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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My poor arse - sertraline

50 replies

letsmovethefuckon · 27/03/2019 17:41

I'm a month or so into sertraline now.

Started off on 50mg for a month. A week ago, went on to 100mg.

I'm not chemically depressed. Would not have sought ADs before now ever.

Have had an absolute shocker in my 10 yr marriage which has left me completely reeling and unable to cope. Dont really want to go into it but it turns out the whole thing was a shambles and he's been shagging anything he possibly could for the whole time.

Needless to say, I've started divorce proceedings.

Has anyone else had total, constant diahoreea with this?

For the past few months, I've been unable to eat and have had the shits generally - probably down to anxiety.

But then, I've not been looking after myself. Been drinking like a fish and smoking (not done for past 5 yrs) like a chimney.

OP posts:

ThatFalseEquivalenceTho · 27/03/2019 20:00

ADs can, sometimes, make you feel worse before you feel better. It’s a possible side effect.

Dollykitten · 27/03/2019 20:03

Started off on half a tablet and was ok but as soon as I went up to one tablet(still low dosage) I had terrible diarrhoea! It was so bad I decided to stop it.

FamilyReferee · 27/03/2019 20:19

I went on Sertraline, and it disagreed with me terribly. Six weeks of constant toilet visits - up several times a night with a dodgy tummy. I stuck it out, because I was warned that it is a common side effect, but if you stick it out, it usually goes away. Mine didn't. So I changed to citalopram, which suits me much better. Took six months for my tummy to go completely back to normal tho.

But if you've had a dodgy tummy before starting it, I'm not sure it can be the meds? It's more likely to be stress, surely? Something to go & discuss with your gp.

Original poster

letsmovethefuckon · 27/03/2019 20:37

I agree. I can't honestly say it's the Sertroline. It may just be me. But hell, it's ramped up big time over last day or so when I went up to 100mg ( a wk ago). Must have had at least 12 choc milkshakes down the loo today.

I'm so fucking confused.

Am I actually depressed or is it ok to just be so shunted by what's happened?

I don't feel any benefits of this drug at all. My husband has still absolutely fucked me over. Nothing will change that.

OP posts:

KosmoKramer · 27/03/2019 20:51

I had diarrhoea from within half an hour of taking my first tablet, for the continuation of the tablet taking. It was very instant and difficult.

Henrysmycat · 27/03/2019 20:52

I have been through life altering events so I know, where you’re coming from. I’m not gonna offer advice that seems impossible to do. I spend months going to work, doing a crap job and lying exhausted on the sofa, smoking with my work clothes till next morning. I became dangerously underweight that caused me so many health problems for years.
But looking after yourself is paramount to surviving. You really don’t want to drop dead or extremely ill that it will negatively affect the rest of your life.
You do not want to give that cunt of ExH the satisfaction.

I’m sorry OP, it took me over 6 months to started to breath without hurting.

R2G · 27/03/2019 21:07

I think 100 is slightly above average dose. I would go back and talk to your doctor and I would also look to embark on some counselling and or CBT via your doctor. Sorry for your loss as it is a loss, all the years, the memories, the future, the family x look after yourself it cN really take its toll physically x don't stop taking AD without speakinv to it doc

kooshbin · 27/03/2019 22:10

Both sertraline and citalopram gave me the squits. From what I understand, there are a lot of serotonin receptors in the gut, so in some people SSRIs can cause over-stimulation of the gut.

I got switched to Mirtazapine, which didn't have the same effect, in fact almost the opposite in that it seemed to calm my gut down, to the point that my guts ended up more reliable than they had been for years.

It also helped with sleeping. But it also increased my appetite, so I have put on weight.

It's worth going back to your GP for a review of your meds. It sounds like you're suffering from reactive depression/anxiety because your whole life has just kind of blown up, and quite frankly I think what you need right now is whatever is going to help you get through this.

(Ok, the booze and fags aren't a solution, but there's plenty of us who have resorted to those at our worst times.)

JamPasty · 27/03/2019 22:34

@PengAly - as someone taking sertraline for whom it made things better straight away, I feel quite confident in saying that no, Bobbiepin is not correct that they always make things worse. They CAN do, but they do not always do so. In the same way that some people experience certain side effects and some people do not.

OP - have you tried eating bananas? I have no idea if they would work if your side effects are related to the drug, but I find them great for anxiety-related gastric issues. Also massive hugs

DaftWeeBun · 27/03/2019 22:54

Sertraline gave me the runs big time when I started and again when the dose was increased, each time for a couple of weeks. My anxiety got a bit worse initially and I very nearly chucked it but I'm so glad I didn't because it has changed my life. I originally took it during some major life stress but now realise i had been anxious for years. I had a couple of weeks supply of diazepam to deal with the initial side effects. I hope it kicks in for you, it was like pulling up blackout blinds

SmallFastPenguin · 27/03/2019 23:03

Talking about depression from what I have heard a terrible shock can set it off and you need something to get you out of it. Just as stress can cause other physical illnesses which might need medication.

MrMeSeeks · 27/03/2019 23:07

I only had this problem when i kept being given different brands each month.
I found one i was fine with and they ordered the same brand in for me and i was fine.
I also drank on it and was fine once this was sorted out.

