{"id":62272,"date":"2023-12-27T10:34:37","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T15:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=62272"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:19:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:19:47","slug":"zoloft-side-effects-in-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/zoloft-side-effects-in-women\/","title":{"rendered":"How to manage the side effects of Zoloft in women"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zoloft (sertraline)<\/span><\/a> is a commonly prescribed antidepressant that works by increasing serotonin levels (a feel-good hormone) in the central nervous system. As of 2020, about <\/span>38 million <\/span><\/a>prescriptions were filled for sertraline—with <\/span>women<\/span><\/a> even more likely to be taking an antidepressant than men. In this article, two psychiatrists and a pharmacist explain the potential side effects of Zoloft that are specific to women—such as weight gain or loss, decrease in sex drive, nipple discharge, vaginal bleeding, and changes in menstrual cycle. <\/span><\/p>\n

Common side effects of Zoloft in women<\/span><\/h2>\n

“The majority of side effects that may come along with taking Zoloft, such as nausea, insomnia, and changes in sexual desire, are not gender specific,” says <\/span>Alexa Hall<\/span><\/a>, MD, psychiatrist, and medical director of <\/span>Neuro Wellness Spa<\/span><\/a>. “However, there are some possible side effects that only affect women or affect women more so than men.” These include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Sexual side effects:<\/b> “Women may experience more significant sexual side effects and sexual dysfunction such as difficulty reaching orgasm and decreased libido,” Dr. Hall says.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Weight changes:<\/b> Women may express more concern over weight gain or loss in comparison to men, says Dr. Hall.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Menstrual cycle changes:<\/b> It is not uncommon for women to observe changes in the regularity of periods or differences in the intensity of menstrual flow,” says Dr. Hall. <\/span>Zoloft<\/span><\/a> may cause changes in your periods, such as heavy bleeding, spotting, or <\/span>vaginal bleeding<\/span><\/a> between periods.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Nipple discharge:<\/b> Women<\/span><\/a> may also experience unusual milk secretion from the nipples.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Bone loss:<\/b> “<\/span>There are some studies that show antidepressants like sertraline can result in increased bone loss in older women,” says <\/span>Alex Dimitriu, MD, <\/span>founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine<\/span><\/a> in Menlo Park, California.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    “<\/span>The benefits [of taking Zoloft] should be closely weighed against the risks and discussed with your physician,” Dr. Dimitriu says. “In my practice, the benefits have often outweighed the risks.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    Other <\/span>common side effects<\/span><\/a> to expect with Zoloft—which are not specific to gender—include:<\/span><\/p>\n