Potential Drug Interactions
Polypharmacy (multiple prescription drugs used in treatment) has become commonplace. Often, when one antidepressant doesn’t work, multiple antidepressants will be prescribed, and when even this combination doesn’t work, antipsychotics will be added to the patient’s daily regimen.
There is another set of side effects when taking Zoloft at the same time or within a 14-day time frame as other medications. Below are some of the drug interactions listed on the drug’s label or elsewhere as noted.4,5,7,14-17
MAOIs like methylene blue, linezolid, etc. can result in serotonin syndrome 4,7- Taking other SSRIs and SNRIs at the same time is also associated with serotonin syndrome and other side effects such as increasing or decreasing their effects, altering their metabolism, and more.
- Fentanyl
- Tryptophan
- St John’s Wort
- Lithium
- Tramadol
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Anticoagulants, antiplatelets, including aspirin, warfarin and others, may increase risk of bleeding
- Pimozide may trigger cardiac events
- Many drugs may affect the metabolism of sertraline, and conversely, sertraline may affect the metabolism of other drugs
- Rat studies have been cited to justify that mixing antidepressants and antipsychotics is safe, however, adverse cardiac and other side effects on humans have been documented14-16
Typically, prescribing an SSRI like Zoloft is considered the recommended first-line treatment for depression. Since this practice is so common, please be sure to always inform your prescriber of any other substances or medications you are taking concurrently so that adverse Zoloft side effects from drug interactions can be prevented.
And for your own safety, try to find a physician who is familiar with these data points, because most doctors do not receive such training in medical school. As there is generally a lack of clinical studies on many drug interactions, it is not recommended to experiment when the risk of poor outcomes remains unpredictable, and underappreciated.
Assessing the Risks vs Benefits of SSRIs
More than 20 years ago, reports published in the British Medical Journal reported on concerns about the risks of SSRIs, and welcomed the FDA’s upcoming 2004 review of the risks and side effects of Zoloft and other SSRI antidepressants.18
Since that time, a black box for suicidality has been mandated on the packaging. But the controversy has continued to battle on, with the drug manufacturers attempts to convince the drug regulators that their products are safe and low-risk, and concerned health professionals trying to get the warning bells ringing.
Millions of prescriptions of Zoloft have been filled and many people take SSRIs daily. But the person who needs to be listened to is the individual who is taking the drug and is suffering Zoloft side effects. That is the person who needs help and there is no controversy about that. Where the risks have outweighed the benefits, that is an opportunity where drug-free alternative treatments can provide hope and relief.
The days of false hope and lackluster or worse results can be over. What needs to happen is the roots of the problematic symptoms must be investigated, and when discovered, real and authentic healing can begin.
Your Symptoms are Real
There is no doubt that symptoms are real. And simply not treating the situation is not a viable option. But the option that is not offered in 99% of all cases may be the one that works for you. And that is the option of drug-free alternative treatments for symptoms like depression, anxiety, insomnia, pain, and all the other symptoms that Zoloft is prescribed to treat.
If you are like many others, drugs could have numbed or masked your symptoms effectively, for a time. But drugs like SSRIs stop working over time in many cases, and commonly they begin to introduce other ruinous symptoms. A quick prescription gets a lot of patients in and out of the clinics, but in the long run, this is not a good trade-off. No actual healing has occurred.
That is where drug-free alternative treatments for symptoms play an important role. If you are already taking Zoloft, in the predicament of suffering Zoloft side effects, and want to safely stop taking it, ATMC offers a pathway of treatment that blends alternatives with ultra-safe, slow tapering and a wide range of strategies and tools to soften the withdrawals while tapering. Holistic detox is key to remove not only drug residues, but removing neurotoxic overload that could have something to do with your original symptoms as well.
Find Relief of Symptoms Without Zoloft Side Effects
It is possible to find relief for your original symptoms without resorting to pharmaceutical drugs whose efficacy is limited at best. For real healing, one can find better outcomes by working with professionals who take the time to investigate underlying causes for symptoms. Once the root causes are established, these can be addressed. Symptoms can be reduced and even eliminated effectively, and drug-free strategies can provide permanent relief that does not bring with it all the liabilities connected with pharmaceutical drugs. You can find out more about the strategies and tools we use on our services overview pages.
Resources that May Help You
We are pleased to see a new wave of medical practitioners who are not only extremely well-informed in traditional medicine, but deeply vested in the alternatives that are science-backed, and proven effective in the health care of others that is entrusted to them. If coming to an inpatient facility is not possible for you at this critical time, you can may find the help you need through ACAM.org or IMMH.org. or reading the excellent research of leaders in their fields of expertise such as Dr. Peter Breggin, Dr. Mark Horowitz, Dr. Hyla Cass, Dr. Heath Ashton, and many, many others.
ATMC Inpatient Programs
ATMC offers an inpatient treatment approach that is second-to-none in the level of care, and the excellence in our staff who are dedicated to your comfort, well-being and recovery. Please reach out to us for more information on how to come to the center and get the tools and strategies you need to get your life back in order. You can be free of symptoms, free of Zoloft side effects, and free from failed treatments of the past. This is our specialty. An inpatient treatment facility like ATMC may be the best and safest way to achieve your wellness goals. We know what works, and we’ve seen what doesn’t, and we want to ensure you get the level of care that you or your loved one truly needs. Please reach out to us for more information. We are here to help.
Success Story
In the 3 years prior to coming to ATMC, I had been in and out of treatment and put on various different medications for anxiety and depression. Upon arriving at ATMC, I was on Zoloft, Risperidone, Cogentin, and Geodon; medications which had left me feeling sedated and hopeless, unable to manage my life. My anxiety was terrible, and I spent my days wavering in and out of depression. 
I had cried so many tears, my life had fallen apart so many times, and the judgmental eye of doctors had convinced me that there was something wrong with me. Meanwhile, I was spiritually broken. I was lost and I was tired.
ATMC truly gave me a new lease on life and was a place where real healing could be done. During my two months at ATMC I tapered off almost all of my meds with no side effects. The supplements provided to me helped tremendously with my symptoms, which I could not have foreseen. I had energy again! Actually more than ever! And I discovered a will to live life which is now so strong.
The staff were overwhelmingly friendly, conscientious, and openhearted. Frankly, their kindness and manner were inspirational. From day one they took me in with open arms and provided a safe environment for me to process past trauma, learn how to relieve symptoms, grow spiritually, and gave me real insight and hope into my future. For the first time in so long, life seemed so beautiful and I was no longer in pain, waiting for an answer. ~ C.G., graduate
