Zoloft Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Zoloft (sertraline) is a commonly used antidepressant. It’s in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which means it affects serotonin levels in the brain. This is thought to help treat certain mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Your healthcare provider will help determine the best Zoloft dosage for you. But there are recommended dosages that are helpful to be aware of. Here, we’ll review what you need to know about Zoloft dosages.

What are Zoloft’s different dosage forms?

Zoloft comes in three different forms: oral tablets, oral capsules, and an oral solution. All forms are usually taken once daily. Zoloft can be taken with or without food. But taking it with food may help with nausea, a common Zoloft side effect.

Keep in mind: The tablets and solution can be used to treat all of the conditions covered below. But the capsules are only approved to treat depression.

You shouldn’t start treatment with the capsules. But you can switch to them after you’ve been taking 100 mg or 125 mg of the tablets or solution for at least 1 week.

Sertraline capsules should be swallowed whole. You shouldn’t open, crush, or chew them.

Sertraline oral solution must be mixed with 4 ounces of liquid before you drink it. Use the included dropper to measure your dose. Then add it to one of the following liquids (no other liquids are approved):

• Water

• Ginger ale

• Lemon/lime soda

• Lemonade

• Orange juice

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It’s normal for the liquid to look cloudy after mixing. Be sure to take the dose immediately — don’t mix it in advance.

What’s the typical Zoloft dosage for adults?

The usual Zoloft dosage for adults depends on what you’re taking it for. In general, you’ll start with a lower dose. Then your healthcare provider will slowly raise your dose as needed. They will help determine the right dosage for you.

Major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as depression, is a condition that can affect your emotions, thoughts, and behavior.

The starting Zoloft dosage for depression in adults is 50 mg by mouth once daily. If needed, your healthcare provider may raise your dose by 25 mg to 50 mg per day once a week until you find the dose that works best for you. The maximum recommended dosage is 200 mg once daily.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes intrusive thoughts. These thoughts may lead to compulsions — behaviors that attempt to relieve the distress of obsessive thoughts.

For adults, the starting Zoloft dosage for OCD is 50 mg by mouth once daily. If necessary, your healthcare provider may raise the dose by 25 mg to 50 mg per day once a week until you find the dose that works best for you. The maximum recommended dosage is 200 mg once daily.

Anxiety disorders

Panic disorder (PD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are all types of anxiety disorders. They all follow the same recommended Zoloft dosage.

For adults, the starting Zoloft dosage for PD, PTSD, and SAD is 25 mg by mouth once daily. If necessary, your healthcare provider may increase the dose by 25 mg to 50 mg per day once a week until you find the dose that works best for you. The maximum recommended dosage is 200 mg once daily.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) causes mood changes associated with your menstrual cycle. Symptoms generally occur in the weeks leading up to your period.

You can take Zoloft in two different ways for PMDD:

• You can take Zoloft every day (continuous dosing). You’ll start with a dosage of 50 mg once daily. Your healthcare provider may then increase the dose by 50 mg after each menstrual cycle if needed. The maximum recommended Zoloft dosage when taken daily for PMDD is 150 mg per day.

• You can take Zoloft only during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (intermittent dosing). You’ll take 50 mg per day, starting 14 days before your period is expected to start. Once your period starts, you’ll stop taking Zoloft. If 50 mg per day isn’t enough, your healthcare provider may have you take 50 mg for the first 3 days, then 100 mg daily for the rest of the cycle. The maximum Zoloft dosage for intermittent dosing is 100 mg per day.

What’s the typical Zoloft dosage for children?

For children, Zoloft is only approved to treat OCD. It’s approved for children who are 6 to 17 years old.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

For OCD, the Zoloft dosage for children depends on age:

• Children 6 to 12 years old: The starting Zoloft dosage is 25 mg once daily.

• Adolescents 13 to 17 years old: The starting Zoloft dosage is 50 mg once daily.

For all ages, if necessary, your healthcare provider may raise the dose by 25 mg to 50 mg per day once a week. The maximum recommended dosage is 200 mg once daily.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions or interactions?

Certain medical conditions can affect how your body responds to Zoloft. Your healthcare provider may need to prescribe a different dose in some cases. And certain Zoloft drug interactions may also require a dose adjustment.

Dosage for people with liver problems

If you have liver damage, you’ll likely need a lower dose of Zoloft. This is because your liver breaks down Zoloft. If your liver isn’t working well, your Zoloft levels can be too high. This could make side effects more likely.

People who have mild liver damage may be instructed to take half of the usual Zoloft dose. Those with moderate or severe liver damage shouldn’t take Zoloft at all. If you have liver damage, talk with your healthcare provider to be sure Zoloft is safe for you to take.

Dosage for people switching to or from an monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Taking Zoloft with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medications raises the risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially serious condition that happens when your brain has too much serotonin.

Wait at least 14 days between taking Zoloft and an MAOI if you’re switching from one to the other to avoid this interaction.

What happens if you miss a dose of Zoloft?

It’s normal to forget to take a dose of Zoloft every now and then. If you realize you forgot your dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it's almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Don’t take a double dose to make up for the one you missed.

If you miss more than one dose of Zoloft, contact your healthcare provider. They can give you directions to get back on track with your medication safely.

What should you do if you take too much Zoloft?

Accidentally taking an extra dose of Zoloft can happen. If you just take one extra dose, you likely won’t notice any difference. It’s possible you could have slightly worse side effects, such as drowsiness or constipation. But these should go away after the extra dose wears off.

If you take more than one extra Zoloft dose, you may have more serious symptoms. Overdoses of Zoloft can cause heart problems, seizures, and serotonin syndrome. If you think you or someone you know has taken too much Zoloft, contact your healthcare provider or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If you’re having symptoms that feel severe, seek emergency medical care.

How to save on Zoloft

There are many ways to save on Zoloft, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 50% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic sertraline at certain pharmacies costs as little as $9.42 with a free GoodRx discount.

• Save with a manufacturer copay card. If you meet eligibility requirements, brand-name Zoloft could be as little as $4 using a savings card from the manufacturer.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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