Zoloft (sertraline) is a prescription drug that treats certain mental health conditions. Its mechanism of action is to increase levels of serotonin in your brain. The effectiveness of this drug may vary based on your medical history and diagnosis.

It works by increasing levels of a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) in your brain called serotonin. The way a drug works is known medically as its mechanism of action.

For mental health conditions

Doctors prescribe Zoloft to treat the following mental health conditions:

The causes of mental health conditions are complex, and experts don’t fully understand them. These conditions may involve many psychological, social, genetic, and physical factors. These factors may cause changes in your brain’s pathways, affecting how you process information and view the world. These changes may lead to the symptoms of mental health conditions.

What does Zoloft do?

Neurotransmitters are natural body chemicals that pass signals between nerve cells. Serotonin passes signals in nerve pathways that manage mood, emotions, thoughts, and behavior. Zoloft works by increasing serotonin levels in your brain.

Doctors don’t fully understand how increasing the level of serotonin in your brain helps treat mental health conditions. However, boosting serotonin may improve the function of the nerve pathways involved in managing your mood, emotions, thoughts, and behavior. In turn, this may relieve the symptoms of mental health conditions.

Zoloft doesn’t start working right away. It may take a few weeks for the medication to build up its effect, and some of your symptoms may ease before others.

It’s important to keep taking Zoloft as prescribed, even if it doesn’t make much difference initially. If your condition worsens in the first few weeks of treatment, talk with your doctor right away. Do not change your prescribed dosage unless your doctor recommends it.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.