Can Zoloft Be Used To Stop Smoking

Sertraline hydrochloride, whose trade names are Zoloft Lustral, is a form of an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It was brought into the market by Pfizer way back in 1991. Sertraline is known to be mainly used for treating major depression in adult outpatients as well as for the obsessive-compulsive, panic, and social anxiety disorders which are generally found in both adults and children. In the year 2007, it was known to be the most prescribed antidepressant on the United States of America's retail market, with 29,652,000 prescriptions.

The efficacy of sertraline for depression is quite similar to that of the older tricyclic antidepressants, but then again its side effects are not that much pronounced. Differences with newer antidepressants are subtler and are also mostly confined to the side effects. Evidence actually suggests that the sertraline may be able to work better than fluoxetine also known as Prozac for some different subtypes and alternates of depression.

Sertraline is very highly effective for the treatment of a panic disorder, but then the cognitive behavioral therapy is a much better treatment for the obsessive-compulsive disorder, whether be it by itself or with the combination with the sertraline. Although it is approved for the social phobia and posttraumatic stress disorder, the sertraline would actually lead to the only modest improvement within these conditions. Sertraline also alleviates the known symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and then later on can be used in sub-therapeutic doses or intermittently for its treatment by itself.

The sertraline is known to share the common side effects and also the contraindications of the other SSRI's having a high rate of nausea, diarrhea, and insomnia and also sexual side effects which however in any way do not cause a weight gain and also the effects on the cognition are quite mild. When it comes to pregnant women taking sertraline the blood was later to have been found in high concentrations in the fetal blood which again in a ways is also associated with a higher rate of the different birth defects

In the same manner to other antidepressants the use of a sertraline for depression may be associated with a very high rate of suicidality. As this side effect is known to be extremely rare the statistical data is extremely difficult to obtain and then the suicidality will continue to be a topic of the day and a subject of controversy.

Zoloft is very well tolerated and effective for the treatment of the depression and certain different anxiety conditions. Zoloft is FDA approved in order to treat depression, certain types of social anxiety conditions, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in adults over age 18. It has also been approved for OCD in children and adolescents between the ages of 6-17 years.

For almost more than 15 years Zoloft has been known to have safely as well as effectively treated millions of other people who have been suffering from only depression and different anxiety conditions. It is also available in multiple strengths and thus the doctor can decide the correct dosage for its patients.

• Felicia Byrnes
• 28/05/2009, 3:59 PM
• 0 Comments