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Is Zoloft Safe For Treatment Of Depression?
Question: Zoloft 50mg is it safe for 17 year old that was just dx with depression 4 days ago at dinner he was humming and shaking his leg and zoning out very worried
Brief Answer:
starting with 25mg is better
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Zoloft is a safe drug and can even be given to yougsters and to cardiac patients. The only issue is that its starting dosage is 25mg and not 50mg. Whenever we start a drug in children, we do so at the lowest possible dose. This serves two purpose:
-- may be he gets well at 25mg only and there is no need to increase it at all
-- if at all there are any side effect in the starting, they will be less at a low dose
-- it is customary to start with less drug in youngsters.
So, even though 50mg is not harmful for him, taking 25mg will be better.
Wish you good health!
Do ask more quetions for clarifictaion.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
starting with 25mg is better
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Zoloft is a safe drug and can even be given to yougsters and to cardiac patients. The only issue is that its starting dosage is 25mg and not 50mg. Whenever we start a drug in children, we do so at the lowest possible dose. This serves two purpose:
-- may be he gets well at 25mg only and there is no need to increase it at all
-- if at all there are any side effect in the starting, they will be less at a low dose
-- it is customary to start with less drug in youngsters.
So, even though 50mg is not harmful for him, taking 25mg will be better.
Wish you good health!
Do ask more quetions for clarifictaion.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Psychiatry
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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