DRUG OF THE DAY
sertraline
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Before opening the card, recall one use, one safety check and one counseling point.
Reveal the drug learning card
Names and formulations
- Zoloft: tablet and oral concentrate; concentrate requires dilution
The oral concentrate must be diluted only with a permitted beverage immediately before use; tablet and concentrate dosing are not prepared the same way.
Common use
Major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Mechanism of action
Selectively inhibits presynaptic serotonin reuptake, increasing serotonergic activity in the central nervous system.
Important adverse effects and monitoring
- Boxed warning: monitor children, adolescents, and young adults for suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially early in treatment and after dose changes.
- Monitor for serotonin syndrome, hyponatremia, abnormal bleeding, activation of mania/hypomania, and discontinuation symptoms.
- Clinical benefit may take time; reassess adherence, response, and tolerability rather than escalating prematurely.
Patient counseling
- Take consistently and do not stop abruptly without a tapering plan.
- Seek help promptly for worsening mood, suicidal thoughts, severe agitation, fever with rigidity, or confusion.
Interaction to recognize
With: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Why it matters: Can precipitate life-threatening serotonin syndrome.
Practical response: Concomitant use and use within the required washout intervals are contraindicated.
Check the original sources
- DailyMed — Zoloft (sertraline) prescribing information
Sections: Boxed Warning; 1 Indications and Usage; 2 Dosage and Administration; 4 Contraindications; 5 Warnings and Precautions; 12.1 Mechanism of Action; 17 Patient Counseling Information. Source checked 2026-09-13.
Selected learning points; verify current labeling for the complete prescribing information.