Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes. One study looked at the babies of 147 women who took sertraline either at the beginning of pregnancy or through the entire pregnancy. This study found no harmful effects of sertraline on the babies. However, more study is needed to be sure that sertraline is safe to use during pregnancy. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Sertraline passes into breast milk.
No problems have been reported in nursing babies, but the long-term effects are not known. Sertraline has been tested in children 6 to 17 years of age with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In effective doses, this medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. However, sertraline can cause a decrease in appetite and children who take this medicine for a long time should have their growth and body weight measured by the doctor at regular visits. However, this medicine may be removed from the body more slowly in older adults.