Sertraline, side effects- tummy pain, bloat, anxiety

[Chummy21]

Just looking for some reassurance. I'm 11 days into taking 50mg of Sertraline. I have terrible health anxiety so, my first thought is always something sinister.
I came on my period on Saturday. My second true period since coming off contraception. I had none of the usual PMS symptoms so was quite surprised by it, I'm now on day 4 of it and it's just a normal period.
Anyway, I had one episode of diarrhoea on Saturday and then I started with lower tummy pain on Saturday night (day 8). It felt like a dull ache and when pressed it was really quite tender. I convinced myself I could feel a mass... and my mind really started working overtime.
I've pooped normally since the diarrhoea but I'm so windy and feel really bloated (more than usual with a period) also intermittent dull tummy ache which is making me think it's bowel related...

Wondered if anyone has had this as a side effect? If it hasn't resolved by the end of the week I'll contact GP. But, just looking for other perspectives.
All other sertraline side effects seem to have settled down other than my anxiety 😳

Hi @Chummy21
Yes, I had really terrible side effects from Sertraline, jaw clenching, headaches, nightmares, nausea, very bad diarrohea over 4 weeks and my health anxiety absolutely sky rocketted, I felt so ill from lack of food (because everything I ate went through me) that DD called a paramedic out, and I was so distressed.

BTW apparently your poo changes colour when there's not much else but bile in your system.

As soon as I came off Sertaline the symptoms cleared up and within 3 days I was eating normally with no side effects, no more bloating, nausea, anything. GP has put a note on my record that it was adverse drug reaction.

Also had poo sample screened by the Bowel Cancer service to make absolutely certain (because of my health anxiety more than anything else) and it was clear.

Hope you can feel reasured.

That sounds terrible @PollyGray. Did you change to an alternative or find other ways to cope?

Think my side effects are mostly mild. But, it seems so many people have side effects later on. I'm clