From the Guidelines
Sertraline refills should only be provided by a licensed healthcare provider, as it is a prescription antidepressant that requires ongoing supervision to minimize the risk of withdrawal symptoms and ensure optimal treatment outcomes. According to the most recent guidelines, sertraline has been associated with discontinuation syndrome, and abrupt stopping can cause symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and anxiety 1. To get a refill, patients should contact their prescribing doctor or psychiatrist directly, and if running low on medication, they should not wait until completely out to avoid these withdrawal symptoms.
Key Considerations for Sertraline Refills
- Regular follow-up appointments (typically every 3-6 months) are necessary to monitor response to the medication, assess side effects, and adjust dosage if needed 1.
- Urgent care clinics may provide a short-term refill to bridge the gap until the patient can see their doctor, though this varies by location and clinic policy.
- Medical education, training, and experience are necessary to safely and effectively prescribe antidepressant medications like sertraline 1.
- A conservative medication trial for mild to moderate anxiety presentations may entail increasing the dose as tolerated within the therapeutic dosage range in the smallest available increments at approximately 1- to 2-week intervals when prescribing shorter half-life SSRIs like sertraline 1.
Important Safety Information
- Sertraline may interact with drugs metabolized by CYP2D6, and concomitant administration with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) is contraindicated due to increased risk of serotonin syndrome 1.
- A discontinuation syndrome has been reported following missed doses or acute discontinuation of sertraline, characterized by symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and anxiety 1.
- Systematic assessment of treatment response using standardized symptom rating scales can be considered as a supplement to clinical evaluation 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Read the Medication Guide that comes with sertraline before you start taking it and each time you get a refill.
- Refills are possible for sertraline, as patients are instructed to read the Medication Guide each time they get a refill 2.
- Patients should talk with their healthcare provider if there is something they do not understand or want to learn more about.
From the Research
Refills for Sertraline
- Refills for sertraline, a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), can be given as the medication is generally prescribed for long-term use in the treatment of depression and other anxiety disorders 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The dosage of sertraline can be increased in 50 mg/day increments at no less than weekly intervals to a maximum of 200 mg/day for patients who do not show an adequate therapeutic response within 24 weeks 3.
- Sertraline is generally well tolerated in elderly patients with major depressive disorder and lacks the marked anticholinergic effects that characterize the adverse event profiles of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) 5.
- The medication has a low potential for drug interactions at the level of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, and no dosage adjustments are warranted for elderly patients solely based on age 5.
- Sertraline is effective for the acute treatment of major depressive disorders and prevention of relapse or recurrence, and its efficacy is unaffected by psychiatric comorbidity 6.