Step by step Zoloft withdrawal procedures

How to withdrawal from Zoloft; 150mg, 100mg and 50mg dosages.

Zoloft 50mg withdrawal instructions  Click here

Zoloft 100mg withdrawal instructions Click here

Zoloft 150mg withdrawal instructions Click here

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How to stop Zoloft withdrawal side effects

A list of 186 Zoloft withdrawal side effects with the medical terms defined.

The Road Back founder, Jim Harper, has been assisting individuals off psychotropic medication for the past 20 years. Click here to read his bio.

First, why there is Zoloft withdrawal side effects:

During 2014, a clinical study was published showing Zoloft caused the activation of a substance called MAP4K4. The activation of the MAP4K4 would then cause the over activation of the JNK gene and these two events directly leads to liver cell death. Source: Sertraline, an Antidepressant, Induces Apoptosis in Hepatic Cells Through the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway.  Researchers: Division of Biochemical Toxicology Center for Toxicological Research, United States F.D.A. and the Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicological Research, United States F.D.A.

The study shows the JNK activation of Zoloft is the direct cause of cell death. The study also demonstrated if you were to silence the MAP4K4 that action would stop the cell death being induced by Zoloft. I will be writing a complete Zoloft withdrawal book in the near future and at that time I will go into depth detailing what specifically is happening within the cells of the liver and how this further aggravates Zoloft withdrawal and Zoloft withdrawal.

When trying to address any problem in life, the problem is usually much easier to address when all or most of the true facts are known. In the case of Zoloft, just knowing the source of the Zoloft side effect problem is the activation of the MAP4K4, which in turn activates the JNK gene to an unhealthy level gives a major advantage to locate a solution. Knowing, if the MAP4K4 can be silenced, this action will stop the continual activation of the JNK gene is the icing on the cake.

Finding a way to silence the MAP4K4 was difficult enough but that has now been accomplished.  I actually got more than I ever expected while researching and looking for natural methods to silence the MAP4K4. 

There is a way to silence the MAP4K4, reduce the over activation of the JNK gene and bring relief for many of the Zoloft withdrawal side effects as well as making Zoloft more livable for those people that are staying of the drug.

Zoloft withdrawal
Confusion - Not able to think clearly and understand in order to make a logical decision.

Zoloft withdrawal
Crying Abnormal - Unusual and not normal fits of weeping for short or long periods of time for no apparent reason.

Zoloft withdrawal
Depersonalization - A condition where one has lost a normal sense of personal identity.

Zoloft withdrawal
Depression - A hopeless feeling of failure, loss and sadness that can deteriorate into thoughts of death.

Zoloft withdrawal
Disorientation - A loss of sense of direction, place, time or surroundings as well as mental confusion on personal identity.

Zoloft withdrawal
Dreaming Abnormal - Dreaming that leaves a very clear, detailed picture and impression when awake that can last for a long period of time and sometimes be unpleasant.

Zoloft withdrawal
Emotional Lability - Suddenly breaking out in laughter or crying or doing both without being able to control the outburst of emotion.  These episodes are unstable as they are caused by things that normally would not have this effect on an individual.

Zoloft withdrawal
Excitability - Uncontrollably responding to stimuli.

Zoloft withdrawal
Feeling Unreal - The awareness that one has an undesirable emotion like fear but can’t seem to shake off the irrational feeling.  For example, feeling like one is going crazy but rationally knowing that it is not true.  The quality of this side effect resembles being in a bad dream and not being able to wake up.

Zoloft withdrawal
Forgetfulness - Unable to remember what one ordinarily would remember.

Zoloft withdrawal
Insomnia - Sleeplessness caused by physical stress, mental stress or stimulants such as coffee or medications; it is a condition of being abnormally awake when one would ordinarily be able to fall and remain asleep.

Zoloft withdrawal
Irritability - Abnormally annoyed in response to a stimulus.

Zoloft withdrawal
Jitteriness - Nervous fidgeting without an apparent cause.

Zoloft withdrawal
Lethargy - Mental and physical sluggishness and apathy that can deteriorate into an unconscious state resembling deep sleep.  A numbed state of mind.

Zoloft withdrawal
Libido Decreased - An abnormal loss of sexual energy or desire.

