Managing Your Condition

Managing Your Condition
Depression and anxiety are difficult conditions that might affect virtually every part of your life. You might find yourself falling behind at work, school, and life. Often that's the hardest part of your condition.
Find out why it takes more than medicine to help your condition.
There's more to treating depression and anxiety conditions than taking medication. You also have to learn how to manage your condition. Just as it took time for you to develop symptoms, it's going to take time for them to go away. Your condition isn't going to disappear overnight. There are methods to help you get better faster and to help you get through the hard times.
Discover ways to manage your condition.
Learn tips to help you cope with your depression or anxiety conditions. Find out how to talk to a doctor and your friends and family about your condition. See how important therapy and healthy living are to your recovery. Figure out how to choose a support group. Learn about online resources that offer up-to-date information about depression.
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Depression is a serious medical condition, which can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior. Children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants may be  at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior within the first few months of treatment. This risk must be balanced with the medical need. Those starting medication or changing doses should be watched closely for suicidal thoughts, worsening of depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. In children and teens, Zoloft is only approved for use in those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. A patient Medication Guide about "Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and Other Serious Mental Illnesses, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions" is available.
Zoloft is not for everyone. People taking MAOIs or pimozide shouldn't take Zoloft. Concomitant use of Zoloft with NSAIDs or aspirin may be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Side effects may include dry mouth, insomnia, sexual side effects, diarrhea, nausea and sleepiness. In studies, few people were bothered enough by side effects to stop taking Zoloft. Side effects may result from stopping Zoloft particularly when abrupt. You should, however, stop taking Zoloft if you get any of the following symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome, a rare but life-threatening reaction, such as fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, trouble thinking clearly, a change in mental functioning, sleepiness, or change in your breathing, heartbeat and blood pressure.
You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as there is a potential risk to the fetus with Zoloft. Like many antidepressants, Zoloft can be present in breast milk so tell your doctor if you are nursing.
Zoloft is approved to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in adults over age 18. It is also approved for OCD in children and adolescents age 6-17 years.
Zoloft is not habit-forming and is not associated with weight gain. So talk to your doctor about how Zoloft might help you. Zoloft comes in 25-mg, 50-mg, and 100-mg tablets. You and your doctor can discuss a dose for you.
The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
This product information is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.
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