What happens when you stop taking sertraline?
Stopping sertraline abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin). Depression is also a part of bipolar illness.
When should sertraline be stopped?
If treatment has lasted less than eight weeks, stop over 1-2 weeks. If a treatment has lasted 6-8 months, cut down over 6-8 weeks. If you have been on maintenance treatment for longer that eight months, cut down even more gradually – for example, reduce the dose by no more than 1/4 every 4-6 weeks.
What is sertraline used to treat?
Sertraline is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won’t go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over), panic attacks (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks), posttraumatic stress disorder (disturbing psychological symptoms …
What happens to your brain when you take sertraline?
The study — conducted in nonhuman primates with brain structures and functions similar to those of humans — found that the antidepressant sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) marketed as Zoloft, significantly increased the volume of one brain region in depressed subjects but decreased the …
Does sertraline affect memory?
Hallucinations. Impulsiveness. Memory loss. Symptoms associated with psychosis, major depression, or mania.
What happens to your brain when you stop taking antidepressants?
You’re probably having discontinuation symptoms. When antidepressants that affect the brain chemical serotonin are suddenly stopped, the body may respond with physical and emotional symptoms caused by the sudden absence of increased serotonin levels that occur while taking the antidepressant.
Can sertraline cause a racing heart?
Zoloft (sertraline) can affect the natural rhythm of your heart and cause it to beat abnormally. If you experience symptoms such as fast heart rate, dizziness, difficulty breathing or chest pain, go to the emergency room right away.
Can sertraline cause sudden death?
Increased levels of Zoloft may lead to more side effects. Zoloft increases the blood level of pimozide (Orap) by 40%. High levels of pimozide can affect electrical conduction in the heart and lead to sudden death.