SertralineBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: zoloft
Sertraline is a prescription medication belonging to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is primarily used to treat various mental health conditions by affecting the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. It is typically taken in the morning.
Researched by DoseRoutine R&D TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSELast updated
904 human randomized trials and regulatory approval on file.
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
Reported for Sertraline in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
References & evidence
Documents the Sertraline entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]Brexpiprazole and Sertraline Combination Treatment in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Phase 3 Randomized Clinical TrialDavis LL, Behl S, Lee D, et al. · JAMA Psychiatry · 2025 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 39693081
- [2]Selection of the optimal dose of sertraline for depression: A dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsLuo X, Zhu D, Li J, et al. · Psychiatry Res · 2023 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 37557058
How to track Sertraline doses
Tracking Sertraline well takes four fields and a habit. Here is what to record so the log is still useful in three months.
- 1
Add the dose and unit
Log Sertraline with its dose in mg so totals stay comparable over time — including days when you split the dose or skip it.
- 2
Set the time of day and food rule
Typical timing is morning. Reminders fire at that time and can export to your calendar.
- 3
Check it against the rest of the stack
Run Sertraline through the interaction checker against everything else in the routine — supplements, peptides, hormones and prescriptions — before it becomes a daily habit.
- 4
Log adherence, not intentions
Mark each dose taken, skipped or delayed as it happens. Weeks of honest logs are what make an adherence rate or a trend line meaningful; retrospective guessing is not.
- 5
Review against outcomes
With a reported half-life around 26 h, effects and timing shifts show up over days rather than instantly. Review Sertraline alongside your logged metrics and any relevant blood work every few weeks before changing the dose.
What to log each time
- Dose in mg
- Time of day
- Taken / skipped / delayed
- Any side effects or notable changes
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Sertraline dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Sertraline?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What does the research say about Sertraline?
Tap a section to expand.
Source for this section: Sources for How does Sertraline work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Sertraline?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What interacts with Sertraline?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any supplement + medication | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Some supplements change how the body processes medications (absorption, liver enzymes, or additive effects).Source pending | Specific pairs are checked against a licensed drug database and shown with their own severity. Always confirm with your provider or pharmacist. |
| Any vitamin + medication | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Certain vitamins interact with specific medications (e.g., vitamin K with blood thinners).Source pending | Specific pairs are checked against a licensed source; confirm with your provider. |
| Amantadine | Caution | Compound pairConfidence: theoretical | Rare reports of serotonin/NMS-like reactions when amantadine is combined with serotonergic drugs.Source pending | Watch for confusion, high fever, muscle rigidity, or shivering — seek urgent care if they appear. |
| Phenelzine | Avoid | Compound pairConfidence: theoretical | Combining SSRIs/SNRIs with MAOIs can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome.Source pending | Do not combine. Allow at least 14 days between stopping one and starting the other (5 weeks for fluoxetine). |
| Tranylcypromine | Avoid | Compound pairConfidence: theoretical | Combining SSRIs/SNRIs with MAOIs can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome.Source pending | Do not combine. Allow at least 14 days between stopping one and starting the other (5 weeks for fluoxetine). |
| Selegiline | Avoid | Compound pairConfidence: theoretical | Combining SSRIs/SNRIs with MAOIs can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome.Source pending | Do not combine. Allow at least 14 days between stopping one and starting the other (5 weeks for fluoxetine). |
| Rasagiline | Avoid | Compound pairConfidence: theoretical | Combining SSRIs/SNRIs with MAOIs can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome.Source pending | Do not combine. Allow at least 14 days between stopping one and starting the other (5 weeks for fluoxetine). |
Frequently asked questions about Sertraline
Which studies looked at Sertraline?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.Brexpiprazole and Sertraline Combination Treatment in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial(opens PubMed in a new tab)JAMA Psychiatry · 2025 · PMID 39693081 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39693081/
- 2.Selection of the optimal dose of sertraline for depression: A dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials(opens PubMed in a new tab)Psychiatry Res · 2023 · PMID 37557058 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37557058/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 68617(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/68617
Verify at
Publisher search links for Sertraline. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- FDA-approved labeling (DailyMed)(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · publisher search
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Institutes of Health · publisher search
- MedlinePlus(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Mayo Clinic(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Mayo Clinic · publisher search
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Cochrane Library(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Cochrane · publisher search
- Clinical practice guidelines (PubMed)(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- European Medicines Agency(publisher search, opens in a new tab)European Medicines Agency · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Sertraline?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Sertraline is a prescription medication belonging to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is primarily used to treat various mental health conditions by affecting the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. It is typically taken in the morning.
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Sertraline — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/sertraline
What compounds are similar to Sertraline?
Others in the medication category or studied for the same goals.
