Sertraline Oral Tablet

• This drug has a black box warning. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A black box warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
• This drug may increase suicidal thoughts or behavior in some children, teenagers, or young adults. The risk of this is greatest within the first few months of treatment or when the dosage is changed. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or sudden changes in your mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if they are severe. Pay extra close attention when you start taking this drug or when your dosage is changed.

• Serotonin syndrome: This drug may cause a possibly life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include hallucinations and delusions, agitation, coma, fast heart rate, and changes in blood pressure. They also include dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures, shakiness, muscle tremor or stiff muscles, sweating, nausea, and vomiting.
• Severe allergic reaction: This drug can sometimes cause a severe allergic reaction. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away if you have swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, or you have trouble breathing. A severe allergic reaction may cause death. You should not take this medication again if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it.

Sertraline oral tablet comes with several warnings.

Allergy warning

This drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:

• trouble breathing
• swelling of your face, tongue, eyes, or mouth
• rash, itchy welts (hives) or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain

If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death).

Alcohol interaction

Drinking alcohol while you take sertraline can increase your risk of sleepiness. It can also affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor.

Warnings for people with certain health conditions

For people with glaucoma: Taking this drug may trigger a glaucoma attack. If you have glaucoma, talk to your doctor before taking this drug.

For people with bipolar disorder: Taking this drug may trigger a manic episode. If you have a history of mania or bipolar disorder, talk to your doctor before using this drug.

For people with seizures: Taking this drug increases your risk of seizures. If you already have seizures, talk to your doctor before taking this drug. If you have a seizure while using this drug, you should stop taking it.

For people with kidney problems: If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear this drug from your body well. This may increase the levels of this drug in your body and cause more side effects. This drug may also decrease your kidney function, making your kidney disease worse.

For people with liver problems: If you have liver problems or a history of liver disease, your body may not be able to process this drug as well. This may increase the levels of this drug in your body and cause more side effects.

Warnings for other groups

For pregnant women: This drug is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:

1. Research in animals has shown adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
2. There haven’t been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the fetus.

Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug.

For women who are breastfeeding: This drug may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. If you are over the age of 65 years, you may be at higher risk of developing muscle problems while taking this drug, including low salt levels in the blood (known as hyponatremia).

For children: This medication has not been studied in children as treatment for major depressive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It should not be used for these disorders in people younger than 18 years.

This medication has only been studied in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder. For treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, it should not be used in people younger than 6 years.

Sertraline oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: Your depression will not get better. It may even get worse. Do not stop taking this drug without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping your drug too quickly may cause serious symptoms, including:

• anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, restlessness, and changes in your sleep habits
• headache, sweating, nausea, and dizziness
• electric shock-like sensations, shaking, and confusion

If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:

• tiredness
• vomiting
• fast heart rate
• nausea
• dizziness
• agitation
• tremors

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects.

How to tell if the drug is working: You will know that this drug is working if you notice that your depression symptoms are less severe or happen less often. This may take up to 4 weeks. When you do start to feel better, don’t stop taking it. Continue to take it as your doctor told you.

Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes sertraline oral tablet for you.

General

• You can take this drug with or without food.
• You can cut or crush the tablet.
• Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead.

Storage

• Store this drug at room temperature between 59°F and 86°F (15°C and 30°C). Keep it away from light.
• Don’t store this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms.
• Keep the bottle closed tightly.

Refills

A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Travel

Always carry your drugs with you when you travel.

• When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag.
• Don’t worry about airport x-ray machines. They can’t hurt your medication.
• You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Always carry the original prescription-labeled box with you.
• Don’t put this medication in your car’s glove compartment or leave it in the car. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold.

Clinical monitoring

Your doctor will monitor you for certain health issues. This is done to make sure you stay safe while you take this drug. Your doctor will check:

• Your mental health and symptoms of depression. Your doctor will monitor your symptoms of depression to make sure that this drug is working and that you’re not having suicidal thoughts. They’ll watch you closely during the first few months after you start taking this drug or if you have had dose changes.
• Sodium levels. Your doctor may check the amount sodium in your body. Your doctor may do this when you start using this drug and at other times while you are taking it.
• Eye pressure. Your doctor may check the pressure of your eyes regularly while you take this drug. Your doctor will do this if you have a history of increased eye pressure or are at risk for certain types of glaucoma.
• Cholesterol levels. This drug can increase your cholesterol. Your doctor will check your cholesterol levels to make sure that they are not getting too high.
• Liver function. Your doctor will check how well your liver is working while you take this drug. If your liver isn’t working well, your doctor may decide to lower your dose of this drug.

Insurance

Many insurance companies require a prior authorization for this drug. This means your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription.

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.