Sertraline: what is it for? What are the secondary effects?

Sertraline is one of the best-known psychotropic drugs for the treatment of major depression., panic attacks, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive thoughts. It is also known by its trade names: Zoloft ®, Serolux ®, Aluprex ® or Sertex ® and, although it does not cure these conditions by itself, it is useful for relieving and controlling the flow of negative thoughts and emotions.

Every time a work is published on this type of chemical resources for mental health, controversy arises. Are drugs really necessary to treat these types of conditions? If so… Which are the most effective? Should we now opt for second and third generation psychotropic drugs or should we stick with the usual formulas?

As curious as it may seem to us, these same questions are asked by mental health specialists. So, If there is one thing clear, it is that each patient requires an exclusive and personalized strategy.. There will be those who can overcome their depression through psychological therapy. Others, however, will need to complement it with pharmacological treatment.

What is sertraline? How does it act?

Sertraline is administered in a single dose every 24 hours. The amount may vary depending on the guidelines of the professional who is administering the medication. The effect of the medication is usually noticed between 4 and 8 hours after taking it..

The person usually experiences relaxation, an improvement in their mood and greater mental control. The reason for this effect is due to its mechanism of action. We are dealing with a psychotropic drug that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin. In essence, what it does is increase its presence and availability in our body.

Therefore, we are talking about a chemical modification of transmissions in the brain that will have a direct impact on our mood. It will also have other physiological correlates, such as activation level, or psychological correlates, such as attitude. However, the time determined to observe some improvement in symptoms may vary depending on the individual characteristics of the patient and the type of depression to be treated.

In what situations is sertraline useful?

As we have pointed out, sertraline is administered mainly in depressive disorders. It will help control the emotions, thoughts and actions that sometimes accompany these health conditions, but it will not cure these types of illnesses on its own. Approaches are needed that complement its action, such as psychological therapy itself.

On the other hand, in addition to being useful in cases of depression, it has shown good effectiveness in the following situations:

People with post-traumatic stress. Patients with social phobia and panic attacks. People with obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Side effects associated with sertraline

We are facing a psychotropic drug. As the word indicates, it is not a normal medication, it is not a paracetamol or an antihistamine. It must be prescribed and prescribed exclusively by a mental health specialist. In fact, in some Primary Care services it is usually indicated in greater quantities, despite the fact that many patients do not have a complete indication for it, according to studies.

Likewise, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, although effective, are far from harmless. They have side effects and the incidence of these will depend on several factors. The first is the duration of treatment. The second, the personal conditions of each patient, since as we already know, not all organisms are the same.

There will be those who do not tolerate it, there will be those who notice immediate improvement and there will be those who do not follow the recommendations and administer it poorly, combining it with other substances and endangering their own health. We must be very careful and follow clinical recommendations to the letter.

According to Medline Plus, the main adverse effects are digestive (colic-like abdominal pain, sometimes associated with nausea or diarrhea). Dry mouth, drowsiness and headaches may also appear. In the most serious cases it can cause tremors, palpitations, reduced libido and urinary incontinence, among others.

Considerations about sertraline

An interesting aspect about this drug is that it improves its bioavailability if we take it during meals. On the contrary, if we are smokers or drinkers, its effectiveness is significantly reduced. This is something that we should discuss with our doctor when he or she assesses which pharmacological resource is best,

To end, emphasize once again the importance of following the instructions of specialists. Psychotropic drugs, especially the one we have just detailed, continue to be part of the most common therapeutic strategy to treat depressive disorders today. They will help us feel better to be able to work on adequate psychological therapy.

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