Sertraline

• Treatment and prevention of major depressive episodes
• Anxiety disorder
• A mental disorder in which a person fails to recover after watching or experiencing a terrible incident or accident (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD)
• Panic disorder, with or without fear of places and situations that may cause panic (agoraphobia)
• A behavioral disorder in which a person repeatedly does the same thing (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD) (in adults and children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old)

When should one not use Sertraline

• Allergic reactions or intolerance to Sertraline or any of the substances used in the tablet
• A class of antidepressants called irreversible MAO (Monoamine Oxidase) inhibitors (Phenelzine, Selegiline, Moclobemide, Toloxatone, Brofaromine, Isocarboxazid)
• Pimozide (an antipsychotic)

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Sleep disorders (sleeplessness or insomnia, excessive sleep)
• Dizziness, headache
• Dry mouth
• Abdominal pain, upset stomach, diarrhea & constipation
• Tremors, shaking muscular movements, numbness, and tingling
• Ejaculation failure (failure to release sperm), menstrual irregularities in females
• Increased sweating
• Severe anxiety
• Decreased appetite
• Suicidal thoughts and behavior have been reported when using
• Sertraline or immediately after discontinuation

Other General Warnings

• You have seizures (fits)
• You have blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, headache, confusion, memory problems, severe weakness, feeling unsteady (symptoms of low levels of sodium in the body)
• You have racing thoughts, increased energy, unusual risk-taking behavior, extreme happiness, being irritable or talkative
• You have diabetes or liver problems, bleeding disorders, serotonin syndrome (severe anxiety (agitation), tremors and persistent fever (hyperthermia)), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a life threatening condition with high fever, increased breathing and heart rate and altered mental status in response to certain antipsychotic medicines)

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Medicines that may (prolong QT interval) cause irregular heartbeats and heart attack (Quinidine, Disopyramide, Procainamide, Propafenone, Amiodarone, Sotalol)
• Medicines that increase the risk of bleeding (Warfarin, pain killers, Aspirin)
• Muscle relaxing medicines (Mivacurium)
• Medicines used to treat migraine (Triptans – Almotriptan, Sumatriptan, Naratriptan, Zolmitriptan)
• Medicines to treat heart disease and high blood pressure (Digoxin, Atenolol, Verapamil, Diltiazem, Flecainide, Propafenone)
• Medicines used to reduce stomach acid (Cimetidine, Omeprazole, Lansoprazole)
• Anti-infectious medicines (Rifampicin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin)
• Antifungal medications (Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Posaconazole, etc.)
• Medicines to treat HIV/ AIDS (Ritonavir)
• A class of antidepressants called MAO (Monoamine Oxidase) inhibitors (Phenelzine, Selegiline, Moclobemide, Toloxatone, Isocarboxazid)
• Other medicines which depress brain function (Carbamazepine, Haloperidol, Phenytoin)
• Linezolid
• Pimozide (an antipsychotic)

Interactions with food items

Overdose

• Being sick (vomiting)
• Tremor
• Feeling sleepy
• Dizziness
• Fast heart rate
• Seizures

Missed a Dose