Zoloft

Drug Name - Zoloft (Sertraline)

Zoloft (Sertraline) is a orally administered drug that is used in the treatment of conditions like panic disorder and depression.

Indications for Use

Zoloft is a oral pill that is available only through a prescription and is indicated for use in the treatment of conditions such as panic disorder, depression, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). Zoloft is used in children and adolescents within the age group of 6-17 years in the treatment of OCD.

Instructions for Use

Zoloft is taken only once in a day. Food does not have a bearing in the absorption of the drug in the body. Follow the instructions of your doctor very carefully about the way in which the drug needs to be taken and the dosage should not be varied unless your doctor tells you to. Do not cease the routine consumption of the drug without consulting your doctor even if your symptoms are beginning to go away and you are feeling much better. Your doctor will decide on whether to stop the intake of the drug and will plan out a gradual cessation by reducing the dose. Routine intake of the drug for a few weeks is necessary to see the effects of the drug.

Drug Category and Mechanism of Action

Zoloft is a type of drug known as SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Celexa (citalopram), Luvox(fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine) and Prozac (fluoxetine) are some of the other drugs that belong to this type.

Serotonin is a chemical generated by the nerve cells present in the brain and helps in the transmission of impulses and in communication with other nerve cells. The serotonin produced by the nerve cells is released into the space around the cell and this attaches to the nerve cells adjoining it or to the receptors of the cell that produced the serotonin from where it is reabsorbed into the nerve cell to be released later (this process is called reuptake). There is a natural balance between the serotonin that is released from the nerve cell and what is reabsorbed into the cell.

In many conditions, the level of serotonin in the brain gets altered and this disturbs the natural balance between release and reuptake. SSRI type of drugs prevents the reuptake of serotonin thereby causing an improvement in the level of serotonin in the brain. This helps in restoring the balance and bringing it to a normal state. Sertraline obtained an approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December, 1991.

If You Miss a Dose

For people who take Zoloft in the morning, it is advised to take the missed dose if they forget to take the drug at the scheduled time and remember it at a later point of time during the day. But, if the time when they remember is close to the next scheduled dose, it is best to avoid taking the drug at that time and take it at the scheduled time for the next dose. For people who take Zoloft when they retire for the night, it is best to skip the dose if they remember it the next morning. Do not compensate for the missed dose by taking extra medicine.

Storing Instructions

The drug is best stored at 25 degrees C (77 degrees F) although it can be stored in the temperature range between 15-30 degrees C (59-86 degrees F).

Safety Information

It is essential to provide previous medical history of previous seizures, mania, suicidal tendencies, liver disease or kidney problems if any to the doctor if you have been prescribed Zoloft. This might help your doctor in making a decision whether or not to prescribe the drug and if so, what the dosage should be and whether any close monitoring is essential.

The FDA pregnancy categorization of the drug is a C which goes to say that the effects of the drug on your baby has not been effectively studied and is not known clearly. So, if you are pregnant and have been prescribed Zoloft, you should inform the doctor about your pregnancy. Also, it is not known if Zoloft will pass through the breast milk to the baby. So, if you are nursing your child and wish to take Zoloft seek the advice of the doctor before doing so.

Probable Adverse Effects

Stop the intake of Zoloft and seek immediate medical attention if you suffer from any of the severe side effects described below:

• Any allergic reactions to the drug
• Any heart irregularities
• Severe increase or decrease of blood pressure
• High fever and chills

If you suffer from any of the below mentioned minor side effects, you can continue to take the drug but must seek the advise of the physician at the earliest. Some of the minor side effects might include anxiety, nervousness, tremors, headache, drying of the mouth, diarrhea, alterations in weight or appetite, decreased libido, impotence, insomnia (difficulty in getting sleep) and inability to orgasm. There might be other side effects too which are not listed out here. Be sure to convey about any side effects you are facing from taking the drug.