Proper Use of This Medicine

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor , to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

Sertraline may be taken with or without food on a full or empty stomach. This medicine should be taken once a day in the morning or at night. If your doctor tells you to take it a certain way, follow your doctor's instructions.

If you are taking the oral concentrate, mix it with 4 ounces of water, ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, lemonade or orange juice. Take it right away after mixing.

You may have to take sertraline for 4 weeks or longer before you begin to feel better . Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits during this time. Also, if you are taking this medicine for depression, you may need to keep taking it for 6 months or longer to help prevent the return of the depression.

Dosing—The dose of sertraline will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of sertraline. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Also, the number of capsules or tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine and the medical problem for which you are taking sertraline.

• For oral dosage forms (capsules, oral solution or tablets):
  • Adults:
    • For mental depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder: To start, usually 50 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken either in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 200 mg a day.
    • For panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or social anxiety disorder: To start, usually 25 mg once a day, taken either in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 200 mg a day.
    • For premenstrual dysphoric disorder: To start, 50 mg once a day throughout your menstrual cycle or just during the premenstrual time. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 150 mg a day throughout your menstrual cycle or 100 mg a day if you are only taking it during your premenstrual time.
  • Children:
    • For mental depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or panic disorder: Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
    • For obsessive-compulsive disorder:
      • Children younger than 6 years old: Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.
      • Children 6 to 12 years old: To start, usually 25 mg once a day, taken either in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 200 mg a day.
      • Children 13 to 17 years old: To start, usually 50 mg once a day, taken either in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 200 mg a day.
  • Older adults:
    • For mental depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or social anxiety disorder (using capsules or tablets): To start, usually 12.5 to 25 mg once a day, taken either in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed.

Missed dose—Because sertraline may be given to different patients at different times of the day, you and your doctor should discuss what to do about any missed doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.