Uses

What is sertraline used for?

Sertraline is commonly used for the following conditions.

Sertraline may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does sertraline work (mechanism of action)?

Sertraline is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the amount of a natural chemical called serotonin in the brain. 

How is sertraline supplied (dosage forms)?

Sertraline is available as Zoloft and generic sertraline in the following dosage forms that are taken by mouth.

  • 150 mg, 200 mg oral capsules
  • 20 mg/mL oral solution
  • 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg oral tablets

How should I store sertraline?

Sertraline should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. 

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of sertraline?

The most common side effects of sertraline are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Nausea
  • Appetite loss
  • Diarrhea
  • Indigestion
  • Increased sweating
  • Shaking (tremor)
  • Agitation
  • Change in sleep habits, including sleepiness or trouble sleeping
  • Sexual problems, including decreased sex drive or ejaculation failure
  • Tiredness
  • Anxiety

The most common side effects of sertraline in children or adolescents include the following.

  • Unusual increase in muscle movements or agitation
  • Nosebleeds
  • Peeing more often
  • Aggression
  • Possible slower growth rate and weight change

There may be other side effects of sertraline that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of sertraline?

While less common, the most serious side effects of sertraline are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Suicidal Thoughts or Actions. Sertraline or other antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of children, teenagers, or young adults in the first few months of taking the medicine or when the dose is changed. Depression or other serious mental health conditions are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions. If you or your child is about to harm themselves, call 911 or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • New or increased thoughts of suicide or death
  • Suicide attempt
  • New or increased feelings of anxiety, depression, or other unusual changes in your mood or behavior

Serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is when there is too much of a substance called serotonin in your body. Sertraline can cause serotonin syndrome when it is taken alone or with other medicines that affect serotonin. This condition can be life-threatening. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of serotonin syndrome.

  • Sweating, fever, or flushing
  • Confusion
  • Feeling agitated or restless
  • Seeing or hearing unusual things
  • Dizziness
  • Fast or racing heartbeat
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Muscle twitching, stiffness, or tremor
  • Seizures

Severe Allergic Reactions. Sertraline may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using sertraline and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Abnormal Bleeding. People taking sertraline or other antidepressants may have an increased risk of bleeding or bruising. You may be at higher risk if you are also taking aspirin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), like ibuprofen or naproxen, or a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), apixaban (Eliquis), or rivaroxaban (Xarelto). Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any changes in how easily you bruise or bleed.

Extremely Elevated Mood (Mania). People with bipolar disorder have severe high and low moods. The first symptom of bipolar disorder may be depression. People with bipolar disorder who take an antidepressant, such as sertraline, may have a higher risk of having mania or a manic episode. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a manic episode.

  • Dramatic increase in energy
  • Significant trouble sleeping
  • Your thoughts are racing and fast-paced
  • Engaging in reckless behavior
  • Having unusually grand ideas
  • Feeling excessively happy or irritable
  • Talking more or faster than usual

Seizures. Some people who have taken sertraline have reported having seizures. There are many different types of seizures and some of them are not easy to recognize. Stop taking sertraline and call your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following signs that a seizure is happening or could happen.

  • Muscle twitching, jerking, spasms, tremors, or other uncontrolled movements
  • Stiffening of your arms and legs
  • Feeling anxious, nervous, confused, or a sense of dread
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • Falling or losing consciousness

Glaucoma. Sertraline may increase pressure inside the eye and cause or worsen narrow-angle glaucoma, which can lead to blindness. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of glaucoma.

  • Loss of vision
  • Eye pain or redness
  • Severe headache or vomiting
  • Seeing bright, colorful circles around lights (vision halos)

Low Sodium Level (Hyponatremia). Sertraline may cause low sodium levels. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of a low sodium level.

