Zoloft and Social Anxiety
Zoloft, which was a drug that was originally intended only for the treatment of depression, has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the treatment of social anxiety, and other anxiety disorders as well.
Zoloft is a selective serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), which helps correct the chemical imbalance of serotonin in the brain. During clinical trials, more than 600 patients were studied. In one study, 53% of the patients receiving sertraline, which is the main ingredient in zoloft, showed improvement.
It is not understood why, but women responded better to Zoloft in these studies than men did. Due to the overwhelming results obtained during clinical studies, Zoloft is one of the first medication of choice by most doctors for the treatment of social anxiety.
Serotonin is an important chemical that is naturally produced by the brain. It controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, the level of pain that we feel, and the release of certain hormones. Zoloft works to make sure that the brain produces the right amount of Serotonin in each individual person to keep everything balanced.
When the correct amount of Serotonin is being produced, the individual is calmer and feels more stable. This calmness and stability helps people with social anxiety control their stress and anxiety levels.
It can take from one to eight weeks to feel the benefits of Zoloft. Zoloft is not habit forming, which makes it useful for long-term treatment of social anxiety. Zoloft is available in multiple strengths, which makes it possible for doctors to prescribe the lowest dosage needed.
Drugs that are prescribed for the treatment of social anxiety usually have potentially dangerous side effects. However, the only possible side effects of Zoloft include trouble sleeping, diarrhea, sexual side effects, fatigue, stomach upset, dry mouth, tremors, sweating, agitation, decreased appetite, and digestive problems. Zoloft should not be taken with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s).
Many people who take Zoloft for their social anxiety feel that the drug is a miracle, however, if you are using, or considering the use of Zoloft for treatment of social anxiety, you should consider it a short term fix that will allow you to use other treatment methods, such as counseling, to help you face the underlying issues causing your social anxiety. You should not depend on Zoloft, or any other medication, as a long-term solution to the problem of social anxiety.
