Sertraline at a glance
Medicine class
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.
Food
Tablets and oral suspension can be taken with or without food.
Stopping treatment
Do not stop suddenly unless urgent medical care requires it; withdrawal symptoms can occur.
Driving
Do not drive or use machinery if sertraline causes dizziness, drowsiness or impairment.
What is Sertraline used for?
Selected UK products are licensed for:
Major depressive episodes in adults and prevention of recurrence.
Panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, in adults.
OCD in adults and children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years.
Social anxiety disorder in adults.
Post-traumatic stress disorder in adults.
How does Sertraline work?
Sertraline reduces serotonin reuptake by nerve cells, increasing serotonin signalling. This can gradually improve symptoms involving mood, anxiety and repetitive or intrusive thoughts.
Sertraline preparations and strengths
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 20 mg/mL, 100 mg/5 mL
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 50 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg
How to take Sertraline
Follow the label and leaflet for your specific product. Concentrated solutions and ready-to-use suspension are prepared differently and should not be interchanged without professional advice.
Swallow tablets with water, with or without food.
Measure concentrate with the supplied syringe, dilute it in approximately one glass of water, ginger ale, lemon or lime soda, lemonade or orange juice, and take immediately. Do not prepare it in advance or use other liquids.
Shake oral suspension well for at least 10 seconds, measure it with the supplied oral syringe, administer it into the mouth and rinse the syringe. Take it with a glass of water; food is optional.
Sertraline side effects
Common or expected effects
- Feeling sick, diarrhoea or vomiting.
- Headache, dizziness or drowsiness.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Dry mouth or increased sweating.
- Tremor or restlessness.
- Sexual difficulties.
- Changes in appetite or weight.
Get urgent medical advice
- Suicidal thoughts or marked worsening of mood or behaviour.
- Serotonin syndrome.
- Severe allergic reaction or blistering, peeling skin reaction.
- Seizure, manic symptoms or severe restlessness.
- Unusual or significant bleeding.
- Symptoms of severe low sodium, including marked confusion, weakness, unsteadiness, fainting or seizure.
- Jaundice or other symptoms of serious liver injury.
- Palpitations with fainting or severe dizziness.
Sertraline in pregnancy
Sertraline can be used during pregnancy when expected benefit outweighs potential risk. Do not stop suddenly after discovering a pregnancy; discuss treatment when planning pregnancy or once pregnancy is confirmed. Later use may cause short-lived newborn symptoms, and rare breathing problems have been associated with SSRI exposure.
Sertraline while breastfeeding
Sertraline passes into breast milk in very small amounts and is one of the preferred SSRIs for a full-term, healthy infant. Monitor for unusual agitation or drowsiness, sleep disturbance, diarrhoea, poor feeding and inadequate weight gain. Premature or unwell infants need individual specialist assessment.
Sertraline interactions
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about all medicines, supplements and recreational substances. Important examples include:
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, including selegiline, moclobemide, linezolid and methylene blue
Some combinations are contraindicated because they can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome.
Pimozide
Concomitant use is contraindicated because sertraline can increase pimozide exposure and cardiac risk.
Other serotonergic medicines
Some antidepressants, triptans, opioids, lithium and amphetamines can increase serotonergic adverse effects.
Common questions about Sertraline
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
How long does sertraline take to work?
Some effects may begin within the first couple of weeks, but fuller improvement can take several weeks and OCD may respond more slowly. Contact the prescriber if symptoms worsen or there is no meaningful improvement by the planned review.
Can sertraline make anxiety feel worse at first?
Agitation, anxiety, insomnia or restlessness can occur early. Seek prompt advice if symptoms are severe, behaviour changes markedly or you cannot remain still.
Is sertraline addictive?
It is not considered addictive, but stopping suddenly or missing treatment can cause withdrawal symptoms. Plan discontinuation with the prescriber.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.