Sertraline (Oral Route)

Side Effects

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

1. Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
2. failure to discharge semen (in men)
3. inability to have or keep an erection
4. loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

Less common or rare

1. Aggressive reaction
2. breast tenderness or enlargement
3. confusion
4. diarrhea
5. drowsiness
6. dryness of the mouth
7. fast talking and excited feelings or actions that are out of control
8. fever
9. inability to sit still
10. increase in body movements
11. increased sweating
12. increased thirst
13. lack of energy
14. loss of bladder control
15. mood or behavior changes
16. muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
17. nosebleeds
18. overactive reflexes
19. racing heartbeat
20. red or purple spots on the skin
21. restlessness
22. seizures
23. shivering
24. skin rash, hives, or itching
25. sudden loss of consciousness
26. unusual or sudden body or facial movements or postures
27. unusual secretion of milk (in females)

Incidence not known

1. Bleeding gums
2. blindness
3. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
4. bloating
5. blood in the urine
6. bloody, black, or tarry stools
7. blue-yellow color blindness
8. blurred vision
9. chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
10. chills
11. clay-colored stools
12. cough or hoarseness
13. darkened urine
14. decreased urine output
15. decreased vision
16. delayed or inability to have an orgasm
17. depressed mood
18. difficulty with breathing
19. difficulty with speaking
20. difficulty with swallowing
21. drooling
22. dry skin and hair
23. eye pain
24. fainting
25. feeling cold
26. feeling of discomfort
27. feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
28. general feeling of discomfort, illness, tiredness, or weakness
29. hair loss
30. high fever
31. high or low blood pressure
32. hoarseness or husky voice
33. hostility
34. increased clotting times
35. indigestion
36. inflamed joints
37. irritability
38. joint or muscle pain
39. large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
40. lethargy
41. lightheadedness
42. loss of appetite
43. loss of balance control
44. loss of bladder control
45. lower back or side pain
46. muscle aches
47. muscle cramps and stiffness
48. muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
49. muscle twitching
50. painful or difficult urination
51. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
52. pale skin
53. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
54. rapid weight gain
55. rash
56. red, irritated eyes
57. red, sore, or itching skin
58. right upper stomach pain and fullness
59. severe mood or mental changes
60. severe muscle stiffness
61. shuffling walk
62. sore throat
63. sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
64. sores, welting, or blisters
65. stiffness of the limbs
66. stomach pain
67. sweating
68. swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
69. swollen or painful glands
70. talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
71. trouble breathing
72. twisting movements of the body
73. twitching
74. uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
75. unexplained bleeding or bruising
76. unpleasant breath odor
77. unusual behavior
78. unusual tiredness or weakness
79. vomiting of blood
80. weight gain
81. yellow eyes and skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

1. Acid or sour stomach
2. belching
3. decreased appetite or weight loss
4. diarrhea or loose stools
5. heartburn
6. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
7. stomach cramps, gas, or pain
8. trouble sleeping

Less common

1. Agitation, anxiety, or nervousness
2. bladder pain
3. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
4. changes in vision
5. cloudy urine
6. constipation
7. difficult, burning, or painful urination
8. flushing or redness of the skin, with feeling of warmth or heat
9. frequent urge to urinate
10. increased appetite
11. pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
12. stuffy or runny nose

Incidence not known

1. Decrease in smell
2. flushed, dry skin
3. fruit-like breath odor
4. increased hunger
5. increased urination
6. loss of sense of smell
7. redness or other discoloration of the skin
8. severe sunburn
9. swelling of the breasts (in women)
10. unexplained weight loss
11. unusual secretion of milk (in women)

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Precautions

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

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