Overview
Zoloft is the brand name for Sertraline, and antidepressant, antiobsessional, and antipanic agent. It is an SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, which is a class of drugs that increase the levels of serotonin in a patient.

Zoloft may take effect in one to three weeks or more.

Why is this drug prescribed?
Zoloft is used in children to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The obsessions or compulsions must cause marked distress, are time-consuming, or significantly interfere with social or occupational functioning.

Other uses of Zoloft include:

1. depression
2. panic attacks / panic disorder
3. post-trauma stress
4. social phobia
5. obesity
6. premenstrual syndrome

Warnings and Precautions
Zoloft has been tested in children 6 to 17 years of age with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. Because Zoloft can cause decreased appetite, children taking Zoloft long-term should have their growth and body weight measured regularly.

Zoloft does not have a known sedative effect, but people taking Zoloft should not drive or operate heavy machinery until the effects of Zoloft are known.

For Pregnant or Nursing Mothers: Research indicates that Zoloft has no harmful effects during pregnancy. Zoloft passes into breast milk; no adverse effects on the infant have been reported, but the long-term effects are not known. As with all medications, pregnant or nursing women should be cautious when using this drug.

Contraindications
Zoloft should not be used for people with the following medical conditions:

1. an allergic or negative reaction to this drug in the past
2. a history of seizures
3. recent heart attack
4. kidney disease
5. Parkinson's disease
6. liver disease
7. epilepsy

Adverse Reactions
Zoloft may cause the following reactions:

1. fast heart rate, palpitations
2. dizziness or lightheadedness
3. fast talking, excited feelings
4. skin rash, itching (hives)
5. unusual tiredness or weakness
6. confusion
7. flushing
8. sweating
9. muscle spasms
10. nausea, vomiting
11. diarrhea
12. decreased appetite
13. weight loss
14. dry mouth
15. vaginitis
16. insomnia
17. headache
18. indigestion,
19. fatigue
20. insomnia
21. nervousness
22. stupor

Interactions with Drugs and Other Substances
Drugs or substances that may interact with Zoloft are:

1. cimetidine
2. diazepam
3. furazolidone
4. molindone
5. MAO inhibitors such as phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®) - serious, even fatal, interactions can occur when these medications are taken with Zoloft
6. medicines for mental depression, mania, anxiety, psychosis or difficulty sleeping
7. procarbazine
8. selegiline
9. tolbutamide
10. Valium (diazepam), Orinase (tolbutamide), and Coumadin (warfarin) – their effects may be increased
11. illicit drugs (LSD, cocaine, methamphetamine)
12. antihistamines (Seldane, Histmanal)
13. certain antibiotics
14. calcium channel blockers
15. Antidiabetic drugs - risk of hypoglycemic reactions may increase when taken with Zoloft
16. Tambocor (flecainide) may lead to flecainide toxicity
17. Norvir (ritonavir) can lead to toxicity
18. alcohol

http://www.rxlist.com/scripts/patient/piumore.pl?mononum=856&dc_category=
Depression&order=0&type=&item=

http://www.graylab.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?Zoloft

http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-z02.html