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How to Use
Zoloft is available in capsule and oral concentrate forms. To prepare Zoloft oral concentrate, use the dropper provided. Measure out the amount of concentrate prescribed by your doctor and mix it with
4 ounces of water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice. (Do not mix the concentrate with any other type of beverage.) Drink the mixture immediately; do not prepare it in advance fo
r later use. At times, a slight haze may appear after mixing, but this is normal.
Improvement with Zoloft may not be seen for several days to a few weeks. You should expect to keep taking it
for at least several months.
Zoloft may make your mouth dry. For temporary relief suck a hard candy, chew gum, or melt bits of ice in your mouth.
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What side effects can this medication cause?
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- Decreased sexual desire or ability
- Breast tenderness or enlargement; fast or irregular h
eartbeat; fast talking and excited feelings or actions that are out of control; fever ; inability to sit still; low blood sodium (confusion, convulsions [seizures], drowsiness, dryness of mouth, i
ncreased thirst, lack of energy); nose bleeds ; red or purple spots on skin; restlessness; serotonin syndrome (diarrhea, fever, increased sweating, mood or behavior changes, overactive reflexes, r
acing heartbeat, restlessness, shivering or shaking); skin rash, hives, or itching; unusual or sudden body or facial movements or postures;
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Adverse Effects
In clinical development programs, sertraline has been evaluated in 1902 subjects with depression. The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of sertraline were: gastrointestinal
complaints, including nausea, diarrhea/loose stools and dyspepsia; male sexual dysfunction (primarily ejaculatory delay); insomnia and somnolence; tremor; increased sweating and dry mouth; and dizzin
ess. In the fixed dose placebo controlled study, the overall incidence of side effects was dose related with a majority occurring in the patients treated with 200 mg dose.
The discontinuatio
n rate due to adverse events was 15% in 2710 subjects who received sertraline in premarketing multiple dose clinical trials.
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What Is It
In addition, Zoloft is used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder--symptoms of which include unwanted thoughts that won't go away and an irresistible urge to keep repeating certain actions
, such as hand-washing or counting. It is also prescribed for the treatment of panic disorder (unexpected attacks of overwhelming anxiety, accompanied by fear of their return), and for posttraumatic s
tress disorder (re-experiencing a dangerous or life-threatening event through intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and intense psychological distress).
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What special precautions should I follow?
Children¡XZoloft has been tested in children 6 to 17 years of age with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In effective doses, this medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems t
an it does in adults. However, Zoloft can cause a decrease in appetite and children who take this medicine for a long time should have their growth and body weight measured by the doctor at regular vi
sits.
Zoloft must be used with caution in children with depression. Studies have shown occurrences of children thinking about suicide or attempting suicide in clinical trials for this medicine. Mor
e study is needed to be sure Zoloft is safe and effective in children.
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