Visit Doctors
Visit
Visit
Call Doctors
Call
Call
Ask Doctors
Ask
Ask
Feed
Home
24 years
Zoloft takers should noy drive?Does it decrease IQ ? Side effects.. ? Is it safe ? What is safest SSRI ?
Aug 25, 2014

Dr. Rania Mousa General Medicine
Zoloft (sertraline) can cause drowsiness, so you should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you have been taking this antidepressant long enough to know how it affects you.

Drinking alcohol is also not recommended while taking Zoloft.

Zoloft can interact with other drugs, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), other antidepressant medications and over-the-counter painkillers. Be sure to discuss all the medications and supplements you take or are considering taking with your doctor.
It hasn't seemed to affect the mind in the way of IQs. They are just as smart, but maybe more focused and things don't bother them as much,however the effects differ from one to other ,as a short term effect it will be with low side effects compared to long term .

To make sure Zoloft is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

-liver or kidney disease;
-seizures or epilepsy;
-a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
-bipolar disorder (manic depression); or
-a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.

>Using an NSAID with Zoloft may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
>Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of Zoloft.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert ,untill you have been used to it and know its effect on you .

>Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Zoloft: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

>Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

>>Call your doctor at once if you have:

-very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out;
-agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, tremors;
-nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination; or
-headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing or breathing that stops.

>>>Common Zoloft side effects may include:

-drowsiness, dizziness, tired feeling;
-mild nausea, stomach pain, upset stomach, constipation;
-dry mouth;
-changes in appetite or weight;
-sleep problems (insomnia); or
-decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

well concerning the best of SSRI they are all the same with slight different ,even other SNRI s or tricyclic antidepressents ,what suits one patients may not be perfect for another one and the opposite is right too .

So it is a matter of try and sometimes combination medications and adjustment of doses ,that decides what medication is the best suitable for you on the other .
 •