FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Although your doctor is the best source for answering your specific questions about depression and treatment with ZOLOFT, you can find answers to common questions here.

To see questions, click on the topics below.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ZOLOFTtop

ZOLOFT is a prescription medicine used to treat the following conditions in adults:

  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Panic Disorder
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

ZOLOFT is also indicated to treat children with OCD age 6 to 17 years.

It is important to talk with your doctor about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your doctor.

Talk to your doctor if you do not think that your condition is getting better with ZOLOFT treatment.

ZOLOFT and other antidepressant medicines may cause serious side effects. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if there is an emergency.

1. Suicidal thoughts or actions:

  • ZOLOFT and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people 24 years of age and younger, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed
  • Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe
    • Pay particular attention to such changes when ZOLOFT is started or when the dose is changed
    • Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider and call between visits if you are worried about symptoms

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if there is an emergency, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

  • attempts to commit suicide
  • acting aggressive or violent
  • new or worse depression
  • feeling agitated, restless, angry, or irritable
  • an increase in activity or talking more than what is normal for you
  • acting on dangerous impulses
  • thoughts about suicide or dying
  • new or worse anxiety or panic attacks
  • trouble sleeping
  • other unusual changes in behavior or mood

2. Serotonin Syndrome. This condition can be life-threatening and symptoms may include:

  • agitation, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status
  • racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure
  • coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
  • nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • sweating or fever
  • muscle rigidity

3. Increased chance of bleeding. ZOLOFT and other antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), or aspirin.

4. Manic episodes. Symptoms may include:

  • greatly increased energy
  • racing thoughts
  • unusually grand ideas
  • severe trouble sleeping
  • reckless behavior
  • excessive happiness or irritability
  • talking more or faster than usual

5. Seizures or convulsions.

6. Glaucoma (angle-closure glaucoma). Many antidepressant medicines, including ZOLOFT, may cause a certain type of eye problem called angle-closure glaucoma. Call your healthcare provider if you have eye pain, changes in your vision, or swelling or redness in or around the eye. Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are.

7. Changes in appetite or weight. Children and adolescents should have height and weight monitored during treatment.

8. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include:

  • headache
  • weakness or feeling unsteady
  • confusion, problems concentrating or thinking, or memory problems

9. Sexual problems (dysfunction). Taking serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including ZOLOFT, may cause sexual problems.
Symptoms in males may include:

  • Delayed ejaculation or inability to have an ejaculation
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Problems getting or keeping an erection

Symptoms in females may include:

  • Decreased sex drive
  • Delayed orgasm or inability to have an orgasm

Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any changes in your sexual function or if you have any questions or concerns about sexual problems during treatment with ZOLOFT.

Do not stop ZOLOFT without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping ZOLOFT too quickly may cause serious symptoms including:

  • anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless or changes in sleep habits
  • headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness
  • electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion

The time it takes for ZOLOFT to work is different for each individual and condition. Even if you don't feel better right away, it is important to keep taking ZOLOFT as directed by your doctor.

HOW TO GET BRAND-NAME ZOLOFTtop

Some pharmacies may fill your brand-name ZOLOFT prescription with a generic version. Follow the steps below to help ensure you receive the brand name your doctor prescribed and, if eligible, save on your prescription.

  1. Ask Your Doctor
    Ask your doctor to prescribe brand-name ZOLOFT and to indicate “DAW" (Dispense As Written), if appropriate, on all your ZOLOFT prescriptions.*
    *Language and requirements may vary based on your state's law
  2. Get a Savings Card
    Sign up for a Savings Card and, if eligible, pay as little as $4 for brand-name ZOLOFT.*
    *Terms and conditions apply.
  3. Check Your Pills
    Check your pills to be sure they're brand-name ZOLOFT—not the generic. If you think your brand-name prescription has been filled with a generic, talk to your pharmacist.

Talk to your doctor and/or your pharmacist to ask if you should be getting brand-name ZOLOFT.

Check your pills for the distinctive shape and markings of brand-name ZOLOFT.

Images of 25 milligram, 50 milligram, and 100 milligram pills

SAVING ON ZOLOFTtop

With the ZOLOFT Savings Card eligible patients may pay as little as $4 every time they get a 30-day fill of brand-name ZOLOFT—and could save up to $1,800 a year. If you have a prescription for brand-name ZOLOFT, you can use the card for every fill through December 31, 2024.*

*Terms and conditions apply.

There are 2 ways to use the card immediately. Once you’ve activated your Savings Card, you can either:

  • Bring a printed copy of it to the pharmacy
  • Show it to your pharmacist on your phone

You can keep this card with you and continue to save on each fill for ZOLOFT through December 31, 2024.

