Saw Palmetto and Sertraline Oral Concentrate

• Generic Name: saw palmetto
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

  Prostate SR

Saw palmetto comes from a palm-like plant that grows in the southeast United States. The berries of this plant are used to make the capsule form of saw palmetto. Saw palmetto is also known as American Dwarf Palm Tree, Baies du Palmier Scie, Cabbage Palm, Chou Palmiste, Ju-Zhong, Palma Enana Americana, Palmier Nain, Palmier Scie, Sabal, Serenoa, and other names.

Saw palmetto blocks certain effects of certain hormones in the body and also has some anti-inflammatory actions.

Saw palmetto has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in preventing complications from prostate surgery (such as blood loss or problems during surgery) and reducing the time spent in surgery and in the hospital after surgery.

Saw palmetto has been used to treat symptoms of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH), such as increased night-time urination or decreased urinary flow. However, research has shown that saw palmetto may not be effective in treating this condition.

Other uses not proven with research have included treating sore throat, cough, cold symptoms, asthma, bronchitis, migraine headache, male-pattern baldness, chronic pelvic pain and prostate swelling, bladder problems, prostate cancer, and other conditions.

It is not certain whether saw palmetto is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Saw palmetto should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Saw palmetto is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Saw palmetto may also be used for other purposes not listed in this product guide.

• Generic Name: sertraline
• Dosage Forms: oral solution, concentrate
• Other Brand Names: Zoloft

Management of major depressive disorder.

Efficacy in hospital settings not established.

APA states that effectiveness of antidepressants is generally comparable between and within classes of medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and other antidepressants (e.g., bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone). Choose antidepressant based mainly on patient preference; nature of prior response to medication; safety, tolerability, and anticipated adverse effects; concurrent psychiatric and medical conditions; and specific properties of the medication (e.g., half-life, actions on CYP450 enzymes, other drug interactions). For most patients, an SSRI, SNRI, mirtazapine, or bupropion is considered optimal. Consult APA’s Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder for additional information.

Management of OCD; reduces but does not completely eliminate obsessions and compulsions.

Management of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia.

Management of PTSD; more effective in women than in men.

Not effective for combat- or war-related PTSD.

Management of PMDD; improves symptoms (e.g., depressed mood, premenstrual anger/irritability) and functional impairment (e.g., difficulty in concentrating, lethargy) associated with this disorder.

Efficacy when used in conjunction with oral contraceptives for the treatment of PMDD is unknown.

Management of social phobia (social anxiety disorder).

Has been used in the management of premature ejaculation.

Has been used in the management of vascular headaches with equivocal efficacy.