Sertraline 5mg/5ml oral suspension
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Sertraline is a popular antidepressant medication commonly known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and is similar to drugs such as [Citalopram] and [Fluoxetine].
Genetic variations that may affect drug response
2 known genetic variations may influence how your body responds to Sertraline 5mg/5ml oral suspension.Gene involved: CYP2C19
These are known genetic variations. They don't mean the medicine won't work for you — speak to your doctor or a pharmacogenomics specialist for personalised advice. Source: DrugBank (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
View Drug Analysis Profile
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Sertraline
Browse all iDAP reports
Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
View EudraVigilance report
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Sertraline
About EudraVigilance
Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
1 branded products available
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
50 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Sertraline
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
NICE clinical guidance(12)
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for depression (HTG382)
Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management (CG113)
Hyperhidrosis: oxybutynin (ES10)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder: treatment (CG31)
Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment (CG159)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (NG116)
Depression in children and young people: identification and management (NG134)
Depression in adults with a chronic physical health problem: recognition and management (CG91)
Hypersexuality: fluoxetine (ESUOM46)
Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain (NG193)
Alpha-Stim AID for anxiety disorders (HTG570)
Esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression (TA854)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
111 found
Half-life
26 hours
Mechanism
Sertraline selectively inhibits the reuptake of serotonin (5-HT) at the presynap…
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
5 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
50 to 200 mg
Half-life
26 hours
[A1846][L9016]…
Protein binding
98%
[A187156][L9016]
Volume of distribution
20L/kg
[A1846]…
Metabolism
Elimination
12-14%
[A1846][A187066][L9016]…
Clearance
200mg
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Several weeks of therapy with sertraline may be required before beneficial effects are noticed. Sertraline displays enhanced safety or tolerability than other classes of antidepressants, which frequently cause high levels of drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, and other undesirable effects.[A1846,A187075,T28]
[L9016]
Common off-label uses for sertraline include the prevention of post stroke depression[A187078], generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), fibromyalgia, premature ejaculation, migraine prophylaxis, diabetic neuropathy, and neurocardiogenic syncope.
[L5227]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 1640 interactions
[L9061]
One other references indicates an oral LD50 of in mice and rats of 419 - 548 mg/kg and 1327 - 1591mg/kg, respectively.MSDS
The most common signs and symptoms associated with a non-fatal sertraline overdose are somnolence, vomiting, tachycardia, nausea, dizziness, agitation, and tremor.
[L9016]
No cases of fatal overdose with only sertraline have been reported. Most fatal cases are associated with the ingestion of sertraline with other drugs.
[A188499]
Consequences of a sertraline overdose may include serotonin syndrome, hypertension, hypotension, syncope, stupor, coma, bradycardia, bundle branch block, QT-prolongation, torsade de pointes, delirium, hallucinations, and pancreatitis.
[L9016]
In animal studies, chronic administration of sertraline results in down-regulation of brain norepinephrine receptors.[L9016] Sertraline displays affinity for sigma-1 and 2 receptor binding sites[A31941], but binds with stronger affinity to sigma-1 binding sites.[A31940] In vitro, sertraline shows little to no affinity for GABA, dopaminergic, serotonergic (5HT1A, 5HT1B, 5HT2), or benzodiazepine receptors.[L9016] It exerts weak inhibitory actions on the neuronal uptake of norepinephrine and dopamine[A1844] and exhibits no inhibitory effects on the monoamine oxidase enzyme.[L9016]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A1846][L9016]
Steady-state concentrations are reached after 1 week following once-daily administration, and vary greatly depending on the patient.
[A187066][L9016]
Bioavailability has been estimated to be above 44%. The area under the curve in healthy volunteers after a 100mg dose of sertraline was 456 μg × h/mL in one study.
[A187066]
Effects of food on absorption
The effects of food on the bioavailability of the sertraline tablet and oral concentrate were studied in subjects given a single dose with and without food. For the tablet, AUC was slightly increased when sertraline was administered with food, the Cmax was 25% greater, and the time to peak plasma concentration was shortened by about 2.5 hours.
For the oral concentrate preparation of sertraline, peak concentration was prolonged by approximately 1 hour with the ingestion of food.
[L9016]
[A1846][L9016]
One reference mentions an elimination half-life ranging from 22-36 hours.
[A187066]
[A187156][L9016]
[A1846]
Post-mortem studies in humans have measured liver tissue concentrations of 3.9–20 mg/kg for sertraline and between 1.4 to 11 mg/kg for its active metabolite, N-desmethyl-sertraline (DMS).
