Zoloft® (Lustral)                     to order   (prescription not required)


The name of this medicine is LUSTRAL. The active ingredient is sertraline.

What is in your medicine?

Each white tablet contains: 50 mg or l00mg sertraline (as hydrochloride). Other ingredients: calcium hydrogen phosphate, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, magnesium stearate, microcryStalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate-80, sodium starch glycollate, and titanium dioxide (non-azo dye E 171). Each pack contains 28 tablets.

What type of medicine is LUSTRAL?

This medicine is one of a group of antidepressant or anti-obsessional drugs called the Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

What is your medicine for?

Lustral is used to treat depression or obsessive- compulsive disorder (GCD). The tablets are not sleeping tablets or tranquilizers. Your doctor has decided that this medicine is suitable for treating your illness. Depression is a clinical illness. If you have been feeling sad, tearful, unable to sleep properly or to enjoy life as you used to, Lustral may help you to feel better. It may also help treat the anxiety, which may accompany your depression. If you are not sure why you are on these tablets, ask your doctor. GCD is an illness linked to anxiety. If you have been constantly troubled by persistent ideas (obsessions) that make you carry out repetitive rituals (compulsions) Lustral may help you. If you are not sure why you are on these tablets, ask your doctor.

Before you take LUSTRAL

If the answer is YES to any of the questions below - DO NOT TAKE LUSTRAL.

• Have you ever had an allergic reaction to LUSTRAL?
• Do you have liver problems?
• Are you taking, or have you taken in the last two weeks, any medicines called monoamine oxidize inhibitors (MAOIs for short)?

If the answer is YES to any of the following questions - tell your doctor immediately.

• Are you pregnant or think you might be pregnant
• Are you breast feeding
• Do you have kidney problems?
• Have you ever had an epileptic fit?
• Are you a child under 16 years old?
• Are you being treated with electro convulsive therapy (ECT) r?
• Do you intend to drink alcohol when taking this medicine?
• Do you intend to drive or use machinery whilst taking this medicine?
• Are you being treated with any other medication for your illness, e.g. lithium, or another antidepressant or anti obsessional drug?
• Are you taking tryptophan, sumatriptan, fenfluramine, warfarin, diazepam, tolbutamide or cimetidine?
• Are you taking aspirin or other painkillers known as NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti- inflammatory Drugs)?
• Do you have a history of bleeding disorders?

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests if you are taking lithium or warfarin.

How to take your medicine

Your medicine should only be taken by mouth.
The usual dose of LUSTRAL is 50mg taken once a day.
Doctors sometimes prescribe a higher dose, up to a maximum of 200mg daily. The label on the pack will tell you what dose you should take. If you are still not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

• Swallow your tablets whole with a drink of water.
• It is best to take them at the same time each day, with or without a meal.
• Do not crush or chew your tablet.
• Keep taking your tablets every day. The day is written on the pack to help you remember.

What if you take too many tablets?

Too many tablets at once can be dangerous. If you take too many tablets tell your doctor. If you are unable to contact your doctor go to your local hospital casualty department at once.

What if you miss a tablet?

Do not worry. If you forget to take a tablet, do not take that tablet. Just take the next tablet at the right time. Do not take more tablets at once than your doctor told you.

How quickly will the treatment start to work?

• You may take LUSTRAL for 2-4 weeks before you start to feel better.
• You must keep taking LUSTRAL to help you get better.
• See your doctor before your tablets run out.
• Even if you begin to feel better, keep taking your tablets. You may need to keep taking them to Stay well.

What if you do not feel better?

Tell your doctor if:

• You have taken all your tablets and you still feel unwell, or
  
• You feel worse

Does your medicine cause undesirable effects?

Your medicine may cause some undesirable effects:

• Dry mouth
• Feeling or being sick
• Loss of appetite
• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Shaky feeling (tremor)
• Sweating
• Change in sex drive or function e.g. ejaculatory delay
• Dizziness
• Not being able to sleep
• Excessive sleepiness
• Indigestion

Most undesirable effects are usually mild and tend to wear off as you take the tablets for longer.
If they cause you discomfort or are long lasting, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other undesirable effects: All medicines can cause allergic reactions. Serious allergic reactions are very rare. Any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling, rash or itching (especially affecting the whole body) should be reported to a doctor immediately.

• A vague feeling of being unwell, tiredness, joint or muscle pain.
• Effects associated with depression: anxiety, unable to sleep, crying.
• Tingling or numbness.
• Convulsions.
• Confusion, amnesia.
• Uncontrollable twitching, jerking or writhing movements. More likely if you already experience such effects.
• Mania/ hypomania, hallucinations.
• Abnormalities in liver function tests. Rarely; jaundice, inflammation of the pancreas or liver, liver failure.
• Lower sodium content of the blood.
• Increase in the hormone, prolactin, which could lead to symptoms such as abnormal production of breast milk or breast enlargement.
• Menstrual irregularities.
• Skin rash and sensitivity to sunlight.
• Agitation, aggression.
• Symptoms such as dizziness, tingling, headache, anxiety and nausea may occur if Lustral treatment is stopped too quickly. These symptoms are generally non-serious and disappear within a few days. If you experience symptoms on stopping treatment, contact your doctor.

Tell your doctor straight away if you get any of these effects, or any other discomfort you do not understand.

Look after your medicine

This treatment is for YOU. Do not give it to others. It may not suit them. Do not take this medicine after the date stamped on the pack.

Where to keep your medicine

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Further information

This leaflet does not contain all the information about this medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist. The information in this leaflet is about LUSTRAL only.
Document Reference: United Kingdom LST7_1
Leaflet dated: August 1999 ©Pfizer Limited

HOME           to order