What’s Zoloft?

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Zoloft is a prescription drug for a wide variety of psychotic medical conditions, ranging from OCD to depression. Zoloft is also known as Sertraline. It’s classified as SSRI (selection serotonin reuptake inhibitor), which restores serotonin balance.

Serotonin is a substance released by the brain. It helps in knowledge gathering and recalling, mood regulation, and several other functions. The substance is also referred to as a happiness neurotransmitter because it’s particularly associated with good vibes. 

Sertraline can, therefore, boost energy, make you sleep better, keep you happy and fulfilled, and help you eat well. Furthermore, it eliminates thoughts that may be suicidal, panic attacks, worries, and fear. It could also reduce compulsions like washing your hands several times a day, counting and recounting, and checking, which may impede you from living a normal life.

This medicine may also be prescribed for the alleviation of premenstrual syndrome, which is characterized by mood swings, tender breasts, constipation, and irritability. 

How to Consume Zoloft

It’s important to consume this medicine as prescribed by a physician and for the exact medical condition. There’s a leaflet inside the pack, which you should read and discuss your concerns with a physician.

Sertraline is consumed orally, once daily. It can be ingested during breakfast or before going to bed. The drug comes in liquid and tablet forms.

You should dilute the liquid Zoloft before consuming it, but don’t prepare it in advance. You can dilute the drug with water, orange juice, lemonade, soda, or ginger ale. Avoid mixing it with alcohol or other liquids. To get an accurate measurement, utilize a medical dosing device or dropper instead of an eating spoon. Ensure to consume the mixed quantity immediately after mixing it.

Zoloft tablets – 150 mg and 200 mg can be consumed without a meal. However, 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg should be consumed with a meal. Don’t break the tablets. Rather, swallow them with sufficient water.

Your doctor may prescribe 25 mg to 50 mg of Zoloft once daily and a maintenance dose of 50 mg to 200 mg, depending on your health condition. Pediatric patients aged 6 to 12 can consume up to 25 mg while aged 13 to 17 can consume 50 mg. The dose can be increased at intervals. 

For premenstrual syndrome, an initial dose of 50 mg is ideal. Afterward, you can consume between 50 to 150 milligrams once daily. You’re advised to ingest this drug all through the month or 14 days prior to the beginning of a menstrual period. 

Doctors usually commence Zoloft administration in low doses to prevent the incidence of nasty effects. So, don’t increase your dosage without seeking medical consent. For the best results, ingest Zoloft regularly and at a particular time every day.

Don’t quit treatment without discussing it with a consultant. Otherwise, you could experience withdrawal syndrome, which is presented as migraine, fatigue, changing moods, and changes in your sleep cycle. 

If you don’t want to suffer these effects, work with a physician. They’ll reduce your dosage bit by bit until you’re totally off therapy. Inform a consultant if you observe symptoms that weren’t present initially or if you don’t feel any better.

Things to Note Prior to Consuming Zoloft

• Prior to consuming this medicine, be sure that you won’t react to its active and non-active components e.g., tartrazine and latex.
• Give a brief report of your health, including cases of:
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Glaucoma
  • Convulsion
  • Mental disorder
  • Blood disorders
  • Hepatic problems
  • Hypertension
  • Sexual dysfunction
• Sertraline may trigger long QT, which is characterized by drowsiness, fainting spell, heart arrhythmia, and tachycardia. Seek help from a medical professional if it occurs.
• Families or caregivers should be alert as this medicine may cause suicidal thoughts in young people who consume it as an antidepressant. Report any changes in mood for swift action.
• Children younger than six years old shouldn’t ingest Zoloft. Also, it can only be utilized in cases of OCD in pediatrics.
• Monitor pediatric patients closely to ensure they’re growing appropriately in terms of how they weigh and their height.
• Geriatric patients may develop severe effects like imbalance. As a result, they can fall and sustain injuries. Hence, close monitoring is essential.
• The liquid Zoloft contains alcohol. So, you should consider ingesting the tablet form if you’re diabetic, alcohol dependent, or suffering from liver disease.
• Don’t mix this medicine with marijuana as you may feel dizzy. 
• Sertraline could harm a baby in the womb. When the baby is born, it might suffer symptoms like persistent crying, stiff muscles, nutrition problems, respiratory problems, and convulsions. Contact a specialist if your newborn develops such problems.  However, you shouldn’t stop taking the medicine without seeking the doctor’s opinion.
• Zoloft is transmitted in breast milk. Therefore, lactating women should speak with a physician before commencing therapy. 

Zoloft Side Effects

It’s common to experience the following while consuming Zoloft:

• No desire to eat food
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Lack of sexual interest
• Tremors
• Profuse sweating
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty in sleeping

This medicine may result in serious problems. Speak to your doctor if you notice:

• Abnormal bleeding
• Seizures
• Changes in vision
• Confusion
• Memory problems
• Imbalance
• Weakness
• Weightloss
• Fainting
• Painful erection
• Hallucination
• Increased heartbeat
• Fever of unknown origin
• Restlessness
• Hyperactive 
• Harboring suicide thoughts

Information for Missed Dosage and Overdose

Consuming this medicine at a particular time every day is essential to avoid missing your dose. However, in case you forgot to consume it at the prescribed time, leave it entirely and then set a reminder for your next dose. But if you’re confused, you can call a doctor.

Consuming an overdose of this medicine can result in respiratory problems, fainting, confusion, and severe drowsiness. Call 911 or the poison control team in your area if you’ve taken an overdose of Zoloft.

Drug Interactions

The following drugs will react with Sertraline:

• Antiplatelet medicines e.g., clopidogrel
• Blood thinners e.g., warfarin
• NSAIDs e.g., ibuprofen
• MAO inhibitor e.g., methylene blue
• Serotonin-increasing drugs e.g., St. John’s wort
• Antihistamines
• Relaxation drugs e.g., diazepam