Sertima 25mg Tablet belongs to a class of antidepressant drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used in the treatment of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Depression is a mood disorder associated with symptoms such as sadness, unable to sleep properly or enjoy life as you used to do. OCD is a mental disorder with symptoms such as excessive thoughts or ideas (obsessions), leading to repetitive behaviours (compulsions). Panic disorder is linked to anxiety with sudden feelings of fear when there is no danger in reality. PTSD is a mental condition that occurs after experiencing a very emotional or terrifying event and has symptoms similar to anxiety and depression. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is associated with intense anxiety or distress in social situations.

Sertima 25mg Tablet contains Sertraline that works by inhibiting the reabsorption of released serotonin back into the nerve cells. Thus, it increases serotonin activity (chemical messenger) in the brain that is involved in regulating mood, behaviour, and emotions. Thereby, Sertima 25mg Tablet helps relieve depression, lighten the mood and relieve anxiety symptoms such as fear and panic.

Take Sertima 25mg Tablet with or without food as prescribed by your doctor and swallow whole with a glass of water. Do not break, crush or chew it. Your doctor will advise you how often you take Sertima 25mg Tablet based on your medical condition. Some people may experience drowsiness, dizziness, insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), dry mouth, nausea, headache, diarrhoea, tiredness or ejaculation failure. Most of these side effects of Sertima 25mg Tablet do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.

If you are allergic to Sertima 25mg Tablet or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Sertima 25mg Tablet may be used only to treat Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children aged 6 to 17 years and not treat any other conditions in children below 18 years of age. Sertima 25mg Tablet is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the last 3 months. It may cause a serious condition in the baby, such as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), which causes the baby to appear bluish and breathing faster. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Sertima 25mg Tablet may be excreted in human milk. Please consult a doctor if you are a breastfeeding mother. Sertima 25mg Tablet should be used with caution in elderly patients as there is an increased risk of low sodium levels in the blood.  If you have any self-harming or suicidal thoughts before taking Sertima 25mg Tablet , inform your doctor as they may worsen in the initial days of taking Sertima 25mg Tablet . Do not take Sertima 25mg Tablet with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as moclobemide and methylene blue to treat depression and opioids as it may cause severe adverse effects.

Sertima 25mg Tablet contains Sertraline, an antidepressant that inhibits the reabsorption of released serotonin back into the nerve cells. Thus, it increases serotonin activity (chemical messenger) in the brain that is involved in regulating mood, behaviour, and emotions. Thereby, Sertima 25mg Tablet helps relieve depression, lighten the mood and relieve anxiety symptoms such as fear and panic.

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness
• Insomnia (sleeplessness)
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Headache
• Diarrhoea
• Tiredness
• Ejaculation failure

If you are allergic to Sertima 25mg Tablet or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Sertima 25mg Tablet may be used only to treat Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children aged 6 to 17 years and does not treat any other conditions in children below 18 years of age. Sertima 25mg Tablet is not recommended for use during pregnancy, especially in the last 3 months. It may cause a serious condition in the baby, such as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), which causes the baby to appear bluish and breathing faster. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Sertima 25mg Tablet may be excreted in human milk. Please consult a doctor if you are a breastfeeding mother. Sertima 25mg Tablet should be used with caution in elderly patients as there is an increased risk of low sodium levels in the blood.  If you have any self-harming or suicidal thoughts before taking Sertima 25mg Tablet , inform your doctor as they may worsen in the initial days of taking Sertima 25mg Tablet . Do not take Sertima 25mg Tablet with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as moclobemide and methylene blue to treat depression and opioids pain killer as it may cause severe adverse effects. If you have diabetes, fits, bipolar disorder, bleeding disorders, glaucoma, severe diarrhoea, low sodium or potassium levels in the blood, neuroleptic malignant syndrome or serotonin syndrome (potentially life-threatening conditions), liver or heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Sertima 25mg Tablet . 

