What is Sertraline? Sertraline uses!
Sertraline is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is use to treat major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This drug works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in your brain that helps maintain mental health balance. This can improve the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Other symptoms of Sertraline uses:
Sertraline is also used sometimes to treat headaches and sexual problems (premature ejaculation). Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
Sertraline and Pregnancy:
When sertraline is taken in the weeks before delivery it can sometimes cause short-term withdrawal symptoms and, very rarely, breathing problems in your baby. Your baby will be checked after birth and given extra care if needed.
Taking sertraline in the last month of pregnancy may slightly increase your risk of bleeding after delivery. However, because this side effect is rare and can be treated, it’s not a reason to stop taking sertraline if you’re pregnant.
Mental health problems must be well treated during pregnancy as these can affect both you and your baby’s wellbeing. Depression and anxiety can sometimes get worse during pregnancy, and after the baby’s born.
Speak to your doctor if you become pregnant while taking sertraline. They will help you weigh up the risks and benefits so you can decide on the best treatment for you and your baby.
Sertraline and Breast-feeding:
If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, it is OK to take sertraline while breastfeeding. It is one of the preferred antidepressants to take when breastfeeding and has been used by many breastfeeding mothers without any problems.
Sertraline passes into breast milk in very small amounts and has been linked with side effects in very few breastfed babies.
It is important to continue taking sertraline to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.
Talk to your health visitor, midwife, pharmacist, or doctor as soon as possible if:
- Your baby is not feeding as well as usual.
- Your baby seems unusually sleepy.
- your baby is irritable or has colic.
Side effects of Sertraline:
Sertraline may cause side effects:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- constipation
- vomiting
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- dry mouth
- heartburn
- loss of appetite
- weight changes
- dizziness
- excessive tiredness
- headache
- nervousness
- uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- sexual problems
- excessive sweating
Other side effects of Sertraline:
- rash
- hives
- swelling
- difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Abnormal bleeding or bruising
Dosage of Sertraline:
| Indication | Starting Dose | Therapeutic Range |
| Adults | ||
| MDD | 50mg | |
| OCD | 50mg | 50-200mg |
| PD, PTSD, SAD | 25mg | |
| Pediatric Patients | ||
| OCD (age 6-12 years) | 25mg | |
| OCD (age 13-17 years) | 50mg | 50-200mg |
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take double doses at one time.
Sertraline may Interact with other medications:
Sertraline oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Drugs you should not use with sertraline:
These drugs include:
- Pimozide. Taking this drug with sertraline can cause serious heart problems.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine. Taking these drugs with sertraline increases your risk for serotonin syndrome. You must also wait 14 days between taking these drugs and taking sertraline.
- Linezolid, intravenous methylene blue. Taking this drug with sertraline increases your risk for serotonin syndrome.
Interactions that increase the risk of side effects
Taking certain medications with sertraline may result in increased side effects. These drugs include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, and warfarin. Taking these drugs with sertraline increases your risk of bleeding or bruising.
- Triptans such as sumatriptan. Your risk for serotonin syndrome is increased when you take these drugs with sertraline. Your doctor should watch you closely if you take these drugs together.
- Lithium. Taking this drug with lithium increases your risk for serotonin syndrome.
- Serotonergic medications such as fentanyl, tramadol, and St John’s wort. Taking these drugs with sertraline increases your risk for serotonin syndrome.
- Cimetidine. Taking cimetidine with sertraline may cause a buildup of sertraline in your body. Your dose of sertraline might need to be lowered if you take it with cimetidine.
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine, and imipramine. Taking sertraline with these drugs may cause these drugs to build up in your body. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage of tricyclic antidepressants while you take sertraline.
Mechanism of action:
Sertraline selectively inhibits the reuptake of serotonin (5-H
T) at the presynaptic neuronal membrane, thereby increasing serotonergic activity. This results in an increased synaptic concentration of serotonin in the CNS, which leads to numerous functional changes associated with enhanced serotonergic neurotransmission. These changes are believed to be responsible for the antidepressant action and beneficial effects in obsessive-compulsive (and other anxiety-related disorders). It has been hypothesized that obsessive-compulsive disorder, like depression, is also caused by the dysregulation of serotonin.
In animal studies, chronic administration of sertraline results in down-regulation of brain norepinephrine receptors. Sertraline displays affinity for sigma-1 and 2 receptor binding sites but binds with stronger affinity to sigma-1 binding sites. In vitro, sertraline shows little to no affinity for GABA, dopaminergic, serotonergic (5HT1A, 5HT1B, 5HT2), or benzodiazepine receptors. It exerts weak inhibitory actions on the neuronal uptake of norepinephrine and dopamine5 and exhibits no inhibitory effects on the monoamine oxidase enzyme.
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