Sertraline passes into breast milk in tiny amounts and has been linked with side effects in a very few breastfed babies. But it's important to continue taking sertraline to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.
If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible. For more information about how sertraline can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read the leaflet about the best use of medicines in pregnancy BUMPS.
Some medicines and sertraline can interfere with each other and increase the chances of you having side effects. Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you're being treated with sertraline as this will increase your risk of side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Sertraline is one of a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.
These medicines are thought to work by increasing the levels of a mood-enhancing chemical called serotonin in the brain. Antidepressants like sertraline help to jump start your mood so you feel better.
You may notice that you sleep better and get on with people more easily because you're less anxious. You'll hopefully take in your stride little things that used to worry you.
Sertraline will not change your personality or make you feel euphorically happy. It'll simply help you feel like yourself again. Do not expect to feel better overnight, though. Some people feel worse during the first few weeks of treatment before they begin to feel better. You may see an improvement in your symptoms after 1 or 2 weeks, although it usually takes between 4 to 6 weeks before you feel the full benefits.
That's because it takes around a week for sertraline levels to build up in your body, and then a few weeks longer for your body to adapt and get used to it. Do not stop taking sertraline just because you feel it is not helping your symptoms. Give the medicine at least 6 weeks to work. If you have been feeling better for 6 months or more, your doctor may suggest coming off sertraline. Your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks, or longer if you have been taking sertraline for a long time.
This is to help prevent any extra side effects you might get as a reaction to coming off the medicine. Do not stop taking sertraline suddenly, or without talking to your doctor first. Once you're feeling better it's likely that you'll continue to take sertraline for several more months. Most doctors recommend that you take antidepressants for 6 months to a year after you no longer feel depressed. A few people may get sexual side effects, such as problems getting an erection or a lower sex drive.
In some cases these can continue even after stopping the medicine. Speak to your doctor if you are worried. Taking sertraline for more than a year has also been linked to a small increased risk of getting diabetes. You'll be regularly checked for this. Sertraline is not any better or worse than other antidepressants.
Sometimes people respond better to one antidepressant than another. Sertraline can make you feel more or less hungry than usual, so you may lose or gain weight when you start taking it. If you start to have problems with your weight while taking sertraline, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Sertraline will not affect any type of contraception, including the contraceptive pill or emergency contraception.
There's some evidence that sertraline can reduce the quality of sperm. This should reverse once you stop taking the medicine. It's not known whether this reduces male fertility. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking sertraline will reduce fertility in women. But speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant.
They may want to review your treatment. Other SSRIs include :. The Food and Drug Administration FDA note that people use sertraline to treat depression, anxiety , and other mood disorders. The main use of sertraline is to treat depression, though healthcare providers also prescribe this drug to help treat other conditions, including :.
A doctor may prescribe sertraline to treat other issues, such as sexual dysfunction or headaches. Anyone interested in the range of uses should consult a doctor. Typically, a person takes a dose in the morning or evening, once a day. People using it to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder may take it every day or only on select days of the month.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness , sertraline comes in the following doses:. When using the liquid, dilute it in a drink.
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. For people with liver problems: If you have liver problems or a history of liver disease, your body may not be able to process this drug as well.
For pregnant women: This drug is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug.
For women who are breastfeeding: This drug may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to.
This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk for side effects.
If you are over the age of 65 years, you may be at higher risk for developing muscle problems while taking this drug, including low salt levels in the blood known as hyponatremia. For children: This medication has not been studied in children as a treatment for major depressive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
It should not be used for these disorders in people younger than 18 years. This medication has only been studied in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder. For treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, it should not be used in people younger than 6 years. This dosage information is for sertraline oral tablet.
All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:. The use of this drug to treat children with this condition has not been studied. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years. The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different dosing schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.
However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Sertraline oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It may even get worse. Do not stop taking this drug without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping your drug too quickly may cause serious symptoms, including:. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.
If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
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. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to weeks to fully improve. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. This risk may persist until significant remission occurs.
In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults when compared to placebo. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age Adults age 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality.
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
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