In brief
- Sertraline (Zoloft) is an SSRI antidepressant; in Europe it is licensed for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder.
- Sertraline can change appetite and weight, but the evidence that it directly causes weight gain is mixed; the likely mechanism is a bigger appetite, and possibly fluid retention.
- Any weight change is gradual, appearing over months rather than weeks, and some people simply regain weight they lost while depressed.
- Weighing yourself before you start, keeping your usual portions and staying active help you notice and limit changes.
- Tell your doctor about any noticeable weight change; never stop sertraline or change the dose on your own.
- The manufacturer advises against alcohol with sertraline: it adds to drowsiness and nausea, and skipping a dose in order to drink is never the answer.
What sertraline is
Sertraline is an antidepressant sold by Pfizer under the brand name Zoloft. Sertraline, an antidepressant, comes in a group of drugs called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin present and active in our brain. The working function of Sertraline is almost similar to other antidepressant drugs, just that the side effects caused by Sertraline may vary.
It is a drug prescribed for major depressive disorder, major obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. It is not prescribed for children unless it is the case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. Hence, one of the primary compounds present in the brain helps control anxiety, stress, and happiness. The increase in usage of Sertraline or other SSRI drugs is also believed to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts in people under the age of 25. Thereby increasing the risk of suicides.
If the level of serotonin in the human brain decreases, it causes anxiety and depression. The serotonin amount can be regulated and increased by using antidepressant drugs, thereby controlling anxiety and reducing depression. The increase in serotonin caused by medication is believed to decrease arousal. Serotonin is also one of the reasons that causes Nausea.
Sertraline consumption can cause various side effects such as increased weight gain, higher chances of nausea, diarrhoea, insomnia, ejaculation failure, dry mouth, drowsiness, seizures, tremor, and sexual side effects. The chances of one having diarrhoea are prominent when a higher dose of Sertraline is prescribed. However, there is no exact reason why the consumption of Sertraline causes weight gain.
Does Sertraline (Zoloft) Cause Weight Gain?
No such direct evidence could directly relate the consumption of Sertraline to weight gain. Sertraline, just like other antidepressants, has been linked with the probable aspects of weight gain.
But one of the most promising theories related to this is that antidepressants like Sertraline may not directly affect your thyroid, limiting their effect on metabolism, but they can make one feel hungrier.
The more one feels hungry. There would be a change in their appetite. One may feel hungrier and would not be satisfied with the regular portion of food. Hence, it may take more significant portions, increasing the amount of calorie intake.
Common and Serious Side Effects of Sertraline
Common Side Effects of Sertraline
| Side Effect | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weight gain | Occasional | Linked to appetite and fluid retention |
| Nausea | Common | Often dose-related |
| Fatigue/drowsiness | Common | Worse with alcohol use |
| Sexual dysfunction | Possible | Low libido, ejaculation issues |
| Insomnia | Possible | Report if persistent |
| Anxiety or suicidal thoughts | Rare but serious | Higher risk under age 25 |
Can You Drink Alcohol While on Sertraline?
It is best not to. Pfizer, the manufacturer, advises against alcohol while taking sertraline: alcohol adds to the drowsiness and nausea the medicine can cause and can worsen low mood. Never skip a dose so that you can drink, and tell your doctor if you are drinking alcohol while taking sertraline. The risks are explained further down.
How Sertraline Can Influence Weight Over Time
There is no sudden change in weight. Any gain is gradual, usually appearing over about six months, and it is small, but even a small change in appetite adds up over the long term. Weight gain might be helpful if the person suffering from depression or anxiety has lost weight or has reduced their appetite. In this case, the weight gained will be from low to back to normal, thereby indicating a patient's recovery.
SSRIs can also affect the hormone that controls how much water the body holds on to, which may cause some fluid retention.
