Sertraline : Before Using

Sertraline - Systemic

Brand Names

Zoloft Sertraline *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For sertraline, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to sertraline. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, dyes, or latex. The dispenser dropper for sertraline oral concentrate contains dry natural rubber.

Pregnancy care

Sertraline has not been studied in pregnant women. However, side effects have been reported in babies exposed by their mother during pregnancy. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

Sertraline passes into breast milk. Side effects have been reported in a baby exposed during nursing. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are nursing your baby.

Use for Children

Sertraline has been tested in child 6 to 17 years of age with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In effective doses, this drug has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems than it does in adults. However, sertraline can cause a decrease in appetite and children who take this drug for a long time must have their growth and body weight measured by the family doctor at regular appointments.

Sertraline must be using with caution in child with depression. Studies have shown occurrences of children thinking about suicide or attempting suicide in clinical trials for this drug. More study is needed to be sure sertraline is safe and effective in child.

Elderly care

In studies done to date that have included elderly people, sertraline did not cause various side effects or problems in older people than it did in adults people. However, this drug may be removed from the body more slowly in older adults. An older adult may receive a lower dose of sertraline than a younger adult, especially when first starting treat.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking sertraline, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Astemizole - Hismanal Taking this drug while you are taking sertraline may lead to a serious change in the rhythm of your heartbeat

Flecainide - Tambocor
Propafenone - Rythmol Higher blood levels of these medication may occur, which may increase the risk of developing unwanted effects. Your family doctor may change the dose of these medication.

Buspirone - BuSpar
Bromocriptine - Parlodel
Dextromethorphan - cough drug
Levodopa - Sinemet
Lithium - Eskalith
Meperidine - Demerol
Nefazodone - Serzone
Pentazocine - Talwin
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, other - citalopram " Celexa ", fluoxetine " Prozac ", fluvoxamine " Luvox ", paroxetine " Paxil "
Street drugs - LSD, MDMA " ecstasy ", marijuana
Sumatriptan - Imitrex
Tramadol - Ultram
Trazodone - Desyrel
Tryptophan
Venlafaxine - Effexor Using these medication with sertraline may increase the risk of developing a rare, but very serious, unwanted effect known as the serotonin syndrome. This syndrome may cause confusion, diarrhea, fever, poor coordination, restlessness, shivering, sweating, talking or acting with excitement you can't control, trembling or shaking, or twitching. If you develop these symptoms, contact your family doctor as soon as possible

Digitoxin - Crystodigin
Warfarin - Coumadin Higher or lower blood levels of these medication or sertraline may occur, which may increase the risk of having unwanted effects. Your family doctor may need to change the dose of either these medication or sertraline

Disulfiram - Antabuse Disulfiram will react with the alcohol in sertraline oral concentrate and may cause serious problems

Moclobemide - Manerex The risk of developing serious unwanted effects, including the serotonin syndrome, is increased. Use of moclobemide with sertraline is not recommended. Always it is recommended that 3 to 7 days be allowed between stopping treat with moclobemide and starting treat with sertraline and it is recommended that 2 weeks be allowed between stopping treat with sertraline and starting treat with moclobemide

Monoamine oxidase - MAO inhibitor activity - isocarboxazid " Marplan ", phenelzine " Nardil ", procarbazine " Matulane ", selegiline " Eldepryl ", tranylcypromine " Parnate " Do not take sertraline while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking an MAO inhibitor . If you do, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, sudden high body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, severe convulsions, or the serotonin syndrome. At least 14 days must be allowed between stopping treat with one drug - sertraline or the MAO inhibitor and starting treat with the other

Pimozide - ORAP This drug must not be taken together with sertraline; tell your family doctor if you are taking pimozide

St. John's wort - Hypericum perforatum Use of this drug with sertraline may increase your risk of getting serious side effects.

Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline " Elavil ", amoxapine " Asendin ", clomipramine " Anafranil ", desipramine " Pertofrane ", doxepin " Sinequan ", imipramine " Tofranil ", nortriptyline " Aventyl ", protriptyline " Vivactil ", trimipramine " Surmontil " Higher blood levels of these medication may occur, which may increase the risk of developing unwanted effects. Your family doctor may check the blood level of the tricyclic antidepressant and may change the dose of either these medication or sertraline. Always taking sertraline with amitriptyline, clomipramine, or imipramine may increase the risk of developing the serotonin syndrome

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of sertraline. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Bleeding problems, abnormal
Purpura, or history of - purplish or brownish-red discoloration of skin Sertraline may make these problems worse.

Brain disease or damage
Mental retardation
Seizure disorders - history of The risk of seizures may be increased

Dehydration
Hyponatremia - condition in which your body has too little sodium Sertraline may make these problems worse, especially in older adults.

Heart attack, recent
Heart disease, unstable The drug has not been studied in diseaseds with these medical problems.

Kidney disease It is not known whether the risk of side effects will be increased

Liver disease Higher blood levels of sertraline may occur, increasing the risk of side effects. Your family doctor may want you to take a lower dose or to take your doses less often than a person without liver disease

Mania - history of May be activated

Weight loss Sertraline may cause weight loss. This weight loss is usually small, but if a large weight loss occurs, it may be harmful in some diseaseds