Zoloft
sertraline
General Information
Zoloft was the second SSRI to be released in the United States, and it is
prbably the second most prescribed antidepressant. In has properties which
give it a small advantage over other medications in this class, although
it is no more safe or effective in clinical studies. See the general page
on SSRI's for more information pertaining to this
class of antidepressants.
Unique Properties
Zoloft has several characteristics which has made it rather popular as
a first-line antidepressant. It has a somewhat balanced side effect profile,
with a mixture of stimulating and sedating side effects that appear to cancel
out for many patients. It has relatively little tendency to inhibit liver
enzyme systems, and so is less likely to interact with other medications.
It has a typical antidepressant half-life of about 24 hours, so it is not
difficult to eliminate from the body like Prozac. Although it has not been
as well studied during pregnancy, it may be a better choice during breast
feeding, because it appears not to accumulate as much in breast milk and
may be more easily metabolized by the fetus.
These characteristics are not always advantageous. It is possible to
be both sleepy and nervous, so the combination of stimulating and sedating
side effects can still be uncomfortable. The shorter half-life of Zoloft
means that it is more likely to cause side effects on discontinuation than
Prozac. (See SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome).
Drug Interactions
As stated above, Zoloft may be somewhat less likely to interact with
other drugs. However, it should still not be combined with Seldane, Hismanal,
or Propulsid. It is just as likely as the other SSRI's to cause Serotonin Syndrome, especially if combined
with MAOI inhibitors, which is contraindicated.
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