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Posted on:11/17/2006

Question

One of my friends is snorting Zoloft and she says she is getting high off it. I don't think you can get high of it. Can you?

Answer

Zoloft or sertraline is a medication belonging to a common class of antidepressants called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). While this medication can be used to treat a variety of psychiatric illnesses, it is most commonly used to treat depression. Its main function is to increase the brain's level of serotonin. Low level of serotonin can cause depression. This medication is taken orally and is very well absorbed through this route. There is no rationale for administering this medication by any other route including the intranasal passage through snorting since this medication takes several weeks to be effective. Snorting does not speed up the effectiveness of this medication. Increasing serotonin level is not known to cause euphoria.

Answered By: Khue Nguyen, Pharm.D


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