Should I come off sertraline before trying for a baby?
If a woman’s condition is well-controlled with sertraline, it may be best to stay on it rather than try something new and risk a relapse. Ideally, women planning a pregnancy should speak to their GP or specialist to decide whether sertraline is still the best option for them. Stopping sertraline too quickly can lead to withdrawal symptoms like nausea, insomnia, and agitation. Withdrawal can start within a few days of your last dose and last several weeks. Work with your doctor to gradually taper your dose to reduce the impact of withdrawal symptoms.Sertraline belongs to a group of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the activity of a chemical called serotonin in the brain. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.If you stop taking sertraline too quickly, your symptoms might come back when they wouldn’t have done if you had stopped more slowly. You have a lot to lose by doing it too quickly so best not to rush it if possible. You could also get some withdrawal symptoms (see overleaf or the PILL for sertraline).The long-term effects of sertraline on the brain can go far beyond discontinuation syndrome, causing physical changes like weight fluctuation and problems with your sex drive.
Can you be pregnant with sertraline?
There are reports of more than 25,000 pregnancies exposed to sertraline. Most studies have not found a higher chance of birth defects when sertraline is used in pregnancy. Other studies have suggested a higher chance of birth defects, including heart defects. It is not known if sertraline can make it harder to get pregnant. One study found that women who take sertraline or some other SSRIs have a slightly lower chance of getting pregnant. However, some of the conditions that sertraline is used for, including depression, can make it harder to get pregnant.You may need to take sertraline for a long time. For example, if you’re taking it for depression, you’ll probably need to continue to take it for several months or more.The researchers said that although sertraline did not seem to have a strong impact on depressive symptoms, it did result in “clinically important” improvements in patients with depression, such as reduced anxiety symptoms, better mental health related quality of life, and self reported improvements in mental health.Medications such as sertraline may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions. This increase was found in children, teenagers, and young adults (less than 24 years of age). The risk may be more likely with the first few months of treatment and when the dose is increased.
Is sertraline bad for fertility?
Does taking sertraline affect fertility? While there is limited evidence, some studies suggest that SSRIs like sertraline might increase the risk of subfertility in men. Women taking serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to help them cope with infertility are actually increasing their serum prolactin to an unhealthy level. This hyperprolactinemia, in turn, blocks ovulation .In a case control study, Grodstein et al. CI 0. This finding was based on five cases who took antidepressants. Klock et al.
When to worry about sertraline?
If you have been taking sertraline for more than a month and you continue to feel very tired, sleepy or struggle to function during the day, you should go back to your doctor and discuss what changes could be made to help. This may include switching to a different medication. The FDA label for sertraline specifically acknowledges that the medication may cause difficulty concentrating, memory changes, and confusion as potential side effects. These symptoms can occur at therapeutic doses and may persist throughout treatment for some individuals.Sertraline requires special attention to the risks associated with neurologic, psychiatric, and congenital disorders in clinical use. In addition to common AEs such as nausea, and tremor, newly identified adverse reactions such as genital anaesthesia, bruxism, and microscopic colitis should be guarded against.Nausea is the most common side effect of Zoloft, affecting around one in four people who take sertraline. While it occurs most frequently, this side effect also typically goes away over time. Nausea is often the greatest when you first begin taking this medication or if your physician increases your dose.Summary. The combination of sertraline (an SSRI) and amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant) can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome and may affect amitriptyline metabolism. This interaction requires careful monitoring and potential dose adjustments when used together.
What happens if you stop sertraline suddenly?
Do not stop abruptly: It’s very important not to stop taking sertraline suddenly without consulting your doctor. Stopping sertraline suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms such as: Dizziness or lightheadedness. Irritability or mood changes. Zoloft (sertraline) withdrawal symptoms typically last up to 1 to 2 weeks, but may last even longer in some people. You should avoid abruptly stopping sertraline treatment unless otherwise directed by your healthcare provider.Missing doses of sertraline may increase your risk for relapse in your symptoms. 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).