Zoloft withdrawal
Panic Reaction - A sudden, overpowering, chaotic and confused mental state of terror resulting in being doubt ridden often accompanied with hyperventilation, and extreme anxiety.

Zoloft withdrawal
Restlessness Aggravated - A constantly worsening troubled state of mind characterized by the person being increasingly nervous, unable to relax, and easily angered.

Zoloft withdrawal
Somnolence - Feeling sleepy all the time or having a condition of semi-consciousness.

Zoloft withdrawal
Suicide Attempt - An unsuccessful deliberate attack on one’s own life with the intention of ending it.

Zoloft withdrawal
Suicidal Tendency - Most likely will attempt to kill oneself.

Zoloft withdrawal
Tremulousness Nervous - Very jumpy, shaky, and uneasy while feeling fearful and timid.  The condition is characterized by thoughts of dreading the future, involuntary quivering, trembling, and feeling distressed and suddenly upset.

Zoloft withdrawal
Yawning - involuntary opening of the mouth with deep inhalation of air.

Reproductive Disorder Female

Zoloft withdrawal
Dry Eyes - Not enough moisture in the eyes.

Zoloft withdrawal
Earache - Pain in the ear.        

Zoloft withdrawal
Eye Infection - The invasion of the eye tissue by a bacteria, virus, fungus, etc, causing damage to the tissue, with toxicity.  Infection spreading in the body progresses into disease.

Zoloft withdrawal
Eye Irritation - An inflammation of the eye.

Zoloft withdrawal
Metallic Taste - A range of taste impairment from distorted taste to a complete loss of taste.

Zoloft withdrawal
Pupils Dilated - Abnormal expansion of the circular opening in the center of the eye. 

Zoloft withdrawal
Taste alteration - Abnormal flavor detection in food.

Zoloft withdrawal
Tinnitus - A buzzing, ringing, or whistling sound in one or both ears occurring from the internal use of certain drugs.

Zoloft withdrawal
Vision Abnormal - Normal images are seen differently by the viewer.

Zoloft withdrawal
Vision Blurred - Eyesight is dim or indistinct and hazy in outline or appearance. 

Zoloft withdrawal
Visual Disturbance - Eyesight is interfered with or interrupted.  Some disturbances are light sensitivity and the inability to easily distinguish colors.

URINARY SYSTEM DISORDER

Zoloft withdrawal
Blood in Urine - Blood is present when one empties liquid waste product of the kidneys through the bladder by urinating in the toilet turning the water pink to bright red.  Or you could see spots of blood in the water after urinating. 

Zoloft withdrawal
Dysuria - Difficult or painful urination.

Zoloft withdrawal
Kidney Stone - Small hard masses of salt deposits that the kidney forms.

Zoloft withdrawal
Urinary Frequency - Having to urinate more often than usual or between unusually short time periods.

Zoloft withdrawal
Urinary Tract Infection - An invasion of bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., of the system in the body that starts with the kidneys and eliminates urine from the body.  If the invasion goes unchecked it can injure tissue and progress into disease.

Zoloft withdrawal
Urinary Urgency - A sudden compelling urge to urinate, accompanied by discomfort in the bladder.

UROGENITAL (Urinary tract and genital structures or functions)

Zoloft withdrawal
Anorgasmia - Failure to experience an orgasm.

Zoloft withdrawal
Ejaculation Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge of semen during orgasm.

Zoloft withdrawal
Menstrual Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge during the monthly menstrual cycle.

Zoloft withdrawal
Acute Renal Failure - The kidneys stop functioning properly to excrete wastes. 

Zoloft withdrawal
Angioedema - Intense itching and swelling, welts on the skin called hives caused by an allergic reaction to internal or external agents.  The reaction is common to a food or a drug. Chronic cases can last for a long period of time. 

Zoloft withdrawal
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis - An abnormal condition where a large portion of skin becomes intensely red and peels off like a second-degree burn.  Often the symptoms include blistering.

Zoloft withdrawal
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - Stomach and intestinal excessive internal bleeding.

Zoloft withdrawal
Grand Mal Seizures (or Convulsions) - A recurring sudden violent and involuntary attack of muscle spasms with a loss of consciousness.

Zoloft withdrawal
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - A life threatening, rare reaction to an anti-psychotic drug marked by fever, muscular rigidity, changed mental status, and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. 

