Zoloft Medication Uses

Zoloft medication is a prescription medication used to treat depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder in adults. Zoloft is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in children (ages 6-12) and adolescents (ages 12-17).

How Taken

Zoloft is usually taken once a day and may be taken with or without food. Take exactly as instructed. Do not take more or less Zoloft or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take Zoloft even if you feel well. Do not stop taking without consulting your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses over a long period of time. Your doctor probably may want to decrease your dose gradually. Zoloft must be taken regularly for a few weeks before the full benefits are felt.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking Zoloft, tell your doctor if you have liver disease; kidney disease; suffer from seizures; or suffer from mania or have suicidal thoughts. You may not be able to take Zoloft, or you may need a different dosage or require special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Zoloft is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known if Zoloft will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take Zoloft without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known if Zoloft passes into breast milk. Do not take Zoloft without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedingy.

Missed Dose

If you take Zoloft once a day in the morning, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next Zoloft dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. If you take Zoloft once a day at bedtime and do not remember to take it until the next morning, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Possible Side Effects

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Zoloft and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); an irregular heartbeat or pulse; low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness); high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or chills or fever. If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue taking Zoloft and talk to your doctor: headache; tremor, nervousness, or anxiety; nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight; sleepiness or insomnia; or decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Storage

Store Zoloft at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15° - 30°C (59° - 86°F).

Overdose

In case of an overdose of Zoloft, seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of an overdose of Zoloft include nausea, vomiting, tremor, seizures, agitation, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and enlarged pupils.

More Zoloft Information

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Zoloft may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness or dizziness while taking Zoloft.

Disclaimer

This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of Zoloft. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.