Use of antidepressants among Americans is skyrocketing!
According to the Scientific American adults in the u.s
consumed four times more Antidepressants in the late 2000s
than they did in the early 1990s. Researchers estimate that eight to ten
percent of the US population is taking an antidepressant.
One of these antidepressants is Sertraline.
Well, let's examine the medication and more importantly let's check out its
side effects! COMING UP!
So, What is Sertraline? Sertraline is an antidepressant,
the brand name is Zoloft. It belongs to a group of drugs
called Selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or SSRIs for short.
And a shout out to Mr. H for suggesting this video!
See a link for his channel in the description below.
So how does it work? These medications are thought
to work by increasing the levels of a mood
enhancing chemical called Serotonin in the brain.
What is Sertraline used to treat? Sertraline
is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
Panic disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and
pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder. It can be also used off-label for
a variety of conditions amongst them bulimia,
body dysmorphic disorder. How long does it take
before Sertraline works. You may see an improvement
in your symptoms after a week or two although it usually it takes out up to
about four to six weeks before you feel the full benefits. That's
because it takes around a week for Sertraline
levels to build up in your body and then a few
weeks longer for your body to adapt and get used to
it. When to take Sertraline? Usually you take
it in the morning since settling it can interfere with sleep
in a small percentage of users. Many people
who experience nausea and other side effects
from Sertraline they'll rather take it at night time in order to limit
these side effect. So how to dose Sertraline?
You initially dose 25 milligrams daily especially in older adults
and then it can be titrated to 50 milligrams daily within a week or two
the maximum dose is 200 milligrams daily but as
evidence for high doses is poor 100 milligrams
is generally the maximum dose recommended.
In old adults I do not use a dose higher than 100 milligrams and if you're
interested what happens if you take too many medications
click on this link above. So, if you're finding value in this video
don't forget to like, share, and subscribe! Might as well hit that notification
bell. When should you not take Sertraline? You should not use
Pimozide if you're also taking herbicide it's a
medication which is used to treat Tourette syndrome.
Or if you're you if you're being treated with
Methylene Blue injection. This is used to treat a blood
disorder called methhemoglobinanemia. Do not use this
medicine or medication if you have used
medications who fall into the class of drugs called
MAO- inhibitors or MAO- inhibitors in the past
14 days such as ah Isocarboxazid, Linezolid,
Methylene blue injection, Phenelazine Seligiline a few examples it is generally
considered dangerous to combine Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
and SSRIs because Mono-amino oxidase inhibitors inhibit Serotonin
metabolism and result in circulating Serotonin
levels that are high enough to produce cardiotoxic and neurotoxic
Serotonin. Especially when starting the drug
we have to closely monitor our patients on the drug.
Not only because of potential side effects but monitor
for signs of suicidality or unusual behaviors
or changes in behavior, particularly during the initial
one to two months of therapy or during periods
of dose adjustments increases or decreases.
I tell my patients or patients family or caregivers
to closely observe the patient and call a clinic
if any unusual behavior is seen. So what happens
if I suddenly stop Sertraline? When a person's abruptly stops
taking an antidepressant medication you might suffer
from what is referred to as antidepressant
discontinuation syndrome. It's also called antidepressant
withdrawal, and what people see or experience are from antidepressant
withdrawal they feel as if they're having the flu
or stomach bug like symptoms such as irritability,
nausea, vomiting, feeling dizzy, headache, a prickling or tingling
sensation on their skin they may also experience disturbing
thoughts or images or nightmares.So what should I
avoid while taking Sertraline. Do not drink
alcohol and ask your doctor before taking a
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAIDS for short
for pain because you might use it for
arthritis or fever or swelling, examples of NSAIDS are aspirin or
Ibuprofen or Naproxen or Diclofenac and using an
NSAID with Sertraline may cause you to bruise or bleed more easily.
So what are common side effects? Common side effects include drowsiness
feeling tired, feeling fatigued, anxious or agitated,
GI side effects like indigestion, diarrhea
nausea, loss of appetite, sweating, tremors or shaking, sleep problems
and a decreased sexual drive, impotence or difficulty having an orgasm. If you're
interested in the side effects of Benadryl
a common over-the-counter medication click
on the link above. So what are serious side effects?
Signs of an allergic reaction such as hives
itching red and swollen skin, blistered or peeling skin with or
without fever, wheezing, tightness in the chest or
throat, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, swelling of
the mouth face, lips, tongue or throat. Signs of a low
sodium like headache, trouble focusing, memory
problems feeling confused, weakness, seizures
or change in balance. Signs of bleeding like throwing up
blood or coughing up blood vomiting that looks like coffee grounds
blood in the urine, black or tarry stools,
bleeding from the gums.This is the reason why some doctors ask their
patients to stop taking Sertraline and other
antidepressants before surgery. Signs of a very bad skin reaction can be
seen Steven Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis like red or
swollen or blistering of the skin, seizures
not able to control the bladder, a big weight gain
or loss sex problems like lowered interest
sex or ejaculation problems .Signs of liver problems
like dark urine, feeling tired not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light
colored stools, throwing up, yellow skin or eyes.
A type of abnormal heartbeat which is called a prolonged QT
has happened with some people with this drug
sometimes this has led to another type of an unsafe
abnormal heartbeat called Torsades de pointes. So, question of the day? How long have you
been taking Sertraline? Have you had any side effects?
So don't forget to like, comment and subscribe! And if you're
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here click right here click right here bye bye
And in some sad news for this channel my wife said
she would be leaving me because I'm so addicted
to antidepressants.Well I guess I won't be needing these anymore!
or what the heck what's wrong what's going on with me
so many mistakes!