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Original poster

Sertraline and diarrhoea

22 replies

TreeHuggerMum1 · 27/09/2023 19:59

Just that really… 💩
I am four weeks in and mentally doing better, but my tummy is getting worse each week. This is the third one I’ve tried since July (for anxiety) so really don’t want to change.
Does it get better? I hear everyone says 2-3 for side effects but I’m day 28.
Thanks all.

OP posts:
Londoncatshed · 27/09/2023 20:05

Are you taking them with food in the morning? Only experience I have, although wasn’t me taking them, was that it took 6 weeks before side effects subsided. Still not 100% after 12 weeks but mood has lifted.

Original poster
TreeHuggerMum1 · 27/09/2023 20:10

Hey London
Actually, no. They’ve completely killed my appetite so I barely eat. That and the diarrhoea…

OP posts:
32notdeadyet · 27/09/2023 20:13

Oh god, I had this… I was fine on 50mg, but when I increased to 100mg it was about 6 weeks of absolute hell, even though I dropped the dose back down after about 10 days. It was to the point of incontinence on a couple of occasions. I ended up stopping it as it was doing nothing for me at 50mg, but couldn’t tolerate any higher. By comparison I was absolutely fine on citalopram when I had it about 10 years ago.

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Londoncatshed · 27/09/2023 20:20

OP, yes same experience here too. Weight loss etc.
Do try and take them with/after food and see if it helps. Toast or biscuits. Whatever you can stomach. Appetite did return eventually.
It’s difficult to know if it’s worth persevering or to just try a different type.

Is there a particular reason you were prescribed Sertraline?

BlueBlubbaWhale · 27/09/2023 20:29

I was on them for several months and was fine then suddenly started getting uncontrollable diarrhoea at random times so had to change.

Original poster
TreeHuggerMum1 · 27/09/2023 20:58

@Londoncatshed Citalopram made me suicidal 🤪
Mirtazapine gave me awful diarrhoea, but also made me into a zombie.
Was hoping Sert would be third time lucky, and to be fair my panic disorder and anxiety is improving.

OP posts:
cardiganboo · 27/09/2023 21:00

I've been on it 6 months now! It took a while for the dodgy tummy to settle, keep with it though. My appetite is slowly coming back. It's so, so good for anxiety. I was really lucky how quickly it worked

xxx

SusieKin · 27/09/2023 21:20

I had to stop taking sertraline because the diarrhoea was so bad. I literally couldn’t leave the house . I took them for about 4 weeks and doctor advised me to stop.

melonsugarr · 27/09/2023 21:22

I was the same with them - I ended up having diarrhoea even if I ate something tiny - eg. 1 Pringle genuinely sent me straight to the toilet!!

I cut the dose down to a tiny amount and it still didn't go so I came off them completely.

Londoncatshed · 27/09/2023 22:49

I really hope you have more luck in the next few weeks and the side effects subside. You are due some good luck by the sounds of it. Best wishes

Original poster
TreeHuggerMum1 · 01/10/2023 11:02

So, another awful bout this morning. I’m four and half weeks in, but have only been on this current dose (25mg) for about nine days. I really want to stick with this, but can’t live like this.
Torn between battling with daily diarrhoea or constant panic attacks.

OP posts:
Pringle2223 · 17/10/2023 10:35

@TreeHuggerMum1 how are you doing now? I was on 50mg and upped to 100 for a few days but it made me feel so much worse that I dropped back to 50mg. I’ve got no appetite, feel sick and have terrible diarrhoea :(

Original poster
TreeHuggerMum1 · 17/10/2023 10:40

Still suffering. I have had stool samples done which were all clear. GP has said she hopes it will pass eventually, but for now, take Immodium or loperamide, up to 8 tablets per day. Had another bout yesterday so definitely still happening. Will be 7 weeks tomorrow since started taking it.
I definitely feel better mentally, so just taking the side effects for now…

OP posts:
Pringle2223 · 17/10/2023 11:07

Oh bless you ❤️ I don’t even feel that much better mentally, kinda wish I’d never started them again.

Original poster
TreeHuggerMum1 · 17/10/2023 11:22

@Pringle2223 how long have you been on them in total?

OP posts:
Pringle2223 · 17/10/2023 11:33

@TreeHuggerMum1 this is my 6th week, I was doing ok until week 4 which is why I increased but I think that’s just messed me around too much

Original poster
TreeHuggerMum1 · 17/10/2023 11:41

I had to dose back down too. I tried to go up to 50 from 25 and was really unwell. I wonder if the increases are messing with our gut.
I started to move up again last Wednesday, not on 30 (ish) so would make sense…

OP posts:
Pringle2223 · 17/10/2023 11:46

@TreeHuggerMum1 i think so, I felt a lot better physically before I did the increase. It’s such a horrible feeling x

ScaredAndPanicky · 17/10/2023 11:48

I had my dose upped to 100mg a few days ago. Now I realise why I have diarrhoea! It was terrible when I first started it at 50mg but got better after a few weeks. I found the sickness worse, but fortunately that doesn't seem to have come back.

Pringle2223 · 17/10/2023 11:54

@ScaredAndPanicky how are you finding the 100mg?

PatFussy · 17/10/2023 12:37

Try taking psyllium husk. It slows down your digestive tract.

ScaredAndPanicky · 17/10/2023 23:22

Other than the dodgy bowels it's OK.
I feel mentally a lot better than I did a few days ago, at that point I had been totally pushed over the edge and was just sleeping and blocking out the world as I was suffering flashbacks about trauma. Today I functioned like a person. But whether that is the medication or just learning to cope I don't know.

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