MrMeSeeks · 27/03/2019 23:09

Bobbiepin - that's really not how they work, and nor do they necessarily make things worse before they make things better.
It states this on every single brand, you may feel worse for a while before you feel better.
Doctors will warn you that you need to give them chance to work and that they make you feel bad before you feel better.

MyrtleK · 27/03/2019 23:22

Sertraline made me very poorly, in the same way. I stopped taking them and relied on alcohol - going back to the dr for an alternative would have been much better I think, now I'm two years on and (hopefully) out the other side.

MajesticWhine · 27/03/2019 23:29

DD takes sertraline - she had the shits for a couple of weeks when she increased the dose, but then it calmed down. It's not advisable to stop suddenly - give it a chance to work and the side effects might settle down.
Sorry you have had such a shit time OP - has your GP referred you for some talking therapy too?

Startoftheyear2019 · 27/03/2019 23:39

Sertraline just helped me keep a bit calmer so I could cope with the emotional turbulence of the early days of discovering the lies and deception. I'd recommend being open to anything that can help you at the moment. Good luck 💐

Lozz22 · 27/03/2019 23:41

Just started mine today, Dr did warn me it might cause a tummy upset and to take it with food to combat nausea. A runny tummy I can cope with I already take metformin tablets anyway which often give me a runny tummy. Plus I'm dairy and wheat and gluten intolerant. At this rate I'll have shares in Imodium plus tablets!! He also warned me I'd probably feel worse before I feel better which is what happened when I was taking fluoxetine. To whoever posted about coming off AD and changing diet, stopping drinking and smoking and exercising more it doesn't work for some of us! I eat a very healthy diet, I exercise regularly, and apart from the odd one maybe once every few months I don't drink either, yes I smoke but that's it, I still have clinical depression and severe PMT to the point of I get very suicidal for 2 weeks out of every month. It took me a long time to re admit I needed to go back on them again but after passing my Baby into the toilet and having to flush it away on Christmas Day, nearly wrecking the close bond and Friendship I have with the one person who has helped me and Supported me through my miscarriage and having my work suffer because of it all I've had no choice but to go back on them. I'm vile tempered and I cry constantly over the slightest little thing. Some of which are totally ridiculous and anyone else would find laughable! I mean who the hell cry's at the magnet kitchen advert!!

GreyBird84 · 27/03/2019 23:43

I’ve been on sertaline for a yr & half due to multiple traumas in a short space of time.
Started on 50mg, up to 100mg after 6 weeks then after a year 150mg. Also have diazepam to help me sleep & CBT.

It def gives me diarrhoea - equally my anxiety & stress exacberate it too.

I don’t smoke but on my non diazepam nights I’ll have a bottle of wine or a few gin.

Fair to say I’m a complete mess - mentally & physically.

I agree trying to lay off the alcohol & smoking should help - I know if I manage a few days without I feel a bit clearer but then come the bad days & I reach for it.

I don’t have the answers op. Life can be rubbish & cruel. All you can go is drag yourself up & through it.

I would really recommend cbt. I wouldn’t be here without my psychiatrist.

kooshbin · 27/03/2019 23:52

I guess it depends on why sometimes ADs result in some people feeling worse before they feel better. Shock/anxiety/depression can have a numbing effect, so ADs lifting that effect could end up with people being more aware of their (awful) reality. And so could feel worse until their psychological state improves sufficiently to deal with that reality.

But the physical side-effects, as in the squits or the nausea, won't necessarily go away by staying on those drugs. And those side-effects could well make the whole situation even worse, as they did in my case.

So the "worse before feeling better" needs to be understood in terms of what kind of "worse" and why, and whether it's worth powering through that "worse" in the hope of reaching the "better".

But physical side-effects, such as diarrhoea or nausea, aren't helpful at all. That's not a "worse before feeling better", that's an added "worse", and a good GP should be able to prescribe something different.

DataBreachCentral · 27/03/2019 23:55

If you're having the runs that bad I'd question the efficacy of the Sertraline as it's possibly passing through you too quickly to be at a therapeutic level.

Different people experience different side effects (it's only the 'majority' ones that make it into the info leaflets) so it's hard to say whether this due to the meds or stress in general. The fact you were already experiencing this would suggest the latter though.

Romax · 28/03/2019 07:13

Are you losing weight?
You should be if that serious bowel issues
If so, that is what you go to GP about
You will be losing vital nutrients

JamPasty · 28/03/2019 11:04

MrMeSeeks
I know they MAY make people feel worse before they feel better - I have never debated that. What Bobbiepin said is "depressants do make you feel worse before you feel better" - suggesting they ALWAYS make you feel worse at first, which isn't true.

Bobbiepin · 29/03/2019 06:24

@jampasty I have a degree in this and it's my job to know this. I'm thrilled sertraline didnt make you feel worse but you are the exception that proves the rule I'm afraid.

JamPasty · 29/03/2019 16:00

If you have a degree in this, you might want to check the rest of your description of how this drug works. Preventing serotonin reuptake is not the same as helping your body absorb serotonin. I'm done derailing this thread- if you want to chat pharmacology, in which I also have a degree, feel free to PM me.

betweentheacts · 29/03/2019 16:02

I very much had this problem with Sertraline, stopped as soon as I stopped taking them!

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