SERTRALINE: what is it for, positive effects and dosage

Sertraline is an antidepressant medication, generally indicated for the treatment of depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, post-traumatic stress, among other cases. Why is it useful? In this Psychology-Online article, we are going to talk about Sertraline to understand what it is for, what its effects are and the recommended dose of this drug. It is also interesting to know how Sertraline works in the brain, in addition to knowing its possible side effects.

Index

1. What is Sertraline for?
2. What effect does sertraline have on the brain
3. What is the recommended dose of sertraline

Sertraline is a medicine classified as an antidepressant indicated for the treatment of the following cases:

• Depression (moderate or severe). Depression, being moderate or severe, is associated with the following symptoms: depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure persistent, fatigue, inattention, depreciable thoughts or suicidal ideation, psychomotor disturbances, weight alteration, appetite and sleep. There are also cases where the symptoms of anxiety, insomnia or melancholy are also present.
• Dysthymia (chronic depression). Dysthymia is a type of chronic depression, as the individual's mood is persistent, with a constant depressed mood. Dysthymia is considered when symptoms such as loss of satisfaction last for at least two years.
• Postpartum depression. Postpartum depression occurs in adolescent or adult women who have sadness, anxiety, irritability, crying for days after the baby is born.
• Seasonal affective disorder. Seasonal affective disorder is about annual episodes that begin in the fall or early winter, some people for every year at the same time experience morning fatigue, hypersomnia, and increased appetite.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder refers to the phase that precedes menstruation. They are symptoms that appear and disappear shortly after the beginning of menstruation. They are symptoms such as irritability, variable mood, anxiety, sleep and appetite disturbances, fluid retention, breast tenderness and other physical symptoms.
• Obsessive compulsive disorder. In obsessive-compulsive disorder, the individual presents recurrent thoughts, that is, obsessive, which often causes the person anxiety. And also rituals that are behaviors that are repeated over and over again, that is, in a compulsive way and whose function is to reduce said anxiety.
• Anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder presents with symptoms such as: feeling nervous or tense, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, tremors, trouble sleeping, gastrointestinal problems, difficulty controlling worries and avoiding situations that generate anxiety.

It is important to explain that these are some examples of symptoms in which the use of Sertraline can be indicated as a treatment. In fact, only qualified health professionals are those who are authorized to prescribe it, who will, in due course, make an evaluation of the case and the need for use.

What are the effects of sertraline? Sertraline is a substance that exerts its antidepressant effect by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin in the central nervous system.

But what does that mean? It means that in our brain there is a substance called serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for feeling happiness and well-being. Then, the Sertraline will act on that substance increasing its availability and thus will alleviate depressive and anxious symptoms. In this article, you will find more information about the relationship between serotonin and depression.

How do you know if sertraline is working? Let's look at the positive effects of sertraline. The expected effect when using Sertraline is a reduction of symptoms on the part of the individual. Depressive and anxious symptoms will diminish with the use of Sertraline. For the cases of individuals who suffer with sleep problems, Sertraline will also act by offering the patient a better sleep quality. Regarding humor, the patient will feel more motivated to carry out their activities. And you will also feel a reduced feelings of fear and panic which are symptoms related to anxiety or depression.

We can also take into account that Sertraline is a substance that does not cause dependence, as contrary to other drugs available on the market for the treatment of depression and other disorders. In addition, we can mention that Sertraline can be used by women in their postpartum, as long as it is recommended by their doctor.

Sertraline side effects

It is important to remember that, like all medicines, Sertraline can also present side effects, among them, we can mention episodes of insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, and headaches. On the other hand, these effects do not oblige the individual to interrupt the treatment, as long as he warns the doctor about them.

Sertraline is recommended to be taken in single daily dose in the morning or evening, but preferably at the same time to promote compliance with treatment. Eating food does not alter its absorption, so you can eat or not before taking it.

The starting dose can be 25 mg or 50 mg daily, but who will make the dose adjustment will be the psychiatrist. It is important to understand that, when starting treatment, the individual must undergo medical monitoring to be able to adjust the dose. when necessary, and also so that the professional can evaluate the response that the body is giving to the use of the substance.

In the following articles, you will see more information about:

• Types of antidepressants
• Signs that the antidepressant works
• Reasons not to mix antidepressants and alcohol

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Sertraline: what is it for, positive effects and dosage, we recommend that you enter our category of Psychopharmaceuticals.

• American Psychiatric Association. (2014). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. Porto Alegre: Artmed.
• Keller M., Kocsis J., (1998). Maintenance Phase Efficacy of Sertraline for Chronic Depression. A Randomized Controlled Trial, JAMA. Vol 280, No. 19: 1665-1672.
• Net Medicine. Bull Sertraline. (2021). Recovered from: https://bula.medicinanet.com.br/bula/detalhes/4693/reacoes_adversas_sertralina.htm