Sertraline 50 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
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Sertraline 50mg and 100 mg film-coated tablets
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What Sertraline tablets are and what they are used for.
2. Before you take Sertraline tablets.
3. How to take Sertraline tablets.
4. Possible side effects.
5. How to store Sertraline tablets.
6. Further information.
1. WHAT SERTRALINE TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR
Sertraline tablets contain the active ingredient sertraline. Sertraline is one of a group of medicines called Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs); these medicines are used to treat depression and or anxiety disorders.
Sertraline tablets can be used to treat:
• Depression and prevention of recurrence of depression (in adults).
• Social anxiety disorder (in adults).
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (in adults).
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (in adults and children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old).
• Panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia (a fear of public places or open spaces)
Depression is a clinical illness with symptoms like feeling sad, unable to sleep properly or to enjoy life as you used to.
OCD is an illness linked to anxiety with symptoms like being constantly troubled by persistent ideas (obsessions) that make you carry out repetitive rituals (compulsions).
PTSD is a condition that can occur after a very emotionally traumatic experience, and has some symptoms that are similar to depression and anxiety. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is an illness linked to anxiety. It is characterised by feelings of intense anxiety or distress in social situations (for example: talking to strangers, speaking in front of groups of people, eating or drinking in front of others or worrying that you might behave in an embarrassing manner).
Your doctor has decided that this medicine is suitable for treating your illness.
You should ask your doctor if you are unsure why you have been given Sertraline tablets.
Sertraline hydrochloride which is contained in Sertraline 50mg and 100mg film-coated tablets is also authorised to treat other conditions which are not mentioned in this leaflet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have further questions.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE SERTRALINE TABLETS
Do not take Sertraline tablets:
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to sertraline or any of the other ingredients of Sertraline tablets.
• If you are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs such as selegiline, moclobemide) or MAOI like drugs (such as linezolid). If you stop treatment with sertraline, you must wait until at least one week before you start treatment with a MAOI. After stopping treatment with a MAOI, you must wait at least 2 weeks before you can start treatment with sertraline.
• If you are taking another medicine called Pimozide (an antipsychotic medicine).
Take special care with Sertraline tablets:
Medicines are not always suitable for everyone. Tell your doctor before you take Sertraline tablets, if you suffer from or have suffered in the past from any of the following conditions:
• Serotonin Syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. In rare cases this syndrome may occur when you are taking certain medicines at the same time as sertraline. (For symptoms, see section 4. Possible Side Effects). Your doctor will have told you whether you have suffered from this in the past.
• If you have low sodium level in your blood, since this can occur as a result of treatment with Sertraline tablets. You should also tell your doctor if you are taking certain medicines for hypertension, since these medicines may also alter the sodium level in your blood.
• Take special care if you are elderly as you may be more at risk of having low sodium level in your blood (see above).
• Liver disease; your doctor may decide that you should have a lower dose of Sertraline tablets.
• Diabetes; your blood glucose levels may be altered due to Sertraline tablets and your diabetes medicines may need to be adjusted.
• Epilepsy or a history of seizures. If you have a fit (seizure), contact your doctor immediately.
• If you have suffered from manic depressive illness (bipolar disorder) or schizophrenia. If you have a manic episode, contact your doctor immediately.
• If you have or have previously had suicidal thoughts (see below-thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder).
• If you have suffered from bleeding disorders or have been taking medicines which thin the blood (eg acetylsalicyclic acid (aspirin), or warfarin) or may increase the risk of bleeding.
• If you are a child or adolescent under 18 years old. Sertraline tablets should only be used to treat children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old, suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. If you are being treated for this disorder, your doctor will want to monitor you closely (see Use in children and adolescents below).
• If you are having electro-convulsive therapy (ECT).
• If you have or have a history of glaucoma.
Restlessness/Akathisia:
The use of sertraline has been linked to akathisia (a distressing restlessness and need to move, often being unable to sit or stand still). This is most likely to occur during the first few weeks of treatment. Increasing the dose may be harmful to patients who develop such symptoms.
Withdrawal reactions:
Withdrawal reactions when treatment is stopped are common, particularly if the treatment is stopped suddenly (see section 4 Possible side effects). The risk of withdrawal symptoms depends on the length of treatment, dosage, and the rate at which the dose is reduced. Generally, such symptoms are mild to moderate. However, they can be serious in some patients. They normally occur within the first few days after stopping treatment. In general, such symptoms disappear on their own and wear off within 2 weeks. In some patients they may last longer (2-3 months or more). When stopping treatment with Sertraline it is recommended to reduce the dose gradually over a period of several weeks or months, depending on the patient's needs.
Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder:
If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when first starting antidepressants, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks but sometimes longer.
You may be more likely to think like this:
• If you have previously had thoughts about killing or harming yourself.
• If you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in adults aged less than 25 years with psychiatric conditions who were treated with an antidepressant.
If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.
You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behaviour.
Use in children and adolescents:
Sertraline should not usually be used in children and adolescents less than 18 years old, except for patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Patients under 18 have an increased risk of undesirable effects, such as suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts and hostility (mainly aggressiveness, oppositional behaviour and anger) when they are treated with this class of medicines. Nevertheless, it is possible that your doctor decides to prescribe Sertraline tablets to a patient under 18 if it is in the patient's interest. If your doctor has prescribed Sertraline tablets to a patient less than 18 years old and you want to discuss this, please contact him/her. Furthermore, if any of the symptoms listed above appear or worsen when a patient under 18 is taking Sertraline tablets, you should inform your doctor. Also, the long-term safety of Sertraline tablets in regard to growth, maturation and cognitive and behavioural development in this age group has not yet been demonstrated.
Taking other medicines:
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Some medicines can affect the way Sertraline tablets work, or Sertraline tablets themselves can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
Taking Sertraline tablets together with the following medicines may cause serious side effects:
• Medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), like moclobemid (to treat depression) and selegiline (to treat Parkinson’s disease) and the antibiotic linezolid. Do not use Sertraline tablets together with MAOIs.
• Medicines to treat mental disorders (pimozide). Do not use Sertraline tablets together with pimozide. Talk to your doctor if you are taking the following medicine:
• Herbal medicine containing St. John’s Wort (Hypericumperforatum). The effects of St. John’s Wort may last for 1-2 weeks. Talk to your doctor.
• Products containing the amino acid tryptophan.
• Medicines to treat migraines (e.g. sumatriptan).
• Blood thinning medicine (warfarin).
• Medicines to treat pain/arthritis (Non steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).
• Sedatives (diazepam).
• Diuretics.
• Medicines to treat epilepsy (phenytoin).
• Medicines to treat diabetes (tolbutamide).
• Medicines to treat excessive stomach acid and ulcers (cimetidine).
• Medicines to treat mania and depression (lithium).
• Other medicines to treat depression (such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline).
• Medicines to treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders (such as perphenazine, levomepromazine and olanzapine).
• Medicines used for chronic pain or general anesthesia (fentanyl)
• Medicines used for epilepsy (phenobarbital, carbamazepine)
• Medicine to treat irregular heartbeat (propafenone, flecainide)
• Medicines used to treat ulcers (omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole)
Taking Sertraline tablets with food and drink:
Sertraline tablets can be taken with or without food.
Avoid grapefruit juice when taking Sertraline tables.
Alcohol should be avoided whilst taking Sertraline tablets.
Fertility, pregnancy and breast-feeding:
Ask your doctor/midwife or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Some medicines like sertraline may reduce the quality of sperm in animal studies. Theoretically, this could affect fertility, but impact on human fertility has not been observed as yet.
The safety of sertraline has not fully been established in pregnant women. Sertraline should only be given to pregnant women if the doctor considers that the benefit for the mother exceeds any possible risk to the foetus. Women of childbearing potential should employ an adequate method of contraception if taking sertraline. There is evidence that sertraline is excreted in human breast milk. Sertraline should only be used in women during lactation, if the doctor considers that the benefit for the mother exceeds any possible risk to the baby.
When taken during pregnancy, particularly in the last 3 months of pregnancy, medicines like Sertraline may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), making the baby breathe faster and appear bluish. These symptoms usually begin during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.
Driving and using machines:
Psychotropic drugs such as sertraline may influence your ability to drive or use machines. You should therefore not drive or operate machinery, until you know how this medication affects your ability to perform these activities.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Sertraline tablets:
If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. HOW TO TAKE SERTRALINE TABLETS
Always take Sertraline tablets exactly as your doctor has told you.
Sertraline tablets can be taken with or without food.
Take your medication once daily either in the morning or evening.
You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The usual dose is:
Adults:
Depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
For depression and OCD, the usual effective dose is 50 mg/day. The daily dose may be increased in 50 mg increments and at intervals of at least one week over a period of weeks. The maximum recommended dose is 200 mg/day.
Social anxiety disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
For panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, treatment should be started at 25 mg/day, and increased to 50 mg/day after one week.
The daily dose then may be increased in 50 mg increments over a period of weeks. The maximum recommended dose is 200 mg/day.
Children and adolescents:
Sertraline tablets must only be used to treat children and adolescents suffering from OCD aged 6-17 years old.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
Children aged 6 to 12: the recommended starting dose is 25 mg daily.
After one week, your doctor may increase this to 50 mg daily. The maximum dose is 200 mg daily. Adolescents aged 13 to 17: the recommended starting dose is 50 mg daily.
The maximum dose is 200 mg daily.
If you have liver or kidney problems, please tell your doctor and follow the doctor’s instructions.
Your doctor will advise you on how long to take this medication for. This will depend on the nature of your illness and how well you are responding to the treatment. It may take several weeks before your symptoms begin to improve
If you take more Sertraline tablets than you should:
If you accidentally take too many Sertraline tablets contact your doctor at once or go to the nearest hospital casualty department. Always take the labelled medicine package with you, whether there is any medication left or not.
Symptoms of overdose may include drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartrate, shaking, agitation, dizziness and in rare cases unconsciousness.
If you forget to take Sertraline tablets:
If you forget to take a dose, do not take the missed dose. Just take the next dose at the right time.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Sertraline tablets:
Do not stop taking Sertraline tablets unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor will want to gradually reduce your dose of Sertraline tablets over several weeks, before you finally stop taking this medicine. If you suddenly stop taking this medicine you may experience side effects such as dizziness, numbness, sleep disturbances, agitation or anxiety, headaches, feeling sick, being sick and shaking. If you experience any of these side effects, or any other side effects whilst stopping taking Sertraline tablets, please speak to your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Sertraline tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your
doctor or pharmacist.
Nausea is the most common side effect. The side effects depend on the dose and are often transient with
continued treatment.
Tell your doctor immediately:
If you experience any of the following symptoms after taking this medicine, these symptoms can be serious.
• If you develop a severe skin rash that causes blistering (erythema multiforme), (this can affect the mouth and tongue). These may be signs of a condition known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Your doctor will stop your treatment in these cases.
• Allergic reaction or allergy, which may include symptoms such as an itchy skin rash, breathing problems, wheezing, swollen eyelids, face, lips or tongue.
• If you experience agitation, confusion, diarrhoea, high temperature and blood pressure, excessive sweating and rapid heartbeat. These are symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome or neuroleptic malignant
syndrome. In rare cases this syndrome may occur when you are taking certain medicines at the same time as sertraline. Your doctor may wish to stop your treatment.
• If you develop yellow skin and eyes which may mean liver damage.
• If you experience depressive symptoms with suicidal ideas.
• If you start to get feelings of restlessness and not be able to sit or stand still after you start to take Sertraline tablets. You should tell your doctor if you start to feel restless.
The following side effects were seen in clinical trials in adults.
Very common side effects (occurs in more than 1 out of 10 patients):
Insomnia, dizziness, sleepiness, headache, diarrhoea, feeling sick, dry mouth, ejaculation failure, fatigue. Common side effects (occurs in between 1 and 10 out of 100 patients):
Sore throat, anorexia, increased appetite, depression, feeling strange, nightmare, anxiety, agitation, nervousness, decreased sexual interest, teeth grinding, numbness and tingling, shaking, muscle tense, abnormal taste, lack of attention, visual disturbance, ringing in ears, palpitations, hot flush, yawning, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, upset stomach, gas, rash, increased sweating, muscle pain, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, chest pain.
Uncommon side effects (occurs in between 1 and 10 out of 1.000 patients):
Chest cold, runny nose, hallucination, feeling too happy, lack of caring, thinking abnormal, convulsion, involuntary muscle contractions, abnormal coordination, moving a lot, amnesia, decreased sense of touch, speech disorder, dizziness while standing up, migraine, ear pain, fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, flushing, breathing difficulty, possible wheezing, shortness of breath, nose bleed, oesophageal problem, difficulty swallowing, haemorrhoids, increased saliva, tongue disorder, burping, eye swelling, purple spots on skin, hair loss, cold sweat, dry skin, hives, osteoarthritis, muscular weakness, back pain, muscle twitching, nighttime urination, unable to urinate, increase in urination, increase in frequency of urination, problem urinating, vaginal haemorrhage, female sexual dysfunction, feeling of general discomfort or illness, chills, fever, weakness, thirst, weight decreased, weight increased.
Rare side effects (occurs in between 1 and 10 out of 10.000 patients):
Intestine problem, inflammation of the stomach and intestines causing sickness and diarrhoea, ear infection, cancer, swollen glands, high cholesterol, low blood sugar, physical symptoms due to stress or emotions, unexplained blindness, paralysis, drug dependence, psychotic disorder, aggression, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or behavior, sleep walking, premature ejaculation, coma, abnormal movements, difficulty moving, increased sensation, sensory disturbance, glaucoma, tear problem, spots in front of eyes, double vision, light hurts eye, blood in the eye, enlarged pupils, heart attack, slow heart beat, heart problem, poor circulation of arms and legs, closing up of throat, breathing fast, breathing slow, high pitched breathing or respiratory sounds, difficulty talking, hiccups, blood in stool, black tarry stool, sore mouth, tongue ulceration, tooth disorder, tongue problem, mouth ulceration, problems with liver function, skin problem with blisters, hair rash, hair texture abnormal, skin odour abnormal, bone disorder, decreased urination, urinary incontinence, urinary hesitation, excessive vaginal bleeding, dry vaginal area, red painful penis and foreskin, genital discharge, prolonged erection, breast discharge, hernia, injection site scarring, drug tolerance decreased, difficulty walking, abnormal laboratory tests, semen abnormal, injury, relaxation of blood vessels procedure.
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Decrease in white blood cells, decrease in clotting cells, low thyroid hormones, endocrine problem, low blood salt, high levels of prolactin in the blood, an under active thyroid gland causing tiredness or weight gain, syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion, low levels of sodium in the blood causing tiredness, muscle twitching, confusion, fits or coma, diabetes, high blood sugar, thirst, excessive urinating, tiredness, weakness, tremor, slurred speech, restlessness, disorder affecting posture - muscle spasm of neck, shoulders and body, anxiety, distress, teeth grinding, terrifying abnormal dreams, muscular movement problems (such as moving a lot, tense muscles and difficulty walking), passing out, agitation, confusion, sweating, diarrhea, fever, high blood pressure, stiffness, racing or fast heartbeat, sever recurrent headaches, vision abnormal, unequal pupils, infection of the lungs, swelling of the face, bleeding problems (such as nose bleed, stomach bleeding, or blood in urine), pancreatitis, serious liver function problems, yellow jaundice, skin reaction to sun, itching, joint pain, muscle cramps, breast enlargement, menstrual irregularities, swelling in legs, abnormal blood tests results, altered platelet function, problems with clotting, increased cholesterol.
Other
An increased risk of bone fractures has been observed in patients taking this type of medicines.
Side effects in children and adolescents
In clinical trials with children and adolescents, the side effects were generally similar to adults (see above). The most common side effects in children and adolescents were headache, insomnia, diarrhoea and feeling sick.
5. HOW TO STORE SERTRALINE TABLETS
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Sertraline tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the pack. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION What Sertraline tablets contain
- The active substance is sertraline as sertraline hydrochloride.
Each film-coated tablet contains 50 mg or 100 mg sertraline as sertraline hydrochloride.
- Tablet core: Lactose Monohydrate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Povidone K30, Croscarmellose Sodium and Magnesium Stearate.
- Tablet coat: Hypromellose 6, Hypromellose 15, Talc, Propylene Glycol and Titanium Dioxide (E171). What Sertraline Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Sertraline 50 mg Film-coated Tablet:
White, oval, biconvex, 10x5 mm, film-coated tablet marked ‘L’ on one side and with score on the other side. Setraline 100 mg Film-coated Tablet:
White, round, biconvex, 10 mm in diameter, film-coated tablet marked ‘C’ on one side and with score on the other side.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Actavis Group PTC ehf Reykjavikurvegi 76-78 220 Hafnarfjordur Iceland
This leaflet was last revised in January 2013
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