Zoloft withdrawal
Pancreatitis - Chemical irritation with redness, swelling, and pain in the pancreas where digestive enzymes and hormones are secreted.

Zoloft withdrawal
QT Prolongation - A very fast heart rhythm disturbance that is too fast for the heart to beat effectively so the blood to the brain falls causing a sudden loss of consciousness and may cause sudden cardiac death.

Zoloft withdrawal
Rhabdomyolysis - The breakdown of muscle fibers that releases the fibers into the circulatory system.  Some of the fibers are poisonous to the kidney and frequently result in kidney damage.

Zoloft withdrawal
Serotonin Syndrome - A disorder brought on by excessive levels of serotonin caused by drugs and can be fatal, as death from this side effect can come very rapidly.

Zoloft withdrawal
Thrombocytopenia - An abnormal decrease in the number of blood platelets in the circulatory system. A decrease in platelets would cause a decrease in the ability of the blood to clot when necessary.

Zoloft withdrawal
Torsades de Pointes - Unusual rapid heart rhythm starting in the lower heart chambers.  If the short bursts of rapid heart rhythm continue for a prolonged period it can degenerate into a more rapid rhythm and can be fatal.

1. Zoloft withdrawal - Anorexia – No longer having a desire to eat.

2. Zoloft withdrawal - Apothous Stomatitis – Painful red and swollen open sores on a mucus membrane of the mouth commonly called a canker sore.

3. Zoloft withdrawal - Ataxia – Loss of the ability to move the body with coordination.

4. Zoloft withdrawal - Arterial Fibrillation – A condition of abnormal twitching of the muscles in the blood vessels that moves the oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.  The unusual twitching is rapid and irregular and replaces the normal rhythm of contraction of the muscle, which sometimes causes a lack of circulation and pulse. 

5. Zoloft withdrawal - Blood Cholesterol Increased – An abnormal condition where there is a greater amount in the blood of the oily/fatty substances known as cholesterol.   Cholesterol is a necessary part of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates).  Because cholesterol only slightly dissolves in water, it can build up on the walls of the blood vessels, therefore blocking/decreasing the amount of blood flow, which causes blood pressure to go up.  If not corrected, this condition is associated with coronary artery disease.

6. Zoloft withdrawal - Blood Creatinine Increased – A greater than normal number of creatinine or muscular chemical waste molecules in the blood.  Creatinine plays a major role in energy production in muscles.  Since creatinine levels are normally maintained by the kidneys, Blood Creatinine Increased is an indicator of kidney malfunction or failure. 

7. Zoloft withdrawal - Blood in Stool – The blood that is in your bowel movement usually comes from any place along your digestive tract (from your mouth to your anus).  The stool can appear black and foul-smelling (usually from the upper part of your digestive tract) or red or maroon-colored (usually from the large intestine area).  Hemorrhoids are the usual cause for blood in the bowels.

   8. Zoloft withdrawal - Bundle Branch Block Right – These are specialized cells in the   upper right heart chamber and are the heart’s pacemaker.  They send electrical signals to the heart that keeps it beating or contracting regularly.  Normally the signal goes to the lower heart chambers at the same time through the bundle of His (hiss) on both the left and right sides of the heart, so the lower chambers contract at the same time.  When the bundle is damaged on the right side, the signal does not fire at the same time as the left, which changes the pace of blood flow.  This can lead to a person fainting.

9. Zoloft withdrawal - Cardiac Failure – A heart disorder where the heart does not function as usual and may completely stop working. 

10. Zoloft withdrawal - Cardiac Failure Congestive – The body is asking for the heart to supply more blood than it is capable of producing and maintaining.  Normally, a body can tolerate an increased amount of work for quite some time.  The condition is characterized by weakness, shortness of breath, and a fluid build-up in the body tissues causing swelling. 

11. Zoloft withdrawal - Cold Sweat – The skin is clammy and moist and you feel chilled.  This is a reaction to a shock or pain as well as to fear and nervousness.
     

12. Zoloft withdrawal - Colitis – A condition where the large intestine becomes irritated from the use of the drug.

13. Zoloft withdrawal - Coronary Artery Disease – A condition where the blood vessels that mainly carry the blood away from the heart become clogged up or narrowed usually by fatty deposits.  The first symptom is pain spreading from the upper left body caused by not enough oxygen reaching the heart. 

