How Long Does Zoloft Stay in Your System?

Zoloft lasts in your body for about 48 hours to three months, depending on which region of the body you are looking for traces of Zoloft. Exactly how long does Zoloft stay in your system depends on various factors, including the half-life of Zoloft, your health status, and interactions with other medicines. Learn about these factors and what you can do to withdraw from Zoloft. 

Do you need help withdrawing from Zoloft? ChoicePoint provides a comfortable space and DEA-certified staff to help you detox from Zoloft, along with online counseling sessions, also covered by insurance. Call us today to get started 844.445.2565.

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How Does Zoloft (Sertraline) Work?

Zoloft (generic name: Sertraline) is an FDA-approved anti-depressant medication that increases the level of serotonin (the happy chemical in your body) to treat depressive mental health disorders. Some of the conditions Zoloft can help with include:

• OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
• Social Anxiety
• PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Premenstrual Disorder
• Panic Attacks

Zoloft belongs to the SSRI anti-depressant class. For people with these depressive symptoms, serotonin is assumed to be less. It works like a switch that keeps the lights on for longer in times of need. Zoloft makes serotonin available for the body to use by inhibiting its reuptake and excretion.

Side Effects of Zoloft

Zoloft is generally not addictive and safe to use when taken according to the prescription. However, it is still important to be cautious of these possible Sertraline side effects:

• Insomnia
• Changes in weight
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Suicidal thoughts
• Increased appetite
• Sexual dysfunction
• Serotonin syndrome

Since it can create suicidal thoughts, Zoloft has a black box warning for use in older populations and pediatrics. 

How Long Does Zoloft Take To Work?

Zoloft is absorbed slowly in your body and takes some time until you feel the depression-alleviating effects of Zoloft. It can work only when the digestive system fully absorbs it. Here is how Zoloft starts working:

• It reaches maximum absorption in 4-6 hours.
• It can take about one to four weeks for Zoloft to travel to the brain and start working.
• For some individuals, Zoloft can start showing its effects in 6 weeks.

How Long Does Zoloft Stay In Your System?

Although Zoloft can take six weeks to start relieving the depressive symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean a single dose will stay for the same time in your body. Instead, Sertraline can stay in your system for as little as 2 days to as much as 90 days depending on which part are you testing Zoloft for because its duration in urine is different from what it is in blood. Whereas it stays for much longer in hair than saliva. The table below answers how long does Zoloft last based on each part of your body:

Worried about Sertraline side effects? Call our mental health professional near you to get your dose adjusted 844.445.2565.

How Long Does It Take Zoloft To Leave Your System?

Half-life is the time it takes for half of the Zoloft to leave your system. Zoloft’s half-life is around 24–32 hours for adults, children, and adolescents alike. It means that after one day, only half of Zoloft will remain in your body. Zoloft will stay in your system for 5-5.25 half-lives or up to 7 days, depending on various factors.

Signs & Symptoms of Zoloft Abuse

Factors Determining How Long Does Sertraline Stay In Your System

Although Zoloft’s half-life is not variable, certain factors can affect how long does Zoloft stay in your system, which may vary the overall time from one individual to another. 

Age

Children may metabolize Zoloft faster than adults, and adults are capable of processing Zoloft quicker than older people.

Gender

Females have a less acidic stomach as compared to men, which allows women to better absorb Zoloft. As a result, Zoloft may work better for women in their 40s than men in their 40s. 

Metabolism

Zoloft stays longer in the system for people with slower metabolisms than for those with faster ones 

Body Fat

The presence of extra body fat makes your metabolism slow, which allows Sertraline to stay for longer.

Liver Disease

A malfunctioning liver will take longer to digest Zoloft than a healthier one, which would allow more Sertraline to pile in your body.

Food

Zoloft is better absorbed with food. Doctors might recommend you to take Sertraline with food for quicker results. 

Other Drugs and Medications

Taking certain medications can impact the metabolism of Sertraline, affecting how long does Zoloft stay in your system. For example:

• Amlodipine, used for lowering blood pressure, and Amodiaquin, used for treating malaria, can reduce the metabolism of Zoloft, making it leave your system after the usual time.
• Abatacept (brand: Orencia) can make Sertraline stay longer in your system.

Zoloft Dosages

The amount of medicine you take also affects how long does Zoloft last in your body. Let’s look at the impact of dosages on Zoloft duration in your system. Sertraline comes in three forms: tablets, capsules, and solutions. Zoloft is available in the following dosages:

Tablets

• 25 mg
• 50 mg
• 100 mg
• 200 mg

Taking larger dosages of Sertraline delays the time it reaches its maximum absorption, which ultimately allows Zoloft to stay a bit longer in your body.

