Can Zoloft cause a burning sensation?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Can Zoloft cause a burning sensation?
Zoloft may or may not cause a burning sensation. Zoloft is associated with a number of side effects, but it’s not known for causing a burning sensation.
However, it can cause this side effect in 2% of the population taking Zoloft. Those who have reported this side effect either experienced a burning sensation all over their body or a burning sensation only in their mouths. It can also cause a burning sensation in the throat, or a lump-in-throat sensation.
However, the majority of the population has not felt this way. Every individual responds differently to medications, especially antidepressants. Make sure you closely monitor your side effects, especially if you’re new to Zoloft or antidepressants in general.
What does research suggest?
Research on the occurrence of a burning sensation with Zoloft is limited, and there is no specific data indicating its incidence. However, some individuals have reported this sensation while taking the medication.
It’s important to note that individual responses to medications can vary, and what one person experiences may not be the same for others. A few cases of Zoloft-induced burning mouth syndrome have been reported. (1).
The exact mechanism behind the burning sensation associated with Zoloft is not well understood. It may be related to changes in the nervous system, as SSRIs like Zoloft affect the levels of serotonin in the brain (2,3)
Serotonin plays a role in regulating pain perception, so alterations in serotonin levels could potentially contribute to abnormal sensations. It may also cause other skin-related side effects like eczema.
If you are experiencing a burning sensation while taking Zoloft or any other skin-related side effects, it is crucial to discuss this side effect with your healthcare provider.
It is also important to remember if you have not gone through any skin procedures lately, like laser hair removal, dermaplaning, etc.
Although Zoloft does not affect these procedures in any way, these procedures may make your skin more sensitive to drug-induced side effects. However, this varies from person to person.
What to do if Zoloft causes a burning sensation in your body?
Reach out to your healthcare provider if you feel a burning sensation after taking Zoloft. Although it is quite rare, it could still affect you and your treatment with Zoloft significantly.
Your doctor may ask you to take a lower dose at first, as it’s not recommended to stop taking Zoloft abruptly. If your body adjusts to the low dose, your doctor may keep you on it for as long as your body takes to adjust to Zoloft.
If you start doing well on this antidepressant, your doctor will increase the dose gradually. However, if this side effect persists even with a lower dose, your doctor will most likely switch you to another antidepressant.
Your doctor may advise you to take Zoloft with food. You can also crush the tablet and mix it with food for ease of administration and to mask the bitter taste of the drug (4). This may prevent a burning sensation in your mouth right after taking the medication.
However, Zoloft may not suit every individual, even though it is one of the most frequently prescribed antidepressants in the world. Make sure you don’t make any changes to your prescription without your doctor’s approval.
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References
1.-
Purohith AN, Chauhan A, Bhandary RP. Sertraline-Associated Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Rare Adverse Effect of a Frequently Prescribed Antidepressant. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2022 May-Jun 01;42(3):315-316. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001523. Epub 2022 Jan 27. PMID: 35081579. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35081579/
2.-
Singh HK, Saadabadi A. Sertraline. 2023 Feb 13. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31613469. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547689
3.-
McRae AL, Brady KT. Review of sertraline and its clinical applications in psychiatric disorders. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2001 May;2(5):883-92. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2.5.883. PMID: 11336629. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11336629/
4.-
ZOLOFT (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. Full prescribing information”. United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839S74S86S87_20990S35S44S45lbl.pdf
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