Zoloft for OCD

Zoloft is a brand name for sertraline hydrochloride – an antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is often utilized in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, panic attacks and an assortment of other mental disorders. Since its inception in 1991, the Pfizer introduced drug has catapulted in popularity, becoming the most prescribed antidepressant in the U.S. with over 29.5 million prescriptions – a large percentage of which belongs to Zoloft.

Zoloft has often been regarded as the safest of the SSRI groupings of medications, and works extremely well in unison with other drugs. It has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of OCD, and unlike with other forms of SSRIs, Zoloft is just as effective in fixed dosages as in increased dosages. Therefore, whether someone is consuming 50 mg or 100 mg of Zoloft, they’ll likely to experience similar effectiveness. 50 mg continues to be the traditionally recommended dosage amount for OCD sufferers.

Countless studies have shown that Zoloft works well in treating OCD both in children and adults. Typically, the dosages used for the treatment of OCD are higher than those for treating depression, but that is not always the case. Part of the reason for this is that it takes longer for the drugs to impact OCD than it would depression. The recommended treatment time is starting with a half of a maximal dose for at minimum two months, at which point the dosage can be raised if the response doesn’t measure up to expectations.

Over the years, SSRIs have become more and more commonly used by OCD sufferers. Aside from Zoloft, other popular SSRI options include, but aren’t limited to: fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro).

Before committing to Zoloft or any other OCD treatment option, sufferers should consult their mental health physician and get a full rundown of the risks and benefits involved.