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How should you take this medication?
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor, to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doc
tor ordered.
Zoloft may be taken with or without food on a full or empty stomach. If your doctor tells you to take it a certain way, follow your doctor's instructions.
You may have
to take Zoloft for 4 weeks or longer before you begin to feel better. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits during this time. Also, if you are taking this medicine for depression, y
ou may need to keep taking it for 6 months or longer to help prevent the return of the depression.
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Why is this medication prescribed?
Zoloft 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 Zoloft slow this process, thereby boosting the levels of serotonin available in the brain.
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Adverse Effects
Hematopoietic and Lymphatic: - Infrequent: Lymphadenopathy, purpura. Rare: Anemia, anterior chamber eye hemorrhage.
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What side effects may occur?
Less common or rare side effects may include:
- 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 he
artbeat, itching, joint pains, kidney failure, lack of coordination, lack of sensation, leg cramps, menstrual problems, low blood pressure, migraine, movement problems,
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Precautions Before Using This Medicine
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])ˇX Do
ot take Zoloft while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking an MAO inhibitor. If you do, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, sudden high body temper
ature, extremely high blood pressure, severe convulsions, or the serotonin syndrome. At least 14 days should be allowed between stopping treatment with one medicine (Zoloft or the MAO inhibitor) and s
tarting treatment with the other
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Management of Overdoses:
Establish and maintain an airway, insure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Activated charcoal, which may be used with sorbitol, may be as or more effective than emesis or lavage, and should be con
sidered in treating overdose.
Cardiac and vital signs monitoring are recommended along with general symptomatic and supportive measures.
There are no specific antidotes for sertral
ine.
Due to the large volume of distribution of sertraline, forced diuresis, dialysis, hemoperfusion, and exchange transfusion are unlikely to be of benefit.
In managing overdose,
the possibility of multiple drug involvement must be considered.
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