Zoloft (Sertraline) helping patients with Social Anxiety Disorder
Zoloft (Sertraline) helping patients with Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder is quite common with almost 40 million Americans adults suffering from it but is manageable by using CBT and SSI medication like Zoloft (Sertraline)
Social Phobia Symptoms & effects
A person with social phobia may either be worried about just a single event like dancing in public, eating out, public speaking or may have a more generalized problem that will psych him out from almost all social events. The patient may feel as if he is the center of attraction in the entire events with everyone observing the slightest embarrassing moments (many times imaginary) and judging him negatively. Physical symptoms that may project Social phobia are:
Blushing
Excessive perspiration
Chills
Uneasiness
Uncomfortable talking
It is very difficult and often left undiagnosed since the patient has inherent fear of being judged. This may take years for such a patient to seek help and is often found out after the patient suffers major depression or is treated for severe substance abuse. Often Social phobia may make a person socially recluse thus impairing networking contact and reducing chances of moving ahead in careers that need social interaction. It may also affect his family life and create negative psychological influence on close/dependant family members. Social phobia has been found to be hereditary.
Most people often feel anxious, scared,fearful or nervous of something or the other. When the periods of nervousness or fear last for an unusually long time or continue to persist beyond reasonable time, the person may be suffering from Anxiety disorder. Any person can suffer from Anxiety disorder and there is no specific high - risk group based on age, sex or race. Nearly 40 million Americans older than 18 years have an Anxiety Disorder a year. Almost 75% patients with Anxiety Disorder syndrome will have their first attack before they reach age of 22 years.
There are five major types of Anxiety Disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
When anyone feels extremely self-conscious or terrified of being in a social surrounding, the person maybe diagnosed with Social Phobia or social anxiety disorder. A patient with Social phobia will nervously visualize about upcoming social events and dreading negative or embarrassing moments. The patient may also continue to brood about past events and wonder about how he might have been perceived by others at an event or function. The person may realize that it is interfering with his work/life activities yet may not be able to control worrying about it. Around 15 million American adults above age of 18 yrs are suffering from Social Phobia.
Social Phobia Treatment - Use of medication like Zoloft (Sertraline hydrochloride)
Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors (SSIs) like Zoloft (Sertraline hydrochloride) are considered the most effective medication for Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder). Zoloft Sertraline hydrochloride prevents CNS neuronal uptake of Serotonin. Although there are side effects, their effects are minimal esp. in children. According to reports Zoloft in combination with CBT is the most effective treatment apart from their individual use.
Social phobia can be treated by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or through medication. A Social Phobia patient will avoid any situation, which may have potential for social embarrassment. This in turn reduces social growth and deepens the patient's fear that leads to him completely avoiding any further move to socialize. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the therapist works with the patient in identifying the exact fears, confronting them and devising strategies of tackling them.
Interactions of Zoloft Some of the medicines with which Zoloft interacts, are:-
Other SSRIs like Citalopram, Fluvoxamine, or Paroxetine
Anti-seizure medications like Carbamazepine, or Phenytoin
Anti-convulsants such as Valproate
Anti-anxiety drugs such as Diazepam
Antipsychotics like Chlorpromazine, or Clozapine
Narcotic pain relievers such as Codeine, or Morphine
Certain cardiac medicines such as Flecainide, or Propafenone
Anticoagulants such as Warfarin, Enoxaparin, or Dalteparin
Protease inhibitors for HIV/AIDS like Ritonavir
Mood stabilizers like Lithium
Storage of Zoloft
When you buy Zoloft, store it at a room temperature between 15oC-30oC, away from heat, light and dampness and out of reach of children and pets.
Precautions of Zoloft
It's important for you to meet your doctor regularly in the first 12 weeks of this therapy, who will monitor your condition to assess whether the medicine is working properly for you.
Avoid alcohol for it can increase the side effects of this medicine.
Elderly patients should be careful, and caregivers should observe them for symptoms of hyponatremia [an electrolyte imbalance], especially if they are taking diuretics along with Zoloft.
Those who drive or perform risky tasks should try to refrain from such activities, until they know how the medicine affects them and are sure that they can handle it's effects.
It is recommended that you do not attempt to treat yourself by taking, increasing, decreasing, or stopping the medicine on your own.
Never share your medicine with anyone else, even if they have similar symptoms it can do more harm than good to that person.
Notes of Zoloft
Read the Patient Information carefully each time you purchase a refill it may contain new information. Your doctor/pharmacist will be able to tell you more about the uses, precautions, side effects, and interactions linked to this medicine. Discard any unused medicine after your treatment is over.
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