![]() As with any condition, there are numerous alternative treatment plans available for depression and other mental health conditions Zoloft was approved to treat. Doing a controlled, gradual taper can reduce the withdrawals you feel when ceasing your use of the drug.Īs you can see, the various drug interactions, harmful side effects, and life-threatening conditions tied to prolonged use of antidepressants like Zoloft outweigh the minimal benefits. For this reason, it is critical to consult with a healthcare provider who has familiarity with the subject to gradually taper your use of Zoloft to zero. Zoloft is a mind-altering chemical and can cause you to feel withdrawals when you abruptly or even gradually discontinue its use-even if you’ve done so to avoid the negative side effects of long-term use listed above. Since Zoloft blocks the natural reuptake of serotonin by the nervous system and forces unnatural levels of the hormone to accumulate, your body can become dependent on its effects to sustain a feeling of normalcy. In fact, there are so many possible adverse drug interactions with SSRIs that often it is left up to the pharmacist to determine the risks for patients, as doctors are largely under-educated in the subject. An example of an adverse drug interaction is Zoloft and aspirin, which can cause increased, heavy bleeding in patients taking both. Harmful Drug InteractionsĪs with any new prescriptions, potential interactions with your current medications are a known potential risk. In the time it takes for you to begin an antidepressant regime, realize the medication is incompatible with you, and start another medication, your symptoms could grow increasingly worse than before you started taking SSRIs. While trying different prescriptions, the severity of your symptoms can be dramatically worsened due to adverse reactions to medications, leaving you in a more vulnerable position than you were previously. For that reason, patients often experience disappointment during their attempts to find an antidepressant that addresses their symptoms. However, prescription drug companies often infer such. No SSRI can be expected to fully relieve any mental illness. Ranging from mild symptoms such as chills and gastrointestinal issues to seizures and even death, excess serotonin buildup from sertraline use can be life-threatening. While serotonin is naturally present in your body, unnaturally high levels of this neurotransmitter can cause serious health complications. Too much active serotonin can result in serotonin syndrome. Taking an SSRI causes an artificial accumulation of serotonin. Disadvantages of antidepressant use include the following: 18 Zoloft’s adverse side effects may eventually outweigh any positive changes you may have experienced. Some research has shown that even those results may be mostly attributed to the placebo effect. As hopeful as this theory seems, over time, most patients find they need to continue to increase their Zoloft dosage to attain even minor results. Using antidepressants like Zoloft should theoretically increase your mood and mitigate your symptoms. Limited Potential for Reduction in Symptoms When it comes to Zoloft, it is important to look at the pros and cons of this treatment plan before considering an antidepressant prescription. 17 Worse, when used long-term, antidepressants can have severely damaging effects on your health for years to come. Cons of Long-Term Antidepressant UseĪlthough short-term use of antidepressants is advertised to be helpful in alleviating symptoms, there is little scientific evidence to demonstrate its efficacy in reducing symptoms of depression or anxiety, according to the National Institute for Health Research. Gambling with potential negative side effects, especially with medication that can permanently alter your brain chemistry, can be very dangerous and researchers agree long-term use will often cause more harm than good. In fact, no single prescription medication is a perfect fit for every person, and oftentimes, medications that work for one individual can have a negative impact on another. Unfortunately, many mental health practitioners look to these remedies as a default treatment plan for mental illness. This is, at least in part, why long-term use of SSRIs like Zoloft can be harmful and can worsen already hard-to-manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, these molecules eventually break down and become lost as waste material, leaving a potential deficiency over time. Drugmakers and regulators do not know exactly how SSRIs work, but they are theorized to increase active serotonin in certain areas of the brain that may have positive effects on mood. Serotonin is a critical chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, the sleep-wake cycle, and countless other functions, and is most often associated with feeling well. ![]()
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