Sertraline by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Sertraline is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won't go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over), panic attacks (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks), posttraumatic stress disorder (disturbing psychological symptoms that develop after a frightening experience), and social anxiety disorder (extreme fear of interacting with others or performing in front of others that interferes with normal life). Sertraline is also used to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness. Sertraline is in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Sertraline works by increasing the amounts of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance in the treatment of patients with BED and also in binge eaters with a less severe eating psychopathology. If you have an interest in natural ways to lift mood, see depression.

Sertraline Side Effects

Possible side effects from sertraline antidepressant include: Nausea, diarrhea / loose stools, dyspepsia, male sexual dysfunction (primarily ejaculatory delay), insomnia, somnolence, tremor, increased sweating, dry mouth, and dizziness. A possible higher rate of suicide from sertraline has been reported but this claim is controversial. It has been suggested that SSRIs may cause depression to worsen and even lead to suicide in a small number of patients. These potential sertraline side effects are difficult to evaluate in depressed patients because depression can progress with or without treatment, and suicide is itself a consequence of depression.

How Sertraline works
The antidepressant effect of sertraline is presumed to be linked to its ability to inhibit the neuronal reuptake of serotonin. Sertraline has only very weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake. At clinical doses, sertraline blocks the uptake of serotonin into human platelets. In receptor binding studies, sertraline has no significant affinity for adrenergic (alpha(1), alpha(2) and beta), cholinergic, GABA, dopaminergic, histaminergic, serotonergic (5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2) or benzodiazepine binding sites.

Does Sertraline Increase Suicide Rates?

Studies have shown that children and teenagers who take antidepressants such as sertraline may be more likely to think about harming or killing themselves or to plan or try to do so than children who do not take antidepressants.

Sertraline for Depression after Stroke

In non-depressed patients who have recently suffered a stroke, prophylactic treatment with sertraline does not prevent the onset of depression in the following 6 months. Depression after stroke is common, affecting approximately 1 in every 3 survivors.

Generic sertraline
Indian drug maker Lupin Ltd. has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for generic sertraline hydrochloride tablets in multiple strengths. Sertraline, the generic equivalent of Pfizer Inc.'s Zoloft, is used to treat disorders including depression and anxiety. Annual sales of Zoloft tablets in the United States were estimated at about $3.1 billion. Marketing exclusivity for Zoloft expired in February 2007 allowing generic sertraline to be sold.

Sertraline questions
Q. Is 5-HTP a substitute for sertraline for the purpose of depression treatment?
   A. Some people find 5-HTP helpful to balance mood, but each person is different. Some may find 5-HTP to be as helpful as sertraline while others may prefer sertraline to 5-HTP.