Zoloft (sertraline) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain mental health conditions. Zoloft comes as an oral tablet and an oral liquid solution that are typically taken once per day. The dosage can vary depending on the condition the drug is used to treat.

Zoloft (sertraline) belongs to a drug class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Zoloft is available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Zoloft, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Zoloft, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Zoloft provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Zoloft, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Zoloft is prescribed to treat certain mental health conditions.

Below is information on Zoloft’s recommended dosages for approved uses in adults and children.

Zoloft forms

Zoloft is available as an oral tablet and an oral liquid solution.

Zoloft strengths

Zoloft oral tablets come in three strengths: 25 milligrams (mg), 50 mg, and 100 mg.

Zoloft oral solution comes in one strength: 20 mg per milliliter (mg/mL).

Typical dosages in adults

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then, they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for social anxiety disorder

The typical starting dosage of Zoloft for social anxiety disorder is 25 mg per day. Your doctor will monitor your treatment and adjust the dose to find the right amount for you. If necessary, they’ll likely adjust your dose by 25 mg to 50 mg. They may do this once per week until your dosage provides the desired effect. The maximum dosage of Zoloft for social anxiety disorder is 200 mg per day.

Dosage for depression

The typical starting dosage of Zoloft for depression is 50 mg per day. Your doctor will monitor your treatment and adjust the dose to find the right amount for you. If necessary, they’ll likely adjust your dose by 25 mg to 50 mg. They may do this once per week until your dosage provides the desired effect. The maximum dosage of Zoloft for depression is 200 mg per day.

Dosage for obsessive-compulsive disorder

The typical starting dosage of Zoloft for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is 50 mg per day. Your doctor will monitor your treatment and adjust the dose to find the right amount for you. If necessary, they’ll likely adjust your dose by 25 mg to 50 mg. They may do this once per week until your dosage provides the desired effect. The maximum dosage of Zoloft for OCD is 200 mg per day.

Dosage for post-traumatic stress disorder

The typical starting dosage of Zoloft for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 25 mg per day. Your doctor will monitor your treatment and adjust the dose to find the right amount for you. If necessary, they’ll likely adjust your dose by 25 mg to 50 mg. They may do this once per week until your dosage provides the desired effect. The maximum dosage of Zoloft for PTSD is 200 mg per day.

Dosage for panic disorder

The typical starting dosage of Zoloft for panic disorder is 25 mg per day. Your doctor will monitor your treatment and adjust the dose to find the right amount for you. If necessary, they’ll likely adjust your dose by 25 mg to 50 mg. They may do this once per week until your dosage provides the desired effect. The maximum dosage of Zoloft for panic disorder is 200 mg per day.

Dosage for premenstrual dysphoric disorder

The typical starting dose of Zoloft for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is 50 mg per day. Your doctor may prescribe Zoloft once per day for as long as it’s effective for your condition. Alternatively, they may prescribe it once per day only during the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle. This is the 14 days between ovulation and your next period.

Your doctor will monitor your treatment and adjust the dose to find the right amount for you. They’ll typically adjust the dose by 25 mg to 50 mg. They may do this once per week until your dosage provides the desired effect.

For daily use, the maximum dose of Zoloft for PMDD is 150 mg. When prescribed only for use during the luteal phase, the maximum dosage of Zoloft for PMDD is 100 mg per day.

Children’s dosage

The only condition Zoloft is approved to treat in children is OCD. The initial starting dose of Zoloft depends on the child’s age:

  • ages 6 to 12 years: 25 mg per day
  • ages 13 to 17 years: 50 mg per day

Your child’s doctor will monitor their symptoms and adjust the dose to find the right amount for them. If necessary, the doctor will typically adjust the dose in increments of 25 mg to 50 mg per day once weekly. The maximum dosage of Zoloft for OCD in children is 200 mg per day.

Long-term treatment

Zoloft is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Zoloft is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

Below are some common questions about Zoloft. If you have additional questions about Zoloft, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What is considered a high dose of Zoloft?

A high dose of Zoloft would be anything above the dose your doctor prescribes for you. It’s important to remember that medications don’t work the same way for everyone. Each person’s body is different, and people tolerate different doses. For this reason, it’s important to take Zoloft only as your doctor prescribes.

The drug’s manufacturer has recommended maximum doses for each approved use. For more information about Zoloft’s maximum doses for each use, refer to the “Typical dosages in adults” section above.

For specific questions about your dosage of Zoloft, talk with your doctor.

