Can You Get Sertraline HCL (generic Zoloft) Online?

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Allison Edwards

Yes! Thanks to convenient telehealth platforms like Sesame you can get a prescription for sertraline online in minutes from a trusted doctor. Following a video consultation or in-person doctor appointment, doctors can write prescriptions for medication or refill an existing prescription. Note that doctors on Sesame cannot write prescriptions for controlled substances. Sesame offers same-day in-person and telehealth visits with real quality doctors who can chat with you about your condition and determine the best treatment options for your condition or symptoms.

Visit www.sesamecare.com to find a health care provider, book an appointment that’s convenient for you, and talk to your doctor about your condition. Sesame’s integrated prescription service lets your doctor write a prescription for the lowest price medication - often just $5 with free delivery on every prescription.

What is Sertraline Hcl?

Sertraline is a prescription antidepressant medication - belonging to a classification of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications work by increasing the amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine available in the brain.

Serotonin is a chemical that the body produces to transmit messages between nerves. It’s thought to play an important role in regulating certain emotional behavior, like anxiety and aggression. Having balanced levels of serotonin available in your brain stabilizes your mood and makes you feel happy.

What Is Sertraline Hcl Used To Treat?

The FDA has approved Sertraline to treat a wide range of mental health disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD), and OCD in children and adolescents ages 6-17.

What Is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a type of mood disorder that negatively affects how you think, behave, and feel. Untreated depression can lead to a range of emotional and physical issues. Common symptoms of depression include:

  • Feelings of sadness
  • Loss of interest in or pleasure in most normal activities
  • Outbursts of anger or frustration
  • Troubles with sleep such as sleeping too much or insomnia
  • Fatigue or lack of energy
  • Anxiety or agitation
  • Loss of appetite or increased craving for food
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Suicidal thoughts

Depression can make it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks and affect personal relationships.

Depression affects nearly one in fifteen adults, with one in six people experiencing depression at least once in their lifetime. While there are common risk factors for depression (like hormones, brain chemistry, genetics, and environmental factors), depression can affect anyone.

What Causes Depression?

Depression can be caused by any number of things, from genetic makeup to traumatic events or medical illnesses. Depression isn't always caused by just one thing; it often results from the interplay between multiple factors.

Your mood and the way you see reality are controlled by a complex system of chemicals. There could be as many chemical reactions in charge of regulating your mood as there are people on the planet. There is not just one chemical that is high or low when you have depression.

Though your chemical makeup is complex, there has been a lot of research to develop medications such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers to help regulate these chemicals.

Some causes linked to depression and chemical makeup include:

Hyperthyroidism: People who suffer from this condition have an overactive thyroid, which is a butterfly-shaped gland in your throat that helps release hormones. In the Journal of Thyroid Research, it is estimated that up to 69% of people who have hyperthyroidism also have clinical depression.

Hypothyroidism: This condition is caused by an underactive thyroid. When a thyroid isn’t as active as it should be, it does not produce the normal amount of thyroid hormones into your central nervous system, which can cause a person to gain weight and feel tired, which are both symptoms and signs of depression.

Mental illnesses or mental health conditions: Among them, the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH has listed psychosis as being linked with depression.

Stressful Events: Death, divorce, a major move, even Covid-19, can all induce depressive episodes. In fact, during the pandemic, more than 1 in 3 adults have reported feeling depressed or anxious. In 2019, this number was closer to 1 in 10.

How Does Sertraline Hcl Work?

Sertraline works by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in our brain cells. Serotonin is a naturally occurring chemical messenger (called a neurotransmitter) that is responsible for regulating your mood and helping you feel happy. Neurotransmitters send signals between your brain and neurons in the body. Once a signal has been sent, the neuron reabsorbs the serotonin to be recycled.

Reducing the brain’s reuptake of serotonin can help balance your mood and relieve a number of conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

How Should Sertraline Be Taken?

Sertraline is available in the United States in tablet, capsule, and liquid form and is generally taken once a day, either in the morning or evening. It can be taken with or without food. The usual starting dose for sertraline is 25 mg or 50 mg depending on the condition being treated. If the desired result is not achieved at this dosage, the doctor may increase the dosage in one to two-week intervals until an adequate response is achieved.

Use only as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Do not discontinue the use of sertraline, or increase your dosage, without prior approval from your doctor.

How Long Does It Take For Sertraline Hcl To Work?

Generally, the full effects of sertraline take about 4-6 weeks to be felt. However, you may see improvements in your sleep, energy, and appetite within the first 1-2 weeks of taking sertraline.

Do not stop taking sertraline - even if you begin to feel better - unless directed to do so by your doctor. If you stop taking sertraline too soon, your symptoms may return.

What Are The Most Common Side Effects of Sertraline Hcl?

The most common side effects while using sertraline include nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, and drowsiness. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away. While rare, some side effects can be serious. Call your doctor right away if you experience seizures, abnormal bleeding or bruising, hallucinations, fever, confusion, fast heartbeat, shivering, severe muscle stiffness or twitching, loss of coordination, vomiting, rash, hives, or trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects of sertraline. For more information, visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed webpage.

WARNING: In short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders, antidepressants showed an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults compared to placebo. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or 911.

Can You Buy Sertraline Online?

Yes, it’s legal and possible to get a prescription for sertraline online by scheduling an appointment with a licensed medical provider. Fortunately, there are trusted telehealth and marketplaces like Sesame where you can find top-reviewed doctors online and near you, schedule appointments, and, if appropriate, get a prescription for sertraline at the lowest cash price.

During your appointment, your doctor or provider will assess your medical condition and, if appropriate, write you a prescription. Please note that all prescriptions are at the sole discretion of your provider.

Schedule an appointment today to talk to a doctor about an online prescription for sertraline Hcl (generic Zoloft).



Sources

Mayo Clinic. Major Depressive Disorder. Accessed 12/2/2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007

MedlinePlus. Sertraline. Accessed 12/2/2021. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697048.html

DailyMed. Sertraline. Accessed 12/2/2021. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=8c8bcba9-eaeb-aa44-f9ea-b580de55a439

National Library of Medicine. The Link between Thyroid Function and Depression. Accessed 12/2/2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246784/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Depression. Accessed 12/2/2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.htm

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Medical disclaimer

Sesame content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical concern, it is critical to seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions. If you are facing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.