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Sertraline

Medication SSRI mental health
Aka: Zoloft, Lustral
Brands seen in Singapore: Zoloft, Apo-Sertraline, Setrof, Inosert, Acoloft
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Depression, ocd, panic, ptsd and social anxiety (NHS)
When to take
Once a day, SAMe time · NHS: morning or evening
Take with
Water · NHS: with or without food; HealthHub: with food
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: one tablet once a day, morning or evening
  • NHS: also used in children 6 to 17 for ocd
  • Five distinct brands registered in SG
Cons
  • Prescription-only in SG — all 7 register rows
  • Nausea, poor sleep and sexual side effects (NHS)
  • Withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly (NHS)
Sources
  1. NHS — Sertraline (common brands: Lustral), 'What sertraline is for' (page last reviewed 8 September 2025) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Sertraline can be used to treat mental health conditions such as: depression … obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) … panic disorder … post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) … social anxiety disorder … It's a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).”
  2. NHS — Sertraline, 'How to take sertraline' (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “How much you need to take depends on why you're taking it … You take sertraline tablets once a day at the same time, either in the morning or evening. You can take them with water and with or without food.”
  3. NHS — Sertraline, 'Who can and cannot take sertraline' (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Children aged 6 to 17 can take it for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) … it may not be suitable if you have: diabetes … epilepsy … heart disease … glaucoma … a bleeding disorder (particularly bleeding in the digestive system)”
  4. NHS — Sertraline, common side effects (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Common side effects of sertraline include: headaches … feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting) … dizziness or drowsiness … dry mouth … diarrhoea … problems sleeping … sexual problems, such as low sex drive (loss of libido) … putting on weight”
  5. NHS — Sertraline, 'How to stop taking sertraline' (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “But do not suddenly stop taking it because it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor will gradually reduce your dose over several weeks or months.”
  6. NHS — Sertraline, 'Taking sertraline with other medicines, food and drink' (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “anticoagulants, such as warfarin and apixaban … non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen … monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as moclobemide and selegiline … Do not use the herbal supplement St John's wort when taking sertraline.”
  7. NHS — Sertraline, 'Food, drink and alcohol with sertraline' (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking sertraline. It's also best not to drink alcohol while taking sertraline because it can stop the medicine working properly.”
  8. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Sertraline medication information leaflet, uses section (article last reviewed 26 January 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Sertraline belongs to a class of medications known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). It is used to treat symptoms of depression … It may also be used to treat symptoms of anxiety”
  9. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Sertraline leaflet, administration section (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Sertraline should be taken with or after food. Take your medication according to the instructions stated on the medication label. Do not stop taking or adjust the dose of this medication without checking with your doctor.”
  10. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Sertraline leaflet, precautions section (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You have or have ever had … Heart, kidney or liver disease … diabetes, seizures (fits), Parkinson's disease, increased eye pressure (glaucoma), low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia) or bleeding problems … bipolar disorder … mania”
  11. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Sertraline leaflet, 'IMPORTANT' box on under-25s (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The following changes have been observed in some patients particularly below the age of 25 years taking this medication: New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life … Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour”
  12. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Sertraline leaflet, food and medication interactions section (same page) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Sertraline as it can worsen the symptoms of your depression and cause excessive sleepiness.”
  13. DailyMed / FDA prescribing information (SPL) — ZOLOFT (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, Viatris Specialty LLC, Dosage and Administration; label effective 8 Aug 2023, retrieved via the openFDA drug-label API · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “subsequent dosages may be increased in case of an inadequate response in 25 to 50 mg per day increments once a week, depending on tolerability, up to a maximum of 200 mg per day.”
  14. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084, full 5,511-row dump pulled 27 Aug 26 and filtered locally; 7 sertraline rows) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “ZOLOFT TABLET 50 mg · Prescription Only — Apo-Sertraline 50mg Tablet · Prescription Only — Apo-Sertraline 50mg Capsule · Prescription Only — SETROF TABLET 50MG · Prescription Only — INOSERT 100 Tablet 100mg · Prescription Only — ACOLOFT 50 · Prescription Only”
  15. HSA — forensic classification definitions used by the register (Prescription Only Medicine / Pharmacy Only / General Sale List) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Prescription-Only Medicine (POM): … can only be obtained from a doctor or from a pharmacist with a valid prescription”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.