Sertraline 50 mg daily: the optimal dose in the treatment of depression.

The dose regimen for sertraline in the treatment of depression has been well established. The starting dose, 50 mg/day, is the usually effective therapeutic dose, and the optimal dose when considering both efficacy and tolerability for most patients. For patients who do not show an adequate therapeutic response within 24 weeks, the dose of sertraline can be increased in 50 mg/day increments at no less than weekly intervals to a maximum of 200 mg/day. Sertraline is generally given as a single daily dose and may be administered at any time of the day. In contrast to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, there is no need for altered dose recommendations in the elderly.