How to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder With Zoloft

Social anxiety disorder is a mental condition that is often treated with drug therapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are usually the first drugs prescribed to people with social anxiety disorder. Among those, Zoloft is a common choice.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Physician supervision
• Prescription for Zoloft

Take Zoloft to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder

1. Find out whether you really have social anxiety disorder. Many people experience social anxiety in different situations, but social anxiety disorder requires diagnosis by a mental health professional.

2. Get examined by a psychiatrist. Only a licensed physician can prescribe pharmaceuticals like Zoloft.

3. Discuss different options for treatment. Zoloft is not the only drug used to treat social anxiety disorder. Likewise, there are treatments that do not require drug therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.

4. Inform your doctor about any other medications you are taking. Zoloft should not be taken if you are currently taking or have recently taken MAO inhibitors or certain other prescription drugs.

5. Plan to take Zoloft once a day. Zoloft should be taken at the same time every day.

6. Mix the prescribed dosage of Zoloft with 1/2 cup of water. Zoloft comes in oral concentrate form. You can also mix it with ginger ale, orange juice, lemonade or lemon-lime soda.

7. Allow 4 to 6 weeks to determine whether Zoloft is having the desired effect on your social anxiety disorder. If you don't see a change, discuss other options with your doctor. If you only notice mild benefits, you might need a higher dose.

Tips & Warnings

• If Zoloft makes you tired, take it at night. If it makes you wired, take it in the morning. As long as you take it at the same time every day, it doesn't matter when you take it.

• Possible side effects from Zoloft include, but are not limited to, nausea, dry mouth, sweating, sleepiness, insomnia, diarrhea or constipation, headache, weight gain and loss of libido. Notify your doctor if you experience side effects from Zoloft.

• Don't take Zoloft if you are taking St. John's Wort.

• Stay away from grapefruit and grapefruit juice while you take Zoloft.

• Once you've mixed it, you should drink your Zoloft mixture immediately. Never mix a dose to take later.

• Don't drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Zoloft affects you. Zoloft can cause sleepiness.

• Talk to your doctor immediately if you start to experience suicidal thoughts. This could be caused by the Zoloft, and you may need to treat your social anxiety with a different therapy.

• Don't stop taking Zoloft cold turkey. Gradually stepping down the dosage is recommended to avoid extreme shifts in mood and withdrawal symptoms.