Zoloft is an anti-depressant. It means that the drug helps you relieve depression. It is one of the members of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.
The question is, what cough medicine can I take with Zoloft?
Taking certain medications when you are on Zoloft can lead to medical complications. It brings us to the question, what cough medicine can I use with Zoloft? In answering this question, it is essential to note that you should always consult with your medical doctor in appropriate cases. Cough medicines that one can take when on Zoloft are Loratadine and other second-generation antihistamines. Nyquil is not advisable to take with Zoloft.
Uses Of Zoloft
Zoloft is a drug that is useful in the treatment of conditions such as panic attacks, depression, stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other forms of social disorders.
It helps to reduce the feeling of depression, stress, and anxiety. It does this by balancing the quantity of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a substance in the body that is responsible for the feeling of happiness. It plays a significant role in regulating the appetite of a person, as well as the emotions and mood.
Medical experts have linked the imbalance of serotonin in the body to cases of depression. It explains why a drug like the Zoloft that regulates the level of serotonin in the body comes in handy when handling cases of depression.
It is the only drug that the Food and Drug Administration approves for the treatment of depression for long-term use.
Side Effects Of Zoloft
Like most drugs, Zoloft has its fair share of side effects. Some of these side effects are that it causes dryness of the mouth, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, diarrhea, and even lead to sexual dysfunction.
The side effects are severe in some cases and cause severe abdominal pain. Suicidal thought, extreme agitation, change in eye and skin color are also possible reactions from the use of Zoloft. It is essential to consult with your health provider before you can start using this drug.
When you combine the Zoloft drug with certain drugs that you should not use it with, it could lead to serotonin syndrome. The serotonin syndrome is a condition that occurs when the level of serotonin in the human body has an unusual degree of serotonin, which is as a result of the taking of certain medications. The effects of serotonin syndrome can be mild. It can also be life-threatening and lead to death.
When using Zoloft, do not expect to start seeing results instantly. Zoloft does not work like that. It usually takes some weeks before you can start feeling its effect. Also, first-time users typically experience some side effects earlier on when they start consuming it.
Interactions Of Zoloft
Zoloft is an anti-depressant. As a result, it affects the level of serotonin in the body. Cough medicines also have the same effect on the body. Thus, using a Zoloft with cough medicine can have an adverse effect and cause serotonin syndrome.
Most of the time, the cases of serotonin syndrome occurs when a person takes two or more drugs that are serotonergic at the same time. At such times, the person that is using them does not even realize what he has done.
Most cold and cough medicines sold over the counter are serotonergic and could be deadly when consumed with Zoloft. Some of these drugs are the Dextromethorphan (DXM) and citalopram.
The interactions of Zoloft with other drugs are essential to understand how it works and what medicines you can effectively combine with it. It would be best if you talked to your medical doctor to properly guide you as you take on the Zoloft.
Also, it becomes essential to disclose all health issues that you have, especially if you are pregnant or intend to be in the nearest future.
Before you take any cough medicine, your medical doctor should hear about it and be able to figure out if it’s safe enough to take with Zoloft and other drugs that affect serotonin. You must also strictly follow the prescription that your medical doctor provides.
The Composition Of Zoloft
The Zoloft capsules come in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. The tablets contain ingredients like gelatin, dye D & C Yellow #10, and titanium dioxide. In addition to these, the 25mg and 50mg capsules also have dye FD & C Yellow #6 as one of its ingredients. The 100mg tablet, on the other hand, also contains the FD & C Red #40 as one of its elements.
Prescribed Dosages For Zoloft
There are two forms of Zoloft. One form is that it comes in tablets. The other kind is liquid. You can swallow the pill directly. However, you cannot chew it or grind it into powder before taking it. It must be whole while you are consuming it.
Taking Zoloft in its liquid form requires that you have to take it with liquids such as water, orange juice, lemonade, ginger ale, and lime or lemon soda. When using the liquid Zoloft, you are to combine it with half a cup of the liquid you choose.
The prescribed dosage is to take it once a day. However, your medical doctor will specify how you should take your Zoloft medication and for how long. Although some patients get varying dosages of between 25 to 200 mg! It depends on the prescription by your doctor according to your specific medical condition.
The exact dosage of Zoloft that each person needs to take varies. It depends on the condition for which the person is taking the drug. When administering it for the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, it is usually a dosage of 50mg per day. When using it for the treatment of conditions such as a panic attack, social anxiety disorder, etc., the dosage can start from 25mg initially and subject to subsequent increment according to the prescription of your medical doctor.
There should be no abrupt discontinuation of your Zoloft drugs. Where such abrupt discontinuation occurs, it could lead to specific withdrawal symptoms. You can prevent the situation by gradually reducing the dosage until finally discontinuing it. You should note that the mode of administering the Zoloft is through the mouth.
What Happens When You Miss A Dose Or Take An Overdose?
When you forgot to take a dose of Zoloft at the regular time, it is advisable to take it at that moment that you remembered. However, this is not advisable when the time is close to the period you are to take the next one.
When you take an overdose of Zoloft, you must visit your medical doctor immediately to salvage the situation before it results in a more complicated situation.
Can Everybody Take Zoloft?
The truth is everybody cannot take Zoloft. Even when some persons can use it, it is always advisable to do that with caution and upon the medical prescription of a medical doctor.
Some classes of persons that cannot use Zoloft or where they do, are to use it cautiously are persons with liver or kidney conditions. Persons who are suffering from seizures, diabetes, or heart disease should also exercise great caution when using this drug. Pregnant and lactating mothers are also to use the drug only based on prescriptions by their doctors.
Due to the high level of depression among persons below eighteen years, there have been some suggestions. The suggestion is that they should receive approval for the use of Zoloft by persons below the age of eighteen.
Precautions For Using Zoloft
Like all drugs, the exercise of caution is what you cannot wholly take away. One must exercise great caution when administering the Zoloft to elderly persons and children, especially those with liver and kidney conditions. You must also apply caution when taking it with other drugs. It would be best if you spoke with your medical doctor first before taking it.
When consulting with your medical doctor before using Zoloft, it is of utmost importance that you disclose all the health issues that you have. Also, you are to communicate with your doctor about all the medications you are currently taking. It involves disclosing the supplements and drugs bought from over the counter.
Do not take the Zoloft if you are pregnant if you’ve become pregnant in the course of taking the drug or where you intend to get pregnant shortly. You must have this discussion with your doctor to avoid having issues that will complicate your pregnancy.
Conclusion
The fact that Zoloft is an anti-depressant that affects the level of serotonin in the body makes it vital in the fight against depression. When one develops a cough while taking Zoloft, the question that often arises is what cough medicine can I take with Zoloft? It is a tricky situation as most cough medicines also affect the serotonin in the body, and when combined with the Zoloft, can lead to the condition of serotonin syndrome.
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