How long does zoloft stay in system

How Long Does Zoloft Stay in Your System?

Sertraline or Zoloft is one of the most prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on the market used for depression.

As with any medication, while many people have responded positively to Zoloft, others have experienced various complications. Due to these complications, many people decide to quit using this medication altogether. However, many fail to ask themselves, “How long does Zoloft stay in your system?” Withdrawal from Zoloft (sertraline) can be a difficult process without the help of a medical detox center, so there are several important points that a person needs to know.

How Zoloft Works

Zoloft is the brand name for the antidepressant sertraline, which comes as a tablet or liquid medication. Specifically, Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by preventing the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, increasing a person’s mood, sleep, and appetite while decreasing compulsive behaviors, anxiety symptoms, and panic attacks.

Zoloft is commonly used to treat conditions like:

Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Social anxiety disorder

Zoloft blocks the reabsorption or uptake of serotonin. This is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your mood, memory, and learning. It plays a significant role in people with depression, OCD, and anxiety, often because these individuals either have serotonin levels that are too low or too high. Serotonin is particularly associated with positive feelings, so much so that it’s often referred to as the “happy” chemical.

Unfortunately, antidepressants like sertraline are also often abused or taken with alcohol. Because this drug increases serotonin levels to produce a happy or pleasurable feeling, many people take it in large doses to get high. They may also mix Zoloft and alcohol to produce an even more intense “buzz,” which can be deadly. Those who abuse antidepressants or other medications risk developing a drug addiction and may find themselves in need of prescription drug addiction treatment.

How Long Does It Take for Zoloft to Kick In?

It usually takes about two to six weeks for Zoloft to kick in. Like most antidepressants, sertraline can cause side effects. After a week or two, these Zoloft side effects may occur:

Nausea and/or vomiting
Headache
Fatigue
Constipation
Insomnia
Heartburn
Dizziness
Sweating
Tremors
Change in weight
Decreased appetite

Some more serious but less common symptoms of sertraline include:

Seizures
Hallucinations
Bruising or abnormal bleeding
Loss of coordination
Memory loss
Shortness of breath
Rash
Hives

It is also possible to overdose on Zoloft. When you take a larger dose than prescribed, take it more often than directed, or mix it with other substances like medications or alcohol, you risk intoxicating the body. This often occurs in people who take this drug in search of a Zoloft high. However, abusing this drug can not only increase your risk of serious side effects like hallucinations and seizures, but it also increases your risk of serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome occurs when there’s a build-up of serotonin in the body. This is most common in people who take other medications with their SSRIs, such as other antidepressants, certain pain or headache medications, and St. John’s wort supplement.

Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include anxiety, sweating, confusion, agitation, tremors, lack of coordination, restlessness, and rapid heart rate. If these symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately. If you realize that someone frequently experiences serotonin syndrome or the other side effects of sertraline listed above, they may require a partial hospitalization program to recover from their addiction.

How Long Does Sertraline Stay In Your System?

If you’re wondering, “How long does Zoloft stay in your system?” the first thing you have to consider is Zoloft’s half-life. A drug’s half-life refers to the amount of time it takes half of the drug to leave a person’s system. The half-life of Zoloft is 24 to 26 hours, which means that it can take roughly a day for half of the drug to be eliminated from their blood. In another 24 hours, the amount of sertraline in the person’s body will decrease to 25% or half of the amount that remained. In urine, Zoloft can remain for about nine days. However, sertraline also contains a metabolite called desmethylsertraline, which has a half-life of 66 hours, meaning traces of Zoloft could remain in a person’s body for much longer than a few days. Moreover, how long for Zoloft to leave your system also depends on factors like the dose taken, weight, age, and metabolism. Doses for Zoloft (sertraline) range between 50 milligrams (mg) to 200 mg, and it’s usually only taken once a day. Taking a higher dose than prescribed or taking it more frequently than directed can impact how long Zoloft stays in your system.

At Banyan Treatment Centers Massachusetts, we understand that many people may also misuse or abuse their prescription drugs. This increases the risk of addiction as well as other physical complications like cardiovascular disease and liver and kidney damage. If you or someone you know is struggling to control their use of prescription drugs, it’s time to get help. Call Banyan Massachusetts today at 888-280-4763 to learn more about our drug and alcohol treatment.

Related Readings:

Zoloft Overdose
Signs of Antidepressant Abuse

How Long Does Zoloft (Sertraline) Stay In Your System (Urine, Blood)?

