Mavenfp - One can minimize the nausea caused by Zoloft™ (setraline) by taking it with a meal. Actually, Zoloft™ should be taken with food, even after the nausea has subsided. When you eat the blood vessels connected to and surrounding the stomach and small intestine experience increased blood flow in order to distribute absorbed foods (and medication) throughout the body. This increased blood flow results in an increased rate of absorption from the small intestine.

The lining of your intestine contains enzymes that metabolize the Zoloft™ molecule. By increasing blood flow through the gut area the enzymes that metabolize Zoloft™ are less likely to attach to the medication. Thus more of the intact Zoloft™ enters the bloodstream, resulting in a higher plasma concentration of the medication than would have been if the Zoloft™ were taken on an empty stomach.

In other words, by taking Zoloft™ (sertraline) with food you get "more 'bang' for your buck". In theory, one may be able to get away with taking slightly lower doses, while benefiting from higher blood levels of the medication.

BTW, not everyone experiences nausea as a start-up side effect of Zoloft™. Besides, a week of every lessening nausea is an extremely small price to pay to rid oneself of depression and/or anxiety.

I hope that this is of some help. - Cam