Zoloft Side Effects

Sertraline hydrochlorie, popularly known as Zoloft, is an antidepressant of the SSRI class aggressively marketed by Pfizer in 1991 as an effective treatment to depression disorders. Zoloft is said to treat psychiatric conditions that include major depressive disorder or MDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorders, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Zoloft was the most prescribed antidepressant in the United States. It is so popular that in 2007, there’s an estimate of almost 30 million prescriptions in the market just in the United States!

Zoloft is also used off-label to treat cases of sexual dysfunction, eating disorders such as binge eating, night eating syndrome and bulimia nervosa, premature ejaculation, as well as children and adolescents with refractory syncope. Although some studies show that Zoloft itself may actually cause syncope in adolescents, this has remained unproven and so Zoloft was continuously marketed as off-label treatment for syncope in younger users.

The use of Zoloft is most popular in children, especially those who are suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorders and are aged 6 to 17. Conversely, it is strongly discouraged for children suffering from depression. Zoloft works primarily by altering the neurochemistry of one’s body. In layman’s term, it balances the levels of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a compound in our blood platelets that constricts blood vessels and functions as a neurotransmitter. Zoloft aids in manufacturing artificial neurochemical environment in our brain so that symptoms of depression and anxiety are decreased. While Zoloft is highly recommended for treatment of anxiety, this is only true for adults. Prescribing Zoloft to children with anxiety could result to serious complications and increased risk of suicide ideation.

What are the common side effects of Zoloft?

Zoloft side effects are almost completely synonymous to common side effects contracted by other antidepressants under the SSRI class.

• Sexual dysfunction
• Minor nausea
• Erectile dysfunction
• Insomnia
• Somnolence
• Nervousness
• Headache or migraine episodes
• Rash and skin itching
• Constipation
• Dryness of the mouth
• Abnormal vision
• Fatigue
• Drowsiness or dizziness
• Nervousness or shakiness
• Muscle stiffness or weakness
• Sensory impairment, decrease or loss of touch
• Increased perspiration
• Delayed or inability to ejaculate in men
• Decreased libido or sexual drive
• Hot flashes
• Teeth grinding
• Loss or decrease in appetite
• Impaired concentration
• Sleeping difficulties

The side effects of Zoloft are almost the same for children and adults, however, the following side effects are more experience by children taking Zoloft:

• Fever
• Hyperactivity
• Aggressiveness
• Nose bleeding
• Skin discolorations, either red or purple spotting
• Sinus infection or inflammation of the sinuses
• Urinary tract infection
• Loss of bladder control or urinary incontinence

What are the severe Zoloft side effects?

Unlike other antidepressants, Zoloft’s severe side effects do not cover severe sedation, generally drugged effects brought about by tricyclic and tetrayclic depessants, and anticholinergic side effects. The severe side effects of Zoloft includes:

• Anorexia
• Diarrhoea
• Asthenia
• Dyspepsia or indigestion
• Severe stomach pain
• Uncontrollable muscle spasms
• Severe weight increase or weight loss
• Menstrual pain and irregularities
• Tremors
• Increased risk of suicidal ideation particularly in users aged 24 and under
• Chest palpitations
• Serotonin syndrome with symptoms that include hypertension, excessive sweating, and dehydration
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Withdrawal syndrome
• Seizures
• Hypnotremia
• Bleeding problems
• Acute closed angle glaucoma
• Serious anaphylactoid reactions
• Hypoglycemia
• Priapism
• Hallucinations
• Severe allergic reaction characterised by unexplained swelling, hives, itching, unexplained rashes, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing and swallowing
• Worsened condition of depression and mania especially in undiagnosed and untreated bipolar disorder

 

If you are pregnant, it is strongly advised for individuals not to take Zoloft as this may cause abnormalities in the baby. Pregnant mothers who had been taking Zoloft during their late pregnancy are reported to have had babies with neonatal serotonin syndrome, persistent neonatal pulmonary hypertension, and neonatal withdrawal symptoms. So if you are pregnant or even just trying to get pregnant, Zoloft should not be taken.