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==Controversy==
==Controversy==
Because the antidepressant-suicide link is correlational, scientists do not know whether the increased suicide risk for people taking antidepressants occurs because the drugs make people suicidal, whether suicide occurs because the drugs un-depress the people enough to motivate the energy required to commit suicide (a popular theory), whether people statistically more likely to commit suicide are over-represented among takers of Zoloft, or because of a fourth, unknown factor.
Because the antidepressant-suicide link is correlational, scientists do not know whether the increased suicide risk for people taking antidepressants occurs because the drugs make people suicidal, whether suicide occurs because the drugs help the people recover enough to regain the energy required to commit suicide (a popular hypothesis), whether people statistically more likely to commit suicide are over-represented among takers of Zoloft, or because of a fourth, unknown factor.


The brand-name form of sertraline, Zoloft, was widely advertised to consumers as "correcting a chemical imbalance", a claim not found in the FDA-approved product labeling. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent promoting Zoloft this way while it was still on-patent. Some have argued that this advertising may lead consumers to believe that they must take Zoloft to recover when in fact they may benefit from other non-medical treatments such as psychotherapy or exercise.<ref name="PLoS">{{cite journal |author=Lacasse J, Leo J |title=Serotonin and depression: a disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature |journal=[[PLoS Medicine|PLoS Med]] |volume=2 |issue=12 |pages=e392 |year=2005 |pmid=16268734 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392.g001}} [http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392 Free full text, open-access source]</ref>
The brand-name form of sertraline, Zoloft, was widely advertised to consumers as "correcting a chemical imbalance", a claim not found in the FDA-approved product labeling. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent promoting Zoloft this way while it was still on-patent. Some have argued that this advertising may lead consumers to believe that they must take Zoloft to recover when in fact they may benefit from other non-medical treatments such as psychotherapy or exercise.<ref name="PLoS">{{cite journal |author=Lacasse J, Leo J |title=Serotonin and depression: a disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature |journal=[[PLoS Medicine|PLoS Med]] |volume=2 |issue=12 |pages=e392 |year=2005 |pmid=16268734 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392.g001}} [http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392 Free full text, open-access source]</ref>

Revision as of 14:50, 4 May 2007

Sertraline
Clinical data
Pregnancy
category
  • C
Routes of
administration		Oral
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability44%
MetabolismN-demethylation (liver)
Elimination half-life~26 hours
ExcretionRenal
Identifiers
  • (1S)-cis-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-
    N-methyl-1-naphthalenamine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC17H17Cl2N
Molar mass306.229 g/mol g·mol−1
"Lustral" redirects here. For the electronic music band, see Lustral (band).

Sertraline hydrochloride (also labeled under numerous brand names: Zoloft, Sertralin, Lustral, Apo-Sertral, Asentra, Gladem, Serlift, Stimuloton, Xydep, Serlain, Concorz) is a popular orally administered antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type. It was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1991.

Invention

The invention of Sertraline has been attributed to two scientists at Pfizer: Stephen Werner and William Dzomba. At the time, the notion that the neurotransmitter serotonin and depression might be linked was a fairly new concept. Together, Werner and Dzomba explored a variety of potential anti-depressant compounds and, within the space of one year, developed Sertraline.[1]

Indications

Approved

Sertraline is used medically mainly to treat the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is also prescribed for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),[2] post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),[3] premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD),[4] panic disorder (PD)[5] and social phobia/social anxiety disorder.[6]

Unapproved, off-label, and investigational

Sertraline can also be used in the treatment of general anxiety disorder,[7] binge eating disorder,[8] and premature ejaculation.[9]

There is also evidence that sertraline may be effective in the treatment of refractory neurocardiogenic syncope in children and adolescents.[10]

A study has shown that sertraline is an effective treatment for impulsive aggressive behavior in personality disordered patients.[11]

Side effects

Sertraline can have adverse effects, including: sleep disorder (both insomnia and increased sleep time), asthenia, gastrointestinal complaints, tremors, weight gain, confusion, dizziness, anorgasmia, nausea/vomiting, bruxism, mild depersonalization, and decreased libido. Sertraline, like all of the other SSRI drugs, can increase anxiety and depression symptoms in the first few days/week of use. These side effects generally go away as the body adjusts chemicals to adjust to the drug. Sertraline can induce mania or hypomania in around 0.5% of patients. It has also been known to cause minor weight loss. It is contraindicated in individuals taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or undergoing electroconvulsive therapy. Patients are advised to stop taking MAOIs for at least 14 days before beginning a course of sertraline.[12]

Until 2003, sertraline was only approved for use in adults ages 18 and over; that year it was approved by the FDA for use in treating children ages 6 to 17 with extreme obsessive compulsive disorder. In December 2003, Britain banned the use of all SSRIs except fluoxetine by minors,[13] and in February 2005, Pfizer was forced to change Zoloft's labeling to include information regarding increased incidences of suicidal behavior and depression in adolescent users of the drug. According to mentalhealth.com, Zoloft is not currently recommended or advised for use in individuals under the age of 18. After these changes, multiple incidences and at least one medical study showed an increased suicide risk in seniors who were taking Zoloft. In response to these findings, the FDA released a public health warning. This warning indicates that anyone currently using Zoloft for any reason has a greater chance of exhibiting suicidal thoughts or behaviors regardless of age. This warning is questionable, however, due to the types of illnesses Zoloft is used to treat, it is impossible to determine if these tendencies are a side effect of the drug or the illness the drug is meant to treat, though some have found links to increased suicide rates especially among individuals with bipolar disorder. In 2004, a Los Angeles nurse sued Pfizer as a private attorney general "on behalf of all California residents who have been misled about Zoloft", claiming the company covered up side effects.[14]

Zoloft has long been seen as the best option for breastfeeding mothers who wish to continue breastfeeding and be able to take their antidepressants. Despite its apparent safety and effectiveness during the breastfeeding period, recent studies and consumer complaints have seen a need to alter Zoloft's labeling regarding use during the third trimester of pregnancy. Though there are no teratogenic effects associated with Zoloft, there is reason to be concerned about its effects on infants who were exposed to sertraline during the third trimester in utero. It seems that Zoloft use in late pregnancy significantly increases the potential need for hospitalization and breathing assistance in the newborn period and has also been shown to cause an increased risk of neonatal death. In light of this increased risk it is still being used due to the greater potential risk of a seriously depressed mother to herself and her fetus. Like all other medications, Zoloft's use must be decided only after carefully weighing out all potential risks and benefits.

Although SSRI anti-depressants may cause problems in newborn babies whose mothers took Zoloft during pregnancy, the ceasing of Zoloft consumption during pregnancy may cause a relapse of depression.

According to the manufacturer's website, "if depression is left untreated, the risk of childhood suicide increases about 12 times, according to federal figures".[15]

Sertraline and other SSRIs have been shown to cause sexual side effects called Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction in both males and females taking them.[16] Sometimes, these may last months, years, or indefinitely after the drug has been withdrawn.

Distribution

This drug has been heavily prescribed in the United States. According to one source, more than 115 million prescriptions for sertraline had been written in the U.S. by February 2000.[17] In 2006, US$2.1 billion worth of Zoloft were sold in the United States—a 35% reduction from the previous year.[18]

Formulations

Zoloft bottles, with blue and green tablets

Sertraline is manufactured by Pfizer and sold as Zoloft in the United States as small green 25 mg tablets, blue 50 mg tablets, and yellow 100 mg tablets (Generic 100 mg sertraline tablets are also yellow), each of which is scored to allow easy halving.

In the UK, the brand name is Lustral and is available in white 50 mg or 100 mg scored tablets, according to the British National Formulary (BNF). Elsewhere in the EU the brand name is Zoloft, available in white 50 mg or 100 mg scored tablets. In Australia, only the 50 mg and 100 mg strengths are available, both as white tablets.

Sertraline is an odorless, white, sparingly soluble crystalline solid. The minimum effective dose is usually 50 mg per day (it can be still effective at 25 mg or 37.5 mg), but lower doses may be used in the initial weeks of treatment to acclimatize the patient's body, especially the liver, to the drug and to minimize the severity of any side effects. Patients who do not experience relief of symptoms at 50 mg a day may have their dose increased, up to 200 mg a day.

The patent for this brand-name drug expired in June 2006.[19] The drug is now available in generic form in the United States. The generic version of the drug is being produced by Greenstone Ltd. (a Pfizer Inc. subsidiary) and Israeli drug maker Teva.[20] In Scandinavia a generic drug called Sertralin, manufactured by HEXAL, is available. The price differences between Zoloft and Sertraline are as much as 1.50 U.S. dollars per pill.[citation needed] In India, this drug is sold under the name Zosert.

Green technology

In 2002, Pfizer received an award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, specifically in relation to the manufacture of sertraline. According to the EPA, Pfizer introduced methods of production that reduced necessary inputs of raw materials and allowed for a reduction of toxic waste. These new methods have been described as more energy-efficient, permitting the company to multiply sertraline production two-fold. Further, the application of this new process is purportedly safer for workers.[17]

Precautions

  • Liver impairment can affect the elimination of this drug from the body. If someone with liver impairment is treated with sertraline, lower or less frequent dosage should be used.
  • Patients should limit their alcohol intake while on sertraline (or any antidepressant). Because the liver is doubly taxed with processing both substances (in addition to any other drugs the patient may be taking), alcohol remains in the bloodstream longer, so the effects of alcohol may be more strongly and quickly felt by people taking sertraline or other antidepressants. Heavy alcohol consumpution while on any SSRI can damage liver cells much quicker than those off of the drugs.
  • According to a 1999 study, grapefruit juice might interfere with the metabolisation of sertraline, increasing its concentration in the blood.[21]
  • People 80 years or older should be started on 25 mg initial dose.

Dopamine

Sertraline appears also to be a minor dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Dopamine is responsible for the 'feeling rewarded' feeling in the brain (as well as being heavily involved in coordination of voluntary movements). While feeling reward generally leaves the user of the drug feeling great, it is not the intent of the drug. Interestingly, since activities like smoking cigarettes increases dopamine levels in the brain, some smokers actually have increased cravings while on SSRI drugs. There are numerous studies on these occurrences.[citation needed] [who?]

Controversy

Because the antidepressant-suicide link is correlational, scientists do not know whether the increased suicide risk for people taking antidepressants occurs because the drugs make people suicidal, whether suicide occurs because the drugs help the people recover enough to regain the energy required to commit suicide (a popular hypothesis), whether people statistically more likely to commit suicide are over-represented among takers of Zoloft, or because of a fourth, unknown factor.

The brand-name form of sertraline, Zoloft, was widely advertised to consumers as "correcting a chemical imbalance", a claim not found in the FDA-approved product labeling. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent promoting Zoloft this way while it was still on-patent. Some have argued that this advertising may lead consumers to believe that they must take Zoloft to recover when in fact they may benefit from other non-medical treatments such as psychotherapy or exercise.[22]

In the case of Hawkins v The Commonwealth (an Australian court case from the state of New South Wales), Zoloft was described as an important factor in David Hawkins' murder (through strangling) of his wife. Hawkins had been depressed, was prescribed 50 mg of Zoloft a day and on his first day of treatment took 250 mgs. He claimed on the night of the murder that he couldn't sleep, was agitated and claimed he had hallucinations during the attack on his wife. As a result of this case Zoloft received a large amount of negative publicity, with questions being raised about its impact on behaviour.[23]

A well-publicized essay published in the December 2005 issue of open access journal PLoS Medicine claimed the direct-to-consumer advertising for Zoloft has been very misleading and could well violate FDA regulations.[22]

Discontinuation syndrome

Main article: SSRI discontinuation syndrome

Sertraline, along with other SSRIs, has been associated with a "cessation syndrome." This syndrome has both somatic and psychological elements, although SSRIs fall short of being classified as addictive. This non-addictive classification stems from the fact persons given the drug will not seek it out in ever-increasing quantities. Although sertraline is defined as non-habit forming, the existence of SSRI discontinuation syndrome often necessitates a gradual tapering of one's prescribed dose when seeking to stop SSRI therapy. The prescription insert for Zoloft describes the potential side effects SSRI discontinuation as follows:

"During marketing of Zoloft and other SSRIs and SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors), there have been spontaneous reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g. paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, and hypomania. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms."[24]

