Low dose zoloft 12.5 mg (Is it effective?)

In this blog, we will learn about the 12.5 mg dose of zoloft, which is considered a pretty low dose. We also aim to learn about the clinical significance of zoloft in what conditions a 12.5mg dose is considered effective. 

We will also take a look at different doses of zoloft which are normally prescribed to treat various conditions. Zoloft is available in the following strengths:

• 25mg
• 50mg
• 100mg

In order to take 12.5mg, you need to split the 25mg tablet in half. Usually, when we talk about depression, the most effective dose is 50mg. However, other doses are also prescribed. 

What good is 12.5 mg zoloft?

12.5 mg zoloft is considered a low dose but it does hold some clinical significance. When your depression is diagnosed for the first time, your doctor recommends the lowest effective dose of antidepressants. This is because in depression, your body lacks serotonin. 

If you start directly from moderate to high doses, your serotonin levels go from low to pretty high, that can cause a sudden shift in mood, sleep pattern, and neuronal activity. 

It causes more harm than good as your brain fails to adapt to this sudden change and you end up experiencing side effects. In order to protect you from such a condition, it is preferred to start your antidepressant from the lowest effective dose. 

This is where 12.5 mg zoloft comes into the picture. For some people, who are extremely sensitive to antidepressants, it is best to start from a 12.5mg dose and gradually increase up to the dose which suits you best. 

12.5 mg zoloft is also recommended for children suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Children can not take doses too high. 

12.5 mg zoloft is also recommended when you are tapering off zoloft. As it is not recommended to stop your antidepressant cold turkey, your doctor shifts you to lower doses, every 7 to 8 days. 

Usually 25 mg zoloft is the last dose before you stop using antidepressant, but if you’re tapering down from relatively lower doses, it is safe to use 12.5 mg as your last dose before you finally stop using zoloft. 

Clinical significance of zoloft

Zoloft is a commonly prescribed antidepressant. It is well tolerated by some, but not so well by others. It belongs to the class of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, abbreviated as SSRIs. 

These drugs inhibit the reuptake of leftover serotonin present in synaptic cleft, making more serotonin available to bind to its receptors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter released by our brain which is responsible for modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and various other psychological processes. 

Zoloft is considered clinically significant in the treatment of following psychological conditions:

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. This state makes a person give up on everything. 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (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. No matter how many times you do something, it still feels imperfect. 

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)

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 (SAD)

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.

Zoloft dose chart

Psychological 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.

Is zoloft a good antidepressant for everyone?

People tolerate medicines differently. For some people, it is easier to deal with zoloft induced side effects. Pre-existing medical conditions also play an important role in deciding your antidepressant. 

Some meds exacerbate symptoms of already existing diseases which creates complications. This is why your doctor carefully studies your medication history before prescribing any new medication. 

It is not recommended to prescribe zoloft to the following:

• People with bipolar disorder, as zoloft might trigger mania in such patients.
• People with seizures or convulsions
• People with compromised kidney functions
• People with compromised liver functions
• People with glaucoma 

Factors which should be considered before setting an appropriate dose

The process of setting the dose is not as simple as you think. A lot of factors are considered by your healthcare provider, before recommending you an appropriate dose. These include:

Setting up an appropriate dose is not as easy as it sounds. Your healthcare provider needs proper details to make sure you start from the safest dose. Following are the factors which should be considered before determining an appropriate dose:

Medication history

You must have noticed how you need to give your medical history whenever you visit your healthcare provider. This plays an important role in dose determination. 

If you have a chronic condition, like diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, asthma etc, for which you’re taking meds, it is crucial to check for any drug interaction, you might end up having, between your routine medicines and newly prescribed antidepressant.

Always inform your doctor about every single medication that you take in order to promote safe and effective treatment.

Paediatric population

It is crucial to determine appropriate dose for the paediatric population as there are various factors to consider in this situation, including the availability of liver enzymes, proper kidney function and immunity. 

Geriatric population

Elderly patients are more likely to have hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood), age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems. For them, dose adjustment is required.

Breastfeeding 

Several studies suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Severity of your condition

The severity of your symptoms sets your dose. If you’re highly depressed and you are taking 12.5 mg, it will not work, as it doesn’t suit your condition. The amount of zoloft in your body would be too low. 

Allergies 

Your allergies are considered when your doctor recommends you a medicine. Sometimes, people are allergic to the active ingredient present in the med or to any excipient. 

In case of an allergy, your body suddenly reacts to the med. You may experience rashes all over your skin, bruises, tightening of chest, breathing problems, wheezing, rapid heartbeat etc. 

Conclusion 

Zoloft is an antidepressant which is prescribed in various doses. 12.5 mg is probably considered the lowest possible dose of zoloft. In order to take 12.5 mg, you need to split 25 mg zoloft in half, as that’s the lowest dose available in the market. 

Make sure you consult your healthcare provider before starting any medications. It is crucial to stick to your prescribed regime if you wish to achieve your therapeutic goals. I hope this blog helps you understand how and why 12.5 mg zoloft is used. Stay healthy, stay safe! 

FAQs: low dose zoloft 12.5 mg

Zoloft 12.5 mg effective? 

Your healthcare provider decides whether a 12.5 mg is effective for you or not. 12.5 mg is considered a low dose but it might be effective for you if you’re just starting on antidepressants, as it’s best to start from the lowest effective dose. 

Zoloft 12.5 mg side effects?

Most 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

Zoloft, sometimes, causes serious side effects. Consult your healthcare provider as soon as you can if these symptoms occur:

• Seizure/convulsions
• Eye pain with vision problems
• Headache
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Memory problems/Dementia 
• Severe weakness and inability to move

Can Zoloft (sertraline) work instantly?

Zoloft, and all other antidepressants, usually take 3 – 4 weeks to start working. This time is baken by your body to adapt to the presence of medication.

Is it safe to take an antidepressant at a lower dose than prescribed? What will happen if I take less than 25mg of Sertraline (Zoloft)?

Dose. which is lower than the prescribed one, will not harm you but it will not be able to get rid of your depression symptoms. Your doctor has already prescribed a low dose. Don’t go so low that it fails to provide its respective clinical significance.

What is the lowest dosage of Zoloft?

The lowest dose available in the market is 25 mg. However, you can go lower than that by splitting your 25 mg zoloft into two 12.5 mg halves. 

Can Zoloft 25 mg be cut in half?

Yes, you can break your 25 mg zoloft tablet in half. 

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/
• Sertraline (Oral Route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/sertraline-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20065940#:~:text=Adults%20and%20teenagers%E2%80%94At%20first,in%20the%20morning%20or%20evening.