Zoloft (Sertraline)

With Talkspace online psychiatry, the first step toward getting help is to complete a brief assessment. Once you’re matched with a psychiatric clinician, you’ll have a live video session where you’ll share how you’ve been feeling.

A licensed healthcare provider will ask you about your psychological and medical history, including questions about mental health concerns, treatment goals, and any other medications you’re taking. From there, they’ll prescribe a treatment plan. If that includes a prescription medication (such as Zoloft), you can get it at your local pharmacy. 

If your provider determines Zoloft is right for you, they may prescribe the brand-name or the FDA-approved generic Zoloft, depending on what’s covered by your insurance.

No. Zoloft is a prescription medication, so you cannot purchase it over-the-counter. You will need to have Zoloft prescribed to you by a licensed provider who is able to prescribe medications, like a doctor or nurse practitioner. You can get a prescription for Zoloft online through Talkspace after a video consultation with a licensed psychiatry provider, if the provider decides that Zoloft is an appropriate treatment for you.

Common side effects of Zoloft and its generic form, sertraline, that are usually mild include nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, constipation, trouble sleeping, weight gain or loss, changes in appetite or sex drive, and more. Less common, but more severe, Zoloft side effects can include restlessness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or irregular heartbeat. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience thoughts of suicide, worsening depression, or aggressive behavior. You may experience side effects when you first begin taking Zoloft but find that the side effects lessen or go away entirely once you’ve been taking it for several weeks or months. It’s important to take Zoloft exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Yes, you can get a Zoloft or generic Zoloft prescription refill from Talkspace, after a video consultation with one of our licensed psychiatry providers (assuming the provider determines that it is an appropriate treatment for you). Simply sign up for Talkspace Psychiatry then you’ll be matched with a psychiatry provider licensed in your state. At your video appointment your psychiatry provider will ask questions about your symptoms and health history. If you are already taking Zoloft and simply want to continue with a renewal of your prescription or refill, your Talkspace provider can continue your prescription if they determine it is medically appropriate. You will have follow-up appointments with your provider every three months for ongoing medication management, to make sure Zoloft is working for you and address any mental health needs.

Yes, Zoloft and its generic version are often covered by most major health insurance plans. When you sign up for Talkspace, you’ll have the option to enter your details and check your insurance coverage for online psychiatry. If your insurance plan covers behavioral health or prescription benefits, you may be able to significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Many insurance plans will cover generic Zoloft, which may be a lower-cost option compared to the brand-name prescription.

The price you pay for Zoloft (sertraline) will depend on whether or not you’re paying with insurance and what your insurance copay is. The prices of prescription medications sometimes vary a lot by pharmacy, so to get the best price for Zoloft you might want to look at websites like GoodRx and CostPlusDrugs. You should also contact your insurance company to find out the most affordable way to get your prescription for Zoloft. Some insurance companies charge less when you fill your prescriptions through their mail-order pharmacies.

Zoloft (sertraline) is taken in different forms, dosages, and frequency, depending on your mental health condition and the treatment plan prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your clinician will discuss whether the brand-name or generic Zoloft is the best fit for your needs, including considerations like cost, pharmacy availability, and insurance coverage.

From there, your psychiatrist will likely start you at a lower dose and gradually increase it as needed to treat your symptoms. Zoloft is commonly taken orally in pill form but it can be prescribed in liquid form if needed. It’s taken either once or twice a day. It’s important to take your Zoloft prescription around the same time each day, whether that is morning or night. 

There are several different medications your psychiatrist may prescribe for anxiety or depression.

Other medications used to treat general anxiety disorder include:

• Paxil
• Escitalopram
• Fluoxetine

Other medications for depression include:

• Citalopram
• Fluoxetine
• Paxil
• Prozac
• Bupropion
• Abilify
• Lithium
• Seroquel
• Zyprexa
• Remeron

Some of these medications, like sertraline (the generic Zoloft), are available in both brand-name and generic versions to improve accessibility and affordability.

Zoloft is the brand name of the generic medication sertraline, and it is used to treat multiple mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Zoloft is a type of mental health medication called an SSRI, which stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. These medications work by increasing the availability of a neurotransmitter called serotonin in your brain, which reduces symptoms of anxiety or depression.