Who can take sertraline
Most adults can take sertraline.
Children aged 6 to 17 years can also take sertraline, but only for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
If you have diabetes, sertraline can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable. Your doctor may recommend that you monitor your blood sugar level more often for the first few weeks of treatment with sertraline and adjust your diabetes treatment if necessary.
Who may not be able to take sertraline
Sertraline is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to sertraline or any other medicine
- have a heart problem – sertraline can make your heart beat faster or cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- are trying to get pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding
- have glaucoma – sertraline can increase the pressure in your eye
- have epilepsy or are having electroconvulsive treatment – sertraline may increase your risk of having a fit or seizure