What is Sertraline for anxiety or depression?
This information is not a medical recommendation, suggestion or guidance.
Always consult your GP before changing medication (starting, stopping, changing dose).
If stopping sertraline, always do it slowly.
Sertraline is often prescribed by the NHS
for anxiety,
depression,
panic attacks, OCD and
PTSD.
Sertraline doses of 25mg, 50mg or 100mg are typically recommended by GPs.
UK NHS and
NICE recommend Sertraline
and antidepressant drugs
for severe depression, or for less severe depression if CBT therapy (aka "talking therapies") has not helped the individual,
or if the individual requests medication.
Medically, sertraline is a type of "Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor" (SSRI).
SSRIs prevent brain cells from absorbing serotonin, so there is more between cells to influence positive communications between brain cells.
It usually takes four to six weeks for the effects of sertraline to be fully felt.
When starting sertraline, feelings may fluctuate up or down. It takes time to start working properly.
GPs will normally advise increasing or decreasing the dose of sertraline slowly, so that your body has time to adjust.
Suddenly stopping medication can have severe side effects.
The NHS suggests people do not drink grapefruit juice when taking sertraline,
as this increases level of sertraline and increases the risk of side effects.
Always consult a qualified medical practitioner for advice about drugs.
