Sertraline is a medication prescribed by your healthcare provider, selected based on current evidence-based guidelines to best address specific mental health conditions. While effective, it's important to understand that all medications come with potential side effects. As a patient or caregiver, being informed about these risks and benefits is crucial. Equally essential is knowing how to monitor for side effects, and understanding the strategies to reduce their occurrence or manage them effectively. This guide aims to empower you with this knowledge, ensuring a well-informed approach to your or your child's treatment.
Sertraline belongs to a group of medicines known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Sertraline works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.
Take your medication consistently every day as directed by your healthcare provider, rather than using it only when you feel you need it.
While some patients may notice improvement within the first two weeks of starting treatment, it may take up to eight weeks to experience the medication's full benefits.
Abruptly stopping SSRIs can lead to a discontinuation syndrome, which may cause symptoms like dizziness, chills, lightheadedness, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, shock-like sensations, and tingling.
After the first episode of depression is resolved, staying on the effective dosage for at least one year is needed to minimize the risk of symptom recurrence. Following this period, your healthcare provider will guide you through a gradual tapering-off process and stop the medication entirely. This approach ensures a smoother transition and reduces the likelihood of relapse. For second and subsequent episodes of depression and for other mental health disorders, treatment may need to be indefinite.
Combining sertraline with certain medications can lead to a dangerous condition called Serotonin Syndrome, caused by excessive serotonin levels in the body. Symptoms include anxiety, agitation, confusion, sweating, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, fever, stomach problems, tremors, muscle stiffness, spasms, and heightened reflexes. Over-the-counter agents and supplements such as Dextromethorphan (DXM), St. John's Wort, certain cough and cold medications, over-the-counter migraine medications, 5-HTP, and L-tryptophan can also interact with sertraline to induce serotonin syndrome. It's vital to consult your primary care provider or psychiatrist before starting any new prescription or over-the-counter medication.
To learn more about this medication please visit MedlinePlus, an official US government website, part of the National Library of Medicine and managed by the National Institute of Health by clicking HERE