[A187066]
Studies have also determined sertraline distributes into the brain, plasma, and serum.
[A187066]
[A187066]
In addition to N-demethylation, sertraline metabolism involves N-hydroxylation, oxidative deamination, and finally, glucuronidation.
[L9016]
The metabolism of sertraline is mainly catalyzed by CYP3A4 and CYP2B6, with some activity accounted for by CYP2C19 and CYP2D6.
[A1846][L9022]
[A1846][A187066][L9016]
[A187066]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:10407194 PMID:12869649 PMID:21730057 PMID:27049939 PMID:27756841 PMID:34851672
Essential for serotonin homeostasis in the central nervous system. In the developing somatosensory cortex, acts in glutamatergic neurons to control serotonin uptake and its trophic functions accounting for proper spatial organization of cortical neurons and elaboration of sensory circuits.
In the mature cortex, acts primarily in brainstem raphe neurons to mediate serotonin uptake from the synaptic cleft back into the pre-synaptic terminal thus terminating serotonin signaling at the synapse (By similarity). Modulates mucosal serotonin levels in the gastrointestinal tract through uptake and clearance of serotonin in enterocytes. Required for enteric neurogenesis and gastrointestinal reflexes (By similarity).
Regulates blood serotonin levels by ensuring rapid high affinity uptake of serotonin from plasma to platelets, where it is further stored in dense granules via vesicular monoamine transporters and then released upon stimulation .
PMID:17506858 PMID:18317590
Mechanistically, the transport cycle starts with an outward-open conformation having Na1(+) and Cl(-) sites occupied. The binding of a second extracellular Na2(+) ion and serotonin substrate leads to structural changes to outward-occluded to inward-occluded to inward-open, where the Na2(+) ion and serotonin are released into the cytosol. Binding of intracellular K(+) ion induces conformational transitions to inward-occluded to outward-open and completes the cycle by releasing K(+) possibly together with a proton bound to Asp-98 into the extracellular compartment.
Na1(+) and Cl(-) ions remain bound throughout the transport cycle .
PMID:10407194 PMID:12869649 PMID:21730057 PMID:27049939 PMID:27756841 PMID:34851672
Additionally, displays serotonin-induced channel-like conductance for monovalent cations, mainly Na(+) ions. The channel activity is uncoupled from the transport cycle and may contribute to the membrane resting potential or excitability (By similarity)
PMID:10375632 PMID:11093780 PMID:1406597 PMID:15505207 PMID:19478460 PMID:39112701 PMID:39112703 PMID:39112705 PMID:8302271
Also mediates sodium- and chloride-dependent transport of norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline) (By similarity). Regulator of light-dependent retinal hyaloid vessel regression, downstream of OPN5 signaling (By similarity)
Plays a role in calcium signaling through modulation together with ANK2 of the ITP3R-dependent calcium efflux at the endoplasmic reticulum. Plays a role in several other cell functions including proliferation, survival and death. Originally identified for its ability to bind various psychoactive drugs it is involved in learning processes, memory and mood alteration .
PMID:16472803 PMID:9341151
Necessary for proper mitochondrial axonal transport in motor neurons, in particular the retrograde movement of mitochondria.
Plays a role in protecting cells against oxidative stress-induced cell death via its interaction with RNF112 (By similarity)
PMID:2008212 PMID:8125921 PMID:38750358
Is responsible for norepinephrine re-uptake and clearance from the synaptic cleft, thus playing a crucial role in norepinephrine inactivation and homeostasis (By similarity). Can also mediate sodium- and chloride-dependent transport of dopamine PMID:11093780 PMID:8125921 PMID:39395208 PMID:39048818
PMID:15448143 PMID:16099839 PMID:16873718 PMID:17018840 PMID:17121826 PMID:20592246 PMID:20858707 PMID:22396231 PMID:31537831
Utilizes the physiologic inside-negative membrane potential as a driving force to facilitate cellular uptake of organic cations .
PMID:15448143 PMID:20592246 PMID:22396231
Functions as a Na(+)- and Cl(-)-independent bidirectional transporter .
PMID:15448143 PMID:16099839 PMID:22396231 PMID:31537831
Substrate transport is pH-dependent and enhanced under acidic condition, which is most likely the result of allosteric changes in the transporter structure .
PMID:16873718 PMID:17018840 PMID:20592246 PMID:22396231 PMID:31537831
Implicated in monoamine neurotransmitters uptake such as serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline/epinephrine, noradrenaline/norepinephrine, histamine and tyramine, thereby supporting a role in homeostatic regulation of aminergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system .
