Sertraline



Sertraline 810
Photo by: James Peragine

Definition

Sertraline is an antidepressant that belongs to the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In the in United States it is sold under the brand name Zoloft.

Purpose

Sertraline is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder , panic disorder , and post-traumatic stress disorder .

Description

Serotonin, one of the neurotransmitters , is a brain chemical that carries nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. Researchers think that depression and certain other mental disorders may be caused, in part, because there is not enough serotonin being released and transmitted in the brain. Like the other SSRI antidepressants, fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline increases the level of brain serotonin (also known as 5-HT). Increased serotonin levels in the brain may be beneficial in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcoholism, certain types of headaches, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pre-menstrual tension and mood swings, and panic disorder. Sertraline is not more or less effective than the other SSRI drugs although selected characteristics of each drug in this class may offer greater benefits in some patients. Fewer drug interactions have been reported with sertraline, however, than with other medications in the same class.

The benefits of sertraline develop slowly over a period of up to four weeks. Patients should be aware of this and continue to take the drug as directed, even if they feel no immediate improvement.

Sertraline is available in 25-mg, 50-mg and 100-mg tablets, or as a 20-mg per ml solution.

Recommended dosage

The recommended dosage of sertraline depends on the disorder being treated. The initial recommended dosage for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder is 50 mg daily. This may be increased at intervals of at least one week to the maximum recommended dosage of 200 mg daily. For the treatment of panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, the initial dose is 25 mg once daily. This dosage is increased to 50 mg daily after one week. If there is no therapeutic response, the dosage may be increased to the maximum of 200 mg daily at intervals of at least one week. These dosages may need to be reduced in elderly patients (over age 65) or in people with liver disease.

For the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the pediatric population, treatment should be initiated at a dose of 25 mg per day in children six to 12 years of age and 50 mg per day in children 13 to 17 years of age. Doses may be increased at one-week intervals to a total daily dose of 200 mg.

Precautions

A group of serious side effects, called serotonin syndrome, have resulted from the combination of antidepressants such as sertraline and members of another class of antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Serotonin syndrome usually consists of at least three of the following symptoms: diarrhea, fever, sweatiness, mood or behavior changes, overactive reflexes, fast heart rate, restlessness, shivering or shaking. Because of this, sertraline should never be taken in combination with MAO inhibitors. Patient taking any MAO inhibitors, for example Nardil ( phenelzine sulfate) or Parmate ( tranylcypromine sulfate), should stop the MAO inhibitor then wait at least 14 days before starting sertraline or any other antidepressant. The same holds true when discontinuing sertraline and starting an MAO inhibitor. Also, people should not take sertraline oral concentrate while using disulfiram (Antabuse). Sertraline should never be taken by people who are any other SSRI antidepressants.

Sertraline should be used with cautiously and with close physician supervision by people with a prior history of seizures , people who are at an increased risk of bleeding, and those for whom weight loss is undesirable. Sertraline may precipitate a shift to mania in patients with bipolar (formerly manic-depressive) disease.

Side effects

More than 5% of patients experience insomnia , dizziness, and headache. About 14% of men report delayed ejaculation while 6% report decreased sex drive while taking this drug. In order to reduce these sexual side effects, patients can wait for tolerance to develop (this may take up to 12 weeks), reduce the dose, have drug holidays (where the weekend dose is either decreased or skipped), or discus with their physician using a different antidepressant.

More than 10% of patients report nausea and diarrhea while taking sertraline. Other possible side effects include agitation, anxiety, rash, constipation, vomiting, tremors, or visual difficulty. Although most side effects eventually subside, it may take up to four weeks for people to adjust to the drug.

Interactions

Sertraline interacts with St. John's Wort , an herbal remedy for depression. The risk of seizures is increased in patients using tramadol and sertraline. Taking sertraline with MAO inhibitors may result in the serious side effects discussed above. Erythromycin, an antibiotic, may inhibit the breakdown of sertraline in the liver and cause increased central nervous system effects such as drowsiness and decreasing of mental alertness. Other antidepressants should not be taken by people using sertraline except in rare cases when prescribed by a physician. If a combination of antidepressants is considered beneficial, a low dose of tricyclic antidepressants (10–25 mg daily) should be used.

Sertraline should not be taken with grapefruit juice as the combination may increase sertraline levels in the body.

Resources

BOOKS

Kay, Jerald. Psychiatry: Behavioral Science and Clinical Essentials. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 2000.

Pfizer Inc. Staff. Product Information for Zoloft-Sertraline. New York: Pfizer Inc. Revised 9/2000, reviewed 3/2001.

PERIODICALS

Edwards, Guy. "Systemic Review and Guide to Selection of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors." Drugs. 57(1999): 507-33.

Hirschfeld, Robert. "Management of Sexual Side Effects of Antidepressant Therapy." Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 60 (1999): 27-30.

Ajna Hamidovic, Pharm.D.



User Contributions:

Ive been on this med for a couple of months for major depressive disorder and anxiety. It does help me, but I'm still jittery all day until I get to take my trazodone at night. The doctor said the jittery feeling would go away within a month or so, but it hasn't. Does anyone else have this problem?
I'm a 44 years old man.I've come through major OCD since my childhood.I experienced the problem at the age of 7 or 8.At the age of 21 while going through severe constant panic attack I started medication with tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine.Because the result was not satisfactory I had to switch to many different antidepressants. Eventually when I started with sertraline in 1998 it changed my life for the better.I never felt the life so pleasant before I started with this medication.Since then up-to-date I'm on this medication.Though I do go through normal ups and downs,over all the life is satisfactory.

What I worry is that now I have a 9 years old daughter.Generally she is a cheerful girl.Shows interest in her study,some sports and good at general knowledge and IQ for her age.But I'm afraid she likes to (1)frown and shout at when she is asked to do something( could it be because her mother is a short-tempered one?).(2)She has an unnecessary fear for dogs.(3)Since she was very young(about 3 years)she always displays a kind of anxiety when cutting the nail of her smallest(fifth)toe,she is afraid that I would cut her toe rather than her nail.(4)She also shows some signs of mild trichotillomania. And(5) these days I often notice her making throat clearing sound which I beleive she can't resist,very similar to the one I remember OCD began in me.

It's because I've been through horrible experience of OCD, anxeity, depression, post traumatic stress desorder and panic attack all at once,I wouldn't want my child to go through any one of these, I'm thinking of giving her with sertraline(Zoloft,Zosert)to treat for her above mentioned symptoms.your kind advice would be very much appreciated.Thank you and looking forward to your kind reply.
I have been taking Sertraline for now, 200mg and reduced by weaning down to 50mg. I want to stop altogether now and feel ready to do so, however I'm concerned about the effects of stopping altogether. Do I still need to wean down further,e.g.25mgs or should I just stop now,
4
Matthews mokoena
What is the minimum period one can take before stopping using Serdep meds (3 or six months)
5
Katy
For a young person who hasn't consumed alcohol before and is on setraline, what would happen if they were to drink?
6
Sarah
I have a five year old girl. Who has been on Sertraline 20mg/ml oral conc 20 0.6ml by mouth once daily. Since February 2017. She is now having diarrhea and stomach cramps. She take it at 4:00pm. And she takes it for anxiety disorder. And depression. And ptsd. What can I do to help with the side affects?
7
Bbgirl
I've bin on zoloft setraline for 7 weeks now. 200 mg still isn't helping someone give me a positive note and say that it does help I wanna know how long it can take to build up in your system?? And I have depression gad and ocd so its bin rough lately I've bin experiencing very unpleasant symptoms for the last 3 year's... Someone give me a few answers

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