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Zoloft (Sertraline) Facts
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Basic information
- Generic name: Sertraline hydrochloride
- Brand/Trade names: Zoloft
- Dosages: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg tablets
- Pharmacologic category: Selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor
- FDA Approved: December 30, 1991
- Manufacturer: Pfizer Inc.
- Habit forming? No
- Pregnancy risk factor: C
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Medical uses
Zoloft (Sertraline HCL) is in a class of drugs called selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Zoloft affects chemicals in the
brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic or
anxiety, obsessive or compulsive symptoms, or other psychiatric
symptoms. This medication is approved to treat depression, social
anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and premenstrual
dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in adults over age 18. It is also approved
for OCD in children and adolescents age 6-17 years.
The most common side effects of Zoloft (sertraline) are nausea,
dry mouth, fatigue, and decreased libido.
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Pharmacological characteristics
- Elimination half-life: 26 hr.
- Metabolism: sertraline undergoes extensive first-pass
metabolism. The principal initial metabolic pathway is N-demethylation.
The liver is the primary site of metabolism.
- Excretion: Renal
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Benefits
- relatively low risk of weigt gain [8]
- the only medication approved for the long-term treatment of
PTSD
- low potential for drug interactions
- minimal anticholinergic side effects
- well tolerated and effective for chronic depression [9]
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Unlabeled uses
- general anxiety disorder [1]
- bulimia nervosa [2]
- premature ejaculation [3]
- autistic disorders [6]
- fibromyalgia [4]
- bipolar depression [5]
- binge eating disorder (BED) [7]
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Mechanism of action
Sertraline appears also to be a minor dopamine reuptake inhibitor.
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Prozac (Fluoxetine) Discussion Boards & Forums
- Zoloft (Sertraline) discussion: http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-drugs/zoloft-23357.html
- Zoloft (Sertraline) discussion: http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/index.php?showforum=53
- Zoloft and Pregnancy
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References
- 1. Allgulander C, Dahl AA, Austin C, Morris PL, Sogaard JA,
Fayyad R, Kutcher SP, Clary CM. Efficacy of sertraline in a
12-week trial for generalized anxiety disorder. Am J Psychiatry.
2004 Sep;161(9):1642-9. PubMed
- 2. Milano W, Petrella C, Sabatino C, Capasso A. Treatment
of bulimia nervosa with sertraline: a randomized controlled
trial. Adv Ther. 2004 Jul-Aug;21(4):232-7.Click here to read.
PubMed
- 3. Murat Basar M, Atan A, Yildiz M, Baykam M, Aydoganli L.
Comparison of sertraline to fluoxetine with regard to their
efficacy and side effects in the treatment of premature ejaculation.
Arch Esp Urol. 1999 Nov;52(9):1008-11. PubMed
- 4. Gonzalez-Viejo MA, Avellanet M, Hernandez-Morcuende MI.
A comparative study of fibromyalgia treatment: ultrasonography
and physiotherapy versus sertraline treatment. Ann Readapt Med
Phys. 2005 Nov;48(8):610-5. Epub 2005 May 31. PubMed
- 5. Post RM, Altshuler LL, Leverich GS, Frye MA, Nolen WA,
Kupka RW, Suppes T, McElroy S, Keck PE, Denicoff KD, Grunze
H, Walden J, Kitchen CM, Mintz J. Mood switch in bipolar depression:
comparison of adjunctive venlafaxine, bupropion and sertraline.
Br J Psychiatry. 2006 Aug;189:124-31. PubMed
- 6. Hellings JA, Kelley LA, Gabrielli WF, Kilgore E, Shah P.
Sertraline response in adults with mental retardation and autistic
disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 1996 Aug;57(8):333-6. PubMed
- 7. McElroy SL, Casuto LS, Nelson EB, Lake KA, Soutullo CA,
Keck PE Jr, Hudson JI. Placebo-controlled trial of sertraline
in the treatment of binge eating disorder. Am J Psychiatry.
2000 Jun;157(6):1004-6.Click here to read PubMed
- 8. Maina G, Albert U, Salvi V, Bogetto F. Weight gain during
long-term treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a prospective
comparison between serotonin reuptake inhibitors. J Clin Psychiatry.
2004 Oct;65(10):1365-71. PubMed
- 9. Keller MB, Kocsis JH, Thase ME, Gelenberg AJ, Rush AJ,
Koran L, Schatzberg A, Russell J, Hirschfeld R, Klein D, McCullough
JP, Fawcett JA, Kornstein S, LaVange L, Harrison W. Maintenance
phase efficacy of sertraline for chronic depression: a randomized
controlled trial. JAMA. 1998 Nov 18;280(19):1665-72. PubMed
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Interesting Zoloft facts
- There is evidence that Zoloft may be effective in the treatment
of refractory neurocardiogenic syncope in children and adolescents.
- A study has shown that Zoloft is an effective treatment for impulsive
aggressive behavior in personality disordered patients.
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