How Does Zoloft Work?

When you have depressive disorders, in order to alleviate the symptoms doctors prescribe you with some psychiatric medications which are known as antidepressants. An antidepressant is used for a wide range of psychiatric disorder such as the following.

  • Anxiety disorders;
  • Stress;
  • Dysthymia or mild chronic depression

Antidepressants for depressive disorders had been developed in 1990 by Pfizer. It had been developed and marketed as a safer option with fewer withdrawal symptoms and side effects that the competitor drugs.

It comes from a class of antidepressant drug that is known as SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It is being used from time immemorial for controlling depression and other mental illness. It works by controlling the level of serotonin in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter that apparently affects the mood, learning, and sleep of a person.

Zoloft

Important Information about Zoloft You Need to Keep in Mind

If you are taking pimozide, you should avoid taking Zoloft. You should sustain from taking this drug if you are taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. This is because it might lead to a dangerous drug reaction. Some of the Mao inhibitors include:

  • Rasagiline;
  • Selegiline;
  • Phenelzine;
  • Linezolid;
  • Isocarboxazid;
  • Tranylcypromine

You should stay alert to the changes that occur in your mood. Since some young people tend to have thoughts about suicide when they these kinds of drugs for the first time. If you notice any worsening symptoms, you should immediately report the doctor. These symptoms are as follows

  • Anxiety;
  • Panic attacks;
  • A problem in sleeping;
  • Feeling of impulsiveness, hostile, restless, agitated, hyperactive, irritable, or more depressed;
  • Having recurrent thoughts of suicide
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The oral drug should not be given to anyone below the age of 18 years without the advice of the doctor. It can be taken by children who have OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, it has not yet been approved to treat depression in children.

Precautions to Maintain Before Taking Zoloft

My Canadian Pharmacy suggests that you should tell the doctors if you are suffering from any physical disorders. This is because they advise you to take the oral drug or determine the dosage of the drug that you require depending on this. Thus, tell the doctor if you have:

  • Epilepsy or seizure;
  • Kidney or liver problem;
  • A history of suicidal thoughts or drug abuse;
  • Bipolar disorder;
  • A bleeding and blood clotting disorder

Make sure that you constantly check on the progress of the drug. The drug might lead to serious lung problem if you take it during pregnancy and this might lead to complication for the baby. Thus, you should not start or stop taking the drug when you are pregnant, without the advice of the doctor.

Depressive disorders

How To Take Zoloft?

The oral drug taken for depressive disorders needs to be consumed according to the recommendations of the doctor. You should also follow the instructions that have been provided on the label. Do not take the medications in larger or smaller or for much longer than it is recommended. It might be taken either with or without food. Also, try to take to medicine on the same day every day.

If you are taking the liquid form of the drug then it needs to be diluted before consumption. Also, make sure that you are taking the correct dose of the medicine. Thus, take the help of a dropper to measure the liquid medicine. However, do not use any other medicine for diluting it.

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The drug might take up to four weeks to bring about an improvement. Keep taking it and let the doctor know if the condition does not improve.

Zoloft and Autism

According to My Canadian Pharmacy, one of the recent side effects that have been linked to Zoloft during the time of pregnancy is autism spectrum disorder. This is a disorder by which a person’s ability to interact and communicate is damaged. The drug when taken in the second or third trimester doubles the risk of the child being diagnosed with autism.

Common Side Effects

You should watch the video below to learn about side effects of Zoloft.

The side effects of the drug vary in severity. Minor side effects of Zoloft are as follows.

  • Nausea;
  • Diarrhea;
  • Dizziness;
  • Gain or loss of weight;
  • Insomnia or sleep disorder;
  • Increased sweating;
  • Tremor;
  • Dry mouth;
  • A headache;
  • Suicidal thoughts;
  • Sexual dysfunction

It might also sometimes cause sexual problems such as issues with orgasm or delay in ejaculation.