How Safe Is Sertraline for Children?

The use of sertraline for children is relatively safe under certain circumstances. Sertraline is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat various medical conditions including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and social anxiety. While adults might use sertraline for any of these disorders, sertraline for children is, in general, only recommended for the treatment of OCD. That is, the approval of sertraline for children only pertains to OCD, and not other conditions such as depression. In addition, while the use of sertraline for children with OCD is okay, there are a variety of risks and side effects associated with the medication and, as such, it is important that any child on sertraline be monitored.

One of the more serious risks of using sertraline is experiencing suicidal behavior or thoughts. During the first few months of sertraline treatment, it is especially important that a child is monitored because this is the time in which he begins to display how he reacts to the medication. If changes in behavior or thoughts occur, it might be time to talk to the child’s doctor. At the same time, different children react to medications in different ways. Some reactions associated with sertraline that a child might demonstrate include aggression, bedwetting and hyperactivity.

Children under sertraline treatment might exhibit side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth, as well as mild cases of insomnia, nausea and stomach pain. More serious side effects, which require immediate medical attention, include blurred vision, high fever and irregular heartbeat, in addition to stiff muscles, sweating and unusual bleeding or bruising. Also, a child might exhibit problems with concentration and memory, as well as confusion, hallucination and loss of balance or coordination. Some serious side effects are also signs of an overdose, such as coma, confusion and dizziness. In addition, seizures, tremors and vomiting can occur.

Sertraline can also affect a newborn baby if a woman uses the medication during her pregnancy. Pregnant women who take the medication should be aware of the risk that their babies will develop lung problems, which can be life-threatening, due to the use of sertraline. Despite this, a pregnant woman who uses sertraline for depression treatment should not stop taking the medication without consulting her doctor. This is because if the woman stops her treatment, it can lead to a depression relapse.