Zoloft

brand

Zoloft Side Effects

See also Warning section.

Nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, loss of appetite, increased sweating, diarrhea, upset stomach, or trouble sleeping may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: easy bruising/bleeding, decreased interest in sex, decrease in sexual ability (ejaculation delay), muscle cramps/weakness, shaking (tremor), unusual weight loss.

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: fast/irregular heartbeat, fainting, black/bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, eye pain/swelling/redness, widened pupils, vision changes (such as seeing rainbows around lights at night, blurred vision).

This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. The risk increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug Interactions section). Get medical help right away if you develop some of the following symptoms: fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.

Rarely, males may have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours. If this occurs, stop using this drug and get medical help right away, or permanent problems could occur.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
  • hypothyroidism
  • diabetes mellitus
  • hyperprolactinemia
  • SIADH syndrome
  • hyponatremia
  • aplastic anemia
  • purpura
  • thrombocytopenic disorder
  • agranulocytosis
  • neutropenic disorder
  • manic disorder
  • hypomania
  • suicidal ideation
  • abnormal sexual function
  • libido changes
  • disorder of ejaculation
  • bruxism
  • nightmares
  • agitation
  • hostility
  • hyperkinesis
  • extrapyramidal disease
  • neuroleptic malignant syndrome
  • serotonin syndrome
  • cataracts
  • blurred vision
  • visual changes
  • optic neuritis
  • mydriasis
  • tinnitus
  • hypertension
  • pulmonary hypertension
  • atrioventricular block
  • ventricular tachycardia
  • torsades de pointes
  • bradycardia
  • prolonged QT interval
  • spasm of cerebral arteries
  • vasculitis
  • orthostatic hypotension
  • hemorrhage
  • ecchymosis
  • vasodilation of blood vessels
  • rhinitis
  • dental caries
  • xerostomia
  • dyspepsia
  • constipation
  • hepatic failure
  • drug-induced hepatitis
  • gastrointestinal hemorrhage
  • acute renal failure
  • hematuria
  • priapism
  • erectile dysfunction
  • gynecomastia
  • galactorrhea not associated with childbirth
  • mastalgia
  • abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • menstrual disorder
  • skin photosensitivity
  • allergic dermatitis
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • pruritus of skin
  • alopecia
  • acne vulgaris
  • urticaria
  • dyschromia
  • lupus-like syndrome
  • arthralgia
  • back pain
  • muscle spasm
  • hypertonia
  • rhabdomyolysis
  • myalgia
  • drowsy
  • syncope
  • seizure disorder
  • vertigo
  • dizziness
  • insomnia
  • fever
  • fatigue
  • hyperhidrosis
  • pain
  • tremor
  • trismus
  • akathisia
  • ataxia
  • hypesthesia
  • skin rash
  • edema
  • petechiae
  • anorexia
  • weight gain
  • weight loss
  • polydipsia
  • increased appetite
  • headache disorder
  • epistaxis

Drug Interactions

See also Precautions section.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug are: pimozide, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen, "blood thinners" such as warfarin/dabigatran).

Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before and after treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.

The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," St. John's wort, certain antidepressants (including other SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), tryptophan, among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness such as alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and opioid pain or cough relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone).

Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this medication. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

This medication may interfere with certain medical/lab tests (including brain scan for Parkinson's disease), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.