraline can cause a loss of weight and appetite. The pediatrician will likely monitor their weight. Whenever possible, a person should come off sertraline gradually. Stopping the dosage suddenly can cause the following side effects:. Sertraline contains a warning for children, teens, and adults under 24 years of age.
Parents and caregivers should make doctors aware of any family history of suicide. It is also important to recognize possible signs of suicidal thoughts or actions. Adults can also experience suicidal thoughts in the first month or two of taking sertraline, as well as when the doctor increases the dosage.
In addition, it is important to pay close attention to side effects. If any are severe or do not go away, talk to a doctor. People using sertraline may test positive on certain drug tests. Before taking a drug test, ask a healthcare professional for advice. When first taking sertraline, avoid using heavy machinery or driving immediately after a dose, until it becomes clear how the body will react.
Some people continue to experience dizziness, tiredness, or other effects that can impair judgment after doses. Certain medications can interact with sertraline. An interaction can cause unwanted side effects or cause medications to be more or less potent than intended.
People should not take any monoamine oxidase inhibitors — another type of antidepressant, commonly called MAOIs — while taking sertraline or up to 2 weeks after stopping. Taking sertraline along with other drugs that affect serotonin can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. This syndrome involves a range of symptoms, including agitation and loss of muscle coordination.
People should not take pimozide while taking sertraline. Also, use caution when taking medications such as ibuprofen, warfarin, and aspirin.
Sertraline is an effective drug for treating OCD. In a study , researchers found that people with OCD experienced measurable improvements after eight weeks of treatment using sertraline.
Sertraline is frequently recommended as a first-line pharmacological treatment for PTSD. A scientific review found that Sertraline is one of several SSRIs used to treat body dysmorphic disorder , a common disorder that causes people to obsessively think negatively about their real or imagined physical flaws. Studies show that sertraline is an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder. In a study , researchers found that sertraline performed significantly better than a non-therapeutic placebo in reducing social anxiety symptoms.
Premature Ejaculation. Although sertraline was not originally developed as a treatment for premature ejaculation, studies show that it can increase ejaculation latency average time until ejaculation in men affected by premature ejaculation.
Sertraline usually comes in tablet form. There are three different sertraline dosage forms—a 25mg tablet, a 50mg tablet and a mg tablet. Sertraline is also available as an oral solution, typically with a 20mg per mL concentration. Most of the time, doctors prescribe a starting dosage of 50mg per day to treat depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD and several other conditions.
The maximum dose for sertraline is mg per day. When prescribed to children, the standard dose of sertraline can range from 25mg to 50mg per day, or 50 to mg for children from 6 to 17 years of age. Sertraline is designed for use once per day. You should not take two doses of sertraline at a time, even if you forgot the previous dose of the medication. Overall, sertraline is a safe and effective medication. However, like most SSRIs, sertraline side effects do occur.
Most sertraline side effects are minor and occur during the first few weeks of using sertraline. Common sertraline side effects include:. Fatigue and tiredness. Tiredness is a common side effects of sertraline and other SSRIs. One way to deal with tiredness from sertraline is to take the medication at night, which will often lighten its effects on your energy levels during the daytime. Difficulty sleeping. Some people experience insomnia after using sertraline.
This can contribute to daytime tiredness, making it hard to maintain your normal routine. Using sertraline in the morning can often make falling and staying asleep easier. Reduced appetite. Like other side effects, this tends to pass after a few weeks. To avoid losing weight, try to maintain your normal eating habits and caloric intake. Sertraline can cause you to experience mild headaches, particularly in the first few weeks of using the medication.
Headaches from sertraline typically disappear after several weeks or months, as your body becomes accustomed to the medication.
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