Managing Weight Gain While Taking Sertraline
The following precautions can be taken as a step to avoid unnecessary weight gain due to the consumption of Sertraline or any other antidepressant drug from the group of SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) drugs:
- Keep a check on your weight before you start consuming Sertraline. A proper weight report would help one easily track down the changes, rather than weight gain or weight loss in some cases. Also, for accurate results, check your weight before eating, after eating, and after going to the bathroom. This would help track any minor changes that might have occurred from the drug usage.
- We will struggle with your old habit, the diet structure is tight. As discussed, Sertraline might make one feel hungrier and unsatisfied with the portion consumed. But if we try to keep up with our old eating habits, we will struggle with the portions, timing of food, and food choices. It might help us to keep a check on our weight. Maintain your old eating habits, as even a slight change in your diet or eating habits can have a lasting effect on your weight gain.
- Stay healthy and keep yourself active. If you exercise regularly now, you should try to maintain the same routine after consuming drugs (unless you are advised not to exercise by your doctor). It would help keep a check on weight gain and is also closely associated with reducing depression and anxiety. You can even start exercising, if not already, with approval from the doctor. It would be best to start slowly to avoid other major issues.
- Keep your doctor updated about the changes. If there is an observable increase or a drastic weight change, gained or lost, after using Sertraline or any other SSRI drugs, the best practice would be to inform your doctor. Your doctor might help you keep a healthy weight by changing your diet plans, suggesting some exercise to keep you active, or even changing the structure of the dosage of Sertraline
In the case of weight loss, a proper diet plan would be implemented. Again, you must try keeping up with your old eating habits and consuming the exact portions you used to drink before the medication Sertraline started.
- In any case, if you find yourself losing weight, which is generally not the pattern observed. But if so, you can consult your doctor, as there might be some minor changes in your appetite due to the consumption of Sertraline. Try maintaining your eating habits and consuming the same portion or more than what you used to eat before the medication and consumption of Sertraline started.
Though there is no certainty with Sertraline being associated directly with weight gain, following the above tips and tricks would help one keep a check on one's weight.
Risks of Mixing Sertraline and Alcohol
One might be consuming alcohol occasionally at some party, during dinner, or in any other case, which is normal. But if you are consuming an antidepressant like sertraline, an SSRI drug (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) group. It would be best to have second thoughts before opening the next bottle.
Sertraline, just like other SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), is used to treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and various other conditions. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin that is actively present in our brains.
The manufacturer of Sertraline also suggests not consuming alcohol after using Sertraline, as it is shown that alcohol potentially increases the amount of serotonin in our body, which would worsen the side effects caused by Sertraline.
The increased amount of serotonin in our body causes a decrease in arousal and also causes nausea. Also, Pfizer, the manufacturer of Zoloft, suggests that combining Sertraline with alcohol can cause drowsiness.
Specific questions that arise in mind while barring the consumption of alcohol and Sertraline together are: Should one skip the next dose of Sertraline to consume and enjoy alcohol? The answer would be a big NO.
Generally, Sertraline is an antidepressant drug prescribed to treat those with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, stress, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
In either of the scenarios, the dosage of the drug must not be altered without a doctor's consultation. As every drug has dosage periods and side effects, limiting its prescribed usage without consultation with a doctor may cause serious issues.
Also, some mild discontinuation syndrome symptoms are observed in patients if the drug consumption is stopped abruptly. Some mild discontinuation syndrome symptoms include nausea, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, irritability, etc.
It would be better if one chooses to skip alcoholic beverages rather than skipping the drug dose if one is suffering from depression or anxiety and being prescribed Sertraline for the same. Not to forget that alcohol has both depressant and stimulant effects, which may worsen the state, triggering more depression and anxiety.
It is recommended to avoid consuming both alcohol and Sertraline together. It makes one feel drowsier than before and might also cause nausea.
Hopefully, the above points will solve and clear the doubts related to the consumption of alcohol and Sertraline together. And remember it is NOT recommended to consume alcohol and Sertraline as it might add to the side effects caused by consumption of Sertraline or other SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).
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