QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
Is Zoloft also used for a pain management treatment?
ANSWER:
Not really. The entire SSRI class of medications has been disappointing in treating pain unless underlying psychiatric diagnoses are also present that would be successfully treated with the medication. The antidepressant Effexor (venlafaxine) can be very helpful for pain. The epilepsy medication Neurontin (gabapentin) has also been very useful.