Table of Contents
WHAT IS ZOLOFT PRESCRIBED FOR?
This drug is an antidepressant that belongs to the family of serotonin reuptake inhibitors .
It is used in the treatment:
- depressive states and to prevent recurrences of depression in people who have had depressive episodes,
- obsessive – compulsive disorders in adults and children over 6 years old,
- panic attacks ,
- certain manifestations of anxiety ( social phobia , post-traumatic stress disorder ).
You can consult the following article(s):
- Adult depression
- Phobia
- Post-traumatic stress
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
- Panic disorders
PRESENTATIONS OF THE DRUG ZOLOFT
ZOLOFT 25 mg : capsule (white); box of 7
On prescription (List I) – Reimbursable at 65% – Price: €1.27 .
ZOLOFT 50 mg : capsule (yellow and white); box of 28
On prescription (List I) – Reimbursable at 65% – Price: €4.10 .
The prices mentioned do not take into account the pharmacist’s ” dispensing fees “.
COMPOSITION OF THE DRUG ZOLOFT
| p gel | p gel | |
| Sertraline | 25 mg | 50 mg |
| Lactose | + | + |
| Orange yellow S | + |
Substances actives :Sertraline,Sertraline chlorhydrate
Common Excipients : Corn Starch, Gelatin, Anhydrous Lactose , Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Titanium Dioxide
Other excipients (specific to certain forms): Quinoline yellow, Sunset yellow S
ZOLOFT DRUG CONTRAINDICATIONS
This medicine should not be used in combination with MAOIs or medicines containing pimozide.
ATTENTION
The use of antidepressants is not recommended before the age of 18. Studies have shown that using an antidepressant can increase the risk of suicide in adolescents with depression . In children and adolescents under the age of 18, this treatment is therefore reserved for certain serious cases and requires special medical supervision and the vigilance of those around them. Always check their is no zoloft side effect.
All antidepressant treatments are likely to induce a manic episode in predisposed people: in the event of euphoria, unusual excitement or abnormal behavior occurring under treatment, rapid medical consultation is necessary.
Precautions are necessary in case of epilepsy (even old), predisposition to haemorrhages , situations favoring torsades de pointes , liver failure , angle-closure glaucoma or diabetes .
Although no clear interaction has been found with alcohol , avoid taking alcoholic beverages, as with any psychotropic medication .
If you must drive or use a dangerous machine, make sure beforehand that this medicine does not affect your alertness .
INTERACTIONS OF THE DRUG ZOLOFT WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES
This medicine should not be combined:
- to MAOIs (selegiline, moclobemide, linezolid): precise time limits must be observed between the end of treatment with the MAOI and the start of treatment with this medicine, and vice versa;
- medicines containing pimozide: risk of torsades de pointes .
It may interact with enzyme-inducing drugs containing any of the following: carbamazepine, dabrafenib, efavirenz, enzalutamide, fosphenytoin, nevirapine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, rifabutin, rifampicin.
Combination with an antimigraine drug from the triptan family , a drug containing lithium , fentanyl, tramadol or a herbal product containing St. John’s wort should be cautious because it increases the risk of onset of serotonin syndrome (see Possible side effects ).
Also inform your doctor if you are taking an oral anticoagulant , aspirin, an NSAID , an imipramine antidepressant , a neuroleptic , an antiarrhythmic (propafenone, flecainide), a diuretic or a medicine containing orlistat.
In addition, the undesirable effects of this medicine may be increased by the absorption of grapefruit: avoid the consumption of grapefruit (fruit or juice) during treatment.
FERTILITY, PREGNANCY AND LACTATION
PREGNANCY :
Antidepressants should be used during pregnancy only if absolutely necessary. Non-drug treatment (psychotherapy) is preferable. Sertraline can, however, be used safely in pregnant women. If the treatment is continued until delivery, the newborn may need to be monitored more closely. Indeed, respiratory failure, feeding difficulties, or agitation can occur in newborns of mothers who were treated with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor until delivery.
Also check: side effects of zoloft
FEEDING WITH MILK :
This drug passes weakly into breast milk. However, no particular effects have been reported in infants breastfed by mothers taking sertraline. The use of sertraline is possible during breast-feeding if necessary.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE AND DOSAGE OF THE DRUG ZOLOFT
The capsules should be swallowed with a large glass of water, preferably during a meal, in the evening or in the morning.
USUAL DOSE:
- Adult over 18 :
- depression , obsessive-compulsive disorder: the initial dose is 50 mg per day. It can be increased if necessary up to 200 mg per day;
- panic attack , social phobia : the initial dose is 25 mg per day. It can be increased if necessary up to 200 mg per day.
- Child from 6 to 17 years old :
- obsessive-compulsive disorder: the starting dose is 25 mg per day for children 6 to 12 years old and 50 mg per day for children 13 to 17 years old. The dose can be increased if necessary up to 200 mg per day.
ADVICE
Antidepressants are not always effective right away. It is sometimes necessary to wait several weeks before feeling the benefits. The possibility of adverse effects appearing at the start of treatment should not cause you to discontinue it prematurely.
An anxious state may appear or worsen in a person suffering from depression at the start of treatment; an anxiolytic is sometimes prescribed temporarily by the doctor to prevent or treat these manifestations.
When the symptoms of depression have subsided, the treatment must be continued for the duration prescribed in order to solidify the cure.
A premature halt would put you at risk of relapse.
An antidepressant treatment is rarely less than 6 months long.
When antidepressant treatment is discontinued, the following symptoms may appear: anxiety, guilt, nightmares, dizziness, and tremors.
It is preferable to discontinue treatment gradually by reducing the dosage or spacing out the doses to avoid the undesirable effects seen in the event of a sudden interruption.
You can also check Zoloft Detox.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE DRUG ZOLOFT
Unwanted side effects are common during the first few weeks of treatment and usually fade away.
Drowsiness or insomnia (more than 1 in 10 patients), headaches, dizziness, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea, dry mouth, ejaculation disorders are all very common.
Depression, nightmares, anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, tremors, tingling, muscle pain, lack of attention, abnormal taste, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, flatulence, yawning, ringing in the ears, visual disturbances, rash, excessive sweating, hair loss, increase or loss of appetite, palpitations, hot flushes, low libido, erectile dysfunction are all common.
More rarely: hallucinations, euphoria, abnormal thoughts, aggressiveness, psychic disorders, suicidal ideation, somnambulism, cramps, joint pain, involuntary movements, difficulty urinating or on the contrary urinary incontinence, dilation of the pupil , convulsions , tachycardia , hypertension, flow of milk from the nipple, irregular periods, allergic reaction , low blood sodium levels, increased transaminases .
Serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants can also cause:
- unpleasant agitation and an irrepressible need to move (inability to sit or stand quietly). If these problems occur, contact your doctor;
- bleeding such as bruises, nosebleeds, genital or digestive bleeding ;
- rare cases of serotonin syndrome , the main manifestations of which are: tremors, confusion , agitation, exaggeration of reflexes, muscle rigidity, dizziness , unexplained fever, sweating. The appearance of several of these symptoms requires medical advice.
You have experienced an adverse effect likely to be due to this medication, you can report it online.
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