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Sertraline and diarrhoea

Posted , 34 users are following.

grahame84
grahame84

Hi guys been on this sertraline for about 8/10 months have had good reaction head wise but have had the odd bit of diarrhoea for like one week out of a month but this last spell has lasted nearly 3 weeks should i be concerned I'm due to see the doc on 10th June do you think I should see him sooner thx

2 likes, 74 replies

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  • mark.a
    mark.a grahame84

    Posted

    I'm sure the diarrhoea will pass - I got it the first time I took Sertraline, which was a massive shame as it really made me feel mentally better. 

    I was, however, amazed by the ignorance of GPs, 2 seperate GPs just denied that Sertraline caused loose bowels! 

    If you're keen on continuing Sertraline, you could possibly try experimenting with when you take it? I'm sure I noticed that my guts were better when I took it straight after food. The one time I took it on an empty stomach was awful! 

    Also, you could try increasing or decreasing certain foods to try & influence your guts e.g. foods which help form solid stools like Rice etc... 

    • beezalax13
      beezalax13 mark.a

      Posted

      Mark, I've been on Sertraline for a year and a half.  It was working great, but now I've been getting this side effect.  My doc ran a bunch of tests and says there is nothing he can find that is wrong and is probably IBS.  Has taking the meds on a full stomach been a long term solution for you?
  • sandra82688
    sandra82688 grahame84

    Posted

    Hi I had this at the start. Take ten mins after your breakfast has digested. Really helped me

    • beezalax13
      beezalax13 sandra82688

      Posted

      Hi Sandra.  I've started having the horrible side effect for a few months now.  I started taking Sertraline at the beginning of last year.  It has been a miracle drug for me with very minimal side effects until recently.  I do take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.  I will try your advice.  Has this been a long term solution for you??
  • lauren56321
    lauren56321 grahame84

    Posted

    Ano this is an old post but I find this very interesting after having my second child 2007 I had pnd and aniexty and was put in sertraline. For months I suffered diarrhea but when I went the doctor I was diagnosed with ibs as a child i was apparently hospitalized for 3 weeks with d and they said it was ibs other then that it happened only twice after the birth of my first child 2005 for a day so could of easily been a bug or stress. connection was never made I was referred to a specialists but refused the colonoscopy I suffer with aniexty after all lol. I was on sertraline too the top does 150mg did wonders for my depression and aniexty gone but the diarrhea never went I'd be lucky to go a week without an episode however it did calm down after the big long flare when first starting. I just put it down to bad ibs and lived off idomium to have some quality of life. The beginning of this year I was given serotonin syndrome on sertraline and the doctors quickly got me off it and onto matazapine which I hate. The years of sertraline obviously took there toll and I've been so unwell the last 9 months beginning off it infection after infection atm I have uti and tonsillitis at the same time aswell as 10 day episode of diarrhea with mucous and blood in. I was rushed to hospital but they sent me home. My gp is now 100% convinced I have colitis and it's my immune system is attacking my whole body giving me multiple infections aches and fatigue. Plus blood tests confirm inflammation in my body during a diarrhea attack I had that last a week 2 months ago aswell. I'm down as a emergency to confirm funny all my syptoms started with sertraline I thought it was a wonder drug when really it destroyed my body x
  • orla1979
    orla1979 grahame84

    Posted

    Hi, I know this is an old post but hopefully someone might help me! I was prescribed Lustral for depression/anxiety a few months ago but was given Sertrline as the generic option and I've had all the same symptoms as everyone on this thread. I was on Lustral a few years ago and had none of these problems (very loose bowel movements) Has anyone else had the same experience?

    Thanks in advance guys x

    • Leslie501
      Leslie501 orla1979

      Posted

      Haven't tried Lustral, but I switched from Paroxetine to Setraline around two months ago and, two weeks after increasing the dosage to 100 mg, there began a bout of the worst continuous diarrhea I've experienced in my life.

