Sertraline Dose Increase Considerations

Monitoring and Precautions

• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends close monitoring for behavioral activation/agitation with dose increases, particularly in younger patients and those with anxiety disorders 1
• Monitor for suicidality, especially in patients under age 24, particularly in the first months of treatment and following dosage adjustments 1
• Watch for serotonin syndrome symptoms within 24-48 hours after dose increases, especially if the patient is on other serotonergic medications 1
• Avoid combining sertraline with MAOIs or multiple serotonergic drugs without extreme caution, as this significantly increases serotonin syndrome risk 1
• Be aware that sertraline is associated with discontinuation syndrome, so any future dose reductions should be gradual 1