Duration of Zoloft (Sertraline) Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing 50mg of Zoloft typically last 3-7 days when tapered properly, though some symptoms may persist for weeks to months in susceptible individuals. 1, 2
Timeline of Withdrawal Symptoms
Acute withdrawal symptoms resolve within 3-7 days for most patients when sertraline is discontinued following an appropriate taper. 1 However, the duration depends critically on how the medication is stopped:
- Abrupt discontinuation produces more severe and potentially longer-lasting symptoms compared to gradual tapering 3, 4
- Protracted withdrawal can occur in some patients, with symptoms like anxiety and mood changes persisting for weeks to months after complete discontinuation 2
- The relatively short elimination half-life of sertraline (22-36 hours) makes it more prone to withdrawal symptoms compared to longer-acting SSRIs like fluoxetine 4, 5
Recommended Tapering Approach to Minimize Withdrawal Duration
Discontinue sertraline over 10-14 days minimum to limit withdrawal symptoms, though slower tapers are often better tolerated. 1
Conservative Tapering Strategy:
- Start with 10% dose reductions per week as a baseline approach, adjusting based on tolerance 6
- For long-term users (6+ months), consider even slower tapers of 10% per month to minimize severe withdrawal 6
- Taper over weeks to months rather than days for optimal symptom control 6, 2
- Reduce by 10% of the original dose at each step, creating progressively smaller absolute reductions as you approach lower doses 7
If Severe Symptoms Develop:
- Immediately reinstitute the previous well-tolerated dose and slow the taper rate further 1, 6
- Schedule more frequent follow-up appointments during tapering to monitor withdrawal symptoms 6
Common Withdrawal Symptoms to Expect
Withdrawal symptoms from sertraline include: 4, 2
- Somatic symptoms: dizziness, light-headedness, nausea, fatigue, myalgias, sensory disturbances (paresthesias), flu-like symptoms, insomnia
- Psychological symptoms: anxiety, agitation, crying spells, irritability, mood disturbances
Critical Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not confuse withdrawal symptoms with relapse of depression - this is the most common error and can lead to unnecessary long-term medication continuation. 3, 8 Withdrawal symptoms:
- Emerge within days of dose reduction 4
- Include physical symptoms (dizziness, paresthesias) not typical of depression 4
- Resolve with reinstitution of the medication 2
Avoid tapers shorter than 2-4 weeks - studies show these provide minimal benefit over abrupt discontinuation and are poorly tolerated. 8