What are the uses of Sertraline (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, SSRI)?

From the Guidelines

Sertraline is primarily used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and certain other mental health conditions, and it can also be used to treat premature ejaculation, with a recommended dose of 25-200 mg/day or 50 mg 4-8 hours before intercourse 1.

Uses of Sertraline

• Treating major depressive disorder
• Treating anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder
• Treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
• Treating premature ejaculation, with a dose of 25-200 mg/day or 50 mg 4-8 hours before intercourse 1

Dosage and Administration

• The typical starting dose is 25-50 mg once daily, which can be gradually increased to a maximum of 200 mg daily based on response and tolerability
• Patients should take sertraline at the same time each day, with or without food
• Sertraline can be taken continuously or situationally, depending on the patient's needs and preferences 1

Common Side Effects

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Sexual dysfunction
• Increased sweating
• These effects often diminish after the first few weeks of treatment 1

Important Considerations

• Sertraline takes 4-6 weeks to reach full therapeutic effect, so patients should continue taking it even if they don't notice immediate improvement
• Patients should continue treatment for at least 6-12 months after symptom improvement to prevent relapse
• Sertraline can interact with other medications, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in patients under 24 years old 1

From the FDA Drug Label

Sertraline 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 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)

Sertraline uses include treatment of:

• Depression
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) 2

From the Research

Sertaline Uses

• Sertaline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used to treat various psychiatric and medical conditions, including depressive and anxiety disorders 3, 4, 5.
• It is effective for the acute treatment of major depressive disorders, prevention of relapse or recurrence, and longer-term management of social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder 3.
• Sertaline is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults and pediatric patients, both in the short-term and long-term 3, 4, 5.
• The medication has a good tolerability profile, low fatal toxicity, and is generally well-tolerated in patients with psychiatric and/or medical comorbidities 3, 5.
• Studies have shown that sertraline is at least equivalent to other medications for anxiety disorders and may offer tolerability benefits as well as efficacy in certain subtypes of depression 4, 6.

Specific Conditions Treated with Sertaline

• Major depressive disorders: sertraline is effective for acute treatment and prevention of relapse or recurrence 3, 6.
• Anxiety disorders: sertraline is used to treat panic disorder, social phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder 3, 4.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: sertraline is effective for short-term and long-term treatment in adults and pediatric patients 3, 4, 5.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: sertraline has been shown to be efficacious in randomized, controlled trials 5.

Pharmacology and Safety

• Sertaline has a linear pharmacokinetic profile and a half-life of about 26 hours 5.
• It mildly inhibits the CYP2D6 isoform of the cytochrome P450 system but has little effect on other isoforms 5.
• Common side effects include gastrointestinal and central nervous system effects, as well as treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction 5.
• The safety profile of sertraline in overdose is very favorable 5.