  • Headache
  • Drowsiness
  • Muscle weakness or cramps
  • Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
  • Tiredness or sleepiness
  • Dizziness
  • Weight gain
  • Restlessness or irritability
  • Change in your mental condition such as hallucinations, confusion, decreased awareness, or alertness
  • Seizures

Heart Rhythm Changes. Sertraline may cause a rare dangerous heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation and torsade de pointes. Some people have a higher risk of this, including people who are older, have other people in their family who have had these conditions, have low potassium or magnesium levels, or who take some medicines for other heart rhythm problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you faint or have changes in your heart rate or rhythm, such as a fast or skipping heartbeat.

Sexual Problems. Taking sertraline or another selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may cause sexual problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following sexual problems. 

  • Decreased sex drive
  • Delayed ejaculation or unable to have an ejaculation
  • Problems getting or keeping an erection
  • Delayed orgasm or unable to have an orgasm

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use sertraline?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use sertraline.

  • Sertraline
  • Zoloft
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific sertraline products they stock. 

Drug Interactions. Sertraline should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking sertraline, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Liver Problems. People with moderate or severe liver problems should not take sertraline. People with mild liver problems may be able to take a lower sertraline dose, if approved by the healthcare provider. If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if it is working well enough to take this medicine.

What should I know about sertraline before using it?

You can take sertraline with or without food. 

Do not take sertraline unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share sertraline with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep sertraline out of the reach of children.

Sertraline can make you feel tired or affect your thinking and reaction time. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness and coordination until you know how sertraline affects you.

Do not stop taking sertraline without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping too quickly may cause serious side effects. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Anxiety, irritability, or high or low mood
  • Feeling restless 
  • Changes in sleep habits
  • Headache
  • Sweating or shaking
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Electric-shock like feelings
  • Confusion

For the oral solution form of sertraline, use the oral dropper which comes with the prescription. Do not use a household spoon or other kitchen device to measure the medicine because they are not accurate and may cause you to take the wrong dose. However, the dropper contains latex, so if you are allergic to latex, you should ask your pharmacist about the best way to measure your medicine. The solution must be diluted just before you take it. Do not mix ahead of time. You can use water, lemonade, orange juice, ginger ale, or lemon-lime soda to dilute the solution, and it is normal for the medicine to look cloudy after mixing.  

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using sertraline?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if sertraline is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and past health conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

  • Liver problems
  • Heart problems
  • Bipolar disorder or mania
  • Kidney problems
  • Seizures (or a history of seizures)
  • Low sodium levels in the blood
  • High blood pressure
  • History of a stroke
  • Any bleeding problems

Other Medicines and Supplements. Sertraline may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using sertraline, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. Taking sertraline later in pregnancy may lead to an increased risk of certain problems in your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take sertraline while you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Sertraline may pass into your breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take sertraline while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does sertraline interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between sertraline and foods or drinks.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking sertraline. The combination can increase sleepiness or affect your alertness or concentration.

Does sertraline interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking sertraline.

  • A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 2 weeks, which is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease
  • Pimozide, which is a medicine used for Tourette syndrome
  • A tricyclic antidepressant, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or protriptyline, even if it is not used for depression
  • A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which are medicines commonly used for anxiety and depression
  • A type of medicine called a triptan, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex and others), eletriptan (Relpax), and others, which is commonly used to treat migraines
  • St. John’s wort, which is a supplement that may be used to treat depression
  • Lithium, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
  • Buspirone, which is a medicine for anxiety
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek, and others), which is a medicine to control seizures
  • Amphetamines, such as Adderall, which are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy
  • Opioid pain medicines, such as tramadol or fentanyl
  • Certain antipsychotics such as ziprasidone or chlorpromazine, which are medicines for certain health conditions
  • Certain antibiotics, such as erythromycin or moxifloxacin, which are medicines used to treat bacterial infections
  • Certain medicines for abnormal heart rhythm, such as amiodarone or sotalol
  • Medicines that affect bleeding, like a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), warfarin, or aspirin

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of sertraline, and vice versa. Sertraline interacts with many other medicines. Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

Does Sertraline (Zoloft) interact with other drugs you are taking?
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Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much sertraline?

If you or someone else has used too much sertraline, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of sertraline?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses. 

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