Compulsive hoarding
Obsessive-compulsive disorders are treated with various serotonergic antidepressants including the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine and various SSRI medications. With existing drug therapy, OCD symptoms can be controlled, but not cured. Several of these compounds (including paroxetine, which has an FDA indication) have been tested successfully in conjunction with OCD hoarding.
Sertraline
Sertraline, sold under the trade name Zoloft among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is primarily used for major depressive disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Effectiveness is similar to other antidepressants. Sertraline is taken by mouth.
Common side effects include diarrhea, sexual dysfunction, and troubles with sleep. Serious side effects include an increased risk of suicide in those less than 25 years old and serotonin syndrome. It is unclear whether use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is safe. It should not be used together with MAO inhibitor medication. Sertraline is believed to work by increasing serotonin effects in the brain.
Sertraline was approved for medical use in the United States in 1991 and initially sold by Pfizer. It is currently available as a generic medication. In the United States the wholesale cost is about 1.50 USD per month as of 2018. In 2016, it was the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States, with over 37 million prescriptions.
Sertraline is used for a number of conditions, including major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder (SAD). It has also been used for premature ejaculation and vascular headaches but evidence of the effectiveness in treating those conditions is not robust. Sertraline is not approved for use in children except for those with OCD.