Zoloft is an oral medication, administered as a tablet which is taken, either with or without food, once a day usually. It needs to be stored at room temperature, around 25 degrees centigrade, in a moisture-free area away from light. Pharmaceutical recommendation is that Zoloft is used regularly and is taken at around the same time every day for maximum effect. The brand name, Zoloft, is also known by its generic name of Sertraline.
 
The group of drugs Zoloft belongs to is known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs which work by readjusting some essential chemicals which are produced naturally in the brain.  This group of drugs is used to treat the symptoms of a range of conditions from depression to obsessive compulsive disorders [OCD]. Other illnesses it treats are post-traumatic stress syndrome [PTSD], panic attacks and panic disorder, social phobias and a particularly relentless form of premenstrual syndrome known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder [PMDD]. Zoloft has also been found to be a particularly effective treatment for premature ejaculation in men.

When to Consider Zoloft

As Zoloft is used effectively for an array of disorders, the dose is different depending on who it has been prescribed for and which condition it is intended to treat.  A downside of this drug, in terms of the patient, is that it can take up to four weeks for the full effects to be experienced but, once the body does start to metabolise it, Zoloft’s effects are extremely effective. To begin with, Zoloft is usually started at doses of 50mg a day if your treatment is for depression or for obsessive compulsive disorder.  Doses for panic disorder start at 25mg a day and, in all other conditions it can be increased to a maximum of 200mg a day in order to obtain full effects. Doses should never be doubled up if you miss a dose, but simply taken at the appropriate time the following day.

SSRIs are the group of drugs the medical profession and prefer for depressive disorders that are having a detrimental effect on people’s lives as symptoms of these disorders are known to have beneficial effects on most of the symptoms associated with even the most profound depressive states. Obsessive compulsive disorders, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress syndrome all respond particularly well to Zoloft.

Benefits of Zoloft

Within the last ten years or so, Zoloft has been found to have a particularly profound effect on the release and re-uptake of serotonin, one of the neurotransmitters in the brain. So far, scientists have been able to isolate many more than 100 neurotransmitters produced by the brain, although indications appear to suggest there are many more waiting to be discovered. Some of the more important neurotransmitters that we do know about are dopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine.  Each of these have very distinct jobs to do in the body, with some affecting our moods and well-being, our emotional response to outside factors and temperature control. As an example, voluntary use of your muscles is affected by the actions of acetylcholine.  Scientists still have to establish the full effects each neurotransmitter produces on the body: they have only really just tapped the surface.

Evidence of this can be seen in drugs that are prescribed which, when taken, should have specific effects on people and which, in fact, either produce a different effect or an effect that is too pronounced or insufficient to work properly.  The SSRIs, which Zoloft has been developed to act on, prevent serotonin being picked up and used too quickly by the body. Quite often, unfortunately, Zoloft is not particularly effective in some people as their symptoms are dependent on other neurotransmitters – perhaps GABA, or dopamine. Many people continue to be untreatable, despite using Zoloft appropriately and, even though other medication is often tried, some people’s symptoms just do not respond to any medication at the moment.

Side Effects

Zoloft may be a drug that is in frequent use and is very effective when used appropriately. However, it is still a drug that needs to be treated with respect. It is important to remember that, if you forget to take a dose of your Zoloft medication, you should never take a double dose when you do remember. If you do overdose on Zoloft, you may experience symptoms of dizziness, agitation or increased heartbeat and need to seek medical attention as a precaution. Zoloft is a drug that needs to be treated with respect.

There are side effects from Zoloft, as with most medication. These are mostly annoying rather than debilitating, but it is always as well to realise they could happen and know what to expect. Dry mouth and nausea are fairly common and experienced by quite a number of people on this medication. Other side effects are sweating, drowsiness, and trouble sleeping. A more distressing side effect is an upset stomach and possibly diarrhoea.  When you consider these side effects are probably more annoying than the symptoms of the illness that is being suffered, it is probably better to put up with these inconveniences and allow the Zoloft to do its job. 

Only if you start to experience more serious side effects should you go back to your doctor and be reassessed. Symptoms that are particularly serious are black stools, vomit with a ‘coffee ground’ appearance, decreased sexual ability, bruising that occurs more easily and unusual alterations to weight – either increase or decrease. Changes in mood or mental attitude and seizures are also serious but uncommon. One symptom which is regarded as a medical emergency can occur in men. If they experience prolonged or painful erections they need to seek medical assistance as a matter of urgency. Symptoms such as loss of appetite or unusual weight loss, or uncontrollable shaking occur very rarely but, if you do experience any of these distressing symptoms, you need to ask your doctor to re-evaluate your medication.  Other side effects can be distressing, such as swelling, rashes, itching, trouble breathing, or extreme dizziness. 

