Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Sertraline Pensa 100 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
Sertraline Pensa contains sertraline as the active ingredient. Sertraline belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); these medicines are used to treat depression and/or anxiety disorders.
Sertraline Pensa can be used to treat:
Depression is a clinical illness with symptoms such as feelings of sadness, inability to sleep well or to enjoy life as you used to.
OCD and anxiety disorders are illnesses related to anxiety, with symptoms such as being constantly worried about recurring ideas (obsessions) that lead to performing repetitive rituals (compulsions).
PTSD is a disorder that can occur after a very traumatic emotional experience, and which has some symptoms similar to depression and anxiety. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is an anxiety-related illness. It is characterized by feeling intense anxiety or fear in social situations (e.g., talking to strangers, speaking in public, eating or drinking in front of others, or worrying about behaving in a shameful way).
Your doctor has considered that this medicine is suitable for treating your illness.
If you are not sure why you have been prescribed Sertraline Pensa, you should ask your doctor.
Do not take Sertraline Pensa:
Warnings and precautions:
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment with Sertraline Pensa.
Medicines are not always suitable for everyone. Before starting treatment with Sertraline Pensa, tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following:
Sexual dysfunction
Some medicines in the same group as Sertraline Pensa (called SSRIs/SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms persist after treatment is stopped.
Restlessness/akathisia
The use of sertraline has been associated with unpleasant restlessness and a need to move, often accompanied by an inability to remain seated or standing (akathisia). This occurs more often during the first few weeks of treatment. An increase in dose may be harmful, so if you develop these symptoms, you should contact your doctor.
Withdrawal symptoms
Side effects related to treatment discontinuation (withdrawal symptoms) are common, particularly if treatment is stopped abruptly (see section 3. "If you stop taking Sertraline Pensa" and section 4 "Possible side effects"). The risk of presenting withdrawal symptoms depends on the duration of treatment, dose, and rate at which the dose is reduced. Generally, these symptoms are mild or moderate. However, in some patients, they can be severe. These symptoms usually occur during the first few days after treatment is stopped. In general, these symptoms usually resolve on their own and normally disappear within two weeks. In some patients, they can last longer (2-3 months or more). It is recommended that when stopping treatment with sertraline, the dose should be gradually reduced over a period of several weeks or even months, and you should always agree with your doctor on the best way to stop treatment.
Suicidal thoughts and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder
If you are depressed and/or have an anxiety disorder, you may sometimes have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide. This can increase at the beginning of treatment with antidepressants, due to the fact that these medicines take time to work, which is usually a few weeks but can sometimes be longer.
This is more likely to happen:
If you have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide at any time, contact your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.
It may be helpful for you to explain to a family member or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder and ask them to read this leaflet. You can also ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are concerned about changes in your behavior.
Children and adolescents
Normally, sertraline should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under 18 years of age, except in the case of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Patients under 18 years of age have a higher risk of adverse effects such as suicidal attempts, thoughts of harming themselves or suicide (suicidal ideas), and hostility (mainly aggression, confrontational behavior, and anger) when they are being treated with this class of medicines. Nevertheless, it is possible that your doctor may decide to prescribe Sertraline Pensa to a patient under 18 years of age if they consider it is the most convenient for the patient. If your doctor has prescribed Sertraline Pensa and you are under 18 years of age and wish to discuss this decision, please go back to your doctor. You must inform your doctor if any of the symptoms mentioned above appear or worsen when you are taking sertraline. At the same time, the long-term effects on safety and related to growth, maturity, and learning (cognitive development) and behavioral development of sertraline in this age group have not yet been demonstrated.
Other medicines and Sertraline Pensa
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.
Some medicines can affect the way Sertraline Pensa works, or Sertraline Pensa itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines that are being taken at the same time.
The use of Sertraline Pensa with the following medicines can cause serious side effects
Tell your doctor if you are taking the following medicines
Taking Sertraline Pensa with food, drinks, and alcohol
Sertraline Pensa tablets can be taken with or without food.
Alcohol consumption should be avoided while being treated with sertraline.
Sertraline should not be taken in combination with grapefruit juice, as it can increase sertraline levels in your body.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
The safety of sertraline in pregnant women has not been fully established. If you are pregnant, sertraline will only be given to you if your doctor considers that the benefit to you outweighs any possible risk to the developing baby.
Make sure your midwife and/or doctor know that you are taking Sertraline Pensa. If you take it during pregnancy, especially during the last 3 months, medicines like Sertraline Pensa can increase the risk of a serious disease in babies called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), which makes the baby breathe faster and have a bluish appearance. These symptoms usually start within the first 24 hours after birth. If this happens to your baby, contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.
If you take Sertraline Pensa in the final stages of pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after delivery, especially if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Your doctor or midwife should know that you are taking sertraline so they can advise you.
Your newborn baby may have other illnesses, which usually appear within the first 24 hours after birth. The symptoms include:
If your baby has any of these symptoms at birth, or you are concerned about your baby's health, consult your doctor or midwife for advice.
There are indications that sertraline passes into breast milk. Therefore, sertraline can only be used in breastfeeding women if the doctor considers that the benefit outweighs any possible risk to the baby.
In animal studies, it has been seen that some medicines like sertraline may reduce sperm quality. Theoretically, this could affect fertility, but the impact on human fertility has not yet been determined.
Driving and using machines
During treatment with sertraline, you may feel drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or use tools or machines until you know how the treatment with sertraline affects you.
Sertraline Pensa contains lactose and sodium
This medicine contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per tablet; this is essentially "sodium-free".
Follow the administration instructions for this medication exactly as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
The recommended dose is:
Adults:
Depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
For depression and OCD, the usual effective dose is 50 mg per day. The daily dose can be increased in increments of 50 mg, at intervals of at least one week, and so on for several weeks. The maximum recommended dose is 200 mg per day.
Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
For anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment should be started with a dose of 25 mg per day, and increased to 50 mg per day after one week.
The daily dose can be increased in increments of 50 mg over a period of several weeks. The maximum recommended dose is 200 mg per day.
Use in children and adolescents:
Sertralina pensa should only be used to treat children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years who have OCD.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Children from6 to12 years:The recommended starting dose is 25 mg per day. After one week, your doctor may increase the dose to 50 mg per day. The maximum dose is 200 mg per day.
Adolescents from13 to17 years:The recommended starting dose is 50 mg per day. The maximum dose is 200 mg per day.
If you have liver or kidney problems, inform your doctor and follow the instructions they give you.
Method of administration:
Sertralina pensa tablets can be taken with or without food.
Take your medication once a day, either in the morning or at night.
Your doctor will indicate the duration of treatment with this medication. The duration will depend on the nature of your illness and your response to treatment. It will take several weeks for your symptoms to start improving. Treatment of depression usually needs to continue for 6 months after improvement.
If you take more Sertralina pensa than you should
If you accidentally take an excess of sertralina, contact your doctor or go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital. Always carry the medication packaging with you, whether or not there is still medication in it.
You can also call the Toxicology Information Service, phone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
The symptoms of overdose may include drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting, increased heart rate, tremors, agitation, dizziness, and rarely loss of consciousness.
If you forget to take Sertralina pensa
Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. If you forget to take a dose, do not take it when you realize it. Take the next dose when it is due.
If you interrupt treatment with Sertralina pensa
Do not interrupt treatment with Sertralina pensa unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor will want to gradually reduce the dose of Sertralina pensa over several weeks before you stop taking this medication altogether. If you interrupt treatment abruptly, you may experience adverse effects such as dizziness, numbness, sleep disturbances, agitation, or anxiety, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and tremors. If you experience any of these adverse effects, or any other during the interruption of your treatment with Sertralina pensa, please inform your doctor.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, this medication can cause side effects, although not all people experience them.
The most common side effect is nausea. Side effects depend on the dose and often disappear or decrease as treatment continues.
Tell your doctor immediately
If you experience any of the following symptoms after taking this medication, as these symptoms can be serious.
The following side effects were observed in clinical trials in adults and after marketing.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 patients):
Insomnia, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, diarrhea, feeling unwell, dry mouth, ejaculation problems, and fatigue.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients):
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients):
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data):
Other side effects in children and adolescents
In clinical trials in children and adolescents, side effects were generally similar to those reported in adults (see above). The most common side effects in children and adolescents were headache, insomnia, diarrhea, and nausea.
Symptoms that may appear when treatment is interrupted
If you interrupt treatment with this medication abruptly, you may experience side effects such as dizziness, numbness, sleep disturbances, agitation, or anxiety, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and tremors (see section 3. If you interrupt treatment with Sertralina pensa).
An increased risk of bone fractures has been observed in patients taking this type of medication.
Reporting of side effects:
If you experience any side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Medicines Surveillance System for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
Keep this medication out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date shown on the packaging, after EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
No special storage conditions are required.
Medications should not be disposed of through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point in the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Sertralina pensa
Appearance of the product and package contents
Sertralina pensa is presented in white or grayish-white film-coated tablets.
Sertralina pensa is available in three package sizes: 30, 60, and 500 tablets. The tablets are presented in aluminum/PVC-PVDC blisters.
Marketing authorization holder
Towa Pharmaceutical, S.A.
C/ de Sant Martí, 75-97
08107 Martorelles (Barcelona)
Spain
Manufacturer:
Laboratorios Cinfa, S.A. C/Olaz-Chipi, 10
31620 Huarte – Pamplona
Spain
or
Farmalider, S.A. C/Aragoneses, 2
28108 Alcobendas (Madrid)
Spain
or
Toll Manufacturing Services, S.L.
C/Aragoneses, 2
28108 Alcobendas (Madrid)
Spain
Date of the last revision of this leaflet:June 2024
Detailed information about this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/
The average price of SERTRALINE PENSA 100 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS in October, 2025 is around 11.66 EUR. Prices may vary depending on the region, pharmacy, and whether a prescription is required. Always check with a local pharmacy or online source for the most accurate information.