Diarrhoea

Hi Mazza...Poor you....It does seem a little strange that you're getting diarrhoea caused as a side effect of taking Sertraline,this late in the day.I would have thought the side effects are at their worse when you commence medications?But I could be wrong...Are you 100% certain you haven't perhaps picked a nasty bug up?If I were you,I would go to the docor,no way abruptly cease taking The Sertraline,it needs to be slowly tapered off.Or you might make the situation worse.I wish I could be of more help and I hope you get better,but  again I suggest you go to the doc.I wouldn't worry about telling him you are on Sertraline......All the best,Sally

I agree.  I don't think it is the Sertraline.  Although I did get major stomach upset when tapering off but it quickly passed.  I think you should see the doctor too and don't just stop taking it.  You have to wean off slowly and tell the doctor exactly what is going on. 

Hi Mazza  just like you I had terrible runs for 3 weeks when I first started sertraline 50mg and then again when it was upped to 100mg  I didnt feel sick either just too afraid to go very far. My doctor explained it this way.  Seratonin is actually made in the gut and receptors take it to the brain where its needed. If you are very low in seratonin (like I was) then it will react this way but  be assured this is TEMPORARY and will stop I know it must be awful as you are away  are you on holiday . I found by eating fairly bland things it did help I avoided anything dairy or too spicy as I found this irritated things   This is a side effect of the drug it doesnt happen with everyone  but there again I didnt get any other side effect and the diarrhea stopped for me after initial 3 weeks  it has not returned  and I have now been on sert for 6 months   so try not to be too anxious as this in itself can cause a stressful tummy  I took baby wipes everywhere with me just in case  good look and try and enjoy your time away

Also mazza forgot to say  if you look on your list of side effects  you will see diarrhea is there. I start on 50mg and for 1st month I was ok too then out of the blue i had diarrhea  this was because it was taking this time to get properly into system  it then stopped  and when I was put up to 100mg (after 3mths) it came back again but lasted only 3-4 days  I knew it was the drug so didnt panic about it hope this puts your mind at ease a bit

Crikey keep forgetting things !!  please dont stop your meds or even cut down  this will cause you more anxiety  keep on with the prescribed dose  you system needs to get used to the dosage you are on   if you half it then go back up when you are at home you will probably feel worse

 Keep trying to reply and keep losing connection. Thanks, Kathy, for your replies, I d appreciate your trouble, I can't re write the long answer I've tried to post twice but the upshot is that I cut my tablet in half last night so thought I would try cutting down the Sertraline a little till I come home. I know its not advisable but in the circumstances its all I can think of to do. It may help. I'm getting worried about how many nutrients I'm losing.

obviously, with my anxietyim now

Having to do this in bits as the Internet is dodgy at the moment. My anxiety now is very high naturally so I'm constantly thinking of what I can do without coming home! I'm nervous to eat or go out anywhere. I'm thinking of taking Immodium but scared of doing anything to be honest.

i haven't a bug, feel ill or anything. If this reaction comes on suddenly after taking Sertraline for over two months then it makes sense to cut it down, doesn't it?

I can only get to a wifi connection now and then so not been online. I've dropped to 75 mg a day and no improvement really but I do feel as if I'm doing something! My husband says he can tell I'm more irritable straightaway!

ive rung my GP's this morning asking for advice and have to ring back this afternoon but I think I'm just going to have to struggle through the next two weeks until I can get back to the doctors at home. I feel ok but have dark circles under my eyes and feel thinner. It must be doing me harm to lose this much fluids and nutrients all the time.

i realise no one can help me on here but it's a bit comforting knowing people might understand how anxious it all makes me feel.

Hi Mazza,....Stick with it....Perhaps you can buy some electrolytes to replace the fluids you've been losing,if you're not already doing so?We're all with you and hoping the next few weeks aren't too gruelling x x

Thanks Sally again! Will do. I'm trying not to resort to Immodium and rehydration salts and having a good mixed diet and water. However, I'm frightened to eat too much for obvious reasons. I'll just have to plod on. I'm wondering what the nurse will say this afternoon, they don't understand of course, it's diffcult to explain to someone who doesn't suffer from anxiety.

this is definatley a side effect of sertraline, i've been lucky enough where i've only had that a few times in the whole time i've been taking it, completely out of the blue as well.  i don't know what to suggest really mazza with you being on holiday, could be a mixture of the two?? holiday dickies and the medication?? don't stop taking it whatever you do, especially with being in a foreign country, you might get withdrawals and then all sorts of problems could kick off. could you ring your doctor from where you are and have a chat with them and tell them whats been going on?? keep drinking the water because if it's that bad and it's very hot where you are, you don't want to become dehydrated :-)

Thanks gingemac. I've explained that I'd had it for a week before I came out. I have no bug, I can swear as it isn't making me ill or any other symptoms. I have rung my doctor and was just given a message that I've done the right thing cutting down to 75 mg but obviously I should see a doctor here if it carries on. 

Thats fine and reassuring, if you've had it before. That confirms that this is side effects. You do begin to doubt when no one else has suffered. I am obviously just sensitive to 100mg.  To be honest, it is fractionally a bit better now, I 'go' in the morning several times but then usually not in the afternoon till I've eaten at night, then non stop till bedtime! TMI I know. I'll just have to suffer till I get home a week on Sunday! I've got an appt on the Monday and I still don't know what they can do. Thanks anyway to everyone.

Thanks for your concern, gingemac. I hardly dare think that it's not quite as bad as it was, still bad you understand but every time I think that, it gets really bad again. I daren't eat anything very  ambitious anyway, and not very much of anything at all. My stomach must have shrunk so much. It's not got rid of the stomach yet though!