Sertraline is an active ingredient of the drug Zoloft. It stops the serotonin reuptake (reverse capture), which is produced by the neurons that provide it. As a result, the concentration of the neurotransmitter increases in the synaptic gap and the main cause of depressive states, the serotonin deficiency, is determined.

zoloft

A significant correction of the mental state of the patients with depression arises from the effect on serotonin receptors. The correction is manifested in a better mood, removing phobias and anxious states, reducing feelings of melancholy, and reducing appetite. The drug affects 5-HT receptors. It weakly affects the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine. There was no sedative, cardiotoxic effect, anticholinergic effect and stimulation effect during the therapy with the drug. The drug Zoloft does not provoke the formation of the drug addiction. The continuous therapy can lead to a decrease in the activity of adrenaline receptors in the brain.

Indication
The drug Zoloft is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of relapses with the following symptoms: depressive states, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROC), depression with manic conditions, panic disorder, the depression, followed by a sense of anxiety, panic disorder with agoraphobia, post-traumatic depressive disorders.

Application Method
Zoloft tablets are taken orally. The dose prescribed by the doctor is taken in the morning or in the evening once a day. Food doesn’t affect the drug application.

Side Effects
The most common side effect is nausea. During the treatment of social anxiety disorder with sertraline, 14% of men had a sexual dysfunction (ejaculation disorder) compared with 0% of the patients, who received placebo. These side effects are dose-dependent and they often disappear, when the therapy is continued.

The profile of the side effects, which were often identified during double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, involving patients with OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, and social anxiety disorders is similar to the profile of the side effects, observed within depressed patients, who participated in the clinical trials.

Below there are the data on the side effects, fixed during post-marketing survey (the incidence of their development is unknown) and during placebo-controlled clinical trials (in which, in total, 2542 patients receiving sertraline and 2,145 patients receiving placebo participated) involving patients with depression, OCD, panic disorders, PTSD and social anxiety disorders.

Some of the side effects may decrease in intensity and frequency during the continuous treatment and do not require the therapy discontinuation.

Below there is some information about the frequency of the side effects, which are observed during placebo-controlled clinical trials within the patients with depression, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, and social anxiety disorders. The combined data of clinical trials and post-registration surveillance (frequency is unknown) are presented.

Infections and infestations: often – pharyngitis; not often – infections of the upper respiratory tract, rhinitis; rarely – diverticulitis, gastroenteritis, otitis media.

Benign and malignant tumors (including cysts and polyps): rarely – neoplasm (it was reported about one case of neoplasm within one patient who received sertraline, compared with the absence of such cases in the group of patients receiving placebo).

From the blood system and lymphatic system: rarely – lymphadenopathy; unknown frequency – leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.

From the immune system: not often – hypersensitivity; rarely- anaphylactoid reactions; unknown frequency – allergy.

From the endocrine system: not often – hypothyroidism; unknown frequency – hyperprolactinemia, the syndrome of inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

Taking Zoloft with Weed
Zoloft and weed can result in a higher amount of Zoloft in your blood. This means that you can experience effects of bigger dose of Zoloft when mixing it with weed. Therefore, weed in combination with Zoloft can result in overdose of Zoloft.

Overdose
There were reported some cases of taking 13.5 g of sertraline, that didn’t lead to a fatal outcome. Deaths were observed, when the drug was combined with other drugs and alcohol. In case of overdose, resuscitation measures are necessary. Overdosing is followed by the increasing of side effects. In general, they are: agitation, tremor, severe tachycardia, vomiting, nausea and coma. Hem perfusion, dialysis and diuresis are not effective.