Skip to main content
Drug Info

What to do if you miss a dose of Zoloft

Forgot to take your Zoloft? Here’s what to do
Sarah Bradley writer headshot
By | Feb. 11, 2025 Medically reviewed by Karen Berger, Pharm.D.
A prescription bottle with an exclamation mark on it: What to do if you miss a dose of Zoloft

Key takeaways

  • It’s important to take all antidepressants, including Zoloft (sertraline) regularly so they work the way they’re supposed to.

  • If you forget one dose of Zoloft, either take it as soon as you remember or, if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.

  • If you miss two or more doses of Zoloft, talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to return to your normal dose and schedule. Never take more than one dose at a time to “catch up.”

  • After two or more missed doses, you may begin to experience side effects such as nausea, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and a relapse of symptoms like anxiety or depression.

In this article:

Zoloft (sertraline) is a brand-name selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), one of the most commonly prescribed types of antidepressants. It can be used to treat anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), among other mental health disorders. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain, which contributes to a better mood and more positive emotions. Zoloft is also available in generic form as sertraline. 

In order for Zoloft to reach its full effectiveness and reduce your symptoms, Allison Hinkle, Pharm.D., clinical pharmacy manager at HCA Florida Highlands Hospital, says it’s important to take it consistently and follow the dosing schedule your healthcare provider prescribed to you. But let’s be honest: We all forget things from time to time, including our daily medications, so chances are you’ll forget about your Zoloft at some point while taking the drug. The good news is that it’s possible to get back on track—here’s how.

What to do about a missed dose of Zoloft

If you forget to take Zoloft for one day, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is close to the time for your next scheduled dose. If it’s getting close to the time when you would normally take your next dose, Zoloft’s manufacturer says you should skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.

For example, if you normally take your Zoloft at 5 p.m. but forget about it until later that evening, you should take it as soon as you remember. You should also take it as soon as you remember if you realize the next morning that you forgot to take it the night before. However, if you don’t realize you forgot to take your 5 p.m. dose until 2 p.m. the next day, skip the missed dose and wait until 5 p.m. to take your next dose.

Skipping a missed dose doesn’t require you to make any adjustments to when you take Zoloft, but if you end up taking a dose at an entirely different time than normal, you may need to either stick with that new time or gradually return to your usual schedule. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to do this so you don’t accidentally take too much of the medication at once.

What if you forgot to take Zoloft for two days or more? 

While it’s fairly common for people taking Zoloft to forget about it for one day, what if you forget to take Zoloft for two or three days? It’s still possible to get back on your usual schedule if you miss several days of your medication, but it isn’t as simple as taking it as soon as you remember.

Sertraline has a long half-life, which means it lasts for a long time in the body, but if you miss two or more days, your medication levels may drop low enough that the drug is no longer working the same way it has been or continue to provide the same benefits, according to Erika Gray, Pharm.D., cofounder of Toolbox Genomics.

If you miss two or more days, it’s best to contact your healthcare provider. They can tell you whether it’s safe to go back to your usual dose of Zoloft right away or give you a titration schedule. Titration is a method of slowly increasing the amount of medication you take over the course of days, weeks, or months (you may have done something similar when you were just beginning to take Zoloft to help reduce the side effects and allow your body to adjust to the medication). If a titration schedule is needed, your healthcare provider will tell you how to work your way back up to your usual dose.

Zoloft missed dose side effects

“If you miss a single dose of Zoloft, you will probably experience no noticeable symptoms or very minor symptoms, like mild irritability,” Dr. Gray says.  

If you miss more than one dose, it’s more likely you’ll experience side effects, since the amount of Zoloft in your system will be much lower. This can trigger withdrawal symptoms or a condition called discontinuation syndrome, which is common when suddenly stopping an antidepressant (instead of slowly tapering off). Symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal and discontinuation syndrome include nausea, insomnia or sleep-related disturbances, dizziness, flu-like symptoms such as headache and body aches, and sudden mood changes.

Not everyone will experience discontinuation syndrome after missing a few days of their medication. Dr. Hinkle says when and to what degree you have symptoms varies based on multiple factors, including the way the drug is metabolized in your body, how long you’ve been taking the medication, and the prescribed dose. 

“Missing more than one dose of Zoloft can also cause some of your original symptoms, like anxiety, depression, fatigue, and irritability, to return,” Dr. Gray says.

What not to do if you miss a dose of Zoloft (sertraline)

According to Dr. Gray, you should never double up on your dose or adjust your dose (such as taking 1 ½ doses, for example), if you miss any Zoloft doses. Taking more Zoloft than has been prescribed to you can cause a potentially serious drug reaction called serotonin syndrome or even lead to an accidental overdose.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

  • Agitation
  • Fever
  • Sweating
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Confusion

Symptoms of Zoloft overdose include:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting
  • Confusion or agitation
  • Sweating or shivering
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Seizures or loss of consciousness

If you experience any symptoms of serotonin syndrome or think you may have accidentally overdosed on Zoloft, contact your healthcare provider or Poison Control (for overdose) immediately, or get emergency medical care by calling 911 or going to the closest emergency room or urgent care facility. Serotonin syndrome and Zoloft overdose are both potentially life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical attention.

Sources