Zoloft (sertraline) is one of the most popular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Statistics even reveal that in 2013, Zoloft (sertraline) was the most prescribed antidepressant in the United States. While many people have found that Zoloft (sertraline) is a particularly effective medication, others have responded poorly to the medication and ended up experiencing a variety of complications. Because of these complications, some patients decide to quit using the medication. Withdrawal from Zoloft (sertraline), however, can be a difficult process, so there are some important pieces of information that a person should know.

Article at a Glance:

Zoloft dosages range from 50-200 mg and is typically taken once per day as an antidepressant.
Zoloft has a half-life of 24-26 hours.
Approximately 44% of Zoloft can be found in a person’s urine and feces nine days after ingestion.
Your dosage and individual physiology factors affect how long Zoloft stays in your system.

Zoloft (Sertraline) Prescription Fact

It is a wise idea to understand some important details about Zoloft (sertraline), which include the following pieces of information:

Zoloft (sertraline) is often prescribed to be taken once per day. The dosage can be taken with or without food.
Dosages for Zoloft (sertraline) range between 50 mg and 200 mg.
If you miss a dose of Zoloft (sertraline), do not take two doses the next time because this can have adverse consequences.
Avoid drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs or taking any other type of antidepressant medication while taking Zoloft (sertraline). This increases the severity of side effects from the medications.
Be aware of the most common side effects of the medication including diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, increased sweating and nausea. Less common side effects include difficulty with blood clotting and several other deadly medical conditions.

Zoloft (Sertraline) Regulations

Zoloft (sertraline) is not one of the controlled substances on the list of scheduled substances. As a result, some sites sell Zoloft to patients without the requirement of a valid prescription. Many people have argued that the lack of regulations have caused Zoloft to be used in a dangerous manner.

Most Commonly Abused Drugs Containing Sertraline

Sertraline is just one type of SSRI. While the medication is most commonly used to treat manic-depressive disorder, it is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorders and social phobia. The medication is also used for “off-label” conditions including binge-eating disorders and bulimia nervosa.

How Zoloft (Sertraline) Affects The Brain And Body

The exact way in which SSRIs like Zoloft (sertraline) work is still an area being researched by medical experts. Many physicians believe that SSRIs work by blocking serotonin (which is responsible for mood regulation) from being reabsorbed into the body’s neurons. Serotonin that is absorbed in this manner is much less effective at controlling conditions like depression. Through limiting this absorption, SSRIs help to strengthen neural pathways and combat depression.

Half-Life Of Zoloft (Sertraline)

One of the most common questions that people ask going through withdrawal from any SSRI is how long the medication will remain in their system. The answer lies in a term referred to as “half-life,” which refers to the amount of time that it takes half of the drug’s traces in a person’s system to be removed. Zoloft (sertraline) has a half-life of 24 to 26 hours, which means that it will take a person roughly a day for the drug’s presence to reduce to half the amount. In another 24 hours, the amount in a person’s body will decrease to 25% or half of the remaining amount. This division continues until the drug is removed from a person’s system. It should be noted, however, that the metabolite “Desmethylsertraline” found in Zoloft (sertraline) has a long half-life of 66 hours and, as a result, will remain in a person’s system for a long time.

Factors That Influence How Long Zoloft (Sertraline) Stays In Your System

It is important to understand that the reported half-life for Zoloft (sertraline) is only an estimate. There are numerous factors that influence the exact length of time that the medication takes to leave a person’s body, which include the following factors:

Dosage. The dosage of Zoloft (sertraline) that a person takes influence how quickly the medication leaves their system. While not always true, the greater amount of the medication that a person takes, the longer that it takes to eliminate the medication from that person’s body.
Individual Physiology Factors. Various factors cause the same amount of Zoloft (sertraline) to leave one person’s body at a faster or slower rate than another. Some of these factors include age, genetics and sex. For example, the medication tends to leave the systems of younger patients faster.

How Long Does Zoloft (Sertraline) Stay In Your Urine and Blood?

As the previous sections of this article have explained, the exact time that it takes Zoloft (sertraline) to leave a person’s blood is based on both the half-life for the drug as well as a variety of factors that change between person. Statistics reveal that 44% of a Zoloft (sertraline) is found in a person’s urine within nine days post-ingestion, with a similar 44% being recovered in feces. This can present difficulties during drug tests because Zoloft (sertraline) can show up as benzodiazepine in drug tests.

Read Previous
Taking Zoloft While Pregnant: What You Need to Know

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Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

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Zoloft withdrawal syndrome - Center for Healthy Youth

Zoloft - what is this drug? The active substance of the drug is sertraline. It belongs to the pharmacological group of antidepressants and is prescribed to patients with the following symptoms: depression, OCD, panic disorders, PTSD, social phobia. Zoloft is a powerful serotonin reuptake inhibitor in human brain cells.

