How Zoloft Treats Major Depression
With nearly 30 million prescriptions written for Zoloft in a year, it is the leading antidepressant drug to treat major depression. A few studies that analyzed and compared the “new generation” medicines for depression have pointed out that Zoloft is the most effective and best tolerated as first-line treatments. Therefore, it is essential for us to understand how Zoloft acts in the body.
Zoloft is Pfizer’s response to the call of millions of people suffering from mental disorders. This drug can be given to treat a number of conditions affecting the brain. Just like the other drugs, careful considerations should be practiced when taking the drug as overdose may occur to Zoloft users.
Zoloft – its generic name is sertraline hydrochloride – is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type of drug. SSRI’s work on a certain chemical in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin is one of those neurotransmitters that are needed to relay messages from one nerve cell to another.
This neurotransmitter fills in the gaps between nerve cells in order to relay the signal from a cell to the next. When the message has been delivered, the first cell then takes in any serotonin that stays in the gap between the cells. This mechanism is known as “reuptake.”
By and large this mechanism goes on without any troubles. However, as serotonin levels plummet, a lot of psychiatric illness may occur which includes major depression and panic disorder.But when amount of serotonin dwindles, several problems may take place and that includes major depression and panic disorder. Zoloft helps maintain ample amount of serotonin between nerve cells by blocking the reuptake of serotonin from the spaces between cells.
According to research as well as actual users, Zoloft has proven well to treat major depression. Additionally, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Panic disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), Social anxiety disorder, otherwise known as social phobia can also be treated with this drug. Even so, the drug will be at its peak after a few days or even weeks thus a little patience is what you would need in your therapy.
Among the many advantages of using Zoloft is that its adverse effects are less sever and less common compared to other brands of antidepressants. On the other hand, this drug is not recommended to pregnant women due to Zoloft birth defects being presented. As the evidences of this report continue to rise in number, it is imperative to ask your health care provider to change your medical treatment if you do not want your child to have a congenital anomaly.
