In your answer to "Causes of high cholesterol" Qestion ID 355439,
"Zoloft" is specifically listed as a secondary cause. Could you please
provide the basis for this and/or reference?

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Request for Question Clarification by livioflores-ga on 03 May 2005 20:42 PDT

Are you requesting for crabcakes to answer this or any other
researcher can take this question to answer you?

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 03 May 2005 22:35 PDT

Hi corac,
  If it's OK, I'd like to open this to all researchers! I'm unable to
answer this at this time!

  Thank you, Crabcakes

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 13 May 2005 22:14 PDT

Hi Corac,

  I have done some research on your question, and can't find any data
explaining why Zoloft raises cholesterol.

I found information stating the following:
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders:
Rare: Dehydration, hypercholesterolemia, hypoglycemia.
http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-z02.html

I do have two guesses as to how Zoloft may elevate cholesterol:

Since Zoloft increases appetite, it goes to say that if one eats more,
chances are, you cholesterol will also become elevated.

Since cholesterol is metabolized in the liver, and Zoloft can cause a
slight liver inflammation, it may well cause an elevated cholesterol.

Regards, Crabcakes

I've heard of a link between sertraline an increases in cholesterol. A
quick medline serch brings up this reference, which show statistically
significant increase in total cholesterol following SSRI use
(sertraline is included).

Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors on Cholesterol
Levels in Patients with Panic Disorder.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 23(3):317-319, June 2003.
Bailey, Darrin L. MD, PhD; Le Melledo, Jean-Michel MD 
 
also your standard drug info link:

http://www.healthdigest.org/drugs/sertralinehydrochloride.html

Many thanks, this is very useful and I will obtain a copy of the article