Please or to access all these features

Antenatal/postnatal depression

Our Antenatal and Postnatal Depression forum is a supportive space where you can share your postnatal depression experiences.

Did anyone else experience fainting or near-fainting on SSRIs?

3 replies

ZestyLime · 26/08/2026 08:35

Did anyone find fainting one of the side effects of SSRIs?

I was prescribed sertraline, advised to start on half a tablet. Had the expected upset tummy, hot flushes, feeling anxious. What I didn't expect was when I got up in the middle of the night to my son so feel a weird sensation in both biceps and across the back of my neck and the feeling I was going to faint.

I handed my son to his dad, luckily he was in and not at work that night. I went to the toilet as I thought I was going to vomit but ended up crawling on the floor as I was losing my legs and vision as if I was going to faint. I lay down and put my legs up and it took at least 40 minutes to be able to get up again without going faint.

Told the doctors. They tried me on citalopram. Took the full tablet as advised, this time took in the morning and the same thing happened at night by day 3 of taking them. This time I didn't even get out of bed, I just propped on my elbows to look at the monitor. Felt like I was gonna throw up so went to the toilet and same thing, couldn't walk in a straight line, legs going, vision going, confused and about to pass out so lay down and put my legs up again.

They did check my blood pressure on standing when I went back about the sertraline and it was normal so I don't understand what's happening and why only at night? I'm not anxious, it's the same as any other night.

I stopped taking the citalopram and I haven't had an episode again. Haven't told the GP yet either as I can't risk being a guinea pig on another antidepressant atm. I can't really take these if this is the side effects of SSRis for me as my husband works nights often so need to be able to get up for my son not spend 40 minutes plus on the floor and even after that I think getting up, picking him up I am in danger of it happening again.

Anyone had these side effects?

OP posts:
binding13 · 26/08/2026 13:38

Yes but it wasn’t the meds for me, it was purely anxiety even though I didn’t feel anxious and it only happened at night
I started on beta blockers which solved it

ZestyLime · 26/08/2026 19:05

binding13 · 26/08/2026 13:38

Yes but it wasn’t the meds for me, it was purely anxiety even though I didn’t feel anxious and it only happened at night
I started on beta blockers which solved it

Maybe ask how did they know in the end it was anxiety and not the meds? Did they give you beta blockers and an SSRI at the same time?

OP posts:
binding13 · 26/08/2026 20:46

ZestyLime · 26/08/2026 19:05

Maybe ask how did they know in the end it was anxiety and not the meds? Did they give you beta blockers and an SSRI at the same time?

I was already on citalopram and had been for some time. I’ve had an echo heart scan and an ECG. Started beta blockers and within 45 minutes I felt normal again and it hasn’t happened since

New posts on this thread. Refresh page