This blog post will answer the question, “Is 150 mg zoloft a lot?”. We are going to discuss the clinical significance of 150 mg zoloft and what to expect when your doctor prescribes this dose to you. Stay with us to learn all about 150 mg of zoloft.

Is 150 mg zoloft a lot to take?

150 mg zoloft is indeed a high dose of zoloft, but it is absolutely okay to take it if recommended by your doctor. In usual practice, zoloft is started from the lowest effective dose to check how well a person can tolerate it. 

If tolerated well, the dose is gradually increased according to the severity of your mental health condition. If your doctor has advised you to take 150 mg zoloft, you will have to take one 100 mg and one 50 mg tablet, as the highest strength of zoloft available in the market is 100 mg. 

When escalating your zoloft dose, make sure you properly monitor and inform your healthcare provider of any side effects you might experience. 

Clinical significance of 150 mg zoloft

The use of high doses of zoloft is indicated for the treatment of many mental health conditions. These include:

Mild to moderate depression

Depression is a state of mind which is concerned with disturbing thoughts, especially about one’s self. It is associated with symptoms like hopelessness, tearfulness and emptiness. Zoloft can increase the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters to counteract such depressive symptoms. 

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Zoloft is used to treat symptoms of OCD. It is a condition characterised by troublesome thoughts that won’t go away, no matter what you do, and a weird urge to do things over and over again. 

Panic attacks

Overtime, zoloft has proven to be a suitable treatment option for treating panic attacks. They are sudden, uncontrollable attacks of fear and worry. A patient might unwillingly exaggerate a certain condition and gets frightened, often to the point where he gets attacked by seizures. 

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Zoloft can be used in high doses to counteract the symptoms of PTSD. It is concerned with extreme psychological symptoms that develop after a disturbing incident, such as death of a loved one or a horrific accident. 

Social anxiety disorder

Zoloft has proven to be effective in the treatment of social anxiety disorder or social phobia. It is a condition in which the patient fears facing crowds or social gatherings, and doesn’t really know how to react among people. 

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Zoloft is also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including symptoms like mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness. 

Recommended doses for above mentioned conditions are given below:

Health conditions	Recommended doses
Depression	Adults: 50 mg once a day. Take it as advised by your doctor, either in the morning or at night. Do not exceed 200 mg. Children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder	Adults: 50 mg once a day. Some cases might need dose adjustment. Do not exceed 200 mg. Children: 25 mg once a day, taken as advised by the doctor.
Panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or social anxiety disorder	Adults: 25 mg once a day is considered an initial dose. Do not exceed 200 mg Children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder	Adults: 50 mg per day is considered as an initial treatment. Dose should not be more than 150 mg per day.  Children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

Off-label use

Zoloft is also used off-label to help relieve the symptoms associated with following health conditions:

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Zoloft is used to help relieve the symptoms of GAD. It is a state of mind in which the person worries about every little thing, whether it’s related to health, wealth, friends, relationships, family, education etc. It’s a constant state of anxiousness

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 

Zoloft is often used to treat the symptoms of IBS. This treatment is most commonly used in people who have IBS associated anxiety and depression. Zoloft can alter the levels of neurotransmitters in your brain and gut. This effect was found to be helpful in patients with IBS.

Diabetic neuropathy 

Zoloft can also be used to relieve the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. This condition arises normally after prolonged mismanagement of diabetes. 

Recommended doses for off-label uses are:

Health conditions	Doses
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)	Adults: Initial dose is 25mg once daily. The dose is increased if required and should not exceed 200 mg per day. Children: dose is determined according to the condition and body weight
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)	Initial dose is 10-25 mg, usually taken at bedtime.
Pain associated with diabetic neuropathy	Initial dose is 25-50 mg daily. The maximum dose is 150mg per day.

How to administer zoloft properly? 

It is important to be certain that you’re using zoloft in the best possible way. Zoloft is available in tablet as well as in oral liquid dosage form:

Tablets:

Tablets can be taken with food or on an empty stomach. It’s best to eat something before taking it, in order to avoid acid reflux. Make sure you take it as directed by your healthcare provider. 

Oral solution:

Oral solution comes with a measuring device. Measure the amount accurately. You can dilute it in water. If water is too bland for you, you can mix it in some lemonade, ginger ale or lemon soda, to mask the taste better.

