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.

Things You'll Need

• Physician supervision
• Prescription for Zoloft

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Instructions

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.