Which class of drugs does sertraline belong to?

Sertraline is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This class of drugs is primarily used to treat depression and anxiety disorders by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which helps to improve mood and emotional regulation. SSRIs, including sertraline, work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin at the synaptic cleft, thereby enhancing serotonin's effects on the neurotransmission process.

In clinical practice, SSRIs like sertraline are preferred due to their relatively favorable side effect profiles compared to other classes of antidepressants. Understanding this classification is important for practical nurses as it guides treatment plans, medication administration, and patient education regarding mental health therapies. The other classes mentioned do not share this mechanism of action or therapeutic use, which reinforces the appropriateness of sertraline's classification as an SSRI.