In this blog, we will answer the question, “How to switch zoloft from night to morning?”. We will learn about the best possible way to switch the time at which you take zoloft. We will also discuss what time is usually considered best to take your zoloft.

How can you switch zoloft from night to morning?

Doctors usually recommend to drop one dose in order to switch your timing. For example: if you take zoloft at night, your doctor might recommend you to skip your night dose and take it on the following morning instead.

This way you will avoid getting overdosed and will not experience intense side effects of the drug but this should be done only if approved by your healthcare provider.

How to determine the best time to take zoloft?

The ideal time of zoloft should be recommended by your healthcare provider, according to your side effects and the kind of lifestyle you have.

For example, if zoloft gives you insomnia, it’s best to avoid it at bedtime or else it will make you stay up all night. If it makes you drowsy, it’s best to take it at bedtime so that you can have a wholesome sleep.

You can set the best time for zoloft, in accordance with your side effects:

If it causes insomnia, morning is preferred.
If it causes drowsiness, night time is preferred.
If it causes nausea, night time is preferred.
If it causes urinary problems, morning is preferred.
If it causes loss of libido, morning is preferred.

Not just timing, the way you take your med can also be determined in this way. If zoloft causes acid reflux and extreme heartburn, avoid taking it on an empty stomach. It’s best to eat something before and after taking zoloft.

If you’re taking any other medication, it is best to discuss any possible interactions with your healthcare provider. Make sure you dont take two or more medications at the same time, which either alter eachother’s chemical composition or have an impact on metabolism or excretion.

Benefits of taking zoloft in the morning

It is best to take zoloft in the morning if it causes side effects that really disturb your normal lifestyle. Studies suggest that zoloft induced loss of libido is a pretty frustrating and disabling side effect.

The timing at which you take your med can have a huge impact on this side effect. Experts recommend to take it right after the time at which you normally engage in sexual activities.

Taking zoloft early in the morning is the best way to wean off zoloft induced loss of libido before you engage in any sexual activity at night.

Another reason why morning could be the best time for you to take zoloft is insomnia. If your med makes it difficult for you to fall asleep, it’s best to take it in the morning so that you can enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Taking zoloft in the morning is also preferred if it causes urinary problems which could result in bedwetting at night, especially in children.

What are the common side effects associated with zoloft?

Zoloft inhibits the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft (space between a neuron and its target cell). It basically increases the availability of serotonin in your brain.

If you’re wondering what serotonin is, it is a neurotransmitter (a chemical) released by our brain which is responsible for modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and various other psychological processes.

By increasing the amount of serotonin, it produces various effects, good as well as bad. 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 release

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

General drug facts

Do not suggest medications, unless you are a healthcare professional yourself. Do not share medications. You might think your conditions match but oftentimes they don’t. It’s actually pretty dangerous.
If you fail to understand how to use the drug properly or have any other question, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
In case of overdose, immediately reach out to the hospital. Make sure you properly guide them about how much drug you have taken and when.
If you experience unusual side effects, immediately contact your healthcare provider.
If you are using zoloft in the form of tablets, you can take it with food or on an empty stomach. It’s best to eat something before taking it, in order to avoid acid reflux.
If you are using zoloft in the form of oral liquid, 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.

What if you miss a dose?

If you’re way past the usual time at which you take your med, do not take it. It will cause you to overdose when you take your next dose, which is not too far away. It’s better to skip the missed dose and take the next one. If you remember your missed dose earlier, it’s safe for you to take it.

What if you accidentally overdose?

Overdose can produce serious side effects, especially when you are at a higher dose of zoloft. You might experience following symptoms:

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

These are dangerous side effects and can cause serious complications. Immediately go to the hospital. Make sure you properly inform them how much dose have been taken and when.

What conditions lead to the use of zoloft?

Zoloft is used for a number of psychological illnesses. These include:

Depression, which 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), 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, which 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), which 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), which 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, which includes symptoms like mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness.

Conclusion

In this blog, we learned the best ways to switch taking your zoloft from night to morning. The best time to use zoloft depends on what kind of side effects you are having. Always discuss it with your healthcare provider before making a decision.

Studies suggest it’s best to take zoloft in the morning if it causes side effects like insomnia, loss of libido or urinary problems. This way you can avoid facing these side effects at night when you’re supposed to be sleeping peacefully.

Side effects associated with zoloft usually begin to subside in 3 to 4 weeks. It varies from person to person. Some people recover from these side effects earlier than the others.

FAQs: how to switch zoloft from night to morning

Can I change the time of day I take my Zoloft?

It can be either taken in the morning or at night, depending on the kind of side effects it causes and your lifestyle. If zoloft gives you insomnia, it’s best to avoid it at bedtime or else it will make you stay up all night.

If it makes you drowsy, it’s best to take it at bedtime so that you can have a wholesome sleep.

Does taking Zoloft in the morning make you tired?

Zoloft causes different side effects in different individuals. So yes, it can make you tired in the morning. Try switching from morning to night to counteract this effect.

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 release

Can I change the time I take my antidepressants?

The best time to take antidepressants should be thoroughly discussed with your healthcare provider. You can switch timings, but only after getting approval from your doctor. Do not make such decisions on your own.

How do I switch my antidepressants from morning to night?

Doctors usually recommend to drop one dose in order to switch your timing. For example: if you take zoloft at night, your doctor might recommend you drop your night dose and take it on the following morning instead.

This way you will avoid getting overdosed and will not experience intense effects of the drug.

Why is it better to take zoloft at night?

For people, who suffer from nausea and insomnia caused by zoloft, it is preferred to take it at night to counteract such effects. As it affects people differently, it is important to monitor what kind of side effects you are having, if you wish to switch the time at which you take your med.

Is 25mg of Zoloft enough for depression?

25mg is the lowest effective dose of zoloft. Its effects vary from person to person. For some people with mild depression, 25mg is considered efficient. For some, higher doses are required.

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/
Zoloft tablets, for oral use; Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) oral solution (2021). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=fe9e8b7d-61ea-409d-84aa-3ebd79a046b5&type=display
Sleep and Sleep Disorders – Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/sleep_hygiene.html
Samantha J Thomas 1, Mirae Shin, Melvin G McInnis, Jolene R Bostwick – Combination therapy with monoamine oxidase inhibitors and other antidepressants or stimulants: strategies for the management of treatment-resistant depression (2015) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25884531/

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How to switch zoloft from night to morning (5 key tips)