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Original poster

**SERTRALINE**ESOPHAGUS FEELS BLOCKED**

18 replies

JL86 · 03/07/2019 05:42

Hi I wondered if anyone had experienced any problems with taking sertraline and feeling like when you swallow there's an obstruction in your throat and or esophagus?

I've been taking 50mg for 2 weeks and for the last 4 days have experienced an awful feeling of not being able to swallow/clear my chest/throat and it worsens at night when I'm lying down although I can feel it all day, even when I'm sitting up.

It's really starting to worry me 😔

Any advice would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
ChangingStates · 03/07/2019 05:53

I have no experience of Sertraline but have had times when I have felt like my throat is blocked. As you are on a new medication I would definitely go to your gp and get it checked.
Mine was linked to anxiety and I self diagnosed, with the help of dr google, as Globus pharyngeus - which basically means the sensation of your throat being blocked! Not much you can do but it felt calming to know it's a thing and horrible though it feels, there's actually nothing wrong. It did eventually go away.

Poppins2016 · 03/07/2019 05:59

N.b. I am not medically trained!

Your symptoms sound similar to mine when my acid reflux is at its worst. A quick Google shows that people have reported Sertraline causing heartburn/acid reflux.

Additionally, I used to take Sertraline and remember a burning sensation the one (and only!) time I took it without water, which was horrible.

I'd see your GP so that you can either get a different prescription and/or something to ease your symptoms if it is acid reflux (of course, it may not be, so that's another reason to see your GP to get checked out!).

Poppins2016 · 03/07/2019 06:02

ChangingStates makes a good point that it could be anxiety related... Sertraline (or any anti depressant) can make you feel worse before you get better and anxiety can give you all sorts of physical symptoms...

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TurtleHat · 03/07/2019 06:31

Yes I had the same feeling, I was referred to the local hospital to be checked (tube down throat) and there was nothing there so put it down to stress. It really did feel like a solid lump there and made me very panicky. The feeling disappeared soon after being checked, I’d been on sertraline about 6 weeks at that point I think

TurtleHat · 03/07/2019 06:34

Could also be acid indigestion, once I took sertraline without water and the pain from indigestion was ridiculous

ladypenelopeplum · 03/07/2019 06:35

Hay fe we makes me like that

Snowangel23 · 03/07/2019 07:23

Sertraline always made me feel like that I I didn't take it with enough water. It was such an awful feeling. I found milk did soothe it slightly. My sister had the same when she was on it. Probably still worth a GP visit though just in case.

NotNowNinja · 03/07/2019 07:28

Snap op I’m about 3 weeks in and if feels just as you described so strange

SlowLiving · 03/07/2019 07:51

I stopped taking Sertraline for that very reason. I had such bad heartburn the 111 person I phoned for advice, phoned an ambulance to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack.

troppibambini · 03/07/2019 08:05

I was in tears one night after dry swallowing a Sertraline just before bed. It actually burnt me inside.
I started taking them earlier and washed down with a pint of water. I didn't have a problem after that.

ineedaknittedhat · 03/07/2019 10:39

Sertraline must be taken with a good amount of water otherwise it can burn the oesophagus. The blocked feeling might be swelling which will improve in a couple of days. Drink iced liquids and see how things go.

Orangesandlemons82 · 03/07/2019 10:41

I get that exact feeling if I don't swallow them with lots of water and also it is worse if I lay down soon after. It is so painful so completely sympathise with you!

Frenchfancy · 03/07/2019 10:43

Dd used to get this if she took it on an empty stomach. She has to eat before she takes it.

MyFokMarelize · 03/07/2019 10:52

I'm 6 days in with this stuff and I would never have imagined feeling this bad from something I take voluntarily! The nausea and sense of displacement is really freaking me out. I don't know about the swallowing thing because I feel too sick to eat!

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 03/07/2019 10:58

I've done the same thing when not swallowing with enough water. It takes about 24 hours to go away.

@MyFok I found that the first fortnight was the worst and after that the worst of the side effects started to dissipate

omafiet · 03/07/2019 11:00

Sertraline must be taken with a good amount of water otherwise it can burn the oesophagus. The blocked feeling might be swelling which will improve in a couple of days. Drink iced liquids and see how things go.

Exactly this. Drink as much cold liquids as you can, and remember to always take sertraline with lots of fluids. I also changed to taking it in the morning rather than before bed, so I wouldn't have to lie down afterwards.

Claribelx · 31/03/2025 06:18

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Vedias · 16/04/2025 22:59

I'd recommend seeing if you can get a GI scope. I had similar issues and have been diagnosed with EoE, but I do take seretaline and esophagus issues are a rare side effect so I want to try and drink more water with my pill and see if that helps/resolves and check again to ensure it wasn't just medication. Make sure you drink a lot of water with your pill and wait at least ten mins before laying down.

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