      I thought it was a stomach virus, but after two weeks it was still terrible, and keeping me home from work.

      When I saw Graham's post and the replies here, I called my physician who had me stop the Setraline immediately and slowly switch back to Paxil.

      As others have posted, the problem began to improve when I stopped the Sertraline. Although not gone entirely – it's been a week now – I've had intermittent issues, but nothing like the original problem of, forgive me, ~water~ !

      What was also notable was that I had slid into the darkest despair of my life on this drug, even before the digestive issues began, yet I did not realize it was the Setraline until I stopped taking it. The constant sickness nearly pushed me over the edge emotionally, and I am so relieved that the cloud is finally lifting, even as I recover from the intestinal wreckage.

      Justine and Adam, your words on this matter have helped me survive this nightmare, and I'm so grateful to you and the others posting here.

      I hope to recover eventually, as you have, and Orla, I hope that you do not have to go down this path.

      Best to all,

      Leslie

    • don45258
      don45258 Leslie501

      Posted

      Do you think the sertaline made you worse I think it's made me a emotional rek and me aggressive and changed my personality in a different person since I've been on this med I person that aggressive and numb
    • orla1979
      orla1979 Leslie501

      Posted

      I had been taking it with my breakfast as advised by gp but the horrible feeling I was having all day in my stomach and always had the feeling of needing the loo so I decided to try talking it at night before going to bed and I've found it helpful. My bowls will be loose in the morning but that washing machine feeling isn't there plus I feel it's working on my depression better too! I seem to be a lot more tolerable since changing! Unfortunately because it was having such a horrible affect on me I was hit and miss on taking them so probably weren't working as well as they should've been! Fingers crossed! I've tried so many different antidepressants I really want to find one that works and stick to it x
    • Leslie501
      Leslie501 orla1979

      Posted

      Great, Orla, hope it does work for you! So many do benefit from it, even if it's not the right one for others of us. Best of luck!
    • Leslie501
      Leslie501 don45258

      Posted

      Yes Don, it definitely changed me completely, in such terrible ways.

      I became terrified to leave the house and cried constantly, not my usual state, even when depressed. I didn't feel particularly more aggressive, but felt very numb and despairing.

    • don45258
      don45258 Leslie501

      Posted

      Thanks for reply I don't think this meds for me but going to carry on taking it till the specialist rings me in next couple of days but I really do think this meds mess with my head
  • yanna07372
    yanna07372 grahame84

    Posted

    Hello, everyone! What a relief to read your comments. My father has been on Sertraline for the past two months and is experiencing severe diarrhea. It was so bad, he went to the Emergency Room where tests were done.  Viral and bacterial problems were ruled out...and he was sent home.  (Very frustrating!) He continues to suffer with diarrhea and is absolutely miserable. Your comments have given us hope.  We now wonder if Sertraline is the problem.  He stopped taking the drug last night, but continues to suffer with diarrhea. Thankfully he has a doctor's appointment later this week.  Can anyone tell me how long it generally takes after discontinuing the drug before you find relief?  We are very worried.  Thanks to all!
    • Leslie501
      Leslie501 yanna07372

      Posted

      It begins to improve slightly, but then can hang on for a week or 10 days, or more. Don't be discouraged, though - eventually it will stop, and your father could try anti-diarrheals meanwhile. Best of luck to him!
  • patricia30469
    patricia30469 grahame84

    Posted

    This post is over a year ago but thought I'd reply. I was put on Sertraline in January after a few weeks I developed pretty bad/chronic diahrrea.I decided to stop them, needless to say, 7/8 weeks later I'm still running to the bathroom!

    I had a biopsy (colon) couple weeks ago and was diagnosed with Lymphocytic colitis. Yesterday I started a course of Budesonide, apparently these are supposed to calm things down.

    I've been off work about 6 weeks now due to this.

    I have no pain and feel well, the only symptoms I have is a rumbling tummy and a thirst.

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