advice to anyone who takes Sertraline. Make sure you take them with water, because...

[RedOnHerHedd]

Because last night I was shattered and went to bed forgetting to fetch my glass of water with me. And just thought, sod it, I'll just swallow them without water.

BIG MISTAKE!

I had heartburn like nothing is ever experienced before, and the burning was making my eyes water.

I tried to make myself vomit and tried antacids to no avail. The pain was excruciating for almost 3 hours.

Woke up this morning and it felt like something very hard and painful was lodged at the bottom of my oesophagus. It got worse throughout the day to the point it was agony to swallow anything.

Rang NHS Direct (Wales) and they advised me to go straight to A&E. While there I had a drip with different types of medication to help try to dislodge anything that was stuck, and told to drink flat Coke.

Anyway, it didn't work.
It's still there but not quite as painful as before. I have to give it another 24-48hrs and of it's still the same I have to have a camera put down, as the sertraline may have damaged my oesophagus.

So, word of warning:
To save 2mins worth of going downstairs to get water, I've ended up with 24hrs of pain.

Make sure you drink plenty of water, and don't ever take it dry, it's actually really dangerous and can cause a hole in your oesophagus.

I've just had my second experience of bad indigestion due to my own silliness! Definitely not advisable to take sertraline on an empty stomach! Gaviscon and Rennies later I'm still suffering!

Have learned much reading the posts in this thread. Tonight was my second experience with feeling that something is stuck in my esophagus. I have been taking Sertraline and I break one of the tablets in half. I had a sense that the broken tablet was the problem. Every night i take three meds consisting of 4-1/2 pills. usually I stand in front of the kitchen sink and grab a palm full of water to wash down the pills without heartburn. First time I had the chest pain I took 650mg Sodium Bicarbonate which is an antacid similar to calcium carbonate. soon after the pain went away. Tonight I was lying down but got up when the pain motivated me. I was thinking a pill might have gone down the trachea windpipe. i was wondering how much time it takes a med to dissolve. I had taken the sodium bicarbonate tonight but soon felt I might vomit. I went to the bathroom and my body went into vomit mode. The pain persisted so I took a second 650mg sodium bicarbonate. Began feeling less pain. it's been a half hour since taking the antacid. I believe the antacid helps to quicken the pH changes in the stomach contents which are the cause of the pain. But I have an idea that the pain might be from a physical contact of the broken Sertraline tablet I often feel when swallowing as the pills begin moving down the throat. I will drink more fluid when I take meds and hope the pain doesn't come back.

Ohhhhh I have just done this. It's awful 😣

And so have I. I feel awful, but I'm so glad to have found this thread. There's no milk or yogurt in the house. Will drinking water and sitting upright stop the pain? I could try 111 I suppose.

Hi, I took sertraline dry half an hour ago and I am suffering, I googled it and found this site. I have taken 4 rennies, a pint of milk and flat coke as someone suggested on here, I am in absolute agony with heartburn and have definately learned my lesson and will definitely be taking them with water from now on. Fingers crossed it will be gone soon. Should have a warning on the box or on the instruction leaflet. It says take with or without food.

Shajess, I didn't need medical help the other night. I walked around or sat upright for about 3 hours , had some cottage cheese as there wasn't any milk, and drank a lot of water. Probably a couple of litres over that time. I was able to sleep after that. It still hurt a bit when I woke but that wore off during the day.
I'm taking it with my evening meal now. Hope you feel better soon. Obviously get medical advice if it doesn't ease soon

Hi, after 4 rennies 2 pints of milk and flat coke, it's feeling a lot better, still sipping the coke until its gone completely. What a horrible experience. I won't be so lazy from now on, and get some water.

I am so glad I found this post! I took a pill and it got slightly wet before I swallowed it and I made the huge mistake of laying down. I’m in excruciating pain, vomiting, and chugging milk, water, pepto, antacids. I think I’m too terrified to ever take this medication again!

