Is Zoloft Addictive?

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Is Zoloft Addictive?

Going by the usual definition of “addictive” it isn’t, but, yes, there are most definitely withdrawal symptoms when people don’t taper off gradually. Usually it’s called “discontinuation symptoms” rather than withdrawal, but it doesn’t make the symptoms any less bothersome. Usually it’s best to gradually lessen your dosage over time to minimize the symptoms. There are also reports that over the counter drugs like Benedryl can help with symptoms.

Why is Zoloft prescribed?
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Zoloft is prescribed for major depression—a persistently low mood that interferes with everyday living. Symptoms may include loss of interest in your usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, constant fidgeting or lethargic movement, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of suicide.

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Zoloft is also used to treat the following:

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition marked by a depressed mood, anxiety or tension, emotional instability, and anger or irritability in the two weeks preceding menstruation.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (unwanted thoughts that won’t go away and an irresistible urge to keep repeating certain actions, such as hand-washing or counting).

Panic disorder (unexpected attacks of overwhelming anxiety, accompanied by fear of their return).

Social anxiety disorder (extreme shyness in social situations that interferes with an individual’s work and social life).

Post-traumatic stress disorder (re-experiencing a dangerous or life-threatening event through intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and intense psychological distress).

Zoloft belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers believed to govern moods. Ordinarily, it is quickly reabsorbed after its release at the junctures between nerves. Re-uptake inhibitors such as Zoloft slow this process, thereby boosting the levels of serotonin available in the brain.
Most important fact about Zoloft
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Do not take Zoloft within 2 weeks of taking any drug classified as an MAO inhibitor. Drugs in this category include the antidepressants Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate. When serotonin boosters such as Zoloft are combined with MAO inhibitors, serious and sometimes fatal reactions can occur. In addition, you should not combine Zoloft with the drug pimozide (Orap).
How should you take Zoloft?
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Take Zoloft exactly as prescribed: once a day, in either the morning or the evening.

Zoloft is available in capsule and oral concentrate forms. To prepare Zoloft oral concentrate, use the dropper provided. Measure out the amount of concentrate prescribed by your doctor and mix it with 4 ounces of water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice. (Do not mix the concentrate with any other type of beverage.) Drink the mixture immediately; do not prepare it in advance for later use. At times, a slight haze may appear after mixing, but this is normal.

Improvement with Zoloft may not be seen for several days to a few weeks. You should expect to keep taking it for at least several months.

Zoloft may make your mouth dry. For temporary relief suck a hard candy, chew gum, or melt bits of ice in your mouth.

* If you miss a dose…
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If several hours have passed, skip the dose. Never try to “catch up” by doubling the dose.

* Storage instructions…
Store at room temperature.

(sertraline, Pfizer)
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A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the first drug approved for this indication.

* Recommended Dosage: A starting dose of 50 mg once a day increasing to a maximum of 200 mg/day if necessary. In PTSD trials, patients were treated with 50-200 mg/day.

* Special Considerations: In these trials, Zoloft was safe and well tolerated, with side effects similar to those seen in studies of Zoloft for other indications. Beneficial effects seen largely in women only

* Comment: Approval was based on two civilian studies of predominantly female subjects with PTSD, which found that those treated with 50-200 mg of Zoloft a day had significant improvements in PTSD symptoms over 12 weeks versus those on placebo.

But no beneficial effects were seen in another study of predominantly female civilians and a fourth study of mostly male veterans. “The importance of this apparent gender difference is unknown,” the FDA said in a statement announcing that the drug had been approved.

One possibility brought up at a hearing in October where the FDA’s psychopharmacologic drugs panel backed this approval was that the type of trauma that leads to PTSD may affect treatment response: physical, sexual, or emotional abuse was the index traumatic event in the civilian trials, as opposed to combat-related trauma in the veteran study.

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