14. Zoloft withdrawal - Dehydration – An extreme loss of water from the body or the organs of the body as in sickness or not drinking enough fluids.
     

15. Zoloft withdrawal - Diplopia – The condition where a person is looking at one object and instead of normally seeing just the one object he sees two.  This is also called double vision.

16. Zoloft withdrawal - Diverticulitis – There are pouches or sacs on the inside of the intestines that look like fingers.  This increases the area for the body to absorb nutrients as they pass through the intestines.  These sacs become irritated and swollen and end up trapping waste that would normally be eliminated, causing pain and constipation. 

17. Zoloft withdrawal - Dysarthria – The inability to control the mouth muscles when forming words so the words are not clearly spoken and heard. 

18. Zoloft withdrawal - Dyslipidemia – The normal fat metabolism in the blood is interfered with.

19. Zoloft withdrawal - Dysphagia – Trouble swallowing or the inability to swallow.

20. Zoloft withdrawal - Ecchymosis – When a blood vessel breaks and creates a purple discoloration of the skin.

21. Zoloft withdrawal - Edema – An abnormal build up of excess fluids in the cells, tissues, and the spaces between the tissues creating swelling.

22. Zoloft withdrawal - Edema Peripheral – The abnormal build up of fluids in the tissues of the ankles and legs causing painless swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.  If you squeeze the swollen area it leaves an indentation on the skin for a few minutes.

23. Zoloft withdrawal - Ejaculation Delayed – The man is not able to release sperm either during sexual intercourse or with manual stimulation in the presence of his sexual partner in spite of his wish to do so.

24. Zoloft withdrawal - Ejaculation Dysfunction – A condition where the man has one or more of the following symptoms:  He is not able to have an erection, not able to have an orgasm, has a decreased interest in sex, is sexually inhibited, or it is painful to ejaculate sperm.

25. Zoloft withdrawal - Erectile Dysfunction – Incapable of having sexual intercourse.  Even though a man desires sex he is inhibited in his sexual activity and is unable to have or maintain an erection of the penis. 

26. Zoloft withdrawal - Erythema – a skin redness caused by the swelling with blood of the tiny blood vessels of the skin as in burns. 

27. Zoloft withdrawal - Erythematous Rash – Redness of the skin from the swelling of the tiny blood vessels with skin irritation (itching, burning, tingling, pain) and breakouts (eruptions).

28. Zoloft withdrawal - Esophageal Stenosis Acquired – The tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach narrows.

29. Zoloft withdrawal - Exfoliative Dermatitis – The unusual and not normal condition of scaling and shedding of the skin cells.  The skin is usually red colored.

30. Zoloft withdrawal - Face Edema – The tissues of the face become swollen.

31. Zoloft withdrawal - Feeling Jittery – A physical sensation of nervous unease. 

32. Zoloft withdrawal - Gastric Irritation – An inflamed and sore stomach.

33. Zoloft withdrawal - Gastric Ulcer – An open, irritated, and infected sore in the wall of the stomach.

34. Zoloft withdrawal - Gingivitis – Sore, swollen and red gums in the mouth that bleed easily.

35. Zoloft withdrawal - Glaucoma – The delicate nerve to the eye, the optic nerve, becomes easily damaged with the build-up of excess fluid pressure within the eyeball.  The first sign of glaucoma is loss of peripheral (side) vision.  It can progress to total blindness.

36. Zoloft withdrawal - Hepatic Steatosis – Excessive amounts of fat in the liver.

37. Zoloft withdrawal - Hyperhidrosis – The triggering of an excess of sweat being produced on the soles of the feet, the palms, or the underarms which can cause embarrassment or losing grip on a pen or other items.

38. Zoloft withdrawal - Hyperkeratosis – An abnormal enlargement of the skin tissues causing the skin cells to increase in size.

39. Zoloft withdrawal - Hyperlipidemia – An abnormally high number of fat cells in the blood.

40. Zoloft withdrawal - Hypertriglyceridemia – Too many triglycerides in the blood. 

Triglycerides are three fatty acids bound together in one molecule stored by the body and available to create high levels of energy when used. 

41. Zoloft withdrawal - Hypoesthesia – A partial loss of sensation or general loss of awareness.

42. Zoloft withdrawal - Impaired Gastric Emptying – The contents of the stomach are not passed into the intestines as normal due to the stomach losing the muscular strength to do so.

