💊 Sertraline (Sertraline)
Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It is taken by mouth and is available by prescription only; your doctor or pharmacist determines the right dose for you.
In Arabic: سيرترالين
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Packages shown are US-market (DailyMed). Brands available in Palestine are in the price section below.
Sertraline🏭 AvPAK
Sertraline🏭 Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc.✅ What it is used for
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children aged 6 to 17
- Panic disorder (PD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
🧪 Active ingredient
The active ingredient is sertraline (as sertraline hydrochloride). It potentiates serotonergic activity in the central nervous system by inhibiting neuronal reuptake of serotonin.
🌿 Benefits
- Treats symptoms of major depressive disorder
- Relieves symptoms of OCD and panic disorder
- Helps treat PTSD and social anxiety disorder
- Treats symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
📝 How to use
- Take by mouth. The dose and how to use it are set by your doctor or pharmacist according to your condition.
- Do not change the dose on your own; your doctor may adjust it gradually based on response and tolerability.
- When stopping, the dose must be reduced gradually under medical supervision; do not stop suddenly.
- For PMDD, your doctor may prescribe it daily throughout the cycle or only during the luteal phase.
💊 Dosage forms
- Tablets 25 mg
- Tablets 50 mg
- Tablets 100 mg (film-coated)
⚠️ Common side effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea/loose stools
- Tremor
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Decreased appetite
- Excessive sweating
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Somnolence
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Agitation
- Ejaculation failure and decreased libido
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (especially in children and young adults)
- Serotonin syndrome
- Increased risk of bleeding
- Activation of mania/hypomania
- Seizures
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- Hyponatremia
- QTc prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias
- Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema)
- Discontinuation (withdrawal) symptoms on abrupt stopping
⛔ Do not use if
- Taking MAOIs, or within 14 days of stopping them (including linezolid and intravenous methylene blue)
- Taking pimozide
- Known hypersensitivity to sertraline
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Boxed warning: antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients; monitor closely for clinical worsening and behavior changes, especially in the first months or at dose changes.
- Screen for personal or family history of bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania before starting.
- Use with caution in patients with seizure disorders.
- Avoid in patients with untreated anatomically narrow angles (angle-closure glaucoma risk).
- Use with caution in patients with risk factors for QTc prolongation.
- May cause sexual dysfunction.
- Not recommended in moderate or severe hepatic impairment; use half the dosage in mild impairment.
- Monitor weight and growth in children treated with SSRIs.
🔄 Drug interactions
- MAOIs (selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue): contraindicated due to serotonin syndrome risk
- Pimozide: contraindicated due to risk of QTc prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias
- Other serotonergic drugs (other SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, St. John’s Wort): increase serotonin syndrome risk
- Aspirin, NSAIDs, antiplatelet agents, warfarin and other anticoagulants: increase bleeding risk
- Protein-bound drugs (e.g., warfarin) and CYP2D6 substrates: may require monitoring and dose reduction
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines and supplements you take
🤰 Pregnancy
Use in the third trimester may increase the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension and withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Published studies of first-trimester exposure suggest no difference in major birth defect risk versus background, though some studies reported increases in specific defects and results are inconclusive. SSRI exposure close to delivery has been associated with a less than 2-fold increase in postpartum hemorrhage risk. Consult your doctor before use.
🍼 Breastfeeding
The label text provided contains no information on breastfeeding. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before use while breastfeeding.
🧒 Children
Safety and efficacy are established only for OCD in children aged 6 to 17. They have not been established for children under 6 with OCD or for any other indication in pediatric patients. Monitor for clinical worsening, suicidal thoughts and unusual behavior changes, and monitor weight and growth.
👴 Older adults
No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed versus younger patients, but dose selection should be conservative, starting at the low end of the range. Elderly patients may be at greater risk of clinically significant hyponatremia with SSRIs.
🌡️ Storage
Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), USP controlled room temperature.
⏰ Missed dose
The label text provided gives no instructions for a missed dose. Consult your doctor or pharmacist and do not double the dose on your own.
🆘 Overdose
Overdose may cause seizures (which may be delayed), altered mental status including coma, cardiovascular toxicity (possibly delayed) including QRS and QTc prolongation, most commonly hypertension, and serotonin syndrome. Seek emergency medical help or contact a Poison Center immediately.
💰 Price & brands in your area
🏛️ Official price in Palestine — Ministry of Health price list:
| Product | Company | Pack | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUSTRAL 50mg-28TAB SERTRALINE AS HYDROCHLORIDE | Alram Drug Store | 28 tab | 25 ₪ |
| SOLOSERT 50 TAB SERTRALINE | Pharmacare Store | 30 tab / Box | 25 ₪ |
| SOLOSERT 100 TAB SERTRALINE | Pharmacare Store | 30 tab / Box | 40 ₪ |
| LUSTRAL 100mg-28TAB SERTRALINE AS HYDROCHLORIDE | Alram Drug Store | 28 tab | 43 ₪ |
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Mechanism of action
Sertraline potentiates central serotonergic activity by inhibiting neuronal reuptake of serotonin (5-HT). It is a potent, selective inhibitor with only very weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake and does not inhibit monoamine oxidase. Mean terminal plasma half-life is about 26 hours; Cmax occurs 4.5 to 8.4 hours post-dose.
Labeled dosing
General adult dosing per label (final dose set by the prescriber): MDD and OCD: start 50 mg/day; PD, PTSD, SAD: start 25 mg/day; therapeutic range 50 to 200 mg/day, increasing in 25–50 mg increments once weekly if response is inadequate, maximum 200 mg/day. PMDD: start 50 mg/day continuous (max 150 mg/day) or luteal phase only (max 100 mg/day). Mild hepatic impairment: half the recommended dosage; moderate or severe: not recommended. Taper gradually on discontinuation.
- Screen for personal/family history of bipolar disorder, mania or hypomania before initiating.
- Recommended interval between dose changes is one week given the 24-hour elimination half-life.
- Contraindicated with MAOIs (including a 14-day washout) and pimozide.
- Monitor for serotonin syndrome with other serotonergic drugs, particularly at initiation and dose increases.
- Monitor for bleeding with antiplatelets/anticoagulants and for hyponatremia, especially in the elderly.
🎓 Key points for students
- Class: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
- Mechanism: inhibits neuronal 5-HT reuptake; very weak effect on norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake; does not inhibit MAO.
- Indications: MDD, OCD, PD, PTSD, SAD, PMDD.
- Contraindications: MAOIs, pimozide, hypersensitivity.
- Key warnings: boxed warning for suicidality, serotonin syndrome, bleeding, mania, seizures, angle-closure glaucoma, QTc prolongation, hyponatremia.
- Common adverse reactions (>5% and twice placebo): nausea, diarrhea, tremor, dyspepsia, decreased appetite, hyperhidrosis, ejaculation failure, decreased libido.
- Terminal half-life about 26 hours.
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What is sertraline used for?
It is used to treat major depressive disorder, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Can I stop sertraline suddenly?
No. The dose should be reduced gradually under your doctor's supervision to avoid discontinuation symptoms.
What are the most common side effects?
Nausea, diarrhea, tremor, indigestion, decreased appetite, excessive sweating, insomnia, dry mouth and effects on sexual function.
Can children take sertraline?
Safety and efficacy are established only for OCD in children aged 6 to 17; they are not established for other indications in children.
Are there medicines I must not combine with sertraline?
Yes. MAOIs (such as linezolid) and pimozide are contraindicated. Tell your doctor about all your medicines before starting.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2025-07), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-11.