What it means
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that raises serotonin activity in the brain. It is used for major depression, panic disorder, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorderob-SES-iv kum-PUL-siv dis-OR-derA mental health condition with unwanted thoughts that keep coming back and actions a person feels driven to repeat.Full entry and post-traumatic stress disorderpohst-truh-MAT-ik STRES dis-OR-derA mental health condition that develops after a person lives through or sees a terrifying event.Full entry . Common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, headache, trouble sleeping and sexual side effects. Full benefit takes several weeks.
For the nurse
Watch closely for worsening mood or suicidal thoughts in the first weeks, especially in young people (boxed warning). Do not combine with MAOIs. Teach the client not to stop suddenly and to report agitation, sweating, a fast heart rate or muscle twitching, which can be serotonin syndrome.
At a glance
| Drug class | antidepressant (SSRI) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Zoloft |
| Spanish | sertralina |
| Also written | Zoloft |
Easy to confuse with
cetirizine
A second-generation antihistamine used for allergy symptoms and hives.
Related terms
neurotransmitter
A chemical that a nerve cell releases to pass a signal to another nerve, muscle or gland cell.
antidepressant
A drug used to treat depression and often anxiety, which works by changing the levels of brain chemicals such as serotonin.
citalopram
An SSRI antidepressant used to treat depression.
escitalopram
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression and generalized anxiety disorder.