Common and rare side effects associated with 150 mg zoloft

Common side effects of Zoloft include:

• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• Feeling angry or agitated
• Weight gain
• Inability to digest food
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of libido
• Sweating/Night sweats
• Tremors or shaking
• Insomnia
• Decreased sex drive
• Impotence
• Inability to ejaculate

Some rare side effects require immediate medical attention. These include:

• Skin allergy, which could include Stevens-Johnson. You might notice red, swollen, or blistered skin, with or without fever. 
• Allergic reactions, like rash, hives are common. It also includes wheezing, difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest, trouble breathing, swallowing, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Few of these symptoms indicate anaphylactic shock. 
• It could cause low sodium levels which can result in psychological symptoms like confusion, agitation, inability to understand surroundings, memory loss etc.
• It can cause elongation of QT interval, causing increased heartbeat or arrhythmia
• Convulsions 
• The inability to have an erection
• Hypothyroidism (low thyroid gland function)
• Bone marrow failure associated with low blood counts
• Thrombocytopenia
• Neutropenia 
• Abnormal behaviour/mania 
• Suicidal thoughts
• Feeling guilty all the time
• Extrapyramidal symptoms

When to call your doctor 

Reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as you can if:

• You fail to understand how to use the drug properly. 
• You can’t seem to adjust with the high dose of zoloft
• You have accidentally overdosed on zoloft
• Your mood worsens or you experience a serious side effect.
• You feel symptoms of serotonin syndrome, like chills, fever, nausea, diarrhoea, confusion etc. 
• You see any unexplained blisters or rashes on your body, or experience any problems with urination, or if you feel changes in your vision. 

Conclusion 

In this blog, we talked about 150 mg of zoloft. It has been a concern for some people that 150 mg zoloft might be too much for them. That is why we discussed why this dose is recommended and how clinically significant it is. In practice, zoloft is always started with the lowest effective dose. 

If a low dose doesn’t work that much for you, your doctor gradually starts increasing the dose while giving your body enough time to adjust to each dose. 150 mg is considered a high dose, but it’s not the highest. It is only recommended if you can tolerate it well and gain some benefit from it. 

In case of intolerance on high doses and insufficient therapeutic response on low doses, your healthcare provider might taper off zoloft while starting another antidepressant that might suit you best. Always listen to your doctor and do not deviate from the prescribed dose.

FAQs: is 150 mg of zoloft a lot

What does 150 mg of sertraline do?

150 mg sertraline is used for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder. 

It is also used off label for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and migraine.

Can I take 150 mg Zoloft?

Yes, you can take 150mg zoloft but only if recommended by your healthcare provider. It is not advice to start taking any medication without your doctor’s approval. 

What happens if too much Zoloft is taken?

Zoloft overdose depends on a lot of factors. Research shows different responses to overdose. Some people tolerate it pretty well and some find it extremely difficult to deal with the symptoms. Following are the symptoms associated with zoloft overdose:

• Excessive sweating 
• Restlessness and fatigue
• Headache, which often feels like your head is pounding
• Changes in blood pressure and/or temperature
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Bradycardia
• Tremors
• Muscle twitching and muscle pain
• Shivering and goosebumps

How many mg of Zoloft is a lot?

200 mg is considered the highest dose of zoloft. Healthcare professionals usually start treatment with the lowest effective dose of zoloft. If you tolerate zoloft well but your dose is too low for your condition, your doctor might increase it.

What should you avoid when taking sertraline?

Avoid following foods and drinks while taking sertraline:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• St john worts
• Green tea
• Cannabis
• Grapefruit juice

Other medications to avoid while you’re on zoloft include:

• Do not use zoloft with any irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Concomitant treatment is highly contraindicated due to the risk of serotonin syndrome with symptoms like agitation, tremor and hyperthermia
• Do not use zoloft with pimozide. Combining these medications can increase the plasma concentration(availability of a drug in the blood) of pimozide to much higher levels. It can result in life-threatening arrhythmia.
• Do not use concomitantly with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), aspirin, anticoagulants like warfarin etc. It can cause prolonged bleeding

Does sertraline cause weight gain?

Sertraline is often associated with weight gain, instead of weight loss. SSRIs are known for making their users gain weight. But it varies from person to person. If the med makes you eat more, you gain weight. If it makes you eat less, you lose weight.

References

• C Lindsay DeVane et al. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2002. – Clinical pharmacokinetics of sertraline https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12452737/

• James M. Ferguson, M.D. – SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181155/
• Welmoed E E Meijer et al. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2002 – Adverse events in users of sertraline: results from an observational study in psychiatric practice in The Netherlands. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12512241/
• G MacQueen et al. CNS Drug Rev. Spring 2001 – The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline: its profile and use in psychiatric disorders https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11420570/
• D Murdoch et al. Drugs. 1992 – Sertraline. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic potential in depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1281075/
• David V Sheehan, Kunitoshi Kamijima – An evidence-based review of the clinical use of sertraline in mood and anxiety disorders https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21456103/
• R E Clouse – Antidepressants for irritable bowel syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1773590/