Sertraline and other antidepressant medicines may cause serious side effects. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if there is an emergency.

1. Suicidal thoughts or actions: Sertraline and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some people 24 years of age and younger, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe. Pay particular attention to such changes when sertraline is started or when the dose is changed. Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider and call between visits if you are worried about symptoms. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: attempts to commit suicide acting aggressive or violent new or worse depression feeling agitated, restless, angry or irritable an increase in activity or talking more than what is normal for you acting on dangerous impulses thoughts about suicide or dying new or worse anxiety or panic attacks trouble sleeping other unusual changes in behavior or mood 2. Serotonin Syndrome. This condition can be life-threatening and symptoms may include: agitation, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes) racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea sweating or fever muscle rigidity 3. Increased chance of bleeding: Sertraline and other antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), or aspirin. 4. Manic episodes. Symptoms may include: greatly increased energy racing thoughts unusually grand ideas severe trouble sleeping reckless behavior excessive happiness or irritability talking more or faster than usual 5. Seizures or convulsions. 6. Glaucoma (angle-closure glaucoma). Many antidepressant medicines including sertraline may cause a certain type of eye problem called angle-closure glaucoma. Call your healthcare provider if you have eye pain, changes in your vision, or swelling or redness in or around the eye. Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are. 7. Changes in appetite or weight. Children and adolescents should have height and weight monitored during treatment. 8. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include: Headache weakness or feeling unsteady confusion, problems concentrating or thinking, or memory problems

Do not stop sertraline without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping sertraline too quickly may cause serious symptoms including: anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless or changes in sleep habits headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion