Zoloft, the brand name of Sertraline hydrochloride has its action as an anti depressant and is involved in the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors-SSRI. Zoloft is chiefly used to treat depression in the adult patients, also for the management of the obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorders and even the panic disorders. It is the drug which is commonly prescribed and is one of the main drugs of choice in the US retail markets. Though the effects of the Zoloft is similar to the older group of tricyclic anti depressants, it has much lesser adverse effects when compared to those drug group.

Sertraline is very useful in the treatment of panic disorder and also for the posttraumatic stress disorder and social phobia. It alleviates the premenstrual disorder symptoms so can be used intermittently or in small sub therapeutic dosages for the treatment of the same. Zoloft has the side effects common to the group of other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as nausea, insomnia, diarrhoea, dry mouth, dizziness, tremors, sexual sideeffects, etc.

In pregnancy it may lead to congenital birth defects in the foetus, so not prescribed for pregnant women. Another major concern is regarding the tendency for suicidality which remains still a controversy as high rates of suicidal tendency are found with antidepressants. Zoloft is also found effective in treating the binge eating disorders, night eating disorders, and the bulimic nervosa.

Zoloft is available as 25mg, 50mg and 100 mg tablets. Zoloft is strictly contraindicated in patients taking disulfiram as it has a varying amount of alcohol in it. Also Zoloft is not used in individuals who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors or anti psychotic pimozides [orap]. As already mentioned, mechanism of action of Zoloft deals with the same of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor which blocks of the serotonin transporters as well as it has also its action as dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Over dosage of the drug in an acute amount will result in emesis, lethargy, tachycardia, ataxia and seizures. The drug is absorbed very slowly on taking via oral route and it will attain its maximal plasma concentration in the 4-6 hours of concentration.