Common Side Effects of Sertraline

Initial Side Effects

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that gastrointestinal effects, including nausea and vomiting, are common side effects of sertraline, with a higher incidence than other SSRIs 1
Diarrhea is also a common side effect, with a higher rate than other antidepressants, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1, 2
Dry mouth and heartburn/indigestion are additional gastrointestinal side effects associated with sertraline, as reported by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 3
Headache, dizziness, somnolence, and insomnia are neurological side effects that may occur with sertraline treatment, as noted by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Annals of Internal Medicine 1, 3
Increased sweating is another common side effect of sertraline, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 3

Behavioral activation, agitation, and suicidal thinking and behavior are potentially serious side effects that require monitoring, particularly in younger patients and those with anxiety disorders, as warned by the FDA and reported by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 3
Serotonin syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening side effect that can occur when sertraline is combined with other serotonergic medications, as reported by the American Family Physician 4
Hyponatremia, or low sodium levels, is a potential side effect of sertraline, as noted by the Annals of Internal Medicine 1
Abnormal bleeding is another potential side effect of sertraline, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 3

Starting at a lower dose and slowly titrating up can minimize initial side effects, as recommended by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 3
Close monitoring is recommended during the first few months of treatment and following dosage adjustments, particularly for signs of suicidality or behavioral activation, as advised by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 3