Zoloft
Zoloft (Sertraline hydrochloride)Zoloft (US brand name for sertraline HCL) is used for the treatment of depression, excessive anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd). Launched in 1992 it has since been used in over 10.2 billion patient days of therapyThe exact mechanism that allows Zoloft to combat these affilictions is still not completely understood, however what researchers have noticed is that Zoloft affects the way that serotonin is managed by the human body. Serotonin is part of a drug family known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (or SSRI's). SSRI's increase the level of serotonin in the brain by inhibiting (not preventing) its breakdown.So why take Zoloft?Because Zoloft is an SSRI drug it has a smaller number of (and less serious) side effects than traditional antidepressants known as tricyclic antidepressants (TCA's). Tricylics include drugs such as Elavil and Tofranil. In addition SSRI's are found to be effective in 50% of patients as opposed to a typical placebo response of 32% (mulrow).Buying Zoloft OnlineZoloft is available from many online pharmacies. As with buying any pharmaceuticals online dont always assume that the cheapest price is the best, things to look out for are:
- Refill Costs
- Excessive shipping fee's
- Excessive Consultation fees.
Listed to the right are a number of reputable pharmacies which stock cheap zoloft without subjecting you to excessive additional costs. Zoloft is available in both the tablet and liquid concentrate formats, however online shops tend to only stock the tablet form.Zoloft DosageHow to take Zoloft (sertraline)?
- Take as directed by your doctor. Ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you should you be unsure of any details.
- Take each tablet with water.
- Try to take zoloft at the same time each day.
- Zoloft may be taken either with or without food, however some people with sensitive digestive systems find taking immediately after food to be less disruptive.
- Do not stop taking sertraline without consulttion. It may take 8 weeks or more for you to start feeling better and you may experience side effects if you stop taking zoloft .
- Store Zoloft at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
- Take a missed dose as soon as remembered unless it is nearly time for the next dose. Do not take a double dose unless directed by your physician.
Average Dosage Information*Start: 50mg 3 times daily.
Increases: 50mg in 3 or 4 day intervals.
Maximum: 400 mg in 24 hours.
*As each patient has different needs actual dosage information will be prescibed by your physician/doctor.Zoloft Side Effects
- unusally fast heart rate, with occasional palpitations
- fast talking and excited feelings or actions that are out of control
- skin rash, itching (hives)
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
- agitation or restlessness
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- blurred vision
- constipation (less common) or diarrhea (more common)
- drowsiness
- dry mouth
- flushing (redness of skin)
- headache
- difficulty sleeping
- indigestion, nausea
- increased or decreased appetite
- increased sweating
- intestinal gas
- sexual difficulties (decreased sexual ability or desire)
- tremor (shaking)
Zoloft PharmacologySertraline (Zoloft) is an effective antidepressant because of its ability to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin within the brain. It has only very weak effects on aderenaline and dopamine neuronal reuptake. At the generally prescribed dosages, zoloft blocks the uptake of serotonin into human platelets.Like most clinically effective antidepressants, sertraline downregulates brain norepinephrine and serotonin receptors in animals. In receptor binding studies, sertraline has no significant affinity for adrenergic (alpha(1), alpha(2) and beta), cholinergic, GABA, dopaminergic, histaminergic, serotonergic (5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2) or benzodiazepine binding sites.In placebo-controlled studies in normal volunteers, sertraline did not cause sedation and did not interfere with psychomotor performance.