Sertraline (Zoloft)

What the word means

Sertraline is the drug. Zoloft is the brand, and the two words mean the same thing, which is a source of constant confusion at the pharmacy counter.

It’s an SSRI, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which is the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressant. It’s used well beyond depression: anxiety, panic, OCD, PTSD, and PMDD all sit on its list, which is part of why it turns up so often. Like other SSRIs, it takes weeks rather than days to do its work, and it isn’t habit-forming.

Where to read the full guide

Shrinktionary tells you what the word means. It doesn’t tell you what dose to take, what the first month feels like, or how it compares to the alternative you were also offered.

Read the full sertraline guide at PsychiatryRx, which covers what it treats, what to expect week by week, side effects, and how to come off it safely.

Related terms you’ll see next

• SSRI
• Antidepressant
• Discontinuation syndrome
• First-line treatment

When to seek professional care

Give an antidepressant time, because expecting it to work in a few days is how people abandon a medication that would have helped them. Don’t stop it abruptly, since that can cause discontinuation symptoms, and ask for a taper instead. Tell your prescriber about any new agitation, worsening mood, or thoughts of self-harm after starting or changing the dose, particularly in the first weeks and particularly in young people. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, get help right away by calling 911, or call or text 988 in the US to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Sertraline (Zoloft):</strong> Sertraline is an SSRI antidepressant, sold as Zoloft. It's one of the most widely prescribed psychiatric medications, used for depression, anxiety, panic, OCD, PTSD, and PMDD.</p>
  <p>&mdash; <a href="https://shrinktionary.com/terms/sertraline/">Shrinktionary</a>, a plain-English mental health dictionary, medically reviewed by a board certified psychiatrist.</p>
</blockquote>