To be eligible to use a ZOLOFT Savings Card:

  • You do not have insurance from any Federal Healthcare Program (including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or any other state or federal medical pharmaceutical benefit program or pharmaceutical assistance program).
  • You and your spouse/partner are both not over age 65 and retired.
  • You do not receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or any other Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits.
  • Neither you, your spouse nor your parents are on active military duty and if so, you are not covered by their military health insurance.
  • You agree to the Terms and Conditions.

To learn the full details of who is eligible, please see the full Terms and Conditions.

To get a Savings Card, register here and then download your card or have it sent to you via email or text.

The ZOLOFT Savings Card can only be used for new prescriptions that are filled after you have activated the card.

Yes, for reimbursement when using a nonparticipating pharmacy: Pay for your ZOLOFT prescription, and mail a copy of the original pharmacy receipt (cash register receipt NOT valid) with product name, date, and amount circled to: ZOLOFT Savings Card, 2250 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 300, Morrisville, NC 27560. Be sure to include a copy of the front of your ZOLOFT Savings Card, your name, and mailing address.

Yes, for reimbursement when using the ZOLOFT Savings Card through a mail-order pharmacy: Pay for your ZOLOFT prescription, and mail a copy of the original pharmacy receipt (cash register receipt NOT valid) with product name, date, and amount circled to: ZOLOFT Savings Card, 2250 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 300, Morrisville, NC 27560. Be sure to include a copy of the front of your ZOLOFT Savings Card, your name, and mailing address.

TAKING ZOLOFTtop

Before starting ZOLOFT, tell your healthcare provider:

  • if you have:
    • liver problems
    • heart problems
    • bipolar disorder or mania
    • kidney problems
    • or have had seizures or convulsions
    • low sodium levels in your blood
    • a history of a stroke
    • high blood pressure
    • or have had bleeding problems
  • if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant: Your baby may have withdrawal symptoms after birth or may be at increased risk for a serious lung problem at birth. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of taking ZOLOFT during pregnancy.
  • if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed: A small amount of ZOLOFT may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking ZOLOFT.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

ZOLOFT and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take ZOLOFT with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking ZOLOFT without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Do not take ZOLOFT if you currently take, or have taken within the last 14 days, any medicine known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), including intravenous methylene blue or the antibiotic linezolid. Allow 14 days after stopping ZOLOFT before starting an MAOI. Taking an MAOI with ZOLOFT can cause serious or even life-threatening side effects.

Do not take ZOLOFT with other medicines containing sertraline (sertraline HCl, sertraline hydrochloride, etc.).

Do not take ZOLOFT with the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because this can cause serious heart problems.

Do not take Antabuse® (disulfiram) (if you are taking the liquid form of ZOLOFT) due to the alcohol content.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. ZOLOFT and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take ZOLOFT with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking ZOLOFT without talking to your healthcare provider first.

  • Take ZOLOFT exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of ZOLOFT until it is the right dose for you.
  • ZOLOFT Tablets may be taken with or without food.
  • ZOLOFT Oral Concentrate may look cloudy or hazy after mixing—this is normal.
  • ZOLOFT Oral Concentrate must be diluted before use:
    • Do not mix ZOLOFT until you are ready to take it.
    • When diluting ZOLOFT Oral Concentrate, use only water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, lemonade, or orange juice.
    • The oral dropper contains latex. If you are sensitive or allergic to latex, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to measure your medicine.
  • If you miss a dose of ZOLOFT, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of ZOLOFT at the same time.

If you take too much ZOLOFT, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

ZOLOFT can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how ZOLOFT affects you. Do not drink alcohol while you take ZOLOFT.

  • Store ZOLOFT at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
  • Keep the ZOLOFT bottle closed tightly.

SAFETY & POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTStop

ZOLOFT may cause serious side effects, including:

The most common side effects in adults who take ZOLOFT include:

  • nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or indigestion
  • increased sweating
  • tremor or shaking
  • agitation
  • change in sleep habits including increased sleepiness or insomnia
  • sexual problems including decreased libido and ejaculation failure
  • feeling tired or fatigued
  • anxiety

The most common side effects in children and adolescents who take ZOLOFT include abnormal increase in muscle movement or agitation, nose bleeds, urinary incontinence, aggressive reaction, possible slowed growth rate, and weight change. Your child’s height and weight should be monitored during treatment with ZOLOFT.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of ZOLOFT. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Do not take ZOLOFT if you:

  • take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
  • have taken an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping ZOLOFT unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
  • take any other medicines that contain sertraline (such as sertraline HCl or sertraline hydrochloride).
  • take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because this can cause serious heart problems.
  • are allergic to sertraline or any of the ingredients in ZOLOFT. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in ZOLOFT.
  • take Antabuse® (disulfiram) (if you are taking the liquid form of ZOLOFT) due to the alcohol content.

People who take ZOLOFT close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

  • high fever
  • rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
  • uncontrolled muscle spasms
  • confusion
  • stiff muscles
  • loss of consciousness (pass out)