Capsules

• 150 mg
• 200 mg

Solution

• 20 mg/mL

Sertraline oral solutions also increase the time it takes for Sertraline to stay in your system.

What Are the Symptoms of Zoloft Withdrawal?

Zoloft is usually prescribed for several months until your symptoms are stable. Although Zoloft is not very addictive, coming off Sertraline can feel awful due to the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Some of the common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Sweating
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Lightheadedness
• Aggression
• Muscle pain

But Sertraline withdrawal is not always easy. Research suggests that about 46% of people taking antidepressants, including Zoloft, experience severe withdrawal symptoms during the detox, such as:

• Tremors
• Seizures
• Suicidal thoughts
• Psychosis

So, you mustn’t quit on your own and must seek professional help for withdrawal management.

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

Finding Medically Supervised Zoloft Detox and Online Counseling 

ChoicePoint, located in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, offers medically supervised Zoloft detox for Zoloft abuse, misuse, or dependency to help you get past withdrawal symptoms. Our DEA-certified staff provides constant monitoring to help you until your condition is stable. 

We also offer dual diagnosis to help our clients beyond the physical withdrawal symptoms, treating Zoloft psychosis and other psychological withdrawal symptoms. The dual diagnosis program can help you overcome Zoloft withdrawal symptoms and provide treatment for depressive disorders and other mental health conditions. 

More Insights Into Zolosoft Stay In Your System

We are answering a few frequently asked questions relating to Steraline, its dosage, and withdrawal symptoms below:

How Long Does It Take For Zoloft To Wear Off?

It can take around 25-25 hours for Zoloft to leave your system once you stop taking it. The exact duration Zoloft takes to wear off will depend on the following factors:

• The amount of Zoloft taken
• The duration of Zoloft intake
• Your metabolism
• Your age
• Your gender
• The functionality of your kidneys

Can You Go Back To Normal After Zoloft?

Yes, you can go back to your normal state once Zoloft weans off. But how much time will it take to work normally without Zoloft depends on the health status of the brain, kidneys, and other body parts. You can reset your normal state quicker if you have taken Zoloft according to the prescription. However, if you have been using it recreationally, then an addiction doctor near you can help you come out of Zoloft’s grip. 

Is 25mg of Zoloft Enough For Anxiety?

The starting dose of Zoloft for anxiety can be 25 mg if you have milder symptoms and your body is tolerating it well enough. However, your doctor may adjust your dose gradually up to 50 mg per day, depending on your symptoms. It’s important to seek professional help to treat anxiety and determine the dose that can work for your symptoms. 

Do Zoloft Side Effects Ever Go Away?

Like any medicine, Zoloft does leave certain side effects that subside as your body learns to tolerate Zoloft and becomes accustomed to a prescribed dosage. Here are a few common sides of Steraline: 

• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Digestive issues
• Changes in appetite
• Erectile dysfunction
• Weight gain or weight loss

Most of these side effects do get improved over time, but in some people, sexual side effects and weight changes may persist for longer durations. 

What Is The Zoloft Half-life For 50 mg?

The half-life of Zoloft, regardless of the dose, is 24-26 hours. Whether it is 25 mg, 40 mg, or 100 mg of Zoloft, it will take at least a day for half of the Zoloft to leave your system. 

When Do Zoloft Withdrawal Symptoms Start?

Zoloft withdrawal can start as soon as three days after quitting. But it is also natural to have them started after 5 days of Zoloft’s last dose. So, plan your trips or important work within two days of stopping Zoloft. Sometimes, the symptoms can get severe, draining all your energy. It’s important to seek professional detox help if your symptoms are severe.

References

1. National Center For Biotechnology and Information. 2023. Sertraline
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547689/
2. United States Food and Drug Administration. Zoloft
   https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839s74s86s87_20990s35s44s45lbl.pdf
3. Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2021. PharmGKB summary: sertraline pathway, pharmacokinetics
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7008964/
4. National Center For Biotechnology and Information. 2023.Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/
5. Dialogues Clinical Neuroscience. 2016. Sex differences in the psychopharmacological treatment of depression
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5286730/
6. Sertraline Hydrochloride. Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Second Edition)
   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B012369400000870X
7. Addictive Behaviors. 2018. A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based?
   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460318308347