Zoloft is a versatile medication. As a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), it can be used to treat depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It may also be an affordable medication, because the generic form, called sertraline, is widely available.

If you’re thinking about taking Zoloft or sertraline, how can you get started? And what if you have Medicaid? With a psychiatric nurse practitioner at ReKlame Health, you can get started easily. You can also turn to one of our providers to manage an existing prescription.

Take 3 steps forward today

When you’re ready to get started, you can begin with three steps toward treatment covered by Medicaid. Breaking it down into steps might make the process of beginning treatment easier for you to manage while you are dealing with distracting symptoms. You can:

• Find out more about Medicaid coverage

Medicaid requirements are determined at the federal level. Then, states may apply their own requirements concerning who is eligible for a Medicaid plan. To find out whether a Medicaid plan may be available to you, you can read information from your state. ReKlame serves people in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

If you already have a Medicaid plan, you can check your formulary to see which medications are covered. You may have received this in the mail with other Medicaid plan information. You may be able to access it online. After making sure that Zoloft or sertraline is covered, you can look into coverage for mental health care appointments.

• Learn about online mental health care

You have Medicaid, Zoloft or sertraline is covered, and you can make mental health care appointments. What can you do next? You can look into accessible, confidential mental health care. ReKlame accepts Medicaid and provides virtual appointments with care teams, which include a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a care navigator.

You can connect with us to see a psychiatric nurse practitioner and get the support of a care navigator. Your psychiatric nurse practitioner can provide medication management services. They can prescribe medication or manage a preexisting prescription.

• Schedule a virtual appointment with a professional

To get started, you can book an initial appointment online. On that page, you can select one of our providers and choose an appointment time. You can expect to find availability soon, typically within 48 hours.

If you would like to talk to a member of our team before you book an appointment, you can call 718-790-4511. You can also text that phone number or email hello@reklamehealth.com.

Do you have questions about taking sertraline?

You can speak to your psychiatric nurse practitioner after you make an appointment. In the meantime, we can answer a few questions that you might have:

What is sertraline used for?

This medication is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in several functions of your body. The relevant piece here is your mood. Serotonin is involved in mood regulation.

Some mental health conditions are associated with low levels of serotonin. The goal of using an SSRI like sertraline is to increase the amount of serotonin available in your brain by preventing it from being reabsorbed. This may be used in the treatment of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Sertraline can treat anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia and selective mutism. Anxiety disorders are characterized by mental and physical symptoms like panic, a feeling of impending doom, avoidance of triggers, heart palpitations, nausea or tingling sensations.

Depressive disorders that may be treated with sertraline include major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (previously known as dysthymia) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Sertraline may be used in the treatment of trauma-related disorders, including PTSD. PTSD is typically diagnosed after symptoms have lasted for at least one month. If less than a month has passed since a traumatic event, you may be diagnosed with acute stress disorder. The primary treatment for acute stress disorder is psychotherapy; in addition, an SSRI like sertraline may be prescribed. Sertraline may also be used to treat adjustment disorder, which is a response to trauma or stress.

Sertraline may be used to treat OCD. According to the International OCD Foundation, SSRIs are first-line treatments for OCD. They can also be used for hoarding disorder, which is classified as an obsessive-compulsive or related disorder.

What are some common side effects?

Taking sertraline doesn’t mean that you’ll experience any side effects. Still, it can be helpful to know what to expect. Some of the most common side effects are an upset stomach, weight loss, and sleep-related changes (excessive sleepiness or trouble sleeping). These side effects may fade with time. We encourage you to discuss any side effects with your psychiatric nurse practitioner so you can address them together.

How long does it take to work?

Sertraline’s effects take time to accumulate and reach a point that can be felt. After one or two weeks, you may notice improvements in your energy level, appetite or sleeping. You may see the full effects of sertraline in six to eight weeks.

If your sertraline dose isn’t quite right, how do you know?

If your initial dose isn’t the best for you, you might not notice improvement in the time frame described above. Discuss this with your provider so that you can look for solutions together. They may recommend changing your sertraline dose, which is often enough to achieve the results you’re looking for. If not, your provider may suggest adding another medication or switching from sertraline to a different medication.

If sertraline is helping, how do you know?

You may feel the weight of anxiety, depression, PTSD or OCD begin to lift from your shoulders. You may notice that you have fewer or less overwhelming symptoms. Maybe you have fewer panic attacks, if you have panic disorder, or you are less tired or apathetic, if you have depression. You might feel more able to participate in the things that matter to you, from hobbies to important relationships.

Does sertraline interact with anything?

It’s important to avoid or limit alcohol while taking sertraline. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), alcohol may decrease sertraline’s benefits. This could cause the symptoms of the condition that you are treating to resurface or worsen. Additionally, alcohol may amplify side effects like sedation.

Drug use should also be avoided. ReKlame offers treatment for substance use disorder, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol and opioids.

MedlinePlus states that sertraline may interact with aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. It may also interact with tryptophan and the supplement St. John’s wort. Talk to your prescriber before using these medications and supplements while taking sertraline.

Talk to a psychiatric nurse practitioner about sertraline

Thinking about getting started? Have a few more questions? You can use the tool on our Book an Appointment page to choose a provider and schedule a 50-minute introductory appointment. Your psychiatric nurse practitioner can:

• Discuss your experiences with mental health
• Provide information on mental health and sertraline
• Discuss whether starting medication may be helpful for you
• Provide medication management services 

Give our care team a call today for more information, check your eligibility for free online or book an initial appointment online.