Zoloft (sertraline): An Overview of Depression and Clinical Uses for Sertraline

>> Hello and welcome to "VideoScript", presented by Drugs.com.

Today in the first of three presentations, we are reviewing Zoloft, an antidepressant known by the generic name of sertraline.

Sertraline is a commonly used antidepressant in the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants in the US. They are effective and well tolerated for most patients. Many SSRIs are now available in generic form which makes them more affordable.

Other commonly used drugs in this class include fluoxetine, or paroxetine, and escitalopram, also known by the brand names Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro.

Depression is the 4th leading cause of disease in the US and afflicts 7 out of every 100 US adults. It is not unusual to feel sad or blue at times, but with major depressive disorder patients experience a severely depressed mood and activity level that persists for two weeks or more.

Symptoms of major depression can interfere with daily functioning and work, and can cause hardship for both the patient and family.

Major depression includes at least 4 of the following symptoms:
changes in appetite, sleep, or sexual drive; feelings of guilt or worthlessness; impaired concentration, increased agitation, loss of interest in activities, increased fatigue, or thoughts of suicide.

Antidepressants such as sertraline may be prescribed for other uses besides depression. In adults, FDA-approved indications for sertraline also include obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and social phobia.

The only FDA-approved use for sertraline in children is for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sertraline is not approved for the treatment of depression in children.

Thank you for joining us at Drugs.com for a brief review of sertraline. Please refer to our patient and professional information, drug interaction checker, and additional tools on Drugs.com.

Patients with a concern about the use of sertraline should consult with their health care provider.

Visit drugs.com/sertraline for more information