Zoloft is a prescription drug that treats a diverse range of disorders. Some of the common disorders are depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Zoloft works to make sure more serotonin is released to the brain. Seratonin is a chemical that the brain associates with happiness. The safety of taking this drug is under debate. A major study in USA stated that Sertaline, which is the main ingredient in Zoloft, appears to be ineffective when treating depression of moderate severity. The company that manufactures Zoloft has been charged recently with not coming forward with information about the side effects of the drug. Since then many more people have taken them to court. The company has also been forced to place warnings about the side effects of this drug on all bottles of all Zoloft.

The major side effects of taking Zoloft include insomnia, gastro intestinal complaints and dizziness. More severe reactions can include mania and hypomania.

The rate of people affected by mania and hypomania are 1 in 50 patients. Zoloft has been made illegal for children under the age of 18 unless they are suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. This has come about because of an increase in suicidal behavior and depression that young people have experienced when on this drug. It is alleged that it is not only young people that are feeling the effects of increased suicidal behaviors and depression while on Zoloft.

It is believed that Zoloft can also cause a condition known as Akathisia. This condition is characterized as an overwhelming physical and mental restlessness that eventually leads to destructive behavior in the patient.

It is important to keep an eye on anyone who has just started taking an anti depressant medication such as Zoloft. If a patient becomes irritable, more depressed, begins to have new or increased thoughts of suicide or usual behavioral changes, it is in the patients best interest to contact a heath care professional immediately.

However it is being debated by some professionals whether Zoloft is really as unsafe as some people believe. Because of the types of illnesses that Zoloft is used to treat it is hard to know whether some of the side effects are because of the illness being treated or the result of the drug being taken.

Taking Zoloft for depression can be risky due to some of the severe side effects. If anti depressants are required for a patient, a qualified health care professional can discuss the patient’s options and provide valuable advice on the best alternatives available for treatment of a disorder.