Zoloft Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you take sertraline (Zoloft) for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or another condition, you may have heard about — or directly experienced — supply problems at your pharmacy. This page gives you the most current information on the Zoloft shortage situation in 2026, what's changed, and what steps you can take to protect your supply.

Is There a Zoloft Shortage in 2026?

As of 2026, sertraline is not listed as an active nationwide shortage on the FDA Drug Shortage Database. The national supply picture is better than during the peak COVID-era shortage years of 2020–2022. Multiple manufacturers — including Accord Healthcare, Cipla USA, Lupin, Exelan Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer (brand Zoloft) — are currently producing sertraline.

However, patients continue to report difficulty finding specific strengths — particularly 25 mg and 50 mg tablets — at local pharmacies. A drug being off the national shortage list doesn't mean every pharmacy has it in stock. Localized stock gaps remain a real and documented problem.

What Happened: A Sertraline Shortage Timeline

May 2020:

ASHP first reported an active sertraline tablet shortage. COVID-19 drove a massive surge in antidepressant demand — prescriptions for anxiety and depression drugs jumped roughly 21% in just one month. Both Pfizer and generic manufacturers struggled to keep up. Accord Healthcare reported it couldn't obtain the API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions.

2020–2022:

Widespread and prolonged supply disruptions. Antidepressant prescribing nationally continued to increase as pandemic-related mental health impacts accumulated. Multiple manufacturers struggled to meet sustained elevated demand.

2024–2025:

Strides Pharma Inc. discontinued its 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg sertraline hydrochloride tablet presentations, citing a commercial decision. This reduced the pool of active generic manufacturers, tightening supply margins.

2026:

No active FDA nationwide shortage. The overall drug shortage picture in the U.S. is improving — the number of new shortages in 2025 hit its lowest level in nearly 20 years according to ASHP. For sertraline specifically, national supply has stabilized relative to the pandemic peak. But spot shortages at individual pharmacies persist, especially for the most common starting doses.

Why Do Localized Shortages Still Happen?

Pharmacy chains use exclusive supplier contracts — when one generic manufacturer backlogs, entire chains run dry

Sertraline remains one of the highest-demand generics in the U.S. — small supply dips get amplified fast

Thin buffer inventory in generic drug supply chains means there's almost no cushion when demand spikes

The exit of Strides Pharma from the sertraline market (2024–2025) reduced the overall number of manufacturers, tightening the supply buffer

Which Strengths Are Most Affected?

The 25 mg and 50 mg tablet forms are the most commonly affected. These are the most-prescribed starting doses and have the highest overall demand. The 100 mg tablet tends to be more available, and the oral solution (20 mg/mL) has its own availability patterns. The 150 mg and 200 mg capsule formulations (Almatica) are specialty products with different distribution chains.

What Should Patients Do Right Now?

Refill early — start looking for stock when you have 7–10 days remaining, not when you're out.

Use medfinder to check pharmacy availability in your area — it calls pharmacies on your behalf and texts you results.

Try independent pharmacies and warehouse clubs (Costco, Sam's Club) — these often source from different suppliers than chain pharmacies.

Ask about a 90-day mail-order supply from your insurance plan's preferred pharmacy — often more reliable for long-term maintenance medications.

Talk to your prescriber if you can't fill within a few days — never stop sertraline abruptly.

What to Do If You're Running Low

If you are running low and can't fill your prescription, contact your prescriber immediately. Your prescriber may be able to call a pharmacy that they know has stock, provide a partial prescription bridge, or switch you temporarily to an alternative. See our full guide: Alternatives to Zoloft If You Can't Fill Your Prescription.