References

  1. ^ Couzin J (2005). "The brains behind blockbusters". Science. 309 (5735): 728. doi:10.1126/science.309.5735.728. PMID 16051786.
  2. ^ Kronig MH, Apter J, Asnis G, Bystritsky A, Curtis G, Ferguson J, Landbloom R, Munjack D, Riesenberg R, Robinson D, Roy-Byrne P, Phillips K, Du Pont IJ. (1999). "Placebo-controlled, multicenter study of sertraline treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder". Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 19 (2): 172–176. PMID 10211919.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Brady K, Pearlstein T, Asnis GM, Baker D, Rothbaum B, Sikes CR, Farfel GM. (2000). "Efficacy and safety of sertraline treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial". The Journal of the American Medical Association. 283 (14): 1837–1844. PMID 10770145.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Yonkers KA, Halbreich U, Freeman E, Brown C, Endicott J, Frank E, Parry B, Pearlstein T, Severino S, Stout A, Stone A, Harrison W. (1997). "Symptomatic improvement of premenstrual dysphoric disorder with sertraline treatment. A randomized controlled trial. Sertraline Premenstrual Dysphoric Collaborative Study Group". The Journal of the American Medical Association. 278 (12): 983–988. PMID 9307345.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Londborg PD, Wolkow R, Smith WT, DuBoff E, England D, Ferguson J, Rosenthal M, Weise C. (1998). "Sertraline in the treatment of panic disorder. A multi-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose investigation". The British Journal of Psychiatry. 173: 54–60. PMID 9850204.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Katzelnick DJ, Kobak KA, Greist JH, Jefferson JW, Mantle JM, Serlin RC. (1995). "Sertraline for social phobia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 152 (9): 1368–1371. PMID 7653696.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Allgulander C, Dahl AA, Austin C, Morris PL, Sogaard JA, Fayyad R, Kutcher SP, Clary CM. (2004). "Efficacy of sertraline in a 12-week trial for generalized anxiety disorder". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 161: 1642–1649. PMID 15337655.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ McElroy SL, Casuto LS, Nelson EB, Lake KA, Soutullo CA, Keck PE Jr, Hudson JI. (2000). "Placebo-controlled trial of sertraline in the treatment of binge eating disorder". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 157 (6): 1004–1006. PMID 10831483.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ McMahon CG. (1998). "Treatment of premature ejaculation with sertraline hydrochloride: a single-blind placebo controlled crossover study". The Journal of Urology. 159 (6): 1935–1938. PMID 9598491.
  10. ^ Grubb BP, Samoil D, Kosinski D, Kip K, Brewster P. (1994). "Use of sertraline hydrochloride in the treatment of refractory neurocardiogenic syncope in children and adolescents". Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 24 (2): 490–494. PMID 8034887.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Kavoussi RJ, Liu J, Coccaro EF. (1994). "An open trial of sertraline in patients with personality disorder who also have impulsive aggression". Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 55 (4): 137–141. PMID 8071257.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Zoloft Information". Drugs.com. August 8, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  13. ^ Boseley, Sarah (December 10, 2003). "Drugs for depressed children banned". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  14. ^ "Suit Claims Pfizer Conceals Evidence and Misleads Doctors and Patients About Safety and Effectiveness of Zoloft" (Press release). Business Wire. July 23, 2004. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  15. ^ "Treatment for Depression and Anxiety - Zoloft.com". Pfizer. 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  16. ^ Clayton A, Keller A, McGarvey EL. Burden of phase-specific sexual dysfunction with SSRIs. J Affect Disord 2006;91:27-32. PMID 16430968.
  17. ^ a b "2002 Greener Synthetic Pathways Award". United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  18. ^ Smith, Aaron (January 22, 2007). "Pfizer to cut 10,000 jobs, shut 5 plants". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  19. ^ Smith, Aaron (July 17, 2006). "Pfizer needs more drugs". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  20. ^ "Teva Announces Launch of Generic Zoloft®" (Press release). Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. August 14, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  21. ^ Lee A, Chan W, Harralson A, Buffum J, Bui B (1999). "The effects of grapefruit juice on sertraline metabolism: an in vitro and in vivo study". Clin Ther. 21 (11): 1890–9. PMID 10890261.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ a b Lacasse J, Leo J (2005). "Serotonin and depression: a disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature". PLoS Med. 2 (12): e392. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392.g001. PMID 16268734.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) Free full text, open-access source
  23. ^ "Australian Supreme Court Justice Rules Zoloft Caused Man to Murder his wife" (Press release). Baum, Hedlund et al. May 25, 2001. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  24. ^ "Zoloft® Prescribing Information" (PDF). Pfizer. 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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