43. Zoloft withdrawal - Increased White Blood cell Count – This is an increase in the number of cells in the blood that are responsible for the removal of bacteria and other unwanted particles.  They fight disease and infection by enclosing foreign particles and removing them.  An example of a disease that would increase white blood cell count would be Leukemia.

44. Zoloft withdrawal - Insomnia – Not able to fall asleep or sleeping for a shorter time than desired, thus not being able to properly rest and feeling un-refreshed.  As a result, a person can become irritable, have difficulty concentrating and feel a lack of energy.  This can be caused by stimulants such as by caffeine or drugs or by mental anxiety and stress.  Mental stress can be communicated and relieved.

45. Zoloft withdrawal - Irritable Bowel Syndrome – A painful condition where either the muscles or the nerves of the lower intestines, are not responding normally.  This results in an alternating condition of diarrhea followed by constipation, back and forth.

46. Zoloft withdrawal - Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca – A condition where the outer coating of the eyeball is dry because of a decrease in the normal amount of tears in the eye.  As a result, the eyeball and inside of the eyelid thickens and hardens sometimes causing the vision to be less sharp.

47. Zoloft withdrawal - Leukopenia – An unnaturally low number of white blood cells circulating in the blood.

48. Zoloft withdrawal - Loose Stools – The bowel movement is runny instead of formed.

49. Zoloft withdrawal - Lower Abdominal Pain – A hurtful irritation of the nerve endings in the area of the hipbones housing the lower digestive tract.  Pain usually means tissue damage.

50. Zoloft withdrawal - Lymphadenopathy – The lymph nodes, where the immune cells are located, become larger than is normal because of a high concentration of white blood cells.

51. Zoloft withdrawal - Macular Degeneration – The gradual loss of central vision, which is the sharpest vision while peripheral eyesight, is unaffected.

52. Zoloft withdrawal - Maculopathy – An abnormal condition of the yellow spot of the eye, which is located in the center of the inner lining of the eyeball and connected to the main nerve to the eye and is responsible for sharp vision.

53. Zoloft withdrawal - Mania – Unusually irrational, excessive and/or exaggerated behavior or moods ranging from enthusiasm, sexuality, gaiety, impulsiveness and irritability to violence.

54. Zoloft withdrawal - Melena – Abnormally darkly colored stools as a result of hemorrhaging in the digestive tract where the blood has interacted with the digestive juices creating the dark color in the bowel movement.

55. Zoloft withdrawal - Micturition Urgency – A sudden desire to urinate usually followed by leakage.

56. Zoloft withdrawal - Mood Swings – An emotional shifting as from a state of happiness to a state of depression for a period of time.

57. Zoloft withdrawal - Myocardial Infarction – The blood going to the heart is delayed or stopped causing middle muscle tissue in the heart wall to die.

58. Zoloft withdrawal - Nasopharyngitis – Irritation, redness and swelling tissues in the nose and the tube leading from the mouth to the voice box as well as the tubes leading to the ears.

59. Zoloft withdrawal - Nephropathy – An abnormally functioning or diseased kidney.

60. Zoloft withdrawal - Nervousness – Jumpy, jittery, anxious, and troubled with an irritable temperament.

61. Zoloft withdrawal - Night Sweats – The water-salt, waste product the skin releases is called sweat or perspiration.   With night sweats you become wide awake in the middle of the night shivering and cold and wet with your sheets/pajamas soaked in perspiration making it difficult to go back to sleep.

62. Zoloft withdrawal - Nightmare – Dreams that make you afraid or leave feelings of fear, terror, and upset long after waking up.

63. Zoloft withdrawal - Orgasm Abnormal – Unable to have an orgasm with normal sexual stimulation.

64. Zoloft withdrawal - Oropharyngeal Swelling – A swelling in the area from the soft part of the roof of the mouth to the back of the mouth.

65. Zoloft withdrawal - Pain in Extremity – A painful feeling in the legs, arms, hands, and feet.

66. Zoloft withdrawal - Pharyngolaryngeal Pain – Pain in the area of the respiratory tract (organs of breathing) from the throat to the voice box and above the windpipe.

