Sertraline is a selective inhibitor of central serotonin reuptake. Thus, it enhances serotonergic transmission a property which appears to explain its antedepressant activity. Its elimination halflife (approximately 26 hours) makes it suitable for one daily administration. Although clinical experience ith sertraline is limited, it appears to possess antidepressant efficacy similar to that of amitriptyline and dothiepin, marginally better than imipramin and significantly better than plecebo. Sertraline and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors possess tolerability advantages over tricyclic antidepressants. Sertraline has minimal anticholinergic activity, is essentially devoid cardiovascular effects, has a wide therapeutic index and may be administered to elderly patients or these with underlying cardiovascular disorders. However, as with other serotonin reuptake inhibitors, sertraline has been associated with gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, diarrhea/loose stools) and male sexual dysfunction (primarily ejaculatory disturbance), although each of these effects usually mild and transient, decreasing in frequency with continued treatment.