SSDRI -
Selective Serotonin and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor
(Wiki)
Please note:
Dosage equivalents are provided for certain drugs below and
are denoted as unit equivalents, i.e. one unit of drug x is
roughly the equivalent as one unit of drug y, where the
dosage equal to one unit varies.
Drugs of this family selectively reuptake
the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine; the distinction is not usually made
but is included here for the sake of completeness.
Sertraline
(Wiki)
Brand names:
Altruline®, Apo-Sertral®, Aremis®, Asentra®, Atruline®,
Besitran®, Concorz®, Dominum®, Fatral®, Gladem®, Lesefer®,
Lustral®, Nudep®, Serlain®, Serlift®, Sertralin®,
Sertranex®, Sertranquil®, Sosser®, Stimuloton®, Xydep®,
Zolof®, Zoloft®, Zosert®
Formula: C17H17NCl2
Half life: ~ 26 hours
Single unit dose: Unknown
Recommended outpatient dose: 50mg per day
[Verified]
Maximum outpatient dose: 200mg per day
[Verified]
Often regarded
as the competitor to citaloprams "safest SSRI" mantle, sertraline is in fact an SSDRI (Selective Serotonin and Dopamine Reuptake
Inhibitor) antidepressant but is primarily viewed as an
SSRI as the effect on the
monoamine neurotransmitter dopamine is comparitively minor. It was first
approved for use in 1991.
Being a sedative drug, sertraline is particularly useful in
anxiety related disorders and in patients who are having trouble sleeping. It is
approved for use as a treatment for depressive disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder
(OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), panic disorders and social phobias/anxiety disorders. It is also proving useful in
the treatment of aggressive behaviour linked to personality disorders.
In terms of side effects, sertraline is fairly neutral. It causes
drowsiness and sedation and can also lead to
weight loss, usually a desirable effect. It can
induce mania, but this only happens in 0.5% of
cases (compared to the 6% under fluoxetine care). It is seen as the best option
for nursing mothers as it is pretty safe and retains its
effectiveness.