Zoloft Side Effects Blog

 Also known by its generic name sertraline, Zoloft is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The way that Zoloft is designed to help a patient is that it affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Zoloft is commonly used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).Less commonly, it is used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as sexual dysfunction in men. If Zoloft is a effective treatment for the last problem still remains inconclusive.

It is advised that you should not take Zoloft is you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects. There is a vast array of potential side effects of Zoloft use, the more common side effects however, include: headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, sore throat, excessive sweating, tingling in the hands and feet, and tremors, along with manifestations of sexual arousal disorder in both men and women. Some of the more serious side effects of Zoloft use have been known to include hallucinations, blurred vision, and seizures. Children and young adults who take Zoloft may also, paradoxically, be at a higher risk for depression and suicide.

Zoloft belongs to FDA pregnancy category C. SSRI antidepressants such as Zoloft may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. If you are starting to plan a pregnancy or have become pregnant while taking Zoloft, it is important that you do not stop taking the drug unless you visit with your doctor first. It is not known whether Zoloft passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult with your doctor if you plan on breast-feeding while taking Zoloft.

While Zoloft is an antidepressant drug which is supposed to help people with their signs and symptoms of depression, it like many other drugs has Zoloft side effects that one has to watch out for. If you are considering taking Zoloft for your depression symptoms, consult with your doctor first.

URL References:

• www.rxlist.com/zoloft-drug/indications-dosage.htm
• www.medicinenet.com/sertraline-oral/article.htm

The antidepressant drug Zoloft, manufactured by Pfizer, hasonce again been blamed for causing a severe side effect that led to a child’sdeath. A couple from Missouri has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, in October11, due to their child’s death from suspected Zoloft-attributed birth defect,“Tetralogy of Fallot,” two years ago. That sickness was an atrial septal heart defect that was possibly due tothe mother’s use of Zoloft during pregnancy.

This is not a first time for Pfizer to face a lawsuit aboutZoloft side effects. Reports about the various harmful side effects of the druginclude:

•Suicidal thoughts and behavior

•Sleeping problems

•Eating disorders

•Nausea

•Diarrhea

•Constipation

•Unusual fatigue

•Decreased libido

•Ejaculation problems

•Migraine

•Physical pain

•Unusual mood shifts

•Personality changes

•Hallucination

•Memory loss

•Decreased concentration and coordination

Some of these side effects are generally minor that medicalattention is rarely needed. However, it also has severe side effects that needurgent attention.

A major serious Zoloft side effect was determined in casesin which numerous pregnant women were prescribed with the  drug during the first three months ofpregnancy; their babies suffered from birth defects and their mothers wentthrough withdrawal symptoms that  lastedfor days, weeks and even years after delivery. Cardiovascular malformations ininfants usually happen when the mother took Zoloft during the first trimesterof pregnancy, during which the baby’s heart was still developing in the womb.Below are other birth defects allegedly caused by Zoloft:

•Miscarriage

•Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN)

•Enlarged heart

•Delayed development

•Cleft lip or palate

•Clubbed foot

•Craniosyntosis (skull deformation)

•Kidney and lung problems

•Gastorchisis

In July 2011, Cable News Network (CNN) reported a study byLisa Croen the director of autism research, at Kaiser Permanente NorthernCalifornia.  She was able to determinethat children who were exposed to antidepressant drugs during the firsttrimester of their mother’s pregnancy were approximately four times more likelyto have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than those children who were not.  Croen’s summary of her research results:child autism may be caused by antidepressant intake during pregnancy.

Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) madepublic health advisories that stated further warnings to doctors and patientsabout Zoloft’s tendency to increase occurrence of suicides and risks of birthdefects. The patients who are inclined to file complaints should seek legaladvice on a possible Zoloft lawsuit against Pfizer.

References:

·depression.emedtv.com/zoloft/zoloft-side-effects.html

·depression.about.com/od/sertraline/a/Zoloft-Side-Effects.htm

·rxlist.com/zoloft-drug.htm

The journal Stroke Magazine published a clinical study about depressed women prescribed with antidepressant medication such as Zoloft as having a high risk of suffering from potential stroke

An internist of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Dr. Kathryn Rexrode spearheaded the clinical study.  She says that there is something about being depressed that increases the risk of stroke, which is a similar case to those who suffer from asthma.

According to the World Health organization (WHO), depressionis a common mental disorder with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure,feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy,and poor concentration.

Among study participants, statistics show that those who had depression were 29 percent more likely to suffer a stroke over a six-year period.

About 39 percent increase in stroke-related depression was monitored with those women who took an antidepressant medication such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor like Zoloft.

SSRI is a class ofantidepressant drug which is primarily used in the treatment of major depressive illness, anxiety disorders, the depressed phase of bipolar disorderand psychotic.  SSRIs have fewer side effects compared with the cyclic compounds.The SSRIs has lesser side effects than the cycling compounds  It also saysthat enhanced serotonin transmission can lead to several common side effects such as anxiety, agitation, akathisia, nausea, insomnia, and sexualdysfunction, especially diminished sexual drive or difficulty achieving an erection or orgasm. What also being said that enhanced serotonin transmission can lead to several common side effects such as anxiety, agitation, akathisia,nausea, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction, especially diminished sexual drive of difficulty achieving erection or orgasm.

