Sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft, Lustral) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It was introduced to the market by Pfizer in 1991. Sertraline is primarily used to treat clinical depression in adult outpatients as well as obsessive-compulsive, panic and social anxiety disorders in both adults and children. Sertraline shares the common side effects and contraindications with other members of SSRI class; however, it does not cause weight gain. Controversy and legal actions have resulted from the suspicion that sertraline, similarly to other antidepressants, may increase the risk of suicide. In 2006 it was the most prescribed antidepressant on the U.S. retail market with 28,060,000 prescriptions.The sertraline prescriptions were calculated as a total of prescriptions for Zoloft and generic Sertraline using data from the charts for generic and brand name drugs, see: and Drug