How long does sertraline stay in your system
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
How Long Does Sertraline Stay in Your System?
Sertraline Pharmacokinetics and Absorption
Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is commonly prescribed for various mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder1. After oral administration, sertraline is slowly absorbed, reaching peak plasma concentrations approximately 6-8 hours post-ingestion3. The drug undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism, primarily forming N-desmethyl-sertraline, a metabolite that accumulates in the plasma at higher concentrations than the parent drug at steady state1.
Elimination Half-Life of Sertraline
The elimination half-life of sertraline ranges from 22 to 36 hours, with an average of about 32 hours1 3. This means that it takes approximately 1 to 1.5 days for the concentration of sertraline in the blood to reduce by half. Given this half-life, sertraline is typically administered once daily, and steady-state plasma concentrations are generally achieved after about one week of consistent dosing3.
Metabolism and Excretion
Sertraline is metabolized primarily through demethylation to form N-desmethyl-sertraline, which is a weakly active metabolite. The drug is further metabolized into a ketone and an alcohol, which are largely excreted renally as conjugates1. The pharmacokinetics of sertraline are generally favorable, with minimal inhibitory effects on major cytochrome P450 enzymes, reducing the risk of significant drug-drug interactions1 3.
Variability in Plasma Concentrations
There is considerable variability in the steady-state plasma concentrations of sertraline among different individuals, with up to a 15-fold difference observed in patients receiving typical antidepressant dosages ranging from 50 to 150 mg/day1. Factors such as age, gender, and renal function do not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of sertraline, and no dosage adjustments are typically necessary for elderly patients or those with renal impairment3.
Conclusion
In summary, sertraline has an elimination half-life of approximately 22 to 36 hours, with steady-state concentrations achieved after about one week of daily dosing. The drug is metabolized primarily to N-desmethyl-sertraline and is excreted renally. Despite the variability in plasma concentrations among individuals, sertraline is generally well-tolerated and effective for long-term use in treating various psychiatric conditions.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Sertraline
Sertraline is a well-tolerated and relatively safe antidepressant with minimal inhibitory effects on major cytochrome P450 enzymes and few drug-drug interactions.
Highly CitedEfficacy of sertraline in preventing relapse of posttraumatic stress disorder: results of a 28-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Sertraline effectively sustains improvement in PTSD symptoms and provides prophylactic protection against relapse over 28 weeks of treatment.
RCTHighly CitedClinical implications of the pharmacology of sertraline.
Sertraline has generally favorable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, but caution is needed when it is combined with lithium or low therapeutic ratio drugs.
Highly CitedRandomized, placebo-controlled trial of sertraline and contingency management for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence.
Sertraline is not effective for treating methamphetamine dependence, but contingency management shows promise in achieving three consecutive weeks of abstinence.
RCTHighly CitedSertraline treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: results of 24 weeks of open-label continuation treatment.
Sertraline maintains its efficacy in treating PTSD in the majority of patients, with at least half of nonresponders eventually responding to continued treatment.
RCTHighly CitedSertraline in the Prevention of Depression
Sertraline effectively prevents relapse of depression and recurrence of further episodes, with few side-effects, throughout a 44-week study period.
RCT
Large Human TrialHighly CitedSertraline for the treatment of depression in Alzheimer disease: week-24 outcomes.
Sertraline treatment for depression in Alzheimer's disease does not show delayed improvement between 12 and 24 weeks of treatment and may not be indicated for this condition.
RCTHighly CitedAn 8-week multicenter, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of sertraline in elderly outpatients with major depression.
Sertraline is effective and well-tolerated for older adults with major depression, with a smaller drug-placebo difference in this 8-week trial.
RCTLarge Human TrialHighly CitedLong-term sertraline treatment of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Sertraline (50-200 mg/day) is effective and well-tolerated in treating childhood and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder for up to 52 weeks, with improvements seen with continued treatment.
RCTHighly CitedPosttraumatic stress disorder and quality of life: results across 64 weeks of sertraline treatment.
Sertraline treatment for chronic PTSD leads to rapid improvement in quality of life and progressive and sustained improvement over more than 1 year of treatment.
RCTLarge Human TrialHighly Cited