@Kristn, did you get better on your own? I don't think it's a reason for stopping the meds if they're helping you - it's more like a Ghastly Warning to be very careful. Hope you're OK now.

@toofl you’re right! In the midst of it, I couldn’t imagine taking it again but yes, not a reason to stop. I did get better, mild heartburn and a stomach ache for a couple days but nothing like the first couple of hours. This is gross but if it helps anyone I guess it’s worth saying- what finally stopped the severe pain for me was chugging pepto, milk, water, and eating tums until I threw up. The severe pain went away almost immediately. It almost felt like it cleansed my stomach and esophagus from any residual stuff.

Oh hell! Just found this thread by googling sertraline heartburn
Forgot to take my sertraline this morning (which I usually take with water) and when I realised this afternoon I just popped it in dry and swallowed - never again!!
I’ve had gaviscon, milk and water and my poor DH has been rubbing my back trying to wind me to dislodge what feels ‘stuck’ in my chest.
Having read the thread I fear that I will have to keep taking gaviscon until I am sick as this is one of my anxiety issues (emetophobia) I have had night-time panic attacks in the past so I’m worried about that now as well tonight 😫 #anxietysucks #somethingelsetobloodyworryabout

Done this several times over the last seven years it bloody hurts luckily tons of water has always helped but I've been close to ringing 111 from pain. This also happens if I don't drink enough water after taking them

This is happening to me every night!

I thought it may have been an allergic reaction.

But there is some days it happens and then some days it’s fine!

The only link I have made however stupid it may sound is brushing my teeth with Colgate sets it off!

I bought oral b and didn’t have a problem- now gone back to Colgate and suffer so bad!

I try to leave a gap between taking the tablet and brushing teeth. But as I take before bed doesn’t always happen! which leaves making myself sick, drinking gavison which isn’t very effective, sitting downstairs staring into space until the burning dies down enough that I won’t disturb my partner and may actually get some sleep!

I’m going to go back to the doctors and say it isn’t working as this pain most nights is horrendous!

I don’t understand why there isn’t anything on the side effects which say may cause a heartburn, chest burn, lump in throat extra saliva reaction..
so glad I found this post as calmed my anxiety down so much! As when it first happened literally was thinking the worst!

thanks x

LaLa, don't take it just before bed. Lying down makes the heartburn much worse.

I have had the same symptoms. I was trying to figure out what was causing the burning in my throat,and now I hope I'm right. I take the pills right after I eat and about ten min the burning starts. It doesn't happen all the time and thankfully I can throw up to releve the pain but that's like an hour later. I then have a sore throat for the next few days.
I just switched to the name brand zoloft so I will let you how it goes.

I think Zoloft is the American name for Sertraline.
If you're vomiting soon after taking it, you won't be absorbing it anyway.

Doesn’t the information leaflet with sertraline say to take it with plenty of water? I can’t see how so many people could be doing it wrongly...

Update. I switched to the name brand Zoloft a few days ago and I already feel the difference. Less gas. I was always burping . No pain in the throat. I hope it continues.

I thought Zoloft was just the American name - is it different?

Not sure I'm in Canada. Zolft is the brand name which is like 3 times the cost of generic.

oh my god i thought i was the only one who suffered from severe and i mean severe stomach cramp pain that brought me to tears always always take sertraline warm water not hot just cool. cold water irritates the stomach lining hence causes heartburn stomach cramp.

i would try buscopan for sertraline cramp

It has been great since I have been taking Zoloft. In stead of the generic.

Felt like there was something wrong with me... like I was gonna have to go to my doctor and would be eventually diagnosed with something awful... that’s how much pain I’m in at the moment... decided to just google my meds with acid reflux and this thread popped up. I’m so thankful I came across it as I now don’t feel like I’m going out of my mind. I have been taking this medication with water but I am still having the same side effects as those who forgot to take water... it’s awful. I’m in tears from the pain!!!! I don’t know what to do to make the pain go away. Should I stop taking this medication?? Ugh....

Have you tried the brand name. It worked wonders for me