Zoloft is an antidepressant used to treat depression. Depression is defined as a serious mood disorder. Depression can affect how you feel and handle daily activities. Depression is diagnosed by a person having symptoms for at least two weeks. Zoloft may improve a person’s mood, energy level, appetite, sleep, and help restore interest in their life (Halter, Varcarolis’, 2014).
Zoloft belongs to a class of drugs knows as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Zoloft helps to restore the balance of serotonin to the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitters) that carry signals between brain cells. Zoloft affects chemicals in the brain that maybe unbalanced and works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin to the brain and doing so makes more serotonin
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Other side effects include side effects that are not as common include agitation, pain, vomiting, abdominal pain, anxiety, hypouricemia, and malaise. Serotonin syndrome is a life threatening condition that has been reported with the use of Zoloft. Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes, neuromuscular symptoms, seizures, and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. Drug and herb interactions with Zoloft include hypertensive crisis and ephedra. Patients should be monitored closely for any of these symptoms (Web, MD).
Adverse reactions of Zoloft include but are not limited to acute renal failure, atrioventricular heart block, bleeding of stomach/intestines, cataracts, decreased blood platelets, diabetes, fever, giant hives, high blood sugar, liver failure, nosebleed, pancreatitis, rash, seizure, slow heartbeat, serotonin syndrome, vasculitis, dilated pupil, excessive thirst, and skin discoloration (Web
Possible side effects: “dry mouth, sedation, blurred vision (disturbance of accommodation, increased intra-ocular pressure), constipation, nausea, difficulty with micturition; cardiovascular side-effects (such as ECG changes, arrhythmias, postural hypotension, tachycardia, syncope, particularly with high doses); sweating, tremor, rashes and hypersensitivity reactions (including urticaria, photosensitivity), behavioural disturbances (particularly children), hypomania or mania, confusion or delirium (particularly elderly), headache, interference with sexual function, blood sugar changes; increased appetite and weight gain (occasionally weight loss); endocrine side-effects such as testicular enlargement, gynaecomastia, galactorrhoea; also convulsions (see also Cautions), movement disorders and dyskinesias, dysarthria, paraesthesia, taste disturbances, tinnitus, fever, agranulocytosis, leucopenia, eosinophilia, purpura, thrombocytopenia, hyponatraemia
Side Effects: Frequent urge to urinate, headache (continuing), loss of appetite (continuing), mood or mental changes, muscle pain or twitching, nausea or vomiting, nervousness or restlessness, slow breathing, swelling of feet or lower legs, unpleasant taste, unusual tiredness or weakness
Zoloft was first introduced to the United States in 1980’s. Another name for Zoloft is sertraline and is in a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. At first Zoloft was made to treat major depressive disorder, but as the drug progressed over time it can now treat panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Zoloft is the most commonly used antidepressant because it works extremely well, it is safe, and its side effects are not as serious as other antidepressants.
Some of the side effects are: Loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting, weakness and fatigue, weight gain, premature menopause and hair loss.
Some of the immediate physical complaints include constantly feeling cold, bloodshot eyes with dark circles, finger calluses, dizziness, weakness, lackluster hair, moodiness, insomnia, no menstruation, swollen glands, weight loss, sore throat, or dry skin. Some of the long-term effects include extreme weight loss, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation, malnutrition, loss of tooth enamel,
Sedative-hypnotics, including benzodiazepines, are a group of drugs used to treat the symptoms of anxiety, panic disorders, and insomnia.
Being forgetful, slurred speech, feeling sad or empty, relaxed and calm, loss of interest or pleasure, sleepiness or unusual drowsiness, lack of appetite, clumsiness or unsteadiness, feeling tired, trouble concentrating and less common side effects would be things like cough, dark urine, diarrhea, blurred vision, body aches or pain, shaking or shivering , nausea, seizers and the list goes on.
It is also used to treat normal sleeping patterns and appetite, and for reducing anxiety. It works by modifying the activity of relevant neurotransmitter pathways.Some of the categories of antidepressants, defined in (Queensland state Government, 2018) are :
Side effects observed in patients in taking fluoxetine has a chance of less than 5%. The side effects include abnormal dreams, diarrhea, flu syndrome, insomnia, impotence, dry mouth, nausea, nervousness, rash and sweating etc.
Unfortunately, side effects are often go hand in hand with just about any drug; some more severe than others. Despite the strict regulation the FDA says it implements to ensure the highest possible safety of the drugs it approves for the public, it does pass drugs with a variety of side effects that range from dry-mouth to thoughts of suicide and potentially fatal internal problems. WebMD’s Information and Resources section explains how the FDA are able to justify this, by saying that as long
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter in the brain that has an enormous influence over many brain functions. It is synthesized, from the amino acid L-tryptophan, in brain neurons and stored in vesicles. Serotonin is found in three main areas of the body: the intestinal wall; large constricted blood vessels; and the central nervous system. The most widely studied effects have been those on the central nervous system. The functions of serotonin are numerous and appear to involve control of appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation, mood, behavior (including sexual and hallucinogenic behavior), cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, endocrine regulation, and
Normally side effects are mild; with more impairing side effects being less frequent. According to the same pamphlet, the most common side effects are “constipation, daytime sleepiness, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, sexual problems, shakiness, trouble sleeping, and weight gain.” Also mentioned elsewhere are “Serotonin syndrome” which can include “confusion, hallucinations, loss of coordination, fever, rapid heart rate, and vomiting” and that the medication can worsen your depression and can increase the risk of suicide or self-mutilation. Having any of these would be very intrusive upon a person’s normal functioning. Antidepressants also usually take “at least 6 full weeks to begin to get the full effect” (United States) of their depression lessening. This long lag time between when treatment begins and when depression alleviation starts is another concern, as alternative methods can begin working right away and if you need to switch antidepressants, it takes another 6 weeks for the next one to work. The long treatment time is another drawback of using antidepressants as “most people need to keep taking these medicines for 6 to 9 months,” (United States) yet later in the same pamphlet it is stated that not much is known about the long term use of antidepressants because the “research studies generally only
Adverse reactions to this medication are migraine, speech disorders, rhinitis, sinusitis, hyperglycemia, elevated liver function, elevated serum creatinine level, pancytopenia, bronchitis, dyspnea, toxic epidermal necrolysis, anaphylaxis, elevated creatine kinase, generalized pain, and infection. Nursing considerations with this medication is to have the patient swallow the whole tablet and not to chew. Watch for aspiration while watching the patient take the medication. Educate the patient about the medication and inform them to notify a physician if bleeding
Someone might develop an allergic reaction to certain medication, in some cases rashes will occur, in severe cases one will stop breathing properly. One might become confused or agitated, be put off food or become very drowsy. There are types of adverse reactions:
There needs to be a patient teaching on how the drugs will help him. John needs to understand the importance of continuing Zoloft even if there?s not immediate signs of decreased side affects. Zoloft takes 4-6 weeks before symptoms are decreased. Zoloft also increases suicidal ideation, therefore it is very important that John and family is aware of that. Early signs of increased suicidal thoughts are apathy and anhedonia. If John is feeling suicidal they must intervene quick. A follow up must be made with his Psychiatrist so see how John is doing with the