How Zoloft Works ?

Role of Zoloft

Zoloft is one of the medications that are used for treating depression. It helps to maintain your state of mind in your everyday life. Some of the symptoms that Zoloft helps you to deal with include: lack of interest in your daily activities, persistent fidgeting, restlessness, disturbed sleep, appetite changes, fatigue, lack of concentration, recurrent suicidal thoughts, etc.

For women, doctors are known to recommend Zoloft for a particular condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This is a recurrent disorder that is characterized by the following symptoms: depression, anxiety, emotional instability, irritability for 2 weeks prior to a woman's menstrual cycle.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is another disorder for which Zoloft may be recommended. Zoloft is commonly prescribed for individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

It can be recommended for a number of other stress-related disorders. Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is a medicine that is designed to deal with moods experienced. It is designed on the basis of serotonin being a brain chemical that helps regulate moods. Re-absorption of serotonin is slowed down with Zoloft, causing serotonin levels to rise, and this induces mood changes.

According to the functions Zoloft has, it is categorized among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). These drugs control the chemicals in the brain; these chemicals referred to here re ones that control depression, panic, etc. In addition to some of the above disorders, doctors may prescribe Zoloft for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (social phobia).

Side Effects

Some of the known severe side effects experienced that need immediate medical attention include:

• high blood pressure that include headaches and poor vision,
• low blood pressure
• chills or fever;
• unusual bleeding
• allergic reactions
• breathing problems
• irregular pulse rate;
• bruising;
• hives.

The more common side effects experienced include:

• Poor concentration;
• diarrhea,
• dry mouth,
• appetite change
• headache,
• tremor,
• nervousness,
• anxiety;
• nausea,
• weight change.

Precautions:

Some medications that you need to keep a watch out for include:

Monoamine Oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) like:

• phenelzine (Nardil),
• isocarboxazid (Marplan),
• tranylcypromine (Parnate)

If you have taken this medication in the past 2 weeks you need to tell your doctor because there could be a severe reaction.

You need to follow instructions carefully in order to experience the intended benefits. You need to take your pills with a full glass of water. You may eat along with Zoloft but you are not by any means compelled to consume food along with this medication. It is known that if you take Zoloft at a fixed time everyday, its benefits are more pronounced. You must not stop Zoloft without asking your doctor because you are most likely to experience side effects.