Daxid 50: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Daxid, Daxid 50 mg, Daxid 50 tablet, Sertraline 50 mg
Daxid 50 is a prescription tablet containing 50 mg of sertraline, an SSRI antidepressant. It is used to treat depression and several anxiety-related conditions: obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder. It usually takes some weeks to work. It must not be stopped suddenly, and young people need close watching for mood changes early in treatment.
- Active ingredient
- Sertraline 50 mg
- Type of medicine
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Used for
- Anxiety, Depression
- Starts working in
- Often several weeks for the full effect; some side effects ease after the first couple of weeks
- Effect lasts
- Taken once a day, usually for months or longer; the doctor decides how long
- With or without food
- Can be taken with or without food; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- Best avoided; alcohol can make side effects worse and can stop the medicine working well
- Pregnancy
- Only if the doctor judges it necessary; tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan a baby or are breastfeeding
- Habit-forming
- No, but do not stop suddenly because it can cause withdrawal symptoms
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
What is Daxid 50 used for?
Daxid 50 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat depression and some anxiety-related conditions.
- Treating depression in adults
- Treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Treating panic disorder
- Treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Treating social anxiety disorder
How does Daxid 50 work?
Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain that is linked to mood. Sertraline stops nerve cells from taking serotonin back up too quickly, so more of it stays available between nerve cells. Over some weeks this is linked with an improvement in mood and anxiety.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet dissolves in the gut and sertraline is absorbed into the blood. It can be taken with or without food.
It travels in the blood
Sertraline is carried around the body and reaches the brain.
It blocks serotonin reuptake
In the brain, sertraline blocks the pump that pulls serotonin back into the nerve cell. It does not switch off the enzyme that breaks serotonin down.
More serotonin stays available
With the pump blocked, more serotonin remains between nerve cells. Over some weeks, mood and anxiety symptoms can ease.
The body clears it
The liver breaks sertraline down and it leaves the body over time. A steady daily dose keeps the effect going. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, so any change is made with a doctor.
How to take Daxid 50
Take Daxid 50 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose, when to change it and how long you need it.
- It is usually taken once a day at about the same time each day.
- It can be taken with or without food. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
- It can take several weeks to work. Keep taking it as prescribed and tell your doctor about any worries.
- Do not stop taking it on your own, even if you feel better. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms; your doctor lowers the dose gradually.
Side effects of Daxid 50
Many side effects are mild and ease after the first couple of weeks, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Nausea, diarrhoea or indigestion
- Headache, dizziness or drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Trouble sleeping
- Sweating or a tremor
- Lower sex drive or other sexual problems
Rare but serious: get medical help
- New or worse low mood, or thoughts of harming yourself. Get help at once
- Agitation, fever, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness or twitching, or hallucinations (possible serotonin syndrome)
- Unusual bleeding or bruising, or black stools
- Seizures
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat, rash or difficulty breathing (an allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Eye pain, vision changes or eye redness
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Daxid 50, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Taking an MAOI antidepressant, or within 14 days of stopping one
- Taking pimozide
- Allergy to sertraline or any ingredient
- Children, teenagers and young adults: antidepressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviour, mostly early in treatment or after a dose change. Family and carers should watch for new or worse mood, agitation or restlessness and tell the doctor promptly
- Do not stop suddenly: this can cause withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor lowers the dose gradually
- Bipolar disorder or past mania: tell your doctor
- Epilepsy or seizures
- Bleeding problems, stomach bleeding, or taking blood thinners
- Glaucoma (raised eye pressure)
- Heart rhythm problems
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: talk to your doctor before use, or if you become pregnant
- Driving: it can cause drowsiness, so take care until you know how it affects you
Medicines and things that interact with Daxid 50
Daxid 50 can change how other medicines work, and some medicines change its effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies and painkillers bought over the counter.
- MAOI antidepressants, and also linezolid or methylene blue, and pimozide: must not be combined with sertraline, including within 14 days of stopping an MAOI
- Other medicines that raise serotonin (other antidepressants, tramadol, triptans, lithium, St John's wort): risk of serotonin syndrome
- Aspirin, NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen, warfarin and other blood thinners: higher risk of bleeding
- Alcohol: best avoided
If someone takes too much
Taking much more than prescribed can cause agitation, seizures, a fast or irregular heartbeat and serotonin syndrome. If someone has taken too much, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient sertraline was not found on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act in this check; the reviewer should confirm. Daxid 50 contains sertraline only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Sertraline 50 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Do not switch between products without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Sertraline is sold in different strengths and in other forms. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Daxid 50 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Sertraline is a prescription-only medicine in India. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice.
How long does Daxid 50 take to work?
Often several weeks, so benefit may not be felt at first. Keep taking it as prescribed and tell your doctor about side effects or worries rather than stopping.
Can I stop Daxid 50 suddenly?
No. Stopping suddenly can cause nausea, sweating, dizziness, irritability and sleep problems. A doctor lowers the dose gradually. Do not stop on your own, even if you feel better.
Why is there a warning for young people?
Antidepressant labels warn of more suicidal thoughts in children, teenagers and young adults, mostly early in treatment or after dose changes. Families should watch for new or worsening mood changes and contact the doctor promptly.
What should I do if I have thoughts of harming myself?
Get help immediately: call 112 or go to the nearest hospital, or tell a trusted person. Tele-MANAS (14416) is a free mental health helpline in India. Tell your doctor if your mood worsens after starting a medicine.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Daxid 50?
Take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and carry on as usual. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed one.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Daxid 50?
Alcohol is best avoided, because it can worsen side effects such as drowsiness and may stop the medicine working well. Ask your doctor what is reasonable for you.
What is the difference between Daxid 50 and sertraline 50 mg?
Daxid is a brand name, and sertraline is the medicine inside it. Generic sertraline 50 mg tablets contain the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredients on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching products.
Sources
- Sertraline: an antidepressant. NHS (UK)
- Sertraline. MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Sertraline hydrochloride tablet: prescribing information (Cardinal Health 107, label revised 3/2024). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- Depression in adults. NHS (UK)