Why is Zoloft prescribed?
Zoloft is prescribed for major depression--a persistently low mood that interferes with everyday living. Symptoms may include loss of interest in your usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, constant fidgeting or lethargic movement, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of suicide.
Zoloft is also used to treat the following:
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition marked by a depressed mood, anxiety or tension, emotional instability, and anger or irritability in the two weeks preceding menstruation.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (unwanted thoughts that won't go away and an irresistible urge to keep repeating certain actions, such as hand-washing or counting).
• Panic disorder (unexpected attacks of overwhelming anxiety, accompanied by fear of their return).
• Social anxiety disorder (extreme shyness in social situations that interferes with an individual's work and social life).
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (re-experiencing a dangerous or life-threatening event through intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and intense psychological distress).
Zoloft belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers believed to govern moods. Ordinarily, it is quickly reabsorbed after its release at the junctures between nerves. Re-uptake inhibitors such as Zoloft slow this process, thereby boosting the levels of serotonin available in the brain.
Most important fact about Zoloft
Do not take Zoloft within 2 weeks of taking any drug classified as an MAO inhibitor. Drugs in this category include the antidepressants Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate. When serotonin boosters such as Zoloft are combined with MAO inhibitors, serious and sometimes fatal reactions can occur. In addition, you should not combine Zoloft with the drug pimozide (Orap).
How should you take Zoloft?
Take Zoloft exactly as prescribed: once a day, in either the morning or the evening.
Zoloft is available in capsule and oral concentrate forms. To prepare Zoloft oral concentrate, use the dropper provided. Measure out the amount of concentrate prescribed by your doctor and mix it with 4 ounces of water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice. (Do not mix the concentrate with any other type of beverage.) Drink the mixture immediately; do not prepare it in advance for later use. At times, a slight haze may appear after mixing, but this is normal.
Improvement with Zoloft may not be seen for several days to a few weeks. You should expect to keep taking it for at least several months.
Zoloft may make your mouth dry. For temporary relief suck a hard candy, chew gum, or melt bits of ice in your mouth.
--If you miss a dose...
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If several hours have passed, skip the dose. Never try to "catch up" by doubling the dose.
--Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature.
What side effects may occur?
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Zoloft.
• More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, constipation, decreased sex drive, diarrhea or loose stools, difficulty with ejaculation, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, gas, headache, decreased appetite, increased sweating, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, pain, rash, sleepiness, sore throat, tingling or pins and needles, tremor, vision problems, vomiting
Many people lose a pound or two of body weight while taking Zoloft. This usually poses no problem but may be a concern if your depression has already caused you to lose a great deal of weight.
In a few people, Zoloft may trigger the grandiose, inappropriate, out-of-control behavior called mania or the similar, but less dramatic, "hyper" state called hypomania.

Why should Zoloft not be prescribed?
Do not use Zoloft while taking an MAO inhibitor or the drug pimozide (Orap) (see "Most important fact about Zoloft"). Avoid Zoloft if it causes an allergic-type reaction.
Special warnings about Zoloft
In clinical studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Zoloft or any other antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance this risk with the clinical need. Zoloft is only approved for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder in children 6 years and older.
Additionally, the progression of major depression is associated with a worsening of symptoms and/or the emergence of suicidal thinking or behavior in both adults and children, whether or not they are taking antidepressants. Individuals being treated with Zoloft and their caregivers should watch for any change in symptoms or any new symptoms that appear suddenly--especially agitation, anxiety, hostility, panic, restlessness, extreme hyperactivity, and suicidal thinking or behavior--and report them to the doctor immediately. Be especially observant at the beginning of treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.
Use Zoloft cautiously and under close medical supervision if you have a history of kidney or liver disorders, heart disease, seizures, or bleeding problems. Your doctor may limit your dosage if you have one of these conditions.
Zoloft could cause weight loss in children. The manufacturer recommends regular monitoring of weight and growth during long-term treatment in children.
SSRI antidepressants could potentially cause stomach bleeding, especially when combined with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and ketoprofen (Orudis KT). Consult your doctor before combining Zoloft with NSAIDs or blood-thinning medications.
Like all antidepressants, Zoloft could trigger a manic episode. Let the doctor know if you've ever had this problem.
Zoloft has not been found to impair the ability to drive or operate machinery. Nevertheless, the manufacturer recommends caution until you know how the drug affects you.
If you are sensitive to latex, use caution when handling the dropper provided with the oral concentrate.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Zoloft
Remember that Zoloft must never be combined with pimozide (Orap) or an MAO inhibitor (see "Most important fact about Zoloft").
You should not drink alcoholic beverages while taking Zoloft. Use over-the-counter remedies with caution. Although none is known to interact with Zoloft, interactions remain a possibility.
If Zoloft is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Zoloft with the following:

Antidepressants that boost serotonin such as Paxil and Prozac
Other antidepressants, including tricyclics such as Elavil and Pamelor
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Diazepam (Valium)
Digitoxin (Crystodigin)
Flecainide (Tambocor)
Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
Over-the-counter drugs such as cold remedies
Propafenone (Rythmol)
Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
Tolbutamide (Orinase)
Warfarin (Coumadin)
If you are using the oral concentrate form of Zoloft, do not take disulfiram (Antabuse)
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
The effects of Zoloft during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Zoloft should be taken during pregnancy only if it is clearly needed. It is not known whether Zoloft appears in breast milk. Caution is advised when using Zoloft during breastfeeding.
Recommended dosage
ADULTS
Depression or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The usual starting dose is 50 milligrams once a day, taken either in the morning or in the evening. The doctor may increase your dose depending upon your response. The maximum dose is 200 milligrams in a day.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Doses may be prescribed throughout the menstrual cycle or limited to the 2 weeks preceding menstruation. The starting dose is 50 milligrams a day. If this proves insufficient, the doctor will increase the dose in 50-milligram steps at the start of each new menstrual cycle up to a maximum of 100 milligrams per day in the 2-week regimen or 150 milligrams per day in the full-cycle regimen. (During the first 3 days of the 2-week regimen, doses are always limited to 50 milligrams.)
Panic Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder
During the first week, the usual dose is 25 milligrams once a day. After that, the dose increases to 50 milligrams once a day. Depending on your response, you're the doctor may continue to increase your dose up to a maximum of 200 milligrams a day.
CHILDREN 6 TO 17 YEARS OLD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The starting dose for children aged 6 to 12 is 25 milligrams and for adolescents aged 13 to 17, 50 milligrams. The doctor will adjust the dose as necessary.
Safety and effectiveness have not been established for children under 6.
DOSAGE ADJUSTMENT
The doctor will need to reduce the dosage if you have liver disease.
Overdosage
Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. An overdose of Zoloft can be fatal. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
• Common symptoms of Zoloft overdose include:
Agitation, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, sleepiness, tremor, vomiting
Other possible symptoms include coma, stupor, fainting, convulsions, delirium, hallucinations, mania, high or low blood pressure, and slow, rapid, or irregular heartbeat