67. Zoloft withdrawal - Photopsia – A condition where a person sees lights, sparks or colors in front of your eyes.

68. Zoloft withdrawal - Photosensitivity Reaction – An exaggerated sunburn reaction that is not normal in proportion to the amount of exposure to the light.

69. Zoloft withdrawal - Pollakiuria – Urinating much more frequently than normal – as often as once every five to fifteen minutes.

70. Zoloft withdrawal - Pressure of Speech – A condition where the individual cannot voice his ideas fast enough with the pressure of there being not enough time to say it.

71. Zoloft withdrawal - Pruritic Rash – Extremely itchy, red, swollen bumps on the skin.

72. Zoloft withdrawal - Pyrexia – Fever or the increase in body temperature that is usually a sign of infection.

73. Zoloft withdrawal - Retinal Detachment – The thin layer lining the back of the eyeball (the retina) detaches from the back of the eyeball.  This thin layer is like the film of a camera because it sends the images a person views to the brain.  When it detaches it causes a reduced ability to see.

74. Zoloft withdrawal - Rigors – Shivering or shaking of the body as if chilled, preventing normal responses.

75. Zoloft withdrawal - Skin Ulcer – An open sore or infected skin eruption with swelling, redness, pus, and irritation.

76. Zoloft withdrawal - Sleep Disorder – These are a list of sleep disorders such as teeth grinding, insomnia, jet lag, sleep walking, abnormally falling asleep during the middle of a conversation after a full night’s rest, uncontrolled body motions keeping one awake, etc.
     
77. Zoloft withdrawal - Suicide, Completed – An attack on oneself that results in death.

78. Zoloft withdrawal - Upper Respiratory Tract Infection – Where the organs of breathing near the mouth such as the nose and sinuses, become infected and are usually treated by antibiotics.

79. Zoloft withdrawal - Urinary Hesitation – Hard to start or hard to continue emptying one’s bladder.

80. Zoloft withdrawal - Urinary Incontinence – Urinating without intending to do so because of a weakening of the muscles in the hip area from the drug affecting the nerves or the drug blocking a persons thinking process.

81. Zoloft withdrawal - Urinary Retention – The inability to completely empty the bladder despite having the urge to do so.  This can lead to infections or damage to the urinary organs.

82. Zoloft withdrawal - Urine Flow Decreased – Dehydration of the body causing a lesser flow of urine than normal with the body reabsorbing the waste.

83. Zoloft withdrawal - Urine Output Decreased – A condition where the output of urine produced in a 24-hour period is less than 500 ml.

84. Zoloft withdrawal - Weight Decreased – Unintentional weight loss.
     
85. Zoloft withdrawal – Weight Increased – An unusual, usually rapid weight increase.

FDA ALERT [07/2006] – Possible Life- Threatening Serotonin Syndrome When Used With Triptan Medicines

A life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome (serious changes in how your brain, muscles and digestive system work due to high levels of serotonin in the body) can happen when medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Zoloft, and medicines used to treat migraine headaches known as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists (triptans), are used together.  Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include the following:

• restlessness
• hallucinations
• loss of coordination
• fast heart beat
• increased body temperature
• fast changes in blood pressure
• overactive reflexes
• diarrhea
• coma
• nausea
• vomiting

Serotonin syndrome may be more likely to occur when starting or increasing the dose of an SSRI or a triptan.  This information comes from reports sent to FDA and knowledge of how these medicines work.  If you take migraine headache medicines, ask your healthcare professional if your medicine is a triptan.

Before you take Zoloft and a triptan together, talk to your healthcare professional.  If you must take these medicines together, be aware of the possibility of serotonin syndrome, and get medical care right away if you think serotonin syndrome is happening to you.

This information reflects FDA’s current analysis of data available to FDA concerning this drug. FDA intends to update this sheet when additional information or analyses become available.

FDA ALERT [07/2006] – Infant Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension

The results of a study that looked at the use of antidepressant medicines during pregnancy in  mothers of babies born with a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) were recently published in a medical journal.

Babies born with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs and do not get enough oxygen to their bodies.  Babies with PPHN can be very sick and may die.

The study results showed that:

The FDA plans to further look at the role of SSRIs in babies with PPHN.

Talk to your doctor if you are taking Zoloft and are pregnant or are planning to have a baby.  You and your doctor will need to talk about the best way to treat your depression during pregnancy.