Sertraline (sir-tra-leen) hydrochloride (Lupin Australia Pty. Ltd)
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Sertracor tablets.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits.
Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Sertracor tablets against the benefits it is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Sertracor tablets are used for
Sertracor tablets are used to treat depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
PMDD affects some women in the days before their period. PMDD is different from premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The mood symptoms (anger, sadness, tension, etc) in PMDD are more severe than in PMS and affect the woman’s daily activities and relationships with others.
Sertracor tablets belong to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They are thought to work by blocking the uptake of a chemical called Serotonin into nerve cells in the brain. Serotonin and other chemicals called amines are involved in controlling mood.
Your doctor, however, may prescribe Sertracor tablets for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Sertracor tablets have been prescribed for you. This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
There is no evidence that sertraline tablets are addictive.
Before you take Sertracor tablets
When you must not take it
Do not take Sertracor tablets if:
- you have ever had an allergic reaction to sertraline tablets or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction to sertraline tablets may include a skin rash, itchiness, difficulty breathing and swelling of the face. - you have epilepsy not properly controlled by medication.
- you are taking another medicine for depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have been taking it within the last 14 days.
Taking Sertracor tablets with a MAOI (e.g. Aurorix, Eldepryl, Nardil, and Parnate) may cause a serious reaction with a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and convulsions (fits). - you are taking phentermine (used to help weight loss), tryptophan, tramadol or medicines used to treat migraine, e.g. sumatriptan (Imigran).
These medicines can cause an exaggerated response to Sertracor tablets. - you are taking pimozide (used to treat disturbances in thinking, feeling and behavior).
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if you have been taking one of these medicines.
Do not give Sertracor tablets to children unless the doctor has prescribed it for the treatment of OCD.
If you are not sure whether you should be taking Sertracor tablets, talk to your doctor.
Do not take Sertracor tablets if:
- the expiry date marked on the packaging has passed, even though the tablets may look alright.
- the packaging is torn or shows signs tampering.
If this is the case, take the tablets to your pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- You are allergic to any foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicines
- You have any health problems, including:
– any other mental illness
– epilepsy or seizures
– liver or kidney problems
– a tendency to bleed more than normal
You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant The effects of Sertracor tablets on the developing baby are not yet known.
There have been reports that babies exposed to sertraline tablets and other antidepressants during the third trimester of pregnancy may develop complications after birth.
You are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed Sertraline tablets pass into breast milk and may affect your baby.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Sertracor tablets when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines should not be taken with Sertracor tablets.
These include :
- other medicines for the treatment of depression called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Taking Sertracor tablets with, or within 14 days of stopping a MAOI may cause a serious reaction with a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and convulsions. - medicines that can increase the effects of Sertracor tablets such as tramadol, tryptophan, or phentermine (weight-reducing medicines) and medicines used to treat migraine, e.g. sumatriptan.
- Pimozide (used to treat disturbances in thinking, feeling and behaviour)
You may respond differently to Sertracor tablets, or to some other medicines, if you take them together. These include (not all brands given):
- other medicines for depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder or obsessive illnesses (e.g. Prothiaden, Pertofran, Prozac, Aropax, Luvox, Cipramil, Efexor)
- other medicine for PMDD (e.g. Prozac and Lovan)
- St John’s wort, a herbal remedy used to treat mood disorders
- clozapine, (e.g. Clozaril) a medicine used to treat schizophrenia
- medicines for irregular heart beat (e.g. Tambocor)
- warfarin (e.g. Marevan, Coumadin) or other medicines that stop the blood from clotting
- medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis (e.g. aspirin or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac)
- lithium (e.g. Lithicarb), a medicine used to treat mood swings
- phenytoin (e.g. Dilantin), a medicine used to treat epilepsy
- sumatriptan (e.g. Imigran), a medicine used to treat migraine
- diazepam or other medicines that act on the brain or nervous system (e.g. Serepax, Valium)
- cimetidine (e.g. Tagamet), a medicine used to treat reflux and ulcers
- tolbutamide (e.g. Rastinon), a medicine used to treat diabetes
- methadone, a medicine used to treat drug addiction
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Sertracor tablets.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about these things, tell them before you start taking Sertracor tablets.
How to take Sertracor tablets
Take Sertracor tablets exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
Sertracor tablets are available in 50 mg and 100 mg strengths. If your doctor has prescribed a dose such as 25 mg or 75 mg, please note that Sertracor 50 mg tablets have a scoreline and can be broken in half to allow such doses to be taken.
How much to take
For DEPRESSION IN ADULTS the usual starting dose for Sertracor tablets is one 50 mg tablet each day. The dose can be increased gradually up to 200 mg a day if necessary.
For PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER the usual starting dose for Sertracor tablets is one 50 mg tablet each day, either throughout the menstrual cycle (to a maximum of 150 mg daily) or for the last 14 days before the start of menses (to a maximum of 100 mg daily).
However, depending on your condition and how you react to the medicine, your doctor may ask you to take some other dose.
How to take it
Swallow the tablet(s) with a glass of water.
Try to take your tablet(s) at the same time each day, either morning or evening.
Sertracor tablets can be taken with or without food.
How long to take it
Most medicines for depression and obsessive illnesses take time to work, so do not be discouraged if you do not feel better straight away.
It may take 2 to 4 weeks or even longer to feel the full benefit of Sertracor tablets.
