Sertraline: What It Is And What Are Its Effects

Sertraline is a drug belonging to the family of antidepressants. Therefore, it  is mainly used for the treatment of depression. It is classified in the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which we will see in more detail throughout the article.

In addition to its antidepressant effects, it also  has effective actions for the treatment of different clinical conditions such as anxiety,  obsessive-compulsive disorder or phobia, among others.

On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that the laboratory responsible for its commercialization was  the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer,  which launched it on the market in 1991.

Sertraline’s advantages over other antidepressants

The differences between sertraline and other newer antidepressants are not very marked . Most of the advantages this drug offers are determined by the side effects it produces, which are reduced.

Evidence from different research suggests that sertraline may work better than fluoxetine  in some types of depression.

On the other hand, it was shown that when using sertraline for panic and phobia episodes,  this drug can reduce the number of these,  as well as improve the quality of life of patients.

What is depression?

As the main indication of this medication is depression, we will focus on explaining what it consists of. In this sense,  depression is an emotional disorder that leads to a constant feeling of sadness  and a marked loss of interest when performing activities.

Depression, therefore, affects:

• Feelings.
• Thoughts.
• Behaviors.

Regarding the origin of the disease, except in some cases in which depression is associated with other diseases such as Parkinson’s, the main cause of this disorder is an alteration of neurotransmitters  in the central nervous system.

Serotonin is considered by some researchers as  the chemical responsible for maintaining a balanced mood. Therefore, a deficit of serotonin leads to depressive states.

However, there are also other neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine or dopamine that,  by modifying their levels, favor the appearance of this mood disorder.

In addition, depression is usually the product of the interaction of different factors:

• Biological:  hormonal changes or alterations in the mentioned neurotransmitters.
• Psychosocial:  continuous stress from work, personal life, etc.
• Personal.

How does sertraline exert its effect on the body?

As we said earlier, sertraline is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Furthermore, it  is highly selective with minimal effects on norepinephrine reuptake,  unlike many tricyclic antidepressants.

In other words, serotonin, like other neurotransmitters,  is secreted by one neuron to bind to the membrane receptors of another  contiguous neuron and thus trigger an effect.

Then, it is released from this receptor and some molecules return to the neuron that previously secreted them through a process of reuptake. It is in this process that sertraline exerts its effect, by inhibiting it. In this way, serotonin is not re-uptake and  increases its concentration in the presynaptic space that exists between neurons.

By having more serotonin,  it can re-bind on the neuron’s membrane receptors  and trigger more effect.

Also, as we have seen, it  has a low affinity for other types of biogenic amine receptors, such as norepinephrine. This fact would explain the fact that it has fewer adverse effects than other serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs.

Adverse reactions

In general, the nature and incidence of adverse reactions generated by sertraline  in all its indications are similar,  regardless of the patient’s age.

The most frequent adverse effects are  those that appear in the gastrointestinal tract,  including some of the following:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Anorexia.
• Dyspepsia.
• Others.

The main indication of sertraline is the treatment of depression. However, it can also be indicated for the treatment of other disorders such as panic attacks or OCD.

You should always follow the doctor’s instructions and consult with any doubts that may arise about the disease or the prescribed treatment.