Zoloft for Depression.
The following information is intended to supplement, not
substitute, the expertise and judgment of your physician,
pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be
construed to indicate that using Zoloft is safe or appropriate for
you.
People seeking depression relief should carefully evaluate Zoloft
information and side effects before deciding to take Zoloft.
Consult your healthcare professional before using Zoloft.
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What is Zoloft used for? Zoloft is in a class of drugs
called select serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRI). Zoloft is an antidepressant medication used to relieve
symptoms of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic
disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual
dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and social anxiety disorder, also known
as social phobia.
General Zoloft Precautions:
_ Zoloft may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid
driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous
activities.
_ Rise slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position to
prevent dizziness or possible falls.
_ Do not take Zoloft if you have taken a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days. A dangerous drug
interaction can occur if sertraline is combined with MAO
inhibitors.
Do not take Zoloft if you are taking pimozide. A dangerous drug
interaction could result.
_ It is not known whether Zoloft will harm an unborn baby or a
nursing baby.
_ Zoloft may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients
using sertraline should exercise caution until they have adapted
to therapy.
_ Tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Zoloft if you are
having surgery, including dental surgery.
_ If you skip the missed dose and take only the next one as
directed. Do not take a double dose of Zoloft. Overdose is
possible.
FDA Warnings for Sertraline:
The FDA issued a public health alert for Zoloft in March 2004
warning that sertraline can lead to deeper depression and suicide.
The FDA recommends that health care providers warn patients, their
families and their caregivers to be alert for agitation,
irritability, suicide and worsening depression while using Zoloft.
The FDA also recommends that health care providers closely monitor
adult and children treated with sertraline for worsening of
depression or suicidal tendencies, especially at the beginning of
therapy or when the dose either increases or decreases.
The FDA issued a Public Health Advisory in October 2003 about
increased reports of suicidal thinking, suicide attempts,
hostility and self-harm in children using Zoloft. The FDA urges
that Zoloft be used with caution in children. Parents of children
using Zoloft should consult the prescribing physician immediately
to discuss the suicide risks involved in taking Zoloft.
It should be noted that the safety and effectiveness of Celexa in
pediatric patients has not been established. In clinical trials,
only Prozac (fluoxetine) has been found effective for children.
Zoloft can cause serious side effects.
Weight gain and
sexual dysfunction
are common Zoloft side effects.
Less common but life threatening is the increased risk of
suicide. Addiction and subsequent
withdrawal symptoms also rank
on the list of serious Zoloft side effects. Zoloft has been linked
to Parkinson’s Disease and drug-induced stuttering.
Only you can decide if Zoloft is the best means
of treating depression symptoms. It is important for people
currently taking Zoloft to discuss side effect concerns with their
physician. People wishing to avoid the side effects of
pharmaceutical antidepressants have choices for safe and effective
natural antidepressants.
Zoloft Side Effects:
_ Agitation.
_ Irritability.
_ Deepened depression.
_ Increased risk of suicide.
_ Difficulty urinating.
_ Ejaculation problems.
_ Impotence.
_ Changes in sex drive or ability.
_ Difficulty reaching orgasm.
_ Decreased libido.
_ Upset stomach.
_ Drowsiness.
_ Weakness.
_ Anxiety.
_ Sensitivity to sunlight.
_ Changes in appetite or weight.
_ Headache.
_ Constipation or diarrhea.
_ Blurred vision.
_ Hair loss.
_ Insomnia or sleeplessness.
_ Nightmares.
_ Dry mouth.
_ Excessive sweating.
_ Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms.
_ Slow or difficult speech.
_ Fever.
_ Irregular heartbeat.
_ Shuffling walk.
_ Tremors.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience: An
allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives). Stop taking
Zoloft and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency
medical treatment if you also experience a fast or irregular
heartbeat, jaw, neck or back muscle spasms, shuffling walk, slow
or difficult speech, persistent fine tremor or inability to sit
still, fever or severe skin rash. Contact your doctor immediately
if you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Before taking Zoloft, tell your doctor if you have or ever had:
_ Seizures.
_ Liver disease.
_ Kidney disease.
_ Heart disease.
_ High blood pressure.
_ Suicidal thoughts.
_ History of mania.
_ Glaucoma.
_ Enlarged prostate.
_ Difficulty urinating.
_ An overactive thyroid gland.
What should I avoid while taking Zoloft?
_ Use alcohol cautiously while taking Zoloft. Alcohol may increase
drowsiness and dizziness.
_ Cigarette smoking and tobacco products may decrease the
effectiveness of this drug.
_ Zoloft may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Avoid
unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Symptoms of overdose may include: Symptoms of a Zoloft
overdose include vomiting, rapid pounding or irregular heartbeat,
hyperactivity or agitation, tremors, coma, seizures,
unconsciousness, fainting, hallucinations.
What other drugs will affect sertraline? Zoloft can
increase the effects of many other drugs, leading to serious side
effects. If taking Zoloft, talk to your doctor and pharmacist
before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Do
not take sertraline with the following medicines without your
doctor’s approval:
_ Benzodiazepine such as diazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide,
clorazepate, temazepam or triazolam.
_ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).
_ Other antidepressants.
_ Phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine,
perphenazine prochlorperazine.
_ Warfarin.
_ Lithium or clozapine.
_ Seizure medications containing carbamazepine (Tegretol) or
phenytoin (Dilantin).
_ Almotriptan.
_ Frovatriptan.
_ Sumatriptan.
_ Naratriptan.
_ Rizatriptan.
_ Zolmitriptan.
_ Digoxin.
_ Cimetidine.
_ Bupropion.
_ Thioridazine.
_ Cisapride.
_ Pimozide.
_ Theophylline.
_ Methylphenidate.
Zoloft may also interfere with medications for high blood
pressure, Parkinson's disease, asthma, colds, or allergies, muscle
relaxants, sedatives, sleeping pills, thyroid medications,
tranquilizers, and vitamins. Drugs other than the above listed may
also interact with Zoloft. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist
before taking any prescription, over-the-counter medicines or
natural supplements.
*This antidepressant drug
information does not endorse Zoloft, diagnose patients or
recommend therapy. The information contained herein is not
intended to cover all possible warnings, uses, precautions, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse side effects of
Zoloft. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your health care provider or pharmacist. The
information provided should not be construed to indicate that
Zoloft is safe, effective or appropriate.
Do not stop taking Zoloft without first talking to your doctor.
Your doctor may need to gradually reduce the dose before stopping
Zoloft completely. Suddenly stopping sertraline may cause
unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.
