Major depressive episodes

Indication for Sertraline

Population group: Suitable for both men and women, only adults (18 years old or older)
Therapeutic intent: Preventive action

Prevention of recurrence of major depressive episodes.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

50 mg once daily for a week and thereafter 50-200 mg once daily

For: Adults (18-64) Elders (65+)

Dosage regimens

Oral, 50 milligrams, once daily, over the duration of 1 week. Afterwards, oral, between 50 and 200 milligrams, once daily. The maximum allowed total dose is 200 milligrams daily.

Detailed description

Initial treatment

Sertraline treatment should be started at a dose of 50 mg/day.

Titration

Patients not responding to a 50 mg dose may benefit from dose increases. Dose changes should be made in steps of 50 mg at intervals of at least one week, up to a maximum of 200 mg/day. Changes in dose should not be made more frequently than once per week given the 24-hour elimination half life of sertraline.

The onset of therapeutic effect may be seen within 7 days. However, longer periods are usually necessary to demonstrate therapeutic response, especially in OCD.

Maintenance

Dosage during long-term therapy should be kept at the lowest effective level, with subsequent adjustment depending on therapeutic response.

Depression

Longer-term treatment may also be appropriate for prevention of recurrence of major depressive episodes (MDE). In most of the cases, the recommended dose in prevention of recurrence of MDE is the same as the one used during current episode. Patients with depression should be treated for a sufficient period of time of at least 6 months to ensure they are free from symptoms.

Dosage considerations

Sertraline should be administered once daily, either in the morning or evening.

Sertraline can be administered with or without food.

Active ingredient

Sertraline is a potent and specific inhibitor of neuronal serotonin (5-HT) uptake in vitro, which results in the potentiation of the effects of 5-HT in animals. It has only very weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake.

Read more about Sertraline

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