Zoloft Dosage
Zoloft is a medication that is often prescribed to treat depression or anxiety disorders. Because it is used to treat so many varying illnesses, the dosing for each patient varies. Zoloft is not recommended for children or adolescents. Patients should discuss with their doctor how they are reacting to Zoloft so they can decide on the best dosage for their individual needs.
Administering Zoloft
Zoloft is administered orally through either pill or liquid form. In pill form Zoloft can be taken with or without food depending on the patient’s preference. If Zoloft is taken in liquid form it should be diluted into another liquid. It can be diluted into water, ginger ale, lemon/lime soda, orange juice or lemonade. Patients should measure out the correct amount of Zoloft using a medicine dropper and add four ounces of the chosen diluting liquid. It should be taken immediately after mixing. Patients should also then add more liquid to the glass the mixture was in and swirl it around. They then should drink it to ensure they get a full dose of Zoloft.
Zoloft Dosage for Various Conditions
Depression or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The Zoloft dosage for depression and obsessive compulsive disorder are the same. Patients should begin by taking 50 mg of Zoloft once daily. It they and their doctor decide to increase their dosage the dose should be increase in increments of 50 mg no more than once a week.
Patients and doctors should confer often during the increase of the dose to ensure the medication is working properly. The dose should not exceed 200 mg once a day.
Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder all have the same recommended dosage patterns. The initial dose administered to new patients is 25 mg daily. After a week on the initial dosage, a patient and their doctor may decide to increase the dosage to 50 mg daily.
Increases should not exceed 50 mg and the dosage should not be changed more than once a week. The maximum dosage is 200 mg a day, though for these disorders a lower dosage is commonly used.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Zoloft can also be used to treat Premenstrual Dysphoic Disorder. Patients are started at 50 mg once a day throughout the menstrual cycle. Some patients may only to take Zoloft during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle if their doctor decides it best. If the patient does not respond to the 50 mg per day dose, the dose can be increase by 50 mg increments during each menstrual cycle. If the patient takes it throughout the whole menstrual cycle, the maximum daily dose is 150 mg. If it is only taken during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the maximum dose is 100 mg daily.
Zoloft can provide a medical relief to patients suffering with a number of disorders. It is important for patients to follow their doctor’s advice to ensure that Zoloft is taken in the safest way possible.