PMID:15448143 PMID:16099839 PMID:17018840 PMID:17121826 PMID:20858707 PMID:22396231
Also responsible for the uptake of bioactive amines and drugs through the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier, from the CSF into choroid plexus epithelial cells, thereby playing a significant role in the clearance of cationic neurotoxins, xenobiotics and metabolic waste in the brain (By similarity). Involved in bidirectional transport of the purine nucleoside adenosine and plays a role in the regulation of extracellular adenosine concentrations in cardiac tissues, in particular during ischemia .
PMID:16873718 PMID:20592246 PMID:31537831
May be involved in organic cation uptake from the tubular lumen into renal tubular cells, thereby contributing to organic cation reabsorption in the kidney .
PMID:17018840
Also transports guanidine PMID:16099839
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes
PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:8898203 PMID:9038218 PMID:35507548
Catalyzes the flop of phospholipids from the cytoplasmic to the exoplasmic leaflet of the apical membrane. Participates mainly to the flop of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, beta-D-glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins .
PMID:8898203
Energy-dependent efflux pump responsible for decreased drug accumulation in multidrug-resistant cells PMID:2897240 PMID:35970996 PMID:9038218
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).
Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).
Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017
ATC N06AB06
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Sertraline
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
11168
ChemSpider
61881
BindingDB
79021
PDB
SRE
ZINC
ZINC000001853550
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11050
GenAtlas
SLC6A4
GeneCards
SLC6A4
GenBank Gene Database
X70697
GenBank Protein Database
36433
Guide to Pharmacology
928
UniProt Accession
SC6A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11049
GenAtlas
SLC6A3
GeneCards
SLC6A3
GenBank Gene Database
M96670
GenBank Protein Database
553260
Guide to Pharmacology
927
UniProt Accession
SC6A3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:16090
GeneCards
PGRMC1
UniProt Accession
PGRC1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8157
GenAtlas
OPRS1
GeneCards
SIGMAR1
GenBank Gene Database
U75283
GenBank Protein Database
1783387
Guide to Pharmacology
2552
UniProt Accession
SGMR1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11048
GenAtlas
SLC6A2
GeneCards
SLC6A2
GenBank Gene Database
M65105
GenBank Protein Database
189258
Guide to Pharmacology
926
UniProt Accession
SC6A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:23097
GeneCards
SLC29A4
Guide to Pharmacology
1120
UniProt Accession
S29A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2637
GenAtlas
CYP3A4
GeneCards
CYP3A4
GenBank Gene Database
M18907
Guide to Pharmacology
1337
UniProt Accession
CP3A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2625
GenAtlas
CYP2D6
GeneCards
CYP2D6
GenBank Gene Database
M20403
GenBank Protein Database
181350
Guide to Pharmacology
1329
UniProt Accession
CP2D6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2621
GeneCards
CYP2C19
GenBank Gene Database
M61854
GenBank Protein Database
181344
Guide to Pharmacology
1328
UniProt Accession
CP2CJ_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2623
GenAtlas
CYP2C9
GeneCards
CYP2C9
GenBank Gene Database
AY341248
Guide to Pharmacology
1326
UniProt Accession
CP2C9_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2615
GeneCards
CYP2B6
GenBank Gene Database
M29874
GenBank Protein Database
181296
Guide to Pharmacology
1324
UniProt Accession
CP2B6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:6834
GenAtlas
MAOB
GeneCards
MAOB
GenBank Gene Database
S62734
GenBank Protein Database
398415
Guide to Pharmacology
2490
UniProt Accession
AOFB_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:6833
GenAtlas
MAOA
GeneCards
MAOA
GenBank Gene Database
M68840
GenBank Protein Database
187353
Guide to Pharmacology
2489
UniProt Accession
AOFA_HUMAN
GenBank Gene Database
M29873
GenBank Protein Database
181294
UniProt Accession
Q14097_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2631
GeneCards
CYP2E1
GenBank Gene Database
J02625
GenBank Protein Database
181360
Guide to Pharmacology
1330
UniProt Accession
CP2E1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:399
GenAtlas
ALB
GeneCards
ALB
GenBank Gene Database
V00494
GenBank Protein Database
28590
UniProt Accession
ALBU_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:40
GenAtlas
ABCB1
GeneCards
ABCB1
GenBank Gene Database
M14758
GenBank Protein Database
307180
Guide to Pharmacology
768
UniProt Accession
MDR1_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
Patent information
All patents expired, 4 expired
Source: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0. Patent data sourced from national patent offices. Expiry dates may not reflect extensions, regulatory exclusivity periods, or legal challenges.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: