Sertraline: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Sertraline?

What is Sertraline for?

Sertraline is a drug with the function of treating depression, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), and severe forms of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

This medication can improve your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy levels and can help restore your interest in daily life. This medication can reduce fear, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, and a number of panic attacks. This medication can also reduce the urge to perform repetitive tasks (urges such as washing hands, counting, and checking) that interfere with daily life. Sertraline is known as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural substance (serotonin) in the brain.

Sertraline dosage and sertraline side effects are described further below.

How do you use Sertraline?

Read the medication manual and if available read the patient information leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking Sertraline and each time you get a refill. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication as directed by your doctor, usually once daily either in the morning or evening. The tablet form of this drug can be used with or without food. The capsule form is usually used with meals after breakfast or after your dinner.

If you are taking this medicine for premenstrual problems, your doctor may direct you to take this medicine every day on a monthly basis or just 2 weeks before your period until the start of your period.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start using this medication at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow the doctor's instructions carefully. Take this medicine regularly to get its benefits. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day.

It is important that you continue to take this medication as prescribed even if you feel well. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may get worse when this drug suddenly stops. Also, you may experience symptoms such as mood swings, headaches, fatigue, sleep changes, and a brief feeling similar to an electric shock. Your dose may need to be gradually lowered to reduce side effects. Report any new symptoms or if they are getting worse.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is Sertraline stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Sertraline dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage for Sertraline for adults?

Usual Adult Dose of Sertraline for Depression:

Initial dose: 50 mg orally once a day.

The dose increases to 50 mg increase no more frequently than weekly.

Maintenance dose: May increase once a week, for a maximum use of 200 mg once daily.

Usual Adult Dose of Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:

Initial dose: 50 mg orally once a day.

The dose increases to 50 mg increase no more frequently than weekly.

Maintenance dose: May increase once a week, for a maximum use of 200 mg once daily.

Usual Adult Dose for Panic Disorder:

Initial dose: 25 mg orally once a day, after one week, the dose can be increased to 50 mg once a day. Increase the dose to 50 mg increase no more often than weekly.

Maintenance dose: May increase once a week, to a maximum of 200 mg once daily.

Usual Adult Dose of Sertraline for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:

Initial dose: 25 mg orally once a day, after one week, the dose can be increased to 50 mg once a day. Increase the dose to 50 mg which increases no more frequently than weekly.

Maintenance dose: May be increased once a week, for a maximum use of 200 mg once daily.

Usual Adult Dose for Social Anxiety Disorder:

Initial dose: 25 mg orally once a day, after one week, the dose can be increased to 50 mg once a day. Increase the dose to 50 mg which increases no more frequently than weekly.

Maintenance dose: May be increased once a week, for a maximum use of 200 mg once daily.

Usual Adult Dose for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder:

Initial dose: 50 mg orally once a day, either throughout the menstrual cycle or limited to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (depending on the clinical judgment of the doctor).

Patients who have not experienced a reaction from taking the 50 mg per day dose may increase the dose (50 mg increments / menstrual cycle) to 150 mg per day when the daily dose is throughout the menstrual cycle, or 100 mg per day when the dose is during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. If 100 mg per day dose is used as a luteal phase dose, a titration of 50 mg per day for three days should be utilized at the start of each luteal phase dosing period.

What is the dose of Sertraline for children?

Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients (less than 18 years).

In what dosage is Sertraline available?

25 mg tablet; 50 mg; 100 mg

Sertraline side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Sertraline?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: nausea, vomiting, sweating, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or feel like you might pass out.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, restless, irritable, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mental or physical), is more depressed, or has thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• Very rigid (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeat, feeling like you might pass out
• Agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, tremors
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, feeling unstable, loss of coordination; or
• Headache, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, weakness, fainting, seizures, shallow breathing or breathing stops

Less serious side effects may include:

• Drowsiness, dizziness, tired feeling
• Mild nausea, stomach pain, constipation
• Dry mouth
• Change in appetite or weight
• Sleep problems (insomnia); or
• Decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Sertraline Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Sertraline?

In deciding to use medication, the risks of taking the drug must be considered. It is up to you and your doctor. For this drug, the following should be considered:

Allergy

Tell your doctor if you have had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read ingredient labels or packages carefully.

Children

Appropriate studies have not been conducted on the relationship of age to the effects of Sertraline in pediatric populations. Safety and efficacy have not been found.

Appropriate studies conducted to date have not demonstrated specific pediatric problems that would limit the use of Sertraline for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been confirmed in children younger than 6 years of age.

Elderly

The precise studies conducted to date have not demonstrated a geriatric-specific problem that will limit the usefulness of Sertraline in the elderly. However, elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug than young adults, and more likely to have hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood), which may require caution and dose adjustments for patients receiving Sertraline.

Is Sertraline safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or nursing women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Studies in women show that this drug poses minimal risk to the baby when used during breastfeeding.

Sertraline Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Sertraline?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Although some drugs should not be taken at the same time, in other cases some drugs can also be used together even though interactions may occur. In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

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Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this drug or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Clorgyline
• Furazolidone
• Iproniazid
• Isocarboxazid
• Linezolid
• Methylene Blue
• Moclobemide
• Nialamide
• Pargyline
• Phenelzine
• Pimozide
• Procarbazine
• Rasagiline
• Selegiline
• Toloxatone
• Tranylcypromine

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not usually recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both drugs.

• Abciximab
• Acenocoumarol
• Acrivastine
• Almotriptan
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Anagrelide
• Ancrod
• Anisindione
• Antithrombin III Human
• Apixaban
• Ardeparin
• Aspirin
• Astemizole
• Bivalirudin
• Bupropion
• Certoparin
• Cilostazol
• Citalopram
• Clomipramine
• Clopidogrel
• Clozapine
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dalteparin
• Danaparoid
• Defibrotide
• Dermatan Sulfate
• Desipramine
• Desirudin
• Desvenlafaxine
• Dexfenfluramine
• Dextromethorphan
• Diclofenac
• Dicumarol
• Dipyridamole
• Dolasetron
• Dothiepin
• Doxepin
• Duloxetine
• Eletriptan
• Enoxaparin
• Eptifibatide
• Escitalopram
• Fenfluramine
• Fentanyl
• Flecainide
• Fluoxetine
• Fluvoxamine
• Fondaparinux
• Fosphenytoin
• Frovatriptan
• Granisetron
• Haloperidol
• Heparin
• Hydroxytryptophan
• Imipramine
• Iobenguane I 123
• Levomilnacipran
• Lofepramine
• Lorcaserin
• Meperidine
• Milnacipran
• Mirtazapine
• Nadroparin
• Naratriptan
• Nortriptyline
• Oxcarbazepine
• Oxycodone
• Palonosetron
• Parnaparin
• Paroxetine
• Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium
• Phenindione
• Phenprocoumon
• Phenytoin
• Prasugrel
• Propafenone
• Protriptyline
• Reviparin
• Risperidone
• Ritonavir
• Rizatriptan
• Sibutramine
• St. John's Wort
• Sumatriptan
• Tamoxifen
• Tapentadol
• Ticlopidine
• Tinzaparin
• Tirofiban
• Tramadol
• Trazodone
• Trimipramine
• Tryptophan
• Venlafaxine
• Vilazodone
• Vortioxetine
• Warfarin
• Zolmitriptan

Using this medication with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both drugs.

• Alprazolam
• Carbamazepine
• Cimetidine
• Darunavir
• Efavirenz
• Fluphenazine
• Ginkgo
• Lamotrigine
• Lithium
• Metoclopramide
• Propranolol
• Rifampin
• Thiotepa
• Zolpidem

Can food or alcohol interact with Sertraline?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with Sertraline?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems .:

• Bipolar disorder (mood disorder with mania and depression), or risk or
• Bleeding problems or
• Diabetes or
• Glaucoma, angle closure, or history of or
• Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) or
• Mania or hypomania, a history or
• Purpura (purplish or red-brown discoloration of the skin), history or
• Seizures, history-Use with caution. It might make things worse
• Disease caution - Use with caution. The effect can be increased due to the slow cleansing of the drug from the body

Sertraline overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include:

• Hair loss
• Changes in sexual drive or ability
• Sleepy
• Excessive fatigue
• Hard to sleep
• Diarrhea
• Gag
• Irregular or fast heartbeat, pounding
• Nausea
• Dizzy
• Excitement
• Uncontrollable shaking of body parts
• Seizures
• Hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things that are not there)
• Unconsciousness
• Fainting

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.