Sertraline is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI. It's often used to treat depression , and also sometimes panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.
Sertraline helps many people recover from depression, and has fewer unwanted side effects than older antidepressants. Take our survey. Sertraline can be taken by adults for depression or obsessive compulsive disorder.
Sertraline can be taken by children aged 6 to 17, but only for obsessive compulsive disorder. If you have diabetes , sertraline can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable. Monitor your blood sugar more often for the first few weeks of treatment with sertraline and adjust your diabetes treatment if necessary.
You can choose to take sertraline at any time, as long as you stick to the same time every day. The usual dose of sertraline is 50mg a day in adults. But it might be started at a lower dose, then increased gradually to a maximum dose of mg a day. If you have liver problems, your doctor might give you a lower dose or advise you to take sertraline less often. The usual dose of sertraline in children aged 6 to 12 is 25mg a day, but this may be increased to 50mg a day after a week.
The usual dose of sertraline in children aged 13 to 17 is 50mg a day. Children aged 6 to 17 might have their dose increased up to mg a day, if needed. If you occasionally forget to take a dose, do not worry. Take your next dose the next day at the usual time.
Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten one. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. The amount of sertraline that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Take the sertraline packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.
Like all medicines, sertraline can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Some of the common side effects of sertraline will gradually improve as your body gets used to it. Some people who take sertraline for panic attacks find their anxiety gets worse during the first few weeks of treatment.
This usually wears off after a few weeks, but speak to your doctor if it bothers you — a lower dose may help reduce your symptoms. If you get them, keep taking the medicine, but tell your doctor if they bother you or do not go away.
Try taking sertraline with or after food. It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food. Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking sertraline.
Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe. Take sertraline in the evening and cut down the amount of alcohol you drink. Do not drive or use tools or machinery if you're feeling sleepy. If this does not help, talk to your doctor. Drink plenty of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual and having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If sertraline makes you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. If sertraline makes you feel tired or weak, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Do not drive or use tools or machinery if you're feeling tired. Do not drink alcohol as it'll make you feel worse.
If these symptoms do not go away after 1 or 2 weeks, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice. It happens rarely in less than 1 in people , but some people may have serious side effects when taking sertraline. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to sertraline. These are not all the side effects of sertraline. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
It's important for you and your baby that you stay well during your pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking sertraline, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Sertraline has been linked to a very small increased risk of problems for your unborn baby.
But if your depression is not treated during pregnancy, this can also increase the chance of problems. You may take sertraline during pregnancy if you need it to remain well. Your doctor can explain the risks and the benefits, and will help you decide which treatment is best for you and your baby.
If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, sertraline is one of the preferred antidepressants to take when breastfeeding. It has been used by many breastfeeding mothers without any problems. To lower your chance of side effects, your doctor will start you on the lowest possible dosage. It may take some time to find the correct dosage and the best medication for you.
When it comes to side effect specifics, Zoloft is more likely than Prozac to cause diarrhea. Prozac is more likely to cause dry mouth and sleep problems. Neither drug causes drowsiness, and both medications are less likely to cause weight gain than older antidepressant drugs. Antidepressants can also cause serious side effects. Prozac and Zoloft may cause suicidal thoughts in children, teenagers, and young adults. Both Prozac and Zoloft can interact with other drugs.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all drugs and supplements you take, both prescription and over-the-counter. These include:. In general, you should only use these medications in these cases if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. Both medications are available in most pharmacies. To check the most current pricing, though, you can visit GoodRx.
This is because both drugs are also available as generic medications, and generics tend to cost less than their brand-name counterparts. Before covering the brand-name product, your health insurance company may need prior authorization from your doctor. Prozac and Zoloft are both effective drugs. They work in the same way in your body and cause similar side effects. They treat some different conditions, though, so the drug your doctor chooses for you may depend largely on your diagnosis.
Talk to your doctor to learn which medication may be the best choice for you. Many people react differently to these types of medications. There are also other options available. Doctors advised Amy to go off her depression medication in order to get pregnant, but that wasn't the solution that worked for her. Adding these 10 simple self-care strategies to your daily routine can be effective for managing depression. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications.
People living with MDD who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. Untreated MDD has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers. For women who take antidepressant medications during weeks 13 through the end of their pregnancy second and third trimesters , there is a risk that the baby can be born before it is fully developed before 37 weeks.
This is a potentially fatal condition that is associated with use of the antidepressant in the second half of pregnancy.
However, women who discontinued antidepressant therapy were five times more likely to have a depression relapse than those who continued their antidepressant. If you are pregnant, please discuss the risks and benefits of antidepressant use with your health care provider. Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks. The dose usually ranges from 50 mg to mg.
Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you. If you are taking it for PMDD, sertraline can be taken once daily everyday or intermittently usually starting 14 days prior to menstruation through the first full day of menses of each cycle. The liquid should be measured with an oral syringe or dropper which you can get from your pharmacy. It should not be mixed in advance. Consider using a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication.
You may also ask a family member or friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. If you miss a dose of sertraline, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose.
Discuss this with your health care provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed. Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking antidepressant medications. They may decrease the benefits e. If an overdose occurs, call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Sexual side effects, such as problems with orgasm or ejaculatory delay often do not diminish over time.
Low sodium blood levels symptoms of low sodium levels may include headache, weakness, difficulty concentrating and remembering , teeth grinding, angle closure glaucoma symptoms of angle closure glaucoma may include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around eye.
Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include shivering, diarrhea, confusion, severe muscle tightness, fever, seizures, and death , seizure. SSRI antidepressants including sertraline may increase the risk of bleeding events. Combined use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs e. This may include gums that bleed more easily, nose bleed, or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Some cases have been life threatening. To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of sertraline. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Sertraline should not be taken with or within two weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs. Sertraline may increase the effects of other medications that can cause bleeding e. Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first weeks.
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