The antidepressant Zoloft belongs to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which balance serotonin levels in the brain and nerves. It is used to treat a variety of depressive disorders. In the market, this medication is available in a variety of doses. A doctor always prescribes the dosage based on your disorder’s condition.
Your doctor may also increase the Zoloft dose. We are concerned about what to consider for increasing Zoloft dosage from 100 to 150 mg.
Symptoms of depressive disorder usually require a dose increase from 100 mg to 150 mg of Zoloft. A higher dose of Zoloft may be prescribed when a lower dose fails to work. However, this increase is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, you must consult your doctor before switching doses.
Read on to learn more.
Table of Content
When to Increasing Zoloft Dosage From 100 to 150 mg?
Your doctor might increase your Zoloft dosage if you are not getting relief from lower Zoloft dosages. The higher dosage is usually preferred when the patient suffers from severe conditions and the lower dosage does not work.
The increase of Zoloft dosage from 100 mg to 150 mg is usually to treat:
What Happen If You Take 150 mg of Sertraline (Zoloft)?
Sertraline (Zoloft) 150 mg will aid you in getting relief from the particular disorder more effectively. It is always expected that recovery will be more effective when the dose is increased.
When you increase the dosage, it means you are taking in more medicine. In addition to more medicine, there are more chances for side effects to occur or to be more severe.
The patient is always started on a lower dose of the drug. Doctors always strive to prescribe the lowest possible dose by changing some other aspect of their lifestyle. So, when to increase Zoloft dosage? Patients are usually given a higher dose if low doses are not working, and they are considered healthy to tolerate more active ingredients in higher doses.
The same is valid for increasing Sertraline dosage. In case of intolerance, you may be prescribed another antidepressant. To avoid symptoms associated with discontinuation or withdrawal syndrome, tapering off the current antidepressant is always recommended before switching.
Even though many patients benefit from increased sertraline doses, there is no strong evidence to show that increased sertraline doses have better antidepressant effects. Three weeks after starting treatment, it was observed that a 50 mg dose of sertraline produced comparable recovery effects to an increase in dosage from 50 mg to 150 mg.
Factors to Consider Before Increasing Zoloft Dosage From 100 mg to 150 mg
If you want to increase the Zoloft dose, the process is not as straightforward as you might think. Several factors are considered by your healthcare provider before an appropriate dose is increased. These include:
Medications
There is always a possibility of Zoloft interaction with some other medication, causing severe side effects. Therefore, it is always crucial to check the patient’s medical history before increasing the dose. For dose increases, even with over-the-counter drugs, you must have a doctor’s prescription.
Patient’s Age
In every case, the dose of any drug is prescribed by the doctor according to the patient’s age. Depending on the age of the patient, the number of enzymes and the function of different organs vary. Low doses are always recommended for children. Nevertheless, elderly patients can take Zoloft at a higher dose.
Breastfeeding
The increased dosage of any drug, including Zoloft, can directly affect the child if the mother is breastfeeding. So, must inform your doctor if you have a feeding child.
Condition’s Severity
It is mainly based on the severity and nature of the disorder that determines the dose you need to take. Zoloft 50 mg is sufficient for mild or acute depression. The dosage can be increased if symptoms are severe.
Increasing Zoloft Dosage 100 mg to 150 mg Side Effects
With the increase in dose, we are increasing the amount of medicine we are taking. And increased medications can result in more chances of side effects. Increasing Zoloft dosage from 100 mg to 150 mg side effects include:
- Reduced appetite
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Temperament problems
- Weight gain
- Indigestion
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Increased sweating
- Diarrhea
- Sleep disturbance
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Loss of sexual drive
It is possible to experience serious side effects when taking Zoloft at higher doses if the drug is not tolerated well. These side effects include:
- Convulsions
- Thrombocytopenia
- Neutropenia
- Increased heartbeat
- The inability to have an erection
- Loss of thyroid functioning or hypothyroidism
- The decreased tendency of bone marrow to produce blood cells
- Loss of sodium can affect the physiology of the body resulting in agitation, irritation, confusion, low comprehension and loss of memory, etc.
- Skin allergy includes red, swollen, or blistered skin often referred to as Stevens-Johnson disorder.
- Wheezing, difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest, trouble breathing, swallowing, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
If You Cannot Tolerate a Higher Dose of Zoloft, What Should You Do?
Every time your doctor increases the dosage of any medicine, especially antidepressants like Zoloft, you need to be monitored to ensure that the new dosage is tolerable for you and works correctly. Some patients may be unable to tolerate the high amount of active ingredients.
You should inform your doctor if higher doses of Zoloft are not producing the proper recovery effects, but instead, you are feeling more uncomfortable. You may be advised to start taking lower doses again or to change antidepressants.
Incompatible Conditions With Zoloft
It is not recommended to take Zoloft if you have certain medical conditions, otherwise, serious complications may result. These conditions include:
Bipolar Disorder
Patients suffering from a manic disorder or bipolar disorder are not recommended to take Zoloft. It can trigger mania in this situation. So, must consult your doctor before taking Zoloft.
Liver Disorder
A drug is metabolized by the liver in the body. A malfunctioning liver prevents Zoloft from generating recovery effects in the body. Zoloft will accumulate in the blood and cause side effects instead.
Convulsions
There is a possibility of Zoloft triggering seizures. So, must consult your doctor before taking any antidepressants.
Renal Disorder
A kidney is always required for the elimination of any drug you take. A renal disorder means your kidneys are unable to function properly. The same applies to removing the drug from the body. Zoloft cannot be excreted from your body if your kidneys are not functioning properly while you are taking it. As a result, drug accumulation in the blood occurs. Side effects are more likely to occur when there is more drug in the blood.
Glaucoma
A glaucoma attack may be triggered by Zoloft. Before taking Zoloft, consult your doctor if you have glaucoma.
In Which Conditions, Zoloft Dose Can Be Increased From 100 mg to 150 mg?
Zoloft can be increased from 100 mg to 150 mg when you experience severe side effects from the following disorders:
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
But always consult your doctor, before increasing the dosage. Never increase your dosage intake by yourself. Your doctor will first examine your physiological condition and then recommend the dose.
FAQs
Question: What happens when you increase the dose of Zoloft?
Answer: It is usually necessary to increase the dosage of Zoloft when symptoms of depression-related disorders become more severe. If the increased dosage proves to be beneficial to you, it will assist you in achieving effective recovery. Patients who are unable to tolerate this high dosage may suffer more side effects than they recover from it.
Question: What should you not take with Zoloft?
Answer: The use of Zoloft is not recommended if you are taking pimozide or being treated with methylene blue injection. If you have recently taken an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine, you should not take Zoloft.
Question: What are the most common side effects of Zoloft?
Answer: There is usually a loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, tiredness, irritation, indigestion, seizures, increased sweating, weakness, insomnia, and lethargy associated with Zoloft.
Conclusion
Increasing the Zoloft dosage from 100 to 150 mg, what should I expect? It is recommended that you increase the Zoloft dosage to 150 mg when you are suffering from some severe symptoms and lower doses are not producing any response. However,
the increasing dosage is not always an option for everyone. If the patient is unable to tolerate the increased active ingredients, this may make him feel more uncomfortable. Additionally, there are some medical conditions along which you cannot take Zoloft, so you should consult your doctor before taking this antidepressant.