Even when you feel well, you may need to take Sertracor tablets for several months or longer. Continue taking Sertracor tablets until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you have PMDD, your doctor may ask you to take this medicine only at certain times of the month.
Do not stop taking Sertracor tablets, or change the dose, without first checking with your doctor.
If you forget to take it
Do not take an extra dose. Wait until the next day and take your normal dose then.
Do not try to make up for the dose you missed by taking more than one dose at a time.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency (Casualty) at your nearest hospital if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Sertracor tablets, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you take too many tablets, you may feel drowsy, sick in the stomach, have a fast heart beat, suffer from tremors, feel agitated or dizzy. Coma has also been reported with overdose.
While you are taking Sertracor tablets
Things you must do
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Sertracor tablets.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Sertracor tablets if you are about to be started on any new medicines.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Sertracor tablets. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, you should avoid becoming pregnant while taking Sertracor tablets.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have any suicidal thoughts or other mental/mood changes.
If you or someone you know is demonstrating these warning signs of suicide while taking Sertracor tablets, contact your doctor or a mental health professional right away or go to the nearest hospital for treatment.
- Thoughts or talk of death or suicide
- Thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
- Any recent attempts of self-harm
- Increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or agitation
- Worsening of depression
All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Sertracor tablets, or change the dose, without first checking with your doctor.
Do not let yourself run out of tablets over the weekend or on holidays. Suddenly stopping Sertracor tablets may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, numbness, unusual tingling feelings or shakiness.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use Sertracor tablets to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Sertracor tablets affect you.
Some medicines for depression may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery or do things that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Although drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is unlikely to affect your response to Sertracor tablets, your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol while you are taking Sertracor tablets.
You should wait at least 14 days after stopping Sertracor tablets before starting medicines for depression or obsessive illnesses from the MAOI group, such as Aurorix, Eldepryl, Nardil, and Parnate.
All of the above precautions are important even after you have stopped taking Sertracor tablets.
The effects of Sertracor tablets may last for some days after you have stopped taking it.
Side effects
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking Sertracor tablets, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet. Like other medicines, Sertracor tablets can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- fits or seizures
- signs of allergy such as rash or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- symptoms of sudden fever with sweating, fast heart beat and muscle stiffness, which may lead to loss of consciousness
- palpitations or chest pain
- abnormal bleeding
- difficulty in passing urine or blood in the urine
- severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals
- fever, sore throat, swollen glands, mouth ulcers, unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin
- symptoms of agitation, anxiety, confusion, dizziness, feeling tense and restless, feeling of tiredness, drowsiness, or lack of energy, headache, irritability, nausea, trouble sleeping and tingling or numbness of the hands and feet after stopping Sertracor tablets.
These symptoms are usually rare but may be serious and need urgent medical attention.
Tell your doctor if you experience:
- headache, dizziness, shakiness, muscle stiffness or weakness, decrease or loss of touch or other senses
- dry mouth, increased sweating, feeling sick, diarrhea, indigestion, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain
- tiredness, hot flushes, fever, feeling unwell
- weight increase or loss
- sleeping difficulties, sleepiness
- sexual problems
- agitation, nervousness, anxiety, frightening dreams, yawning, abnormal thinking, teeth grinding, loss of appetite, impaired concentration
- vision disturbances
- menstrual irregularities
- loss of control of your bladder
- unusually overactive
- shaking or tremors
- unusual hair loss or thinning
- swelling of hands, ankles or feet
- tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
- breast enlargement in men or the unusual secretion of breast milk in men or women
- increase sensitivity of the skin to sun
- ringing or other persistent noise in the ears
These side effects are usually mild.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Other may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand anything in this list.
After Taking Sertracor tablets
Storage
Keep your tablets where young children cannot reach them.
A locked cupboard atleast 1½ metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep Sertracor tablets in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees Celsius. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your tablets in their blister pack until it is time to take them.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Sertracor tablets or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Sertracor tablets come in two strengths:
- Sertracor tablets 50 mg are blue coloured, capsule shaped, biconvex, film coated tablets debossed with “5” and “0” on either side of the breakline on one side and ‘SER’ on the other side .
- Sertracor Tablets 100 mg – yellow coloured, capsule shaped, biconvex, film coated tablets debossed with ‘100’ on one side and ‘SER’ on the other side.
A carton contains 30 tablets.
Ingredients
Active ingredients
- Sertracor tablets 50 mg – 50 mg sertraline (as the hydrochloride salt) per tablet
- Sertracor tablets 100 mg -100 mg sertraline (as the hydrochloride salt) per tablet
Other ingredients
- Microcrystalline cellulose,
- anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate,
- hydroxypropyl cellulose,
- sodium starch glycolate,
- magnesium stearate,
- opadry blue,
- opadry yellow.
Sertracor Tablets do not contain gluten or sugar.
Sponsor
Lupin Australia Pty Ltd
Skipping Girl Place
Suite 6, 651 Victoria St
Abbotsfod Vic 3067
Australia
Distributor
Sertracor Tablets are supplied in Australia by:
Pharmacor Ltd
5/36 Campbell Ave
Cromer
NSW 2099
Australia
Australian Registration Number:
Sertracor tablets 50 mg – AUST R 147077
Sertracor tablets 100 mg – AUST R 147078
This leaflet was prepared in August 2010.
Published by MIMS July 2014