Drug-Drug Interactions: Sertima 25mg Tablet may have interaction with antiparkinson drug (selegiline), antibiotic (linezolid), antipsychotic drugs (pimozide, haloperidol, perphenazine, olanzapine, levomepromazine), opioid pain killers (buprenorphine, fentanyl, tramadol), opioid antagonists (naloxone), blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine), monoamine oxidase inhibitors used to treat depression (moclobemide, methylene blue), antifungals (fluconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole), antibiotics (erythromycin, telithromycin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin), antidepressants (nefazodone, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, desipramine), antimanic drug (lithium), anticonvulsants  (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital), painkillers (ibuprofen, aspirin), antidiabetic drug (tolbutamide), antacids (cimetidine, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, omeprazole, lansoprazole).

Drug-Food Interactions: Sertima 25mg Tablet may interact with St. John’s wort (a herbal medicine used to treat depression) and grapefruit juice as they may increase the risk of a build-up of high levels of serotonin in the body. Also, avoid intake of alcohol while taking Sertima 25mg Tablet as it may increase side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness or difficulty in concentrating.

Drug-Disease Interactions: If you have diabetes, fits, bipolar disorder, bleeding disorders, glaucoma, severe diarrhoea, low sodium or potassium levels in the blood, neuroleptic malignant syndrome or serotonin syndrome (potentially life-threatening conditions), liver or heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Sertima 25mg Tablet .

• SELEGILINE
• LINEZOLID
• PIMOZIDE
• HALOPERIDOL
• PERPHENAZINE
• OLANZAPINE
• BUPRENORPHINE
• FENTANYL
• TRAMADOL
• NALOXONE
• WARFARIN
• TICLOPIDINE
• MOCLOBEMIDE
• METHYLENE BLUE
• FLUCONAZOLE
• POSACONAZOLE
• VORICONAZOLE
• KETOCONAZOLE
• ITRACONAZOLE
• ERYTHROMYCIN
• TELITHROMYCIN
• CLARITHROMYCIN
• LEVOFLOXACIN
• NEFAZODONE
• FLUOXETINE
• FLUVOXAMINE
• AMITRIPTYLINE
• NORTRIPTYLINE
• DESIPRAMINE
• LITHIUM
• PHENYTOIN
• CARBAMAZEPINE
• PHENOBARBITAL
• IBUPROFEN
• ASPIRIN
• TOLBUTAMIDE
• CIMETIDINE
• PANTOPRAZOLE
• RABEPRAZOLE
• OMEPRAZOLE
• LANSOPRAZOLE
• LEVOMEPROMAZINE

• Maintain a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid fried foods, high-fat dairy products, pastries and processed foods as they may worsen anxiety. Include foods rich in omega fatty acids such as fish, nuts, fresh fruits, vegetables and olive oils.

• Neurotransmitters are made up of amino acids. Amino acid-rich foods such as meat, dairy products, and certain fruits and vegetables help in the proper maintenance of neurotransmitters.

• Complex carbohydrates help in stimulating serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter). These include whole grains, legumes, spinach, broccoli, oranges and pears.

• Exercising helps in the production of the body’s natural antidepressants. It also helps in relieving stress, improving mood, boosts self-esteem, and provides restful sleep.

• Perform meditation and yoga. This helps in relieving stress and provides relaxation.

• Regularly attend therapy sessions.

• Follow a regular sleep pattern to improve the amount and quality of sleep you get.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

• Sertima 25mg Tablet may interfere with a urine test. Therefore, it is advised to inform your doctor or lab technician that you are taking Sertima 25mg Tablet .

Depression: It is a mood disorder associated with symptoms such as sadness, unable to sleep properly or enjoy life as you used to do. Depression can also influence some chronic health conditions and relationships. The exact cause of depression is unknown, but it may be associated with mental problems, trauma, family history, drugs use, and medical conditions.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): It is a mental disorder with symptoms such as excessive thoughts or ideas (obsessions) leading to repetitive behaviours (compulsions).

Panic disorder: It is linked to anxiety with sudden fear even when there is no danger in reality.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): It is a mental condition that occurs after experiencing a very emotional or terrifying event and has symptoms similar to anxiety and depression.

Social anxiety disorder: It is social phobia associated with intense anxiety or distress in social situations.