Safety information
How does this medication work? What will it do for me?
Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is used for the treatment of depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It helps to elevate mood by treating depression and reduces panic attacks and the unpleasant thoughts associated with OCD.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than the ones listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
How should I use this medication?
Recommended doses range from 50 mg to 200 mg once daily, taken with food at the evening meal. If morning dose times are preferable, sertraline should be taken with breakfast. Swallow the capsule whole.
Although improvements may occur earlier, the full response to the medication may not appear until four weeks of treatment or longer.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
For this medication to be effective, it is very important that you take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose of sertraline, take it as soon as possible. If you do not remember your missed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
