Suggest Safe Way To Switch From Prozac To Zoloft?

Posted on Fri, 12 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 Answered on

Tue, 6 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : How do I switch from 40mg Prozac to 100mg Zoloft?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Gradually taper the dose of Prozac and increase of dose of Zoloft

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for choosing HEALTH CARE MAGIC for your health related queries

Prozac is Fluoxetine and Zoloft is Sertraline. Both of drugs belong to SSRI group of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs. If you want to switch from Prozac to Zoloft then to prevent the withdrawal effects (which would be mild) cross tapering of doses is advised.

Doses of Prozac should be decreased for about 4-6 weeks and in similar fashion Zoloft doses should be increased over 4-6 weeks. I usually advise my patients in my OPD to take 20 mg Fluoxetine and 50 mg of Sertranline for about 4 weeks and then 10 mg of Fluoxetine and one and half tablet of Sertraline 50 for next 2 weeks. After two more weeks Fluoxetine can be stopped and doses of Sertraline are increased to 100 mg per day. Fluoxetine is advised to be taken in morning hours while Sertraline in evening hours. If this method will be followed the withdrawal effects will be mild.

Over all these both drugs are almost same in action so there is no risk in switching the drugs. Always take the drugs as per proper prescription.

Thanks, hope this helps you.

Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi
Consultant Psychiatrist

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D