Drug Interaction

Zoloft has been known to react to some groups of drugs, namely the MAO inhibitors such as Parnate, Nardil and Marplan. Side effects can be rather serious, and often fatal, when combined with the MAO inhibitors. As the effects of mixing SSRIs with MAO inhibitors can be potentially lethal, it is always recommended that at least two weeks’ elapses between MAO inhibitors being stopped and a course of SSRIs commencing. Similarly, anybody who is prone to seizures or who has a liver disorder should be very careful about Zoloft medication being administered. 

Most over-the-counter preparations are fairly safe when taken with Zoloft but, as with anything else, it is better to take the advice of your medical practitioner and not take matters into your own hands where drugs are concerned. Even over-the-counter medication can alter the effect of Zoloft, either by reducing its effect or increasing it: other medications, no matter how minor, can even alter the effects of Zoloft completely. Some drugs are known to alter how your body metabolises Zoloft. There is also a concentrated form of Zoloft and, if you have been prescribed that, then it is absolutely essential that you do not take Disulfram, which is also known as Antabuse. 

The list of drugs which are known to interact with Zoloft is quite extensive, but roughly they are: 

• Tagamet [also known as Cimetidine]
• Valium [also known as Diazepam]
• Digitoxin [also known as Crystodigin]
• Tambocor [also known as Flecaimide]
• Lithium which also goes by the names of Eskalith and Lithobid
• Nardil and Parnate, both of which are MAO inhibitors – plus any other MAO inhibitors
• Paxil and Prozac, both of which are also SSRIs, and any other SSRI combination
• Elavil [also known as Serzone], prescribed as antidepressants
• Any generic cold medication which can be bought over the counter
• Propafenone [also known as Rythmol]
• Sumatriptan [also known as Imitrex]
• Tolbutamide [also known as Orinase]
• Warfarin [also known as Coumadin]
 
While plenty of research continues into the effects of Zoloft in different life situations, it is still not entirely known whether Zoloft affects the foetus in pregnancy and further research needs to be carried out to establish whether Zoloft appears in the breast milk. Similarly, there is evidence that Zoloft should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol.
Withdrawal from taking Zoloft

Withdrawal symptoms can occur if Zoloft is stopped too quickly, with people experiencing nausea, muscle pains, insomnia, weakness, anxiety, lightheadedness and tremors, often lasting for up to two weeks. Symptoms then begin to tail off over the subsequent two weeks. However, if Zoloft is stopped properly under the supervision of a doctor, the amount of medication in your blood level reduces by 50% of the original level at the end of the first day. This means that Zoloft has a half life of one day, reducing at the rate of 50% on day one, followed by 25% on day two, followed by 12½% on day three, and so on. 

Serotonin Syndrome

Sometimes, treatment with SSRIs may carry on too long and this in itself causes its own problems. Clinically, symptoms can develop as the result of disproportionate serotonin stimulation. This is known as Serotonin Syndrome. Sufferers exhibit changes to their mental state; motor and autonomic nerve systems also change.  The most common cause of serotonin syndrome is the use of more than one SSRI, although sometimes it can be due to an imbalance of tryptophan or an increased release of serotonin from its store in the body. This happens as the result of taking amphetamines such as Ecstasy, Bromocriptine, Cocaine, and L-dopa. 

Other effects can be seen secondary to intakes of:
• Dextromethorphan,
• Nefazadone,
• Pethidine [also known as Meperidine],
• Citalopram,
• Fluoxetine,
• Fluvoxamine,
• Parexetine,
• Venlafaxine and
• Tricyclic antidepressants
 
Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome are often widely different between different people. Sufferers often have a marked alteration in their mental status, often revealed as agitation, confusion and anxiety, together with restlessness, hallucinations and coma.

Conclusion

Zoloft is an extremely efficient SSRI which, if administered properly, can help to relieve some of the more unpleasant symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It is a drug, however, that does need to be treated with respect and monitored carefully by your medical advisor. Anybody who is taking Zoloft is best advised to stay away from alcohol and ensure they adhere carefully to the dose recommended for them.

Annoying side effects can occur with Zoloft but generally these are far outweighed by the many benefits obtained from taking this medication. Some side effects can be fairly serious, especially if Zoloft is mixed with MAO inhibitors. Considering the benefits that are available for sufferers who take Zoloft, the few side effects are considered tolerable when compared to the amount of relief obtained by sufferers.

Rakesh Sharma “Jack” is a freelance copywriter, SEO writer and eBook expert based in India with more than 10 years of experience. He has written dozens of eBooks, hundreds of research reports and thousands of articles on various topics. To know more about him and his services, please visit: http://www.aurumwriters.com.