Sertraline - Erin Froome

Sertraline - The Good, the Bad and the Horrific

Figure 1. Sertraline. From E. Froome (2013)

Sertraline is a psychiatric drug in the class of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs.¹ It is the generic form of Zoloft and its IUPAC name is (1S, 2S)-4-(3,4-dichlorphenyl)-
1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-N-methyl-napthalenamine.¹ Essentially Sertraline boosts both the transmission and amount of serotonin in the body and blocks the body from taking it up again.²

While it does take anywhere from two to six weeks to kick in and begin working, if it does, the patient may require anywhere from a year, to a lifetime of treatment depending on their condition.² Sertraline, like many SSRIs, can be used to treat a variety of disorders, everything from depression, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) to Generalized Anxiety Disorder.²

The downside is that Sertraline can have many side effects, and while most of them are only temporary, they are far from fun. Sertraline can commonly cause anything from gastric issues, such as diarrhea or upset stomach, to dizziness and sweating.² Other common side effects include sexual dysfunction and sleep issues, such as insomnia and/or drowsiness.² Sadly, there are more side effects than this, even more serious ones, but most of these are rare.²

            In the rare case that someone does overdose on Sertraline, the result, usually, is just more severe side effects.³ The main concern is when Sertraline is combined with other medications that affect Serotonin.³ When, this occurs, Serotonin Syndrome can develop and it is a very serious and possibly deadly condition.³ Serotonin Syndrome can cause a variety of serious conditions including hyperthermia, tremors and seizures.³

The most important thing to keep in mind, is what works for you.There are other coping mechanisms such as yoga, deep breathing or meditation. While there are other antidepressants and SSRIs, the side effects of most of them are quite similar.

References:
1. Sertraline. (2006). In M.J. O’Neil, P.E. Heckelman, C.B. Koch & K.J. Roman (Eds.), The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals (14th Ed., pp.1461-1462). Whitehouse Station, USA: Merck

2. Stahl, S.M. (2005). Sertraline. In Essential Psychopharmacology: The Prescriber’s Guide (pp.429-434). Cambridge,UK: Cambridge University Press

3. Hazardous Substances Data Bank. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2013, from

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/search/f?./temp/~D18VZF:1

4. Froome, E. (Creator). (2013, November 14). Sertraline [Photograph]