Zoloft

sertraline

General Information

Zoloft was the second SSRI to be released in the United States, and it isprobably the second most prescribed antidepressant. In has properties whichgive it a small advantage over other medications in this class, althoughit is no more safe or effective in clinical studies. See the general pageon SSRI's for more information pertaining to thisclass of antidepressants.

Unique Properties

Zoloft has several characteristics which has made it rather popular asa first-line antidepressant. It has a somewhat balanced side effect profile,with a mixture of stimulating and sedating side effects that appear to cancelout for many patients. It has relatively little tendency to inhibit liverenzyme 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 notdifficult to eliminate from the body like Prozac. Although it has not beenas well studied during pregnancy, it may be a better choice during breastfeeding, because it appears not to accumulate as much in breast milk andmay be more easily metabolized by the fetus.

These characteristics are not always advantageous. It is possible tobe both sleepy and nervous, so the combination of stimulating and sedatingside effects can still be uncomfortable. The shorter half-life of Zoloftmeans that it is more likely to cause side effects on discontinuation thanProzac. (See SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome).

Drug Interactions

As stated above, Zoloft may be somewhat less likely to interact withother 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 combinedwith MAOI inhibitors, which is contraindicated.

Links

• sertraline monograph