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About Sertraline |
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Buy Sertraline
Drug Class: What is Sertraline and why is it prescribed?
Drug Mechanism: How does Sertraline work?
Dosage: How should you take Sertraline?
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Sertraline
Special information on Sertraline
Sertraline side effects
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| Drug Class: What is Sertraline and why is it prescribed? | ||
| Sertraline is a member of the family of drugs called "selective serotonin re-uptake
inhibitors." Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers believed to govern moods.
Ordinarily, it is quickly reabsorbed after its release at the junctures between
nerves. Re-uptake inhibitors such as Sertraline slow this process, thereby
boosting the levels of serotonin available in the brain. Sertraline is prescribed for major depressive disorder—a persistently low moodthat interferes with everyday living. Symptoms may include loss of interest in your usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, constant fidgeting or lethargic movement, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of suicide. Sertraline can also be used for the type of depression called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This recurring problem is marked by a depressed mood, anxiety or tension, emotional instability, and anger or irritability in the two weeks preceding menstruation. Other symptoms may include loss of interest in activities, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and feeling out of control. In addition, Sertraline is used in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms of which include unwanted thoughts that will not go away and an irresistible urge to keep repeating certain actions, such as hand-washing or counting. Sertraline is also prescribed for the treatment of panic disorder (unexpected attacks of overwhelming anxiety, accompanied by fear of their return), and for posttraumatic stress disorder (re-experiencing a dangerous or life-threatening event through intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and intense psychological distress). |
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| Drug Mechanism: How does Sertraline work? | ||
Sertraline belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Other drugs in this class are Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), Celexa (citalopram) and Luvox (fluvoxamine). Sertraline (Serotonin) is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger) produced by nerve cells in the brain that is used by the nerves to communicate with one another. A nerve releases the serotonin it produces into the space surrounding it. The serotonin either travels across the space and attaches to receptors on the surface of nearby nerves or it attaches to receptors on the surface of the nerve that produced it, to be taken up by the nerve and released again (a process referred to as re-uptake). A balance is reached for serotonin between attachment to the nearby nerves and reuptake. Selective serotonin inhibitors block
the reuptake of serotonin and therefore change the level of serotonin in the
brain. It is believed that some illnesses such as depression are caused by disturbances
in the balance between serotonin and other neurotransmitters. The leading theory
is that drugs such as Sertraline restore the chemical balance among neurotransmitters
in the brain. |
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| Dosage: How should you take Sertraline? | ||
Take Sertraline dose exactly as prescribed, once a day, in either the morning
or the evening. Sertraline is available in capsule and tablet forms. Improvement
with Sertraline may not be seen for several days to a few weeks. You should
expect to keep taking Sertraline for at least several months. Sertraline may make
your mouth dry. For temporary relief suck a hard candy, chew gum, or melt bits
of ice in your mouth.
Sertraline dosage for children:
Sertraline Overdose: Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. An overdose of Sertraline can be fatal. If you suspect an overdose of Sertraline, seek medical attention immediately. Common symptoms
of Sertraline overdose include: Agitation, dizziness, nausea, rapid
heartbeat, sleepiness, tremor, vomiting. Other possible symptoms of Sertraline include coma, stupor, fainting, convulsions, delirium, hallucinations, mania,
high or low blood pressure, and slow, rapid, or irregular heartbeat. |
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| Possible food and drug interactions when taking Sertraline | ||
You should not drink alcoholic beverages while taking Sertraline. Use over-the-counter remedies with caution. Although none is known to interact with Sertraline, interactions remain a possibility.
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| Special information on Sertraline | ||
| Special information on Sertraline, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding: The
effects of Sertraline during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If
you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Sertraline
should be taken during pregnancy only if it is clearly needed. It is not known
whether Sertraline appears in breast milk. Caution is advised when using Sertraline
during breastfeeding. |
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| Sertraline side effects | ||
| Side effects of Sertraline cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change
in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine
if it is safe for you to continue taking Sertraline. More common Sertraline side effects: May include, abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, constipation, decreased sex drive, diarrhea or loose stools, difficulty with ejaculation, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, gas, headache, decreased appetite, increased sweating, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, pain, rash, sleepiness, sore throat, tingling or pins and needles, tremor, vision problems, vomiting. Less common or rare Sertraline side effects: May include, acne, allergic reaction, altered taste, back pain, blindness, breast development in males, breast pain or enlargement, breathing difficulties, bruise-like marks on the skin, cataracts, changeable emotions, chest pain, cold, clammy skin, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), coughing, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, double vision, dry eyes, eye pain, fainting, feeling faint upon arising from a sitting or lying position, feeling of illness, female and male sexual problems, fever, fluid retention, flushing, frequent urination, hair loss, heart attack, hemorrhoids, hiccups, high blood pressure, high pressure within the eye (glaucoma), hearing problems, hot flushes, impotence, inability to stay seated, increased appetite, increased salivation, increased sex drive, inflamed nasal passages, inflammation of the penis, intolerance to light, irregular heartbeat, itching, joint pains, kidney failure, lack of coordination, lack of sensation, leg cramps, menstrual problems, low blood pressure, migraine, movement problems, muscle cramps or weakness, need to urinate during the night, nosebleed, pain upon urination, prolonged erection, purplish spots on the skin, racing heartbeat, rectal hemorrhage, respiratory infection/lung problems, ringing in the ears, rolling eyes, sensitivity to light, sinus inflammation, skin eruptions or inflammation, sleepwalking, sores on tongue, speech problems, stomach and intestinal inflammation, swelling of the face and throat, swollen wrists and ankles, thirst, throbbing heartbeat, twitching, vaginal inflammation, hemorrhage or discharge, yawning. Sertraline may also cause mental or emotional symptoms such as: Abnormal dreams or thoughts, aggressiveness, exaggerated feeling of well-being, depersonalization ("unreal" feeling), hallucinations, impaired concentration, memory loss, paranoia, rapid mood shifts, suicidal thoughts, tooth-grinding, worsened depression. Many people lose a pound or two of body weight while taking Sertraline. This usually poses no problem but may be a concern if your depression has already caused you to lose a great deal of weight. In a few people, Sertraline may trigger the grandiose, inappropriate, out-of-control behavior called mania or the similar, but less dramatic, "hyper" state called hypomania. |
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