Risks Of Mixing Cocaine And Zoloft (Sertraline)

Mixing cocaine and Zoloft, known by its generic name as sertraline, can result in serious, life-threatening complications. In fact, mixing any antidepressant with cocaine is never a safe combination. Cocaine, like many illicit drugs, can cause an increase of serotonin. Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and as the name suggests, this means it prevents the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. Mixing these two drugs causes a massive influx of serotonin, creating dangerous levels of serotonin in the brain.

Learn more about what happens when you combine multiple drugs.

What Are The Risks Of Mixing Cocaine And Zoloft?

Some medical professionals have used Zoloft to treat cocaine addiction, but this does not mean that the two should be taken together. Mixing cocaine and Zoloft can result in serious, life-threatening complications. In fact, mixing any antidepressant with cocaine is never a safe combination.

Serotonin Syndrome

The biggest concern with mixing cocaine and Zoloft is serotonin syndrome. This is a condition characterized by high levels of serotonin in the brain.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include:

• excessive sweating
• low fever
• anxiety
• restlessness
• tremors
• increased heartbeat
• shaking and shivering
• diarrhea
• abnormal skin color
• seizures
• coma
• delirium

Fatal serotonin syndrome is unlikely, but it is possible. If it’s treated early enough, the life-threatening symptoms of the syndrome can be reserved.

Why Might Someone Mix Cocaine And Zoloft?

This combination isn’t something people usually choose on purpose to get a stronger high. People who want a more intense experience typically mix cocaine with other drugs like heroin, MDMA, or alcohol instead. However, the dangerous mixing of cocaine and Zoloft often happens accidentally when someone is taking Zoloft as prescribed by their doctor to treat depression but is also using cocaine illegally at the same time.

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Many people faced with both depression and drug addiction find themselves in this risky situation without planning it. Since Zoloft is an effective antidepressant that helps people feel better and get their brain chemistry back to normal, they may be taking it as part of their treatment while still battling cocaine addiction. This creates a dangerous drug interaction that can have serious health consequences, even though the person may not realize they’re putting themselves at risk by using both substances.

Cocaine Addiction And Depression

Depression is a common co-occurring disorder with cocaine addiction. As a stimulant, cocaine activates the reward center of the brain creating strong feelings of self-confidence. However, when people stop using cocaine or come to the end of a binge, they often experience a sharp peak in symptoms of depression. This furthers the cycle of addiction. Mixing cocaine and Zoloft is dangerous, but treatment exists that addresses both addiction and depression, called dual diagnosis treatment.

Through dual diagnosis treatment, people facing cocaine abuse can begin to address the underlying causes of addiction and find healthy ways to treat co-occurring disorders like depression.

Finding Help For Cocaine Addiction And Depression

Dealing with both cocaine addiction and depression at the same time is a serious challenge, but it is one that responds well to professional treatment. Attempting to address only one condition while leaving the other untreated is one of the most common reasons people struggle to maintain recovery. Dual diagnosis treatment programs are designed to treat both conditions at the same time, giving individuals a more complete path to lasting recovery.

Treatment options may include medically supervised detox, inpatient or outpatient rehab services, medication management, and evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy. Finding a program that addresses both cocaine addiction and depression together is essential for the best possible outcome. Browse our directory or reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information about addiction recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff