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:
1. phenelzine (Nardil),
2. isocarboxazid (Marplan),
3. 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. |
