SERTRALINE

82/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Amneal Pharmaceuticals NY LLC

Sertraline Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

201,088 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About SERTRALINE

SERTRALINE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Amneal Pharmaceuticals NY LLC. Based on analysis of 201,088 FDA adverse event reports, SERTRALINE has a safety score of 82 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for SERTRALINE include DRUG INEFFECTIVE, NAUSEA, FATIGUE, DIARRHOEA, HEADACHE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for SERTRALINE.

AI Safety Analysis

Sertraline has a safety concern score of 82 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 201,088 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Amneal Pharmaceuticals Ny Llc.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Ineffective, Nausea, Fatigue. Of classified reports, 78.9% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Sertraline reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly related to mental health and suicidal ideation.

The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular issues. Sertraline is frequently reported to cause weight changes and sexual dysfunction.

Patients taking Sertraline should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Sertraline can interact with other drugs, potentially leading to serotonin syndrome. It is important to inform healthcare providers of all medications being taken. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 82/100

Sertraline received a safety concern score of 82/100 (high concern). This is based on a 78.9% serious event ratio across 112,179 classified reports. The score accounts for 201,088 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE6,804 reports
NAUSEA6,467 reports
FATIGUE5,890 reports
DIARRHOEA5,216 reports
HEADACHE4,929 reports
DIZZINESS4,599 reports
OFF LABEL USE4,584 reports
ANXIETY4,554 reports
DRUG INTERACTION4,191 reports
VOMITING4,142 reports
DEPRESSION3,821 reports
FALL3,693 reports
DYSPNOEA3,679 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS3,370 reports
PAIN3,249 reports
INSOMNIA3,217 reports
MALAISE3,140 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED2,953 reports
ASTHENIA2,948 reports
TREMOR2,820 reports
SOMNOLENCE2,793 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE2,784 reports
DEATH2,650 reports
SUICIDAL IDEATION2,627 reports
ARTHRALGIA2,487 reports
COMPLETED SUICIDE2,467 reports
INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE2,438 reports
PNEUMONIA2,203 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL2,140 reports
DRUG ABUSE2,106 reports
DECREASED APPETITE2,099 reports
PRURITUS1,998 reports
RASH1,976 reports
SUICIDE ATTEMPT1,967 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED1,965 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED1,944 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,938 reports
PYREXIA1,891 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY1,845 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY1,784 reports
SEROTONIN SYNDROME1,775 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS1,742 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,722 reports
AGITATION1,720 reports
OVERDOSE1,714 reports
COUGH1,713 reports
HYPOTENSION1,630 reports
BACK PAIN1,577 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,567 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE1,556 reports
INTENTIONAL SELF INJURY1,542 reports
CONSTIPATION1,514 reports
HYPERTENSION1,475 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION1,451 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION1,436 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT1,431 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA1,408 reports
PARAESTHESIA1,408 reports
SEIZURE1,408 reports
HALLUCINATION1,400 reports
MYALGIA1,344 reports
CHEST PAIN1,338 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS1,324 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS1,300 reports
TACHYCARDIA1,282 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE1,275 reports
RENAL FAILURE1,216 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE1,184 reports
PALPITATIONS1,161 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT1,122 reports
SYNCOPE1,103 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY1,083 reports
BALANCE DISORDER1,075 reports
DEHYDRATION1,063 reports
VISION BLURRED1,056 reports
ALOPECIA1,050 reports
ANAEMIA1,042 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS1,014 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED1,000 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA995 reports
COVID 19990 reports
SLEEP DISORDER986 reports
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM QT PROLONGED984 reports
AGGRESSION982 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING975 reports
CARDIAC ARREST970 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY955 reports
WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME952 reports
DRY MOUTH941 reports
DYSKINESIA938 reports
DEPRESSED MOOD929 reports
NIGHTMARE919 reports
CHILLS912 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY911 reports
ERYTHEMA888 reports
DISTURBANCE IN ATTENTION866 reports
GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE866 reports
RESTLESSNESS862 reports
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT851 reports
IRRITABILITY827 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Serious adverse events (88,563 out of 112,179, 78.9%)
  • High incidence of suicidal ideation and completed suicides
  • Multiple neurological reactions including confusion, tremors, and seizures

