can we report death of patient on zoloft

Death is found among people who take Zoloft, especially for people who are female, 60+ old, have been taking the drug for 1 - 6 months. The phase IV clinical study is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 118,546 people who have side effects when taking Zoloft from the FDA, and is updated regularly.

Full Answer

How do I report side effects of taking Zoloft?

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. How should I store Zoloft? Store Zoloft at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Keep Zoloft bottle closed tightly. Keep Zoloft and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Can You overdose on Zoloft?

Zoloft overdose, in most cases, is non-fatal, and this was observed in the study as well. Some of the patients had OD on the medicine alone, whereas others had combined it with other medication or alcohol. The amount of this medicine ingested in the patients ranged from 50 mg to 8000 mg.

What happens if you stop taking Zoloft suddenly?

Seek urgent medical advice if symptoms consistent with serotonin syndrome (such as agitation, hallucinations, fast heart rate, dizziness, flushing, nausea, diarrhea) develop. Do not stop suddenly as withdrawal symptoms may occur. When the time comes to discontinue Zoloft, your doctor will advise you how to taper the dose down.

Can You OD on Zoloft (Zoloft)?

Different disorders associated with depression are treated with Zoloft, but there are a few common factors that can lead to OD on this antidepressant. Any pre-existing health conditions or diseases that the individual might be suffering from

Does Zoloft cause death?

Although Zoloft has become more common as it's used to treat a wider variety of conditions, the dangers are still very real. Zoloft overdose is especially dangerous and can produce severe side effects -- sometimes even death. Individuals who are addicted to Zoloft are at higher risk of suffering an overdose.

What do you do if someone overdoses on antidepressants?

If a person takes too many antidepressants or mixes them with other drugs or alcohol, they may experience an overdose. Anyone who notices mild or severe symptoms of an antidepressant overdose in themselves or another person should immediately call the emergency services.

What do I report when taking sertraline?

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Is Zoloft a controlled substance?

Sertraline has not been designated as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It is not considered to have any serious risk of abuse or addiction.

What happens when someone overdose on sertraline?

Sertraline and other SSRI medications are considered relatively safe even in overdose. In sertraline overdose, clinical findings include lethargy, tremor, nausea, vomiting, mydriasis, tachycardia, and ECG changes.

What happens if you take too much Zoloft?

A person who's overdosing on Zoloft may also experience a rapid heart rate, shakiness, fever or dizziness. It's also possible that in severe cases the individual could develop: Serotonin syndrome. Seizures.

Is sertraline a high risk medication?

Sertraline, like other antidepressants, may increase the risk of suicidal ideation and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults with major depression.

What are the most common side effects of Zoloft?

Nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, loss of appetite, increased sweating, diarrhea, upset stomach, or trouble sleeping may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

What is Zoloft classified?

Sertraline (marketed as Zoloft) is included in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class of drugs is used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

Is 50mg of Zoloft a lot?

Most studies suggest that the most effective dose of Zoloft is 50 mg per day. This dose is proven to be the most effective and tolerable dose for most patients.

Can Zoloft lower your heart rate?

The drugs used to treat depression by affecting the brain's use of the chemical serotonin -- Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft -- also tend to reduce the abnormalities in heart rhythm and blood clotting.

What does Zoloft do to the brain?

As an SSRI, Zoloft blocks the reabsorption, or uptake, of serotonin in the brain, leaving more of the chemical available. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that, among other responsibilities, helps regulate your mood, learning, and memory.

How often should I take Zoloft?

Zoloft may be administered either continuously (every day throughout the menstrual cycle) or intermittently (only during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, i.e., starting the daily dosage 14 days prior to the anticipated onset of menstruation and continuing through the onset of menses).

How does sertraline work?