Can my doctor increase my Zoloft dose from 100 mg to 150 mg?

Yes, your doctor can increase your Zoloft dose from 100 milligrams (mg) to 150 mg depending on the condition that’s being treated. Your doctor will first monitor how effective the 100-mg dose is for treating your condition. They’ll assess how well this dose manages your symptoms and whether it causes any side effects.

If you and your doctor agree that 150 mg may be more effective, they may increase your dose. They’ll likely only do this after you’ve taken 100 mg per day for at least 1 week.

The maximum dose of Zoloft for most conditions it’s approved to treat is 200 mg. However, your doctor may prescribe Zoloft once per day throughout your menstrual cycle for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. For this use, the maximum recommended dose is 150 mg.

For more information about the maximum dosage for your condition, talk with your doctor.

What is the lowest dose of Zoloft for depression?

The lowest recommended dosage of Zoloft for depression is 25 mg once per day. This is the recommended starting dosage for treating depression in people with mild liver disease. Mild liver disease is defined as a Child-Pugh score of 5 or 6. A Child-Pugh score is a tool doctors use to estimate the severity of liver disease. A higher number indicates more severe liver disease. Your doctor will likely not prescribe Zoloft if you have a Child-Pugh score of 7 or higher.

For people without liver disease, the lowest recommended dose of Zoloft for depression is 50 mg.

The Zoloft dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Zoloft to treat
  • the form of Zoloft you take
  • your age
  • any side effects you experience with Zoloft

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Zoloft dosage.

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor will likely adjust your dose of Zoloft if you have mild liver disease. Mild liver disease is defined as a Child-Pugh score of 5 or 6. The Child-Pugh score is a tool that doctors use to estimate the severity of liver disease. A higher number indicates more severe liver disease.

If you have mild liver disease, your doctor will likely prescribe half the typical starting dose. Your maximum dose will also be half of a typical maximum dose. If you have a Child-Pugh score of 7 or higher, your doctor will likely not prescribe Zoloft.

Zoloft comes as an oral tablet and an oral liquid solution that you swallow. You can take either form at home by yourself.

It’s important to take either medication exactly as your doctor prescribes. Typically, this is once per day. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss whether the Zoloft oral solution could work better for you.

The Zoloft oral solution needs to be mixed before it’s ready to take. The drug’s manufacturer advises to only mix the solution with 4 ounces of:

  • water
  • ginger ale
  • lemon-lime soda
  • lemonade
  • orange juice

Your bottle will come with a dropper to measure your prescribed dose. It’s important to only use the supplied dropper for measuring your dose. Take your dose right after you finish mixing your Zoloft oral solution.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Zoloft in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

Zoloft works best when it’s taken exactly as your doctor prescribes. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip your previous dose and take the next one as scheduled. It’s important not to take two doses at once, as this could increase your risk of side effects. For information about Zoloft’s possible side effects, see this article.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

If you use more Zoloft than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects.

It’s important that you do not use more Zoloft than your doctor advises.

Symptoms of an overdose

Symptoms of a Zoloft overdose can include:

An overdose of Zoloft may also cause serotonin syndrome. This is a serious and possibly life threatening side effect. Some symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

  • rapid heart rate
  • tremors
  • sweating
  • confusion
  • change in mental status
  • agitation (feeling annoyed, nervous, or aggravated)
  • seizures

If you take more than the recommended amount of Zoloft

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Zoloft. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

There haven’t been clinical trials on whether Zoloft can cause drug dependence. With dependence, your body needs the drug to function like usual.

However, discontinuation syndrome was reported after people stopped taking the drug. This group of withdrawal symptoms can occur after you stop taking antidepressants, such as Zoloft. In clinical trials, this side effect was more common after people stopped taking the drug suddenly. Symptoms of discontinuation syndrome include:

If you want to stop taking Zoloft, talk with your doctor. They’ll typically recommend a dose taper to reduce the risk of discontinuation syndrome. A dose taper is a gradual decrease in your dose until it’s low enough to stop the medication safely. Your doctor will determine the best taper schedule for you.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Zoloft for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Zoloft without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Zoloft that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Zoloft. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Zoloft. For information about other aspects of Zoloft, refer to this article.
  • Drug comparison. To find out how Zoloft compares with Lexapro, read this article.
  • Cost. If you’d like to learn about Zoloft and its cost, see this article.
  • Interactions. For details about what Zoloft interacts with, see this article.
  • Details about certain mental health conditions. For details about certain mental health conditions, see our mental health hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.