Dr. Rexrode said that antidepressant is not the major contributor of the risk of patients suffering from stroke rather the connectionexists because those who take these medications ma have more severe depression.

Depression may also be linked to inflammation in the body,which increases the risk of stroke, as well as other conditions or underlying vascular disease in the brain, said study researcher An Pan, of Harvard Schoolof Public Health.

To create awarenessof what can cause the intake of these medications and the possible consequencesis the main objective of the clinical study conducted by the team of Dr.Rexrode not to discourage people from taking such medication.

Patients prescribed with antidepressant medication such as Zoloft and noticed that their depressionhas worsened instead of being treated; the patient may consider filing a Zoloft lawsuit.

REFERENCES:

www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/depression-increases-stroke-risk-1792/

www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/

www.news-medical.net/news/20110812/Women-with-depression-at-higher-risk-of-stroke.aspx

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is a class of antidepressants that Zoloft belongs to, this class of antidepressants are known to cause sexual side effects in both men and women. To know whether you will develop any Zoloft side effects is actually quite difficult; also if they do develop, it is often difficult to know whether these problems are due to Zoloft or other factors, with all these uncertainties concerning Zoloft some are considering consulting with a Zoloft Lawyer.

The most commonly reported sexual side effect of Zoloft usage is loss of libido or sex drive. In clinical studies where the side effects of Zoloft were documented, a decreased sex drive occurred in up to 11 percent of people taking the drug for various reasons. The reports of these studies show that highest percentage of people who suffered from lowered sex drive where those who took Zoloft for obsessive-compulsive disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (11% each) while the lowest percentage came from those who were taking Zoloft for depression (1%).

The sexual side effects of Zoloft in men however, seem to more severe. Several studies show that Zoloft can cause ejaculation failure, impotence, and even priapism (which is prolonged or painful erection). Women can also be affected sexually by the use of Zoloft, there have been claims that some women have problems reaching even just one orgasm during intercourse while taking the drug when previous multiple organisms could be reached before. It has been reports however, if taken off Zoloft or given a smaller dosage of the drug many of the sexual side effects do subside, but this also risks the chance of the symptoms of depression returning as well.

Many physicians fail to mention the potential sexual side effects of Zoloft to their patients; without being warned about the potential sexual side effects, a patient may have no idea that their sexual problems are related to the antidepressant. If you feel that your sexual dysfunction has been aside effect of Zoloft usage, then you should know your legal options. Many Zoloft lawyers will have more information for you on your legal options, many will give you a free consultation and most will not charge you unless you see compensation in a court of law.

Have you ever tried going to the toilet frequently because of large volume of loose, watery stools? This is usually felt by everyone at least once or twice a year and we call it diarrhea. The duration of diarrhea commonly lasts up to 3 days and symptoms can be managed by taking over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Common causes of diarrhea are bacterial infection, food allergies, some cancers, and diseases of the intestine among others. Certain medications such as Zoloft also have diarrhea as one of the side effects.

The Truth about Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the body’s natural way of removing the toxins which is why we should not prevent it if it’s happening. However, this only goes for mild diarrhea where duration is usually up to 3 days without complications like dehydration. When the symptoms are greatly serious, you might consider going to your doctor and seek help. Some of the things too look out for are the following:

• Diarrhea persists for more than 3 days ·
• You experience signs of dehydration such as headache, weakness, feeling of light-headedness, dry mouth and skin, urine is diminished and dark-colored and etc. 
• Severe abdominal pain 
• Severe rectal pain 
• Blood in stools 
• High-grade fever

How to Treat Diarrhea

Severe diarrhea needs immediate medical attention and it is best that you go to the hospital or to your doctor. If it’s mild diarrhea, you can try OTC medications if the symptoms disrupt your daily activities but as mentioned, it is advised to let it run its normal course. If you take medications, make sure to check with your doctor to avoid unwanted effects. To cope up with the symptoms, it is advised to increase your fluid intake. We lose a lot of our body fluids together with the electrolytes in diarrhea and it should be replaced to prevent dehydration. Aside from that, introduction of semi-solid food and fibre into the diet helps but it should be gradual so the digestive system can adjust and the condition will not be exacerbated. Fruits and vegetables are fibre-rich but see to it that they’re fresh and clean when consumed. Avoiding foods that irritate the digestive system such as fatty , spicy and etc. also helps. Food allergies also contribute to having diarrhea so it is advised that you avoid any of them if you have any. Lastly, it was mentioned that some medications cause diarrhea. People who use the antidepressant Zoloft complains of diarrhea since they started taking the drug. If you are using Zoloft and have experienced diarrhea as a side effect, please do not immediately stop taking the drug as this may have a rebound effect. If this happens, it is encouraged that you go to your doctor so he or she can assess if you need a new prescription. With that being said, do not be surprised that you’ll experience constipation after successful management of the symptoms because it usually follows diarrhea.