Sertraline hydrochloride and other antidepressant medicines may cause serious side effects, including:
1. Suicidal thoughts or actions:
Sertraline hydrochloride and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.
Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions.
Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice:
New or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe.
Pay particular attention to such changes when Sertraline hydrochloride is started or when the dose is changed.
Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider and call between visits if you are worried about symptoms.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
attempts to commit suicide
acting on dangerous impulses
acting aggressive or violent
thoughts about suicide or dying
new or worse depression
new or worse anxiety or panic attacks
feeling agitated, restless, angry or irritable
trouble sleeping
an increase in activity or talking more than what is normal for you
other unusual changes in behavior or mood
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency. Sertraline hydrochloride may be associated with these serious side effects:
2. Serotonin Syndrome
This condition can be life-threatening and may include:
agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status
coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure
sweating or fever
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
muscle rigidity
3. Severe allergic reactions:
trouble breathing
swelling of the face, tongue, eyes or mouth
rash, itchy welts (hives) or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain
4. Abnormal bleeding: Sertraline hydrochloride and other antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), or aspirin.
5. Seizures or convulsions
6. Manic episodes:
greatly increased energy
severe trouble sleeping
racing thoughts
reckless behavior
unusually grand ideas
excessive happiness or irritability
talking more or faster than usual
7. Changes in appetite or weight. Children and adolescents should have height and weight monitored during treatment.
8. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include:
headache
weakness or feeling unsteady
confusion, problems concentrating or thinking or memory problems
9. Do not stop Sertraline hydrochloride without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping Sertraline hydrochloride too quickly may cause serious symptoms including:
anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless or changes in sleep habits
headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness
electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion
What is Sertraline hydrochloride?
Sertraline hydrochloride is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Sertraline hydrochloride is also used to treat:
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Anxiety Disorder
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Sertraline hydrochloride treatment.