Sertraline

Overview of sertraline

• Type of medicine - a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.

• Used for - depression, and anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

• Also called (UK) - Contulen®; Lustral®.

• Also called (USA) - Zoloft®.

• Available as - tablets, oral liquid medicine (USA).

• Dosage - 50mg, 100mg.

What is sertraline used for?

Sertraline is prescribed for depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). An anxiety disorder is a condition where anxiety is a major symptom. Panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder are all anxiety disorders. OCD is a condition where you have recurring and persistent ideas that make you do repetitive actions.

Who should not take sertraline?

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking sertraline it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si vous êtes enceinte, si vous essayez d'avoir un enfant ou si vous allaitez.

• If you have a heart condition, or a liver or kidney disorder.

• Si vous êtes épileptique.

• Si vous avez des niveaux élevés de sucre dans le sang (diabète sucré).

• Si vous souffrez d'un problème oculaire appelé glaucome.

• Si vous avez déjà souffert d'un trouble de la coagulation.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une humeur anormalement élevée, appelée manie.

• Si vous êtes traité par électroconvulsivothérapie (ECT).

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament.

• Si vous avez pris un antidépresseur connu sous le nom d'inhibiteur de la monoamine-oxydase (IMAO) au cours des deux semaines précédentes.

• Si vous prenez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments que vous prenez et qui sont disponibles sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médicaments complémentaires.

How to take sertraline

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about sertraline and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take sertraline exactly as your doctor tells you to - it is taken once daily. Most doctors recommend that it is taken either in the morning or in the evening. Try to take your doses at the same time of day each day. There are two strengths of tablet available - 50 mg and 100 mg. Your doctor will tell you which strength is right for you.

• If you are being treated for an anxiety disorder, your doctor may prescribe a low dose for you to begin with, and then gradually increase it. This is because slowly increasing the dose helps to reduce the risk of side-effects.

• You can take sertraline before or after food.

• Si vous oubliez de prendre une dose, prenez-la dès que vous vous en rendez compte. Si vous ne vous en rendez compte que le lendemain, ne prenez pas la dose oubliée. Ne prenez pas deux doses en même temps pour compenser une dose oubliée.

How long does sertraline take to work?

You may feel that sertraline is not working for you straightaway. It can take a week or two after starting this treatment before the effect begins to build up, and 4-6 weeks before you feel the full benefit. Do not stop taking it after a week or two, feeling it is not helping.

Sertraline side effects

Along with their useful effects, sertraline can cause unwanted side effects although not everyone experiences them.

Common side effects of sertraline are:

• Feeling sleepy, dizzy or weak.

• Se sentir malade (nausées) ou être malade (vomissements).

• Constipation ou diarrhée.

• Indigestion.

• Maux de tête.

• Mood changes such as feeling anxious, nervous or agitated.

• Feeling restless or shaky.

• Flushing and sweating.

• Sécheresse buccale.

• Difficulty sleeping and bad dreams.

• Maux de gorge.

• Tingling feelings.

• Lack of concentration.

• Problèmes de vue.

• Ringing noises (tinnitus).

• Bâillements.

• Swallowing problems.

• Reduced labido (sexual drive).

• Changes in appetite.

• Douleurs générales.

Vous trouverez une liste complète dans la notice d'information du fabricant fournie avec votre médicament. Les effets indésirables s'atténuent souvent au fur et à mesure que votre organisme s'adapte au nouveau médicament, mais consultez votre médecin ou votre pharmacien si l'un des effets suivants persiste ou devient gênant.

How to manage sertraline side effects

Si vous présentez d'autres symptômes qui pourraient être dus à ce médicament, demandez conseil à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien.

Getting the most from sertraline

• Essayez de vous rendre à vos rendez-vous réguliers avec votre médecin. Il pourra ainsi vérifier vos progrès.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with sertraline. This is because several medicines which are available from general retail outlets can interfere with this treatment. In particular, do not take the herbal remedy St John's wort, and ask for advice before buying any anti-inflammatory painkillers.

• While you are taking sertraline, you may have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life. These thoughts may also be associated with your condition. It is very important that you tell your doctor about this if it happens.

• Do not stop taking sertraline unless your doctor tells you to do so. Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems and your doctor will probably want you to reduce your dose gradually when this becomes necessary. You should expect that a course of treatment will last for several months. This is normal and helps to prevent your symptoms from recurring.

• If you have diabetes, you may need to check your blood glucose more frequently, as sertraline may affect the levels of sugar in your blood. Your doctor will be able to advise you about this.

• A few people taking sertraline find that their skin is more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Until you know how your skin reacts, use a sun cream with a high sun protection factor (SPF) in strong sunlight.

• There are several types of antidepressants and they differ in their possible side-effects. If you find that sertraline does not suit you then let your doctor know, as another may be found that will.

How to store sertraline

• Conservez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur et de la lumière directes.

Common questions about sertraline

How does sertraline work?

Brain cells, called neurons, release a number of chemicals which go on to stimulate other neurons. This leads to electrical impulses which result in many functions controlled by the brain. Serotonin is one such chemical in the brain. Once released, it stimulates other neurons and is then taken back up into the neuron cells and recycled. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline increase the amount of circulating serotonin available in your brain. This can help the symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, and OCD.

Can I drink alcohol when taking sertraline?

Your doctor is likely to recommend that you do not drink alcohol while you are on sertraline, as it increases the risk of side-effects, such as feeling sleepy. If you drink alcohol you should ask your doctor for advice.

Can I have grapefruit whilst taking sertraline?

Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are on sertraline. This is because a chemical in grapefruit juice increases the amount of sertraline in your bloodstream. This makes side-effects more likely.

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments