How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient sertraline hydrochloride, which is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). This type of medicine acts on nerve cells in the brain. In the brain there are numerous different chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. These act as chemical messengers between the nerve cells. Serotonin is one such neurotransmitter and has various functions that we know of. When serotonin is released from nerve cells in the brain it acts to lighten mood. When it is reabsorbed into the nerve cells, it no longer has an effect on mood. It is thought that when depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of serotonin released from nerve cells in the brain. SSRIs work by preventing serotonin from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. This helps prolong the mood lightening effect of any released serotonin. In this way, sertraline helps relieve depression. Sertraline may also be used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. It must be taken for at least 14 days before the benefits of treatment begin to appear and you start to feel better.

What is it used for?

A psychiatric disorder in which tasks are excessively repeated (obsessive-compulsive disorder)

Depression

Post-traumatic stress disorder in women

Warning!

This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.

Avoid suddenly stopping this medicine. Sudden withdrawal may result in headache, nausea, pins and needles, dizziness and anxiety. When it is time to stop taking this medicine it should be discontinued gradually, following the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine may cause low blood sodium levels (hyponatraemia), which can result in drowsiness, confusion, muscle twitching or convulsions. Consult your doctor if you develop any of these symptoms while taking this medicine.

There is no safety information regarding the use of this medicine in children under 6 years. It is therefore not recommended for this age group.

In people with diabetes, treatment with an SSRI antidepressant may alter control of blood sugar, possibly due to an improvement in depressive symptoms. Your dose of insulin or antidiabetic medicine may need to be altered. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

If you experience seizures (convulsions or fits) while taking this medicine, consult your doctor immediately, as you will need to stop treatment with this medicine. This also applies if you suffer from epilepsy and experience more seizures than normal after starting this medicine.

Use with caution in

Decreased kidney function

Decreased liver function

Diabetes

Epilepsy

History of bleeding disorders

History of mania or hypomania

People receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Not to be used in

Manic phase of manic depression

People who have taken monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (MAOIs) in the last 14 days

Severely decreased liver function

Uncontrolled epilepsy

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It should therefore be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the benefits to the mother outweigh any risks to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk, however the effect of this on the nursing infant is unknown. For this reason women who need to take this medicine should consider not breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Headache

Dry mouth

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)

Agitation

Indigestion (dyspepsia)

Pins and needles (paraesthesia)

Dizziness

Loss of appetite

Seizures

Loss of memory (amnesia)

Sleepiness (somnolence)

Sexual problems

Liver disorders

Increased sweating

Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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