As the coronavirus pandemic and its effects still significantly resonate among many people, the supply of the antidepressant drug, Zoloft, generically known as sertraline, has substantially fallen. The US Food and Drug Administration has placed the antidepressant and all its generic forms on its shortage list on Friday.

Furthermore, Bloomberg reports that drug companies blame the lack of ingredients for the drug and the increasing demand for it. As mental health tensions arise due to several factors brought about by COVID-19, many turn to medication in hopes that their woes would be lessened. 

Other drugs having to do with the coronavirus have also recently experienced shortages in supply, such as the antimalarial, hydroxychloroquine. Concerns over the fragility of the global supply and capacity of drug manufacturers to answer booms in demand for specific drug therapies has increased due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

According to information compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Zoloft prescriptions reached a 12% increase year-over-year to 4.9 million in March. This has been, by far, the USA's highest number reached for the drug's prescription, the tally reveals. Experts believe that isolation and anxiety over the uncertainties of the situation brought about by the coronavirus have intensified the demand for mental health services.

Moreover, generic drug corporations that manufacture sertraline told the FDA that they were not able to collect enough active pharmaceutical ingredients, or API, to create the drug. Lupin Ltd. said it expects its sertraline to be on backorder for a few months. Similarly, Accord Healthcare said it assumes the scarcity will last for two months.

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What is Zoloft?

Zoloft is used to treat a series of mental conditions, such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The drug is sold under the generic name sertraline and was first approved in the US in 1991. 

It comes in either a tablet or liquid form. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, it can also be used for treating children and adolescents aged six to 17 years old. 

Physicians usually warn patients taking the drug not to stop taking it, even when the patient feels better. Missing doses of sertraline could increase one's risk for relapse in their symptoms.

Additionally, abruptly stopping sertraline may result in withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include irritability, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, nightmares, and prickling or tingling sensations on the skin.

Coronavirus-Driven Anxiety

In an Axios/Ipsos Poll conducted between March 13 and March 16, results revealed that in 1,092 adults in the US, 78 percent of men and 82 percent of women are either somewhat or extremely concerned about the coronavirus outbreak. 

Furthermore, a Gallup poll revealed that about 60 percent of American adults experienced daily stress and worry about the virus' contagion. Julie Pike, a clinical psychologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, told Business Insider that what people are feeling is understandable.

She explains how anxiety is a natural way of trying to protect us by pushing us to resolve uncertainty and figure out a solution. To address these concerns, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released guidelines for coping with stress during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tips in dealing with anxiety included taking breaks from watching, listening, or reading news about the pandemic, and taking care of one's body. The CDC stresses the importance of eating well-balanced meals and exercising. Finally, taking time to unwind and connecting with family and friends through social media platforms is also essential.

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