Sertraline HCI Tablets, 50mg

SSRI Tablets for Anxiety and Behavioral Disorders in Pets

Product Description

Sertraline HCl 50mg Tablets are a prescription selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used by veterinarians to treat behavioral disorders in dogs and cats. It works by keeping serotonin active in the brain for longer, which gradually builds emotional stability and softens fear-based responses over time. Veterinarians prescribe it for separation anxiety, noise phobias, aggression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and inappropriate elimination in cats, and it works best alongside a veterinarian-guided behavioral modification program.

Benefits

• Anxiety Disorder Treatment: Dogs and cats with separation anxiety and fear-based behaviors respond better when this is part of their care plan.
• Compulsive Behavior Support: Excessive chewing, licking, tail chasing, and psychogenic alopecia become more manageable in pets on this medication.
• Cat Elimination Issues: Cats prone to stress-driven spraying, house-soiling, or inappropriate elimination often improve with consistent use of this medication.
• Aggression Management: Part of a broader behavioral plan to help ease fear-based and anxiety-driven aggression in dogs and cats.
• Noise Phobia Relief: Takes the edge off exaggerated fear responses to thunderstorms, fireworks, and other startling environmental stimuli in dogs.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients

Sertraline Hydrochloride

How to Use

Sertraline HCl 50mg Tablets are a prescription-only medication. A valid veterinarian prescription is required to purchase this product.

Please follow your veterinarian's specific instructions for the dosage and administration of this medication for your pet.

Disclaimer: Dosage and administration of this medication must be determined by a licensed veterinarian. Always consult your veterinarian before administering or adjusting any prescription medication for your pet.

Placing this tablet inside a soft pill pocket or pill wrap treat is a simple way to get your pet to take their dose without any fuss. If stomach upset comes up on an empty stomach, check with your veterinarian about whether offering a small amount of food alongside it would help.

Shop Pill Pockets for Dogs | Shop Pill Pockets for Cats

Additional Information

Precautions

• Avoid With MAOIs: Pets that have received a monoamine oxidase inhibitor like selegiline or amitraz in the past 14 days should not be given this medication.
• No Amitraz Flea Collars: Flea collars containing amitraz should not be used while a pet is on sertraline due to the serious MAOI interaction risk.
• Never Stop Abruptly: Cutting this medication off without tapering can bring on withdrawal signs, so always bring the dose down gradually with veterinary guidance.
• Caution in Liver Disease: Pets with liver disease may need a reduced dose given less often, since sertraline is processed by the liver and can build up.
• Caution in Seizure History: Pets with a history of seizures need careful evaluation before starting, as this medication may lower the seizure threshold in some animals.
• Avoid in Pregnancy: How sertraline affects breeding, pregnant, or nursing animals is not established, so it should only be used with clear veterinary direction.
• Serotonin Syndrome Risk: Pairing this medication with serotonergic drugs like trazodone, tramadol, or amitriptyline can trigger potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome in pets.

Possible Side Effects

• Reduced Appetite and Lethargy: A drop in appetite and tiredness are among the more commonly noticed reactions in dogs and cats on sertraline.
• Digestive Upset: Vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling can come up and tend to be mild, particularly early in treatment.
• Tremors and Agitation: Some pets may develop mild tremors, restlessness, or agitation, mostly in the early weeks of starting this medication.
• Increased Aggression in Dogs: In rare cases, sertraline can make aggression worse in dogs, which means stopping the medication right away and getting veterinary advice.
• Serotonin Syndrome Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, a high body temperature, and a racing heart all point to a serious emergency needing immediate veterinary care.

Storage Information

• Room Temperature: Tablets do best at room temperature inside a tightly closed container, kept away from heat and excess humidity.
• Protect From Moisture and Light: Direct sunlight and damp conditions can chip away at the tablet's potency, so a dry, shaded storage spot works best.
• Out of Reach: This medication should be stored completely out of reach of all pets and children, as an overdose can be serious or fatal.

NOTE: For generic medications, the product image shown may not reflect the actual item received. Generic medications can vary in size, color, and shape between orders depending on the manufacturer. Additionally, your medication may arrive packaged in a HardyPaw Pharmacy vial.

Shipping & Return

We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.

For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.

Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What behavioral conditions does sertraline treat in dogs and cats?

Ans: Sertraline is used for separation anxiety, noise phobias, fear-based aggression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and inappropriate elimination in cats. It works best as part of a veterinarian-guided behavioral modification program rather than being relied on as a standalone treatment.

Q2: How long does sertraline take to work in dogs and cats?

Ans: Most pets need several weeks of consistent dosing before the full behavioral effects come through, and some may take up to six to eight weeks. A drop in appetite or mild tiredness early on is normal and tends to settle as the pet adjusts. Ending treatment too soon before benefits are established is a common pitfall.

Q3: Can sertraline be combined with other behavioral medications for pets?

Ans: MAOIs, amitraz, trazodone, tramadol, and other serotonergic drugs all carry a real risk of triggering life-threatening serotonin syndrome when used alongside sertraline. A full medication review with your veterinarian, covering supplements and flea or tick products too, is an important step before treatment begins.

Q4: What is serotonin syndrome and how serious is it in pets?

Ans: Serotonin syndrome happens when serotonin activity in the nervous system climbs dangerously high, and it can be triggered by an overdose or by combining sertraline with other serotonergic drugs. Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, a high body temperature, and a racing heart are all warning signs that need emergency veterinary care right away.

Q5: Can sertraline be stopped suddenly in dogs and cats?

Ans: Bringing this medication to a sudden stop is not safe and can cause withdrawal effects like agitation, nausea, and behavioral setbacks. A veterinarian will put together a step-down plan that gradually reduces the dose over several weeks. Sticking to the tapering schedule is important for getting off the medication without complications.