From the Guidelines
The next sertraline (Zoloft) dose after 150mg would typically be 200mg daily, which is the maximum FDA-approved dose for most indications. When increasing from 150mg to 200mg, this should be done gradually, usually waiting at least 1-2 weeks between dose adjustments to allow the medication to reach steady state and to monitor for side effects 1. Common side effects with dose increases may include increased nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, or sexual dysfunction.
Key Considerations
- The dose-response relationship of sertraline typically plateaus around 200mg, with minimal additional benefit but increased side effect risk above this dose.
- If 200mg is not effective after an adequate trial of 4-6 weeks, or if side effects become intolerable, alternative strategies should be considered rather than exceeding this maximum dose.
- These alternatives might include switching to a different antidepressant, adding an augmenting agent, or combining with psychotherapy.
Dosing Guidelines
- According to the guidelines, sertraline can be dosed up to 200mg per day, with a typical starting dose of 50mg per day 2.
- The maximum dosage of sertraline is 200mg per day, which is supported by the most recent evidence 1.
Monitoring and Adjustments
- Patients should be closely monitored for side effects and efficacy when increasing the dose of sertraline.
- Dose adjustments should be made gradually, with at least 1-2 weeks between adjustments to allow the medication to reach steady state and to monitor for side effects.
From the FDA Drug Label
Patients not responding to a 50 mg dose may benefit from dose increases up to a maximum of 200 mg/day. While a relationship between dose and effect has not been established for major depressive disorder, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD or social anxiety disorder, patients were dosed in a range of 50 to 200 mg/day in the clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of sertraline for the treatment of these indications
- The next sertraline (Zoloft) dose if 150mg is not effective could be increased up to a maximum of 200 mg/day.
- Dose changes should not occur at intervals of less than 1 week 3
From the Research
Increasing Sertraline Dosage
If 150mg of sertraline (Zoloft) is not effective, the dosage can be increased.
- The maximum dose of sertraline is 200 mg/day 4.
- The dose can be increased in 50 mg/day increments at no less than weekly intervals 4.
Alternative Dosage Considerations
- Some studies suggest that increasing the dose of sertraline beyond 50 mg/day may not be more effective for some patients 5.
- However, for patients who do not respond to lower doses, increasing the dose to 200 mg/day may be beneficial 4.