More than 1/3 of people face the dangerous consequences of abrupt withdrawal of Zoloft. In narcology, this phenomenon is called withdrawal syndrome or withdrawal syndrome. The time of onset of symptoms of withdrawal syndrome when used is directly proportional to the half-life of the drug from the body. A drug such as Zoloft is addictive with systematic irregular use, therefore, there is also a Zoloft withdrawal syndrome, which usually occurs 3-5 days after the last use of the drug. The symptoms of Zoloft withdrawal syndrome are quite difficult to recognize, so people think that the disease has returned and start using the medicine again. nine0003

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How to reduce the dose of Zoloft correctly?

The course of treatment with Zoloft usually lasts no more than 8 weeks (about two months). As with the use of other antidepressants, an unreasonable increase in the duration of its use leads to negative consequences for human health. However, even before the period prescribed by the doctor, it is not recommended to stop taking the drug, since the gradual disappearance of symptoms is not a reason to complete the course. How long can I take Zoloft? nine0003

How much Zoloft can I take?

Many patients wonder how much Zoloft should be taken? Naturally, the duration of the course is strictly individual. So, how long can you take Zoloft? Only the attending physician, depending on the symptoms present, will be able to tell you how much Zoloft should be taken in your case. A specialist can prescribe a medication for 6-12 months, but this happens in exceptional cases.

The risk of developing withdrawal symptoms is increased in the following cases:

abrupt withdrawal of the drug and its removal from the body;
regular intake over two months;
excessive anxiety;
Combination with anti-hypertension, allergy and antipsychotic drugs.

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8 (800) 333-20-07 - call our specialist

How to cancel and stop drinking Zoloft?

Zoloft causes a withdrawal syndrome when it is stopped abruptly. This drug affects the processes occurring in the human brain, so you should take the medicine only with a doctor's prescription. How to stop taking the drug and "get off" from Zoloft? To avoid the withdrawal syndrome, the dosage of the medication according to the medical plan is reduced by 25 mg every 14 days. If a stable remission is achieved after a course of treatment, the doctor will stop taking the drug. However, the specialist will cancel the drug if the patient experiences side effects, insomnia and headache from Zoloft are not uncommon. nine0003

In which case the doctor can cancel the medication:

the patient has a headache;
causes unreasonable sadness, anxiety;
feeling of devastation;
nervousness, irritability;
weakness;
suicidal tendencies;
sleep and appetite disorders;
decrease in concentration.

If a person has lost their appetite or has regular headaches, the doctor begins a gradual process of reducing the dosage. The therapeutic dose is reduced over several weeks, and sometimes months. nine0003

Symptoms of withdrawal after taking

Is it possible to abruptly stop taking the medicine? Abrupt withdrawal of the drug threatens the occurrence of withdrawal or withdrawal. The human body, accustomed to a certain dose of the drug, will respond without an adaptation period. Most often, a deterioration in the patient's health is noted within 2-4 days after the last use. Depending on the individual characteristics and the state of the central nervous system, withdrawal symptoms may be different.

Symptoms and signs of withdrawal

nervousness;
irritability;
irritability;
insomnia;
nausea, vomiting;
headaches;
incoordination, balancez.

In some cases, a person will not even feel dangerous signs, and sometimes it may be necessary to call an ambulance for drug treatment from the Center for Healthy Youth. Therefore, if you feel a deterioration in the condition, it is worth contacting a doctor who will help reduce the dose and improve overall well-being. nine0003

How long does Zoloft withdrawal last?

Withdrawal symptoms can persist without drug treatment for quite a long time, for several weeks. While taking antidepressants, the activity of neurons changes, so after stopping the drugs, the body needs time to rebuild and adapt to new conditions. The longer the course of treatment was, the longer the rehabilitation period will be. Withdrawal symptoms will not disappear until the active substance of the drug is excreted from the body. If general weakness lasts for a month, you should contact your doctor or specialists from the Healthy Youth Center. nine0003

When does Zoloft start to act and help?

It is important to understand that Zoloft does not begin to act immediately, but after a certain period of time. How long does Zoloft take to work? As a rule, the first positive dynamics begins to be noticeable to the patient only after 2-3 weeks of regular use. The maximum effect is noticeable after 2-3 months of admission.

Discontinuation considerations

When choosing antidepressants, it is important to know which medications the patient has previously taken and which medications they are currently taking. Before prescribing an effective remedy that normalizes the work of the central nervous system, the doctor conducts a number of necessary examinations, identifies existing contraindications and prevents side effects.

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