Stopping 50mg Zoloft (Sertraline)
Do not stop 50mg of Zoloft abruptly—you must taper the medication gradually over 10-14 days minimum to avoid discontinuation syndrome, which can cause significant withdrawal symptoms including dizziness, nausea, electric shock-like sensations, and mood changes. 1
Why Tapering is Essential
Sertraline causes discontinuation syndrome when stopped suddenly, characterized by anxiety, irritability, mood changes, restlessness, sleep disturbances, headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness, electric shock-like sensations, shaking, and confusion 1
Sertraline is specifically identified as a shorter-acting SSRI with higher withdrawal rates, along with paroxetine and fluvoxamine, making discontinuation symptoms particularly common 2
The FDA drug label explicitly warns against stopping sertraline without first talking to your healthcare provider, emphasizing the serious nature of withdrawal symptoms 1
Recommended Tapering Approach
Taper over a minimum of 10-14 days as recommended for sertraline discontinuation 3
Older guidelines suggesting 10-14 day tapers may actually be inadequate for long-term therapy, so longer tapers may be needed depending on how long you've been taking the medication 2
Gradual dose reduction is essential rather than abrupt cessation to minimize withdrawal symptoms 2
Important Considerations
Sertraline has an elimination half-life of 22-36 hours, which contributes to withdrawal symptoms when stopped suddenly 4
The medication reaches steady-state concentrations that vary widely between individuals (up to 15-fold variation), meaning your body has adapted to consistent drug levels 4
Close monitoring is crucial during discontinuation, particularly watching for return of depressive or anxiety symptoms that the medication was treating 3
Critical Warning
Never stop this medication on your own—work with your healthcare provider to create a safe tapering schedule tailored to your specific situation, including how long you've been on the medication and your underlying condition 1