SERTRALINE (SER tra leen) treats depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It increases the amount of serotonin in the brain, a hormone that helps regulate mood. It belongs to a group of medications called SSRIs.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

They need to know if you have any of these conditions: -Bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder -Bleeding disorders -Frequently drink alcohol -Glaucoma -Heart disease -High blood pressure -History of irregular heartbeat -History of low levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium in the blood -Liver disease -Receiving electroconvulsive therapy -Seizures -Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member -Take medications that prevent or treat blood clots -Thyroid disease -An unusual or allergic reaction to sertraline, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives -Pregnant or trying to get pregnant -Breastfeeding

Take this medication by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Before taking your dose, you need to dilute the solution in a beverage. Measure your medication dose using the dropper in the bottle. Next, place the measured dose in at least 4 ounces (one-half cup) of water, ginger-ale, lemon-lime soda, lemonade or orange juice and mix. Do not mix in grapefruit juice or in any other liquids other than those listed. Drink all of mixed liquid immediately. Do not mix the dose and store it for later. It must be taken right away. You may take this medication with or without food. Take your medication at regular intervals. Do not take your medication more often than directed. Do not stop taking this medication suddenly except upon the advice of your care team. Stopping this medication too quickly may cause serious side effects or your condition may worsen. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While this medication may be prescribed for children as young as 7 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once. NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Do not take this medication with any of the following: -Cisapride -Dronedarone -Linezolid -MAOIs, such as Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate -Methylene blue (injected into a vein) -Pimozide -Thioridazine This medication may also interact with the following:   -Alcohol -Amphetamines -Aspirin and aspirin-like medications -Certain medications for fungal infections, such as ketoconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole -Certain medications for irregular heart beat, such as flecainide, quinidine, propafenone -Certain medications for mental health conditions -Certain medications for migraine headaches, such as almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan -Certain medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine, valproic acid, phenytoin -Certain medications for sleep -Certain medications that prevent or treat blood clots, such as warfarin, enoxaparin, dalteparin -Cimetidine -Digoxin -Diuretics -Fentanyl -Isoniazid -Lithium -NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen -Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes, such as dofetilide -Rasagiline -Safinamide -Supplements, such as St. John's wort, kava kava, valerian -Tolbutamide -Tramadol -Tryptophan

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse. Because it may take several weeks to see the full effects of this medication, it is important to continue your treatment as prescribed by your care team. Patients and their families should watch out for new or worsening thoughts of suicide or depression. Also watch out for sudden changes in feelings, such as feeling anxious, agitated, panicky, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, severely restless, overly excited and hyperactive, or not being able to sleep. If this happens, especially at the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose, call your care team. This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects. Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe. Some products may contain alcohol. Ask your pharmacist or care team if this medication contains alcohol. Be sure to tell all healthcare providers you are taking this medication. Certain medications, like metronidazole and disulfiram, can cause an unpleasant reaction when taken with alcohol. The reaction includes flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and increased thirst. The reaction can last from 30 minutes to several hours.

Keep out of the reach of children and pets. Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date. To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or expired: -Take the medication to a medication take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location. -If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put in the trash, empty the medication out of the container. Mix the medication with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.