Sertraline – Safety Information

The information below has been adapted from the ​Important Safety Information about Zoloft. Sertraline is the generic equivalent of Zoloft.

It is important to note that the information provided below mainly applies to patients taking Sertraline every day. At this time, the hims physicians are only prescribing Sertraline to be used ‘as needed’ – that is a maximum of 5 pills per month.

WARNING: SUICIDALITY AND ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS

SERTRALINE and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people 24 years of age and younger, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe. Pay particular attention to such changes when SERTRALINE is started or when the dose is changed.

Do not take SERTRALINE if you:

• Take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI), including linezolid or methylene blue, or if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks. Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping SERTRALINE. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is an MAOI
• Take Orap​®​ (pimozide) because this can cause serious heart problems
• Are allergic to Sertraline or any of the inactive ingredients in SERTRALINE
• Take Antabuse​®​ (disulfiram) (if you are taking the liquid form of SERTRALINE) due to the alcohol content of the liquid form of SERTRALINE

Call a doctor right away if you or a person you know who is taking SERTRALINE has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

• Attempts to commit suicide
• Acting aggressive or violent
• New or worse depression
• Feeling agitated, restless, angry, or irritable
• An increase in activity or talking more than what is normal for you
• Acting on dangerous impulses
• Thoughts about suicide or dying
• New or worse anxiety or panic attacks
• Trouble sleeping
• Other unusual changes in behavior or mood

Before taking SERTRALINE, tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you take or plan to take including: those to treat migraines, psychiatric disorders (including other antidepressants or amphetamines) to avoid a potentially life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome; aspirin, other NSAID pain relievers, or other blood thinners because they may increase the risk of bleeding.

Tell your doctor immediately if you:

• Become severely ill and have some or all of these symptoms: agitation, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status; coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes); racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; muscle tightness, as these may be the symptoms of a life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome
• Have a rash, hives, swelling, or trouble breathing as these may be the symptoms of an allergic reaction
• Have seizures or convulsions
• Have any increased or unusual bruising or bleeding, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin​®​, Jantoven​®​), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or aspirin
• Have a headache; weakness or feeling unsteady; confusion, problems concentrating, thinking, or remembering, as these may be the symptoms of low salt (sodium) levels in the blood (hyponatremia). Elderly people may be at greater risk for this

Do not stop SERTRALINE without first talking to your healthcare provider​. Stopping SERTRALINE may cause serious symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless or sleepy; headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness; electric shock-like sensations, shaking, and confusion.

Some people are at risk for visual problems such as eye pain, changes in vision, or swelling or redness around the eye. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and get preventative treatment if you are.

SERTRALINE can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how SERTRALINE affects you.

Drinking alcohol while taking SERTRALINE is not recommended.

Women who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or who are breastfeeding should not take SERTRALINE without consulting their physician.

The most common side effects in adults treated with SERTRALINE include:

• Nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or indigestion
• Increased sweating
• Tremor or shaking
• Agitation
• Change in sleep habits including increased sleepiness or insomnia
• Sexual problems including decreased libido and ejaculation failure
• Feeling tired or fatigued
• Anxiety