Sertraline undergoes extensive first pass metabolism. The principal initial pathway of metabolism for sertraline is N-demethylation. N-desmethylsertraline has a plasma terminal elimination half-life of 62 to 104 hours. Both in vitro biochemical and in vivo pharmacological testing have shown N-desmethylsertraline to be substantially less active than sertraline. Both sertraline and N-desmethylsertraline undergo oxidative deamination and subsequent reduction, hydroxylation, and glucuronide conjugation. In a study of radiolabeled sertraline involving two healthy male subjects, sertraline accounted for less than 5% of the plasma radioactivity. About 40–45% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in urine in 9 days. Unchanged sertraline was not detectable in the urine. For the same period, about 40–45% of the administered radioactivity was accounted for in feces, including 12–14% unchanged sertraline.

Does Zoloft need to be adjusted?

Based on pharmacokinetic studies, no dosage adjustment of Zoloft is necessary when used in combination with cimetidine. Additionally, no dosage adjustment is required for diazepam, lithium, atenolol, tolbutamide, digoxin, and drugs metabolized by CYP3A4, when Zoloft is administered concomitantly [See Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Is Zoloft safe for seizures?

Zoloft has not been systematically evaluated in patients with seizure disorders. Patients with a history of seizures were excluded from clinical studies. Zoloft should be prescribed with caution in patients with a seizure disorder.

Can Zoloft cause bipolar?

In patients with bipolar disorder, treating a depressive episode with Zoloft or another antidepressant may precipitate a mixed/manic episode. In controlled clinical trials, patients with bipolar disorder were generally excluded; however, symptoms of mania or hypomania were reported in 0.4% of patients treated with Zoloft. Prior to initiating treatment with Zoloft, screen patients for any personal or family history of bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania.

Is Zoloft contraindicated?

Contraindications. Zoloft is contraindicated in patients: Taking, or within 14 days of stopping, MAOIs, (including the MAOIs linezolid and intravenous methylene blue) because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome [See Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Drug Interactions (7.1)].

Can Zoloft cause false positives?

This finding is due to lack of specificity of the screening tests. False-positive test results may be expected for several days following discontinuation of Zoloft. Confirmatory tests, such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, will help distinguish Zoloft from benzodiazepines [See Drug Interactions (7.3)].

What are the side effects of Zoloft?

The most common less serious side effects in patients taking Zoloft or the generic version sertraline include: Dizziness. Drowsiness. Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping) Unexpected change in weight or appetite. Dry mouth. Upset Stomach. Abdominal or stomach cramps, pain, or gas.

How long does it take for Zoloft to go away?

Difficulty achieving orgasm. Usually, many of the side effects experienced by patients taking Zoloft will fade away in a couple or few weeks. Sometimes, the patient will have lasting withdrawal symptoms the tend to hang on for many months after the medication was taken.

When was Zoloft approved?

In 1991, the Food and Drug Administration officially approved sertraline. By 2002, the brand-name Zoloft received its FDA approval for use in teenagers and children 17 years and younger to treat OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

Why did the plaintiff take Zoloft?

The plaintiff has alleged that taking Zoloft during her pregnancy led to her son being born with a life-threatening heart defect. Lawsuit documents reveal that the plaintiff’s doctor prescribed Zoloft as an effective solution for treating an undisclosed medical condition. However, the woman was pregnant at the time.

When was Zoloft first synthesized?

The History of Zoloft. The precursor psychoactive compound chemical makeup of what would eventually become Zoloft was first synthesized in the early 1970s by Pfizer employee Reinhard Sarges.

When did Zoloft revise its warning label?

Three years later in 2005, the FDA mandated that the makers of Zoloft revise its warning label to provide information to consumers concerning the potential risks of suicidal ideation and behavior in children.

Does Zoloft cause birth defects?

No formal studies on birth defects have been performed on Zoloft, the popular anti-depressive medication. However, many women who were prescribed Zoloft while they were pregnant reported their children had experienced birth defects likely caused by brand-name Zoloft, and/or its generic version sertraline.

What are the symptoms of Zoloft overdose?

According to the FDA, the most common Zoloft overdose symptoms include: Agitation. Confusion. Nausea.

Where to treat Zoloft overdose?

Treatment in a Medical Center. Zoloft overdose is often treated in the emergency department. In most cases, sertraline levels in the blood are not routinely measured since getting these lab values might be costly and time-consuming.

How long does it take for sertraline to be absorbed?

Sertraline Overdose Symptoms. This SSRI medicine is absorbed slowly, and it may take up to 8 hours for peak plasma concentrations to be achieved. When a significant amount of the drug is ingested, the peak plasma concentrations are reached much faster. The presence of sertraline in the system may be evident within 3 hours post-ingestion.

What is the most common overdose of sertraline?

Somnolence or excessive sleepiness is one of the most common sertraline overdose symptoms. This behavioral effect is particularly prevalent when the OD occurs in the backdrop of concurrent benzodiazepine ingestion.

Why do I get nausea and vomiting after taking sertraline?

Nausea and Vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are part of the gastrointestinal disturbances caused by too much sertraline in the body. Clinically, these two symptoms seem to be self-limiting and may occur as the body tries to expel the offending ingested medication.

How long does it take to get overdosed on sertraline?

The average hospital stay period for a person who has overdosed on sertraline is usually not longer than 24 hours.

Is Zoloft a sertraline?

Zoloft is a highly effective SSRI antidepressant that also carries a significant risk of OD. This risk is further increased for people who use sertraline without proper medical guidance.

Who is liable for Zoloft injuries?

Determining who might be liable for a Zoloft patient's injuries depends on the " learned intermediary " rule. The prescribing doctor acts as an intermediary between the patient and the drug manufacturer and therefore has a duty to tell the patient about the drug's effects. As a result, patients who aren't warned of the drug's adverse effects may be able to hold their doctors liable for failing to pass along the warnings from the manufacturer.

What to do if your child has a birth injury from Zoloft?

If your child has suffered birth injuries due to the use of Zoloft, consider speaking with a qualified drug and medical device attorney near you today. Because there are several groups of plaintiffs already in the court system, you may want to consider any legal options you may have without delay to best protect your rights.

Is there a lawsuit against Zoloft?

Starting in 2012, there are still major Zoloft-related litigation proceedings working their way through the court system. One proceeding combines several lawsuits focusing on birth defects, while the other is related to claims that the drug doesn't work as advertised.

Can you sue for Zoloft?

When manufacturers or doctors fail to report these side effects to the patient, Zoloft users may be able to sue for any unexpected injuries that result. The three main side effects that have produced Zoloft lawsuits are:

Does Zoloft help with depression?

Some users claim that Zoloft provided them no relief , despite the drug manufacturer's claims of successfully treating depression. In many cases, these patients experienced the harmful side effects of the drug without the advertised benefits.

What are the symptoms of stopping Zoloft?

Symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome from quitting Zoloft suddenly can include: flu-like symptoms, such as lethargy, headache, and sweating, insomnia or other sleep problems, nausea, dizziness and other balance problems, and/or. a prickling, tingling sensation on the skin (paresthesia).

How long does Zoloft last?

How Long Do Zoloft Withdrawal Symptoms Last? According to the National Health Service (NHS), within five days of stopping antidepressants like Zoloft, symptoms can appear and then last for up to six weeks. This phenomenon is known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

Can you restart Zoloft?

Using medications that alleviate symptoms can help make Zoloft withdrawal more comfortable. In some cases, medical providers recommend restarting Zoloft and slowly reducing doses. In other cases, replacing Zoloft with an antidepressant with a different half-life can help.

Does Zoloft cause cravings?

Overview Dosage Side Effects Interactions Half-Life. Zoloft withdrawal does not cause typical symptoms of addiction, such as cravings. However, sertraline ( Zoloft) can cause other withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly.

Who is responsible for reporting a beneficiary's death?

A representative payee — a person or organization appointed by Social Security to manage benefit payments for someone no longer able to do so — is also responsible for reporting a beneficiary’s death as part of their larger duty to notify Social Security of any event affecting that person’s payments.

What happens if Social Security pays a deceased person?

If Social Security pays the deceased's benefit for that month because it was not notified of the death in time, the survivors or representative payee will have to return the money.

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