Zoloft Drug Application

Therapeutic action:
Zoloft tablets contain the active ingredient sertraline HCL. It is a type of medicine known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. In the therapeutic dosages it works by blocking reuptake serotonin in the thrombocytes. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which sends impulses from one cell to another. It controls appetite, sleep, mood and emotions. A large number of serotoninergic neurons can be found in the limbic system, hypothalamus, the trigger zone and many other places of central nervous system.
When the level of serotonin is unbalanced, depression and anxiety disorders can occur. Zoloft helps increase serotonin level in the gap between nerve cells. This gives the serotonin a better chance to transmit impulses from one cell to another.
Zoloft doesn't provide the stimulating, sedative or anticholinergic effect.
Also it does not manifest an affinity with muscarinic, choline, serotonin, dopamine, histamine, benzodiazepine and adreno - receptors.
In contrast to other antidepressant medications Zoloft didn't display any cardiotoxic effect during clinical trials.
Zoloft is also used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders. Actually how it works in these conditions is not known. Probably it affects specific chemicals in the brain.

Indications:
Zoloft is used to treat:

• different types of depression (including sense of anxiety)
• panic disorders(condition that is manifested with fear attacks, chest pain, increased heart beat, shortness of breath, abdominal distress, dizziness)
• agoraphobia (condition that is manifested with fear of being on "open spaces", fear of crowds, bridges, or of being outside alone.)
• obsessive compulsive disorder(condition which is manifested with obsessive (unwanted)thoughts and compulsions ("rituals") which are used to avoid or get rid of these obsessions)
• post-traumatic stress disorders PTSD( anxiety disorder which usually develops after psychological trauma and is manifested with three symptom groups:
  1. Re-living-people usually re-live trauma through memories and thoughts, including flashbacks, nightmares, hallucinations.
  2. Raised arousal: irritability; anger including physical symptoms: hypertension, breathing disorders, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
  3. Avoiding: people try to avoid thoughts, places, situations related to trauma.
• social phobia (condition that is manifested with public speaking anxiety, shyness, performance anxiety)
premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (condition that is manifested with sadness, anxiety, panic attacks, indifference to the environment, tiredness, insomnia and physical disorders such as headaches, hypertension, pain in the heart area, muscles or joint pain.)

Contradictions and precautions
You should not use Zoloft :

• If you have an allergy to sertraline hydrochloride
• In children or adolescents
• If you have manic depression
• If you have manic episode
• If you suffer from liver insufficiency
• In uncontrolled epilepsy
• If you using MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) such as : Tranylcypromine (Parnate®), Isocarboxazid (Marplan®), Phenelzine (Nardil®), Rasagilin(Azilect®), Selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Zelapar®) within the last two weeks.
• If you use Pimozide in the treatment of hallucinations or Tourette syndrome.
• If you are drinking alcohol

You should talk with your health care provider prior to taking Zoloft if you experience any of these conditions:

• Diabetes
• Seizures
• Heart disease including recent heart attack,
• History if bipolar disorders
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease , including chirrosis
• Suicide thoughts or attempts
• Receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Pregnancy (Zoloft is a pregnancy Category C medication. It means that it can cause harm to unborn baby
• Breastfeeding(Zoloft can pass into breast milk)

Warning!

• Using Zoloft together with other medicines (antidepressants or migraine medications such as triptans) that effect serotonin can lead to serotonin syndrome that is manifested with muscle pain, confusion, sweating, tachycardia, diarrhea, hallucinations.
• Zoloft may cause unwanted weight loss.
• Zoloft may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults when the medication is first started.
• Bleeding in the stomach or intestines is possible during the treatment.
• Zoloft may cause hyponatremia.
• It is not recommended to drive or operate machinery during the treatment with Zoloft.
• It is not recommended to stop suddenly taking Zoloft as it can cause withdrawal symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, migraine, weakness, tiredness, hopelessness, dizziness and anxiety.
• Your doctor should monitor blood sugar in people with diabetes. It is important to precise the dose of insulin or antidiabetic medicines.

Side effects.
There are possible side-effects relating to this medicine that can affect people in different ways. If a side effect is stated here, that does not necessarily mean the fact that all people using Zoloft will experience it or any other.

• Stomach disorders such as pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)
• Lack of appetite
• Fatigue
• tremor that is manifested with hands shaking
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Insomnia
• Somnolence
• Oversweating
• Xerostomia
• Sexual disturbances that is manifested with decreased libido.
• Migraine
• Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
• Changes in blood pressure(hypertension or hypotension)
• Seizures
• Sense of fear
• Memory disorders (amnesia)
• Liver problems
• Nervousness
• Constipation
• Vision disorders
• aggressiveness
• unusual changes in behavior

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

Interactions.

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what drugs you are already taking, including OTC medications(bought without a prescription) and herbal medicines, before you begin treatment with Zoloft. Similarly, check with your health care provider or pharmacist before taking any new medicine while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
Especially you should pay attention to the following drugs:

• Other SSRI or SNRI antidepressants
• Benzodiazepines (Valium) or other tranquilizers.
• Tramadol
• Tryptophan
• St John's wort
• Clozapine
• Tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine, desipramine, nortriptyline and possibly amitriptyline).
• Anticoagulants (anti-blood-clotting) medicines such as warfarin
• Antipsychotic medicines
• Prochlorperazine
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, piroxicam
• Ticlopidine
• Dipyridamole.
• Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin®)
• Disulfiram (Antabuse®)
• Linezolid (Zyvox®)
• Cimetidine