What Is Sertraline?
Sertraline is a prescription medication that is sold as a generic drug or under the brand-name Zoloft. It comes as a solution or a tablet, which can be taken orally. Doctors typically prescribe this medication to treat different mental issues. These may include premenstrual dysphoric disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depressive disorder. Sertraline can be used alone or part of therapy combination, which means you have to take it with other drugs. [1]
How Does Sertraline Work?
Sertraline belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by inhibiting the reabsorption of a chemical called serotonin into the brain’s neurons. Serotonin plays a key role in sending electrical impulses between neurons. In general, it can be quickly reabsorbed. By taking sertraline or other SSRIs, serotonin is kept in the synaptic gap between the brain’s neurons for an extended period of time. This allows the neurotransmitter to transmit more messages, which subsequently helps boost mood. [2]