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Sertraline, also known as Lustral or Zoloft, is an antidepressant that blocks the way the brain uses serotonin, easing symptoms of depression, OCD, and anxiety. It has side effects, including sexual dysfunction, headache, and nervous behavior. It is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women and can increase suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents. It is often used in combination with therapy.
Sertraline is also known by the brand names Lustral® and Zoloft®. It is considered an antidepressant (although it may have other uses) belonging to the types of drugs called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Essentially the drug blocks the way the brain uses serotonin, in what is called reuptake, so that more free serotonin is available. It is believed that having extra serotonin available can help change mood and ease symptoms of depression or other conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalized panic or anxiety disorder. Other people using this drug might include those with social anxiety disorder and women who experience premenstrual dysmorphic disorder.
In 1991, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved sertraline. The company responsible for his invention was Pfizer®. Continuing studies of Zoloft® have made it one of the drugs of choice in the treatment of uncomplicated depression, and studies have also demonstrated its efficacy for some patients in treating conditions such as OCD. However, comparisons with some other major antidepressants show a higher risk of side effects. Common side effects with this drug include but are not limited to the following:
sexual dysfunction
Heachache
Changes in sleep
Excess sweat
Nervous behavior
Dry mouth
Muscle tremor
Stomach ache
More serious side effects can occur if this drug is mixed with alcohol or taken with certain medications such as erythromycin or blood thinners. People should advise doctors of any medications they take concurrently with Zoloft®. Also, smokers may not want to use this drug because smoking reduces its effectiveness. Those who should avoid Zoloft® include pregnant and nursing women because there is a slightly elevated risk of birth defects associated with sertraline.
Sertraline’s most serious risk is when this drug is given to children or adolescents. In some circumstances it can increase suicidal thoughts or impulses. Children and adolescents requesting any SSRI should be closely observed by healthcare professionals to ensure that such behavioral changes do not occur. On the other hand, the incidence of side effects in the elderly is quite low and this drug is considered to be a good treatment for many elderly people suffering from depression, panic disorder or anxiety. It also has a low incidence of weight gain which can make it attractive to people of different age groups.
There are many SSRIs and sertraline may be the perfect choice for some people. Many side effects are short lived and will not continue once a person adjusts to taking the drug. This does not mean that all people respond favorably to the drug. Some people may find sertraline completely ineffective, or they may find that the side effects continue and are too burdensome to bear. Working with a good psychiatrist if a person is prescribed Zoloft® is a great idea, as psychiatrists can assess whether the drug is helping, whether the dose needs to be increased or decreased, and whether another drug would be more appropriate.
Many of the conditions for which sertraline is used also benefit from some form of therapy. Standard types include talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. In general, when people suffer from OCD, depression, or anxiety, a combination of drug treatment and therapy helps them the most.
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