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Original poster

Sertraline affecting periods?

52 replies

AnxiousMunchkin · 26/02/2016 07:37

I have been having severe problems with anxiety (the GP keeps saying "if it is generalised anxiety disorder" so I don't think they have fully made up their mind with a diagnosis yet), I have a history of recurrent major depressive episodes but have been well/self managing without medication for quite a few years. In the past I've been on many other antidepressants and other psych meds but not sertraline before.

Anyway I recently started sertraline. I've been on 25mg for a few weeks and just gone up to 50mg. And I've just realised my period is 8 days late. Has anyone ever heard of absent periods/altering menstrual cycle as a side effect of sertraline? I also take propanolol but have been using that a while. My periods are usually pretty regular 5 days/30 day cycles, I've been tracking them for over a year. This month however I had an 8 day period and today is day 38 and no sign, although quite a bit of cramping. We only had sex once this month, using a condom. We are not ttc and if I was pregnant would have a huge decision to make.

Am I deluding myself that this could be a medication side effect?

I know the only way to be sure is to test, I'm at work today and couldn't face dealing with everything if I found out I was pregnant today, but DP is on standby to buy a test kit for tomorrow morning if AF doesn't turn up today :(

OP posts:
Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 26/02/2016 12:52

Still no sign of AF, cramping is a little less I took some mefenemic acid and buscopan (can't really work out if the cramping is IBS or menstrual!)

I'm getting really worried and this is fuelling anxiey today I'm at work but completely distracted. I've been looking up early pregnancy assessment and things. I am not planning on a pregnancy at all. I really hope this is the sertraline delaying my period. Has anyone else ever had this side effect? It wasn't listed on the leaflet in the packet, although heavy bleeding was.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 26/02/2016 17:04

I'm talking to myself here. But anyway. Keep going over and over this and not getting work done. I bought some pregnancy tests over my lunch break. I'll do one tonight.

Not sure whether to ask DP to come over tonight to hold my hand just in case, wasn't going to see him until tomorrow. But what if its positive and I'm by myself. It seems so unlikely. It must be the medication.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 27/02/2016 09:40

I'll keep talking to myself. I did a test last night and this morning and both negative. But still no AF. 9 days late now.

If this is a side effect of sertraline I'm really worried because I can't be coping with this worry that I might be pregnant every month. But sertraline was the last antidepressant that I was happy to try. Although I'm actually taking it for anxiety. But I will not take paroxetine or fluoxetine again as I became suicidal on them. Citalopram was not effective for me. Venlafaxine worked well I thought but then I overdosed on it and it caused a seizure so I think that's out again now. Sertraline is the only one that the GP offered me that I was happy to try. I expected some side effects but affecting my cycles like this is too much of a worry that its counterproductive if the whole point is to help manage my anxiety.

It's so frustrating.

OP posts:
nosupport · 27/02/2016 09:56

You could be me. Sort of. I'm trying sertraline too after having no real success with previous meds. But if it messes up my cycle I will not handle it.

I'm only on day 3... Might drop them if it's a known side effect

Sorry this isn't more helpful, just saw you'd posted to yourself a few times and thought I'd say your not alone

DansonslaCapucine · 27/02/2016 09:57

I haven't heard of Sertraline affecting periods.

Now and then they can be late for seemingly no reason. I'd trust the test.

Fwiw, I took Sertraline for 11months for anxiety. Really worked for me.

DansonslaCapucine · 27/02/2016 09:59

I found 100mg to be a therapeutic dose.

kittybiscuits · 27/02/2016 10:00

Generalised anxiety disorder is a diagnosis. Don't know about periods/sertraline - sorry.

Sometimesithinkimbonkers · 27/02/2016 10:04

Been on sertaline for about 2 years and have never found any issue with my periods. 100mg dose too X

Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 27/02/2016 10:49

Oh goodness. Hello. I feel a bit embarrassed now like I've been discovered mumbling to myself in a darkened room Blush

The plan is to go up to 100mg but my GP wanted to start very low and ease up because of my previous experience of suicidal ideation on some other SSRIs.

I realise that GAD would be a diagnosis but I'm not sure if that's my diagnosis IYSWIM. She tends to say "if".

I'm trying to commit myself to the plan of staying on this for at least a few months at the proper dose to give it a proper try. But I'm worried because I really don't need any other things to fuel anxiety I'm perfectly capable of finding millions of things to worry and obsess about without adding to it! It's confusing though I can't find amennorrhoea listed as a side effect of sertraline. But my cycles have never been disrupted before and I've been going through stress and anxiety for some time.

I am worried about developing suicidal thoughts again. I don't have any at the moment. But I have started to think about self harm and that's not something I've done for probably a decade. Just the idea of causing some physical pain as a focus, something real to concentrate on.

OP posts:
Beaniebeemer · 27/02/2016 16:59

It messed up my periods when I intially started taking it. I started on 50mg and I'm on 100mg now.

Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 27/02/2016 19:36

Did they settle down Beanie? How long did it take? I feel disproportionately relieved that one other person has had this, silly really.

Thank you everyone for posting I don't feel so alone.

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Beaniebeemer · 27/02/2016 20:08

I think I had 2/3 months of it. I freaked out cause I thought I was pregnant. The setraline gave me similar symptoms to being pregnant. I can remember googling to see if anyone else had experienced the same and couldn't find any answers. Hope everything settles down for you soon x

Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 27/02/2016 20:38

Me too thank you.

The only way I can see to stop myself going too bonkers is to keep taking pregnancy tests to reassure myself they are negative.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 29/02/2016 11:16

Period is now 11 days late! My cycle tracker app has crashed and of course paranoid warped thinking is that it's because there's something wrong with me. Started googling early menopause which is just silly. Not too much cramping today. I'm at work today and taken my max dose of propanolol to try and control panic. Think ill have to buy more pregnancy tests though. It's never ever been this late before not even when morning after pill messed cycles up.

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Beaniebeemer · 29/02/2016 13:27

Could you go to your GP and get some advice? I'm thinking they might be able to test your hormone levels to see what is going on....

Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 29/02/2016 19:57

I'm seeing the GP in about 10 days.... That's a good idea I will definitely tell her about this. Maybe I could phone before. But not sure what she would say over the phone.

Stopped at the supermarket on the way home but they only had the expensive digital tests and were sold out of the cheapo ones. Apparently I'm not £10 worried. Sat at home with a glass of wine and a snuggly cat now. Trying to stay relaxed. Stupid body and stupid mind.

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ProudAS · 29/02/2016 20:21

Doesn't seem to have affected my periods. PMS possibly aggravating depression though.

vxa2 · 29/02/2016 20:49

I have been on Sertraline for five weeks. My period was a good 7-10 days early and I am always a regular 30 days so I think it has affected my cycle. It has also lasted 8 days which is 3 days longer than usual. I have taken citalopram, venlafaxine, quetiapine and rispiridone but have never had this before. I am on 50mg and think I am getting some benefit but it is hard to tell because I have had a lot of things happening recently which would be stressful anyway

Original poster
AnxiousMunchkin · 02/03/2016 17:01

Very relieved to report period arrived today 13 days late!
I did NOT need that to worry about. Going up to 100mg sertraline in next few days. I'm really hoping periods settle down as otherwise Im doing ok on sertraline overall, definitely sleeping better which is a start.

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Jellybean6 · 28/06/2016 14:02

Hope everything settled down for you, I was on vensir 225mg needless to say that affected my periods. Then went on to citalopram didn't have a problem and they came back but didn't help with my diagnosis, went back to the doctors and started on 100mg of sertraline and my periods have gone again! Frustrated.

AnxietySertraline · 28/06/2016 14:27

I am on day 19 of 50 mg Sertraline. I have som bleedibg like my period (but less) at the moment - eventhough I am not supposed to get my period before about 10 days from now... So early...

mandamoo64 · 20/07/2016 07:01

Hi there. I have just been moved to sign up to mumsnet so I can share this with you. I'm a bit late in the day for this post, and I hope things have settled down with you on the Sertraline now. My doc put me onto Sertraline to deal with severe PMT and it has sent my periods all over the place, although in my case I am hoping for menopause! Anyway, found your post and then found this article about "zoloft", which I believe is a brand name for Sertraline. So we are not alone in this. I wish they'd add it to the known side effects on the leaflet...

menstrual-cycle-calculator.com/menstrual-cycle-after-zoloft/

nataliejadenelson · 31/07/2016 07:54

Hi,

Im exactly the same. I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and take 50mg.
I had a baby 14 weeks ago and my period is 10 days late.
I'm paranoid thinking im pregnant again and constantly taking tests.
I'm awaiting to get a coil inserted but in the mean time using condoms.
I'm not pregant according to the tests which is good.
But my partner is constantly on my case and forcing me to take test after test.
At least now i know i'm not the only one and can put my mind at rest that it could be a side affect of this medication.

Mary31 · 28/08/2016 23:26

I know this thread is old now but I wanted to say that I have been on Sertraline 50g for three years and my periods stopped immediately after I started taking them. I have actually only had three periods in the years since starting Sertraline & each has come around 10 days after I have missed a dose!

MamaBolt · 18/10/2016 18:00

Also late to the period-party... but I just read the article mandamoo64 posted (below) - which was cheering as I have had a massive downturn last week after three pretty good months on Sertraline - which I'm now wondering was acute PMT.
It's a minefield. May ask to go up to 100mg from 50mg :(

"Fluctuating estrogen levels that occur during the menstrual cycle are likely to create issues when combined with antidepressants due to the fact that estrogen raises serotonin, and a decrease in estrogen during points of the menstrual cycle can lead to reduced serotonin levels as well and increased symptoms of depression.