Dosage and strength
Sertraline is available as 25mg, 50mg or 100mg tablets.
The usual dose of sertraline is 50mg a day in adults. But your doctor may start you on a lower dose, then increase it gradually to a maximum dose of 200mg a day.
If you have liver problems, your doctor might give you a lower dose.
The usual dose of sertraline for children aged 6 to 12 is 25mg a day, but this may be increased to 50mg a day after a week.
The usual dose of sertraline for children aged 13 to 17 is 50mg a day.
Children aged 6 to 17 might have their dose increased up to 200mg a day, if needed.
How to take it
Take sertraline once a day. You can take it with or without food.
You can choose to take sertraline at any time, as long as you stick to the same time every day.
If you have trouble sleeping, it's best to take it in the morning.
How long to take it for
Once you're feeling better it's likely that you'll continue to take sertraline for several more months. Stopping before that time can make depression come back.
Most doctors recommend that you take antidepressants for 6 months to a year after you no longer feel depressed.
If you forget to take it
If you occasionally forget to take a dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose the next day at the usual time.
Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten one.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
The amount of sertraline that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.
Taking too much can cause symptoms such as:
- being sick (vomiting)
- shaking
- feeling sleepy
- feeling dizzy
- fast heart rate
- fits or seizures
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of sertraline
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the sertraline packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.
Stopping sertraline
If you have been feeling better for 6 months or more, your doctor may suggest coming off sertraline.
Your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks, or longer if you have been taking sertraline for a long time.
This is to help prevent any withdrawal symptoms you might get as a reaction to coming off the medicine.
These can include:
- feeling dizzy
- feeling sick
- numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- trouble sleeping
- feeling agitated or anxious
- headaches
- shaking