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 65,308, Male: 35,758, Unknown: 284. The most frequently reported age groups are age 54 (1,657 reports), age 58 (1,489 reports), age 64 (1,443 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 112,179 classified reports for SERTRALINE:

  • Serious: 88,563 reports (78.9%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 23,616 reports (21.1%)
Serious 78.9%Non-Serious 21.1%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female65,308 (64.4%)
Male35,758 (35.3%)
Unknown284 (0.3%)

Reports by Age

Age 541,657 reports
Age 581,489 reports
Age 641,443 reports
Age 671,426 reports
Age 621,392 reports
Age 631,380 reports
Age 611,341 reports
Age 551,329 reports
Age 601,325 reports
Age 591,314 reports
Age 521,307 reports
Age 701,306 reports
Age 651,303 reports
Age 561,296 reports
Age 721,244 reports
Age 691,243 reports
Age 351,235 reports
Age 661,216 reports
Age 571,214 reports
Age 711,207 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Sertraline can interact with other drugs, potentially leading to serotonin syndrome. It is important to inform healthcare providers of all medications being taken.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Sertraline, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug ineffective, nausea, fatigue, diarrhoea, headache. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Inform your healthcare provider about any existing medical conditions, especially psychiatric disorders, before starting sertraline. Monitor for signs of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and report any changes to your healthcare provider immediately. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

Sertraline is subject to strict FDA oversight due to its potential for serious adverse events, particularly in psychiatric conditions and suicidal behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Sertraline?

The FDA has received approximately 201,088 adverse event reports associated with Sertraline. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Sertraline?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Sertraline include Drug Ineffective, Nausea, Fatigue, Diarrhoea, Headache. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Ineffective (6,804 reports), Nausea (6,467 reports), Fatigue (5,890 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Sertraline.

What percentage of Sertraline adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 112,179 classified reports, 88,563 (78.9%) were classified as serious and 23,616 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Sertraline (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Sertraline break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 65,308, Male: 35,758, Unknown: 284. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Sertraline?

The most frequently reported age groups for Sertraline adverse events are: age 54: 1,657 reports, age 58: 1,489 reports, age 64: 1,443 reports, age 67: 1,426 reports, age 62: 1,392 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Sertraline?

The primary manufacturer associated with Sertraline adverse event reports is Amneal Pharmaceuticals Ny Llc. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Sertraline?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Sertraline include: Dizziness, Off Label Use, Anxiety, Drug Interaction, Vomiting. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Sertraline?

You can report adverse events from Sertraline to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Sertraline's safety score and what does it mean?

Sertraline has a safety concern score of 82 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Sertraline reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly related to mental health and suicidal ideation.

What are the key safety signals for Sertraline?

Key safety signals identified in Sertraline's adverse event data include: Serious adverse events (88,563 out of 112,179, 78.9%). High incidence of suicidal ideation and completed suicides. Multiple neurological reactions including confusion, tremors, and seizures. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Sertraline interact with other drugs?

Sertraline can interact with other drugs, potentially leading to serotonin syndrome. It is important to inform healthcare providers of all medications being taken. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Sertraline.

What should patients know before taking Sertraline?

Inform your healthcare provider about any existing medical conditions, especially psychiatric disorders, before starting sertraline. Monitor for signs of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and report any changes to your healthcare provider immediately.

Are Sertraline side effects well-documented?

Sertraline has 201,088 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular issues. The volume of reports for Sertraline reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Sertraline?

Sertraline is subject to strict FDA oversight due to its potential for serious adverse events, particularly in psychiatric conditions and suicidal behavior. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to SERTRALINE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

ParoxetineFluoxetineVenlafaxineCitalopramEscitalopram
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.