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Nail biting, sweaty palms and cracking knuckles. These are just among the symptoms of anxiety which millions of people all over the world are suffering from. If left untreated, anxiety can be dangerous to our health. In fact, there are those who ended up killing themselves all because of extreme anxiety. So before it gets to this, it is important that you are aware of the treatment available for anxiety. Whether it’s you or any of your loved ones have anxiety disorders, knowing the best treatment can certainly save you from danger. You should learn about the benefits of CBD oil for anxiety to have a healthy lifestyle. The anxiety can cause any harm to the mental health of the people. The use of the oil is according to the prescription of the doctors or professionals. The incurrence of the stage again is not possible for the people.
Using Zoloft for anxiety treatment is effective. Zoloft is mostly preferred by several doctors as treatment for various types of anxiety disorders. This medication is specifically made to treat major depressive episodes for adult patients who are suffering from anxiety disorder. Read on to find out more about the benefits and side effects of this anxiety drug.
What is Zoloft?
Zoloft, with a generic name of Sertraline, is a type of antidepressant drug that belongs under the drug classification called the SSRI or the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. The medication affects the chemicals on the brain that might have become unbalanced as a result of panic attacks and depression, obsessive compulsive symptoms and all forms of anxiety disorder. Zoloft is also used for treating post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD as well as dysphoric disorder or PMDD.
Zoloft was developed and distributed by Pfizer in the year 1990. Originally, the drug was manufactured only for the UK market and was first released with a brand name Lustral. Pfizer has marketed Zoloft as being a safer and more effective alternative for anxiety treatment. It is said to have lesser side effects and will not trigger any withdrawal symptoms unlike other drugs.
After it was released in the UK in 1990, the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Zoloft to be sold for the American market. Thus, in 2005, the drug has been popularly prescribed for patients suffering from anxiety disorders making it to become one of the most popular anti anxiety medications at that time. Also, on that same year, Zoloft has been hailed as the sixth most prescribed brand name antidepressant prescription medication with sales grossing up to $2.6 Billion.
All about SSRI
As mentioned, Zoloft belongs under the SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, a class of antidepressant drugs. Medications belonging under SSRI are known to be effective in controlling depression as well as other types of mental illnesses. These days, the drug is considered as the most prescribed class of antidepressant medication being sold in the US market. They have become popular due to the fact that they have lesser side effects as compared to other types of antidepressants. SSRIs work mainly by controlling the level of serotonin on the brain, which is considered as a neurotransmitter thought which affects the mood, learning and sleeping habits of a person. Zoloft is available in the form of tablet and oral concentrate and the typical dosage is at 50 mg per day, or depending on what your doctor has prescribed for you.
Benefits of Zoloft
Zoloft is mainly used to treat major depressive disorders or MDD. But some doctors will also prescribe this medicine for post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. In some cases, Zoloft is also used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD as well as panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.
Major Depressive disorder is also another form of anxiety disorder. It is said to affect about seven percent of adults in the US. If it gets untreated, lifetime risk of suicide could be high. The most common symptoms of MDD are:
- Changes in appetite and sleep.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Feeling worthless, guilty, helpless and hopeless.
- Loss of interest in most activities.
- Mental and physical agitation.
- Sad or depressed mood.
- Thoughts of suicide.
Side Effects of Zoloft
Zoloft is prescribed by doctors to patients suffering from anxiety disorders. It is very effective in treating depression as well as other forms of anxiety disorders. The side effects would vary greatly from one patient to another. The most common side effects of Zoloft are milder as compared to other first generation antidepressants. But it is important to remember that Zoloft is not safe for kids as well as for pregnant women. Zoloft might be the best anti anxiety medication out there but it could lead to serious birth defects if taken by a pregnant woman and might lead to withdrawal symptoms after childbirth. Below is a list of some of the minor side effects as a result of taking Zoloft.
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Increased sweating
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Sleepiness or insomnia
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Tremor
- Weight loss or weight gain
Zoloft may also cause the younger users to have suicidal thoughts. Thus, the US Food and Drug Administration gas required Zoloft as well as other antidepressants to warn users about the danger of suicide on the initial stages of treatment, most especially among the youth. Studies have shown that a small number of the younger generations that makes use of antidepressants including Zoloft would have suicidal thoughts. There are also others who often experience sexual related side.
Important Precautions when Taking Zoloft
Those who have kidney disease and other types of liver illnesses or those who have seizures and suicidal thoughts must talk to their doctor before deciding to use Zoloft. Moreover, Zoloft must not be used with other medications or drugs as this might lead to harmful side effects. If you have started taking Zoloft or other over the counter anxiety medication and thoughts of having suicide are playing on your mind, then you need to immediately stop taking the medicine and see your doctor. Your doctor might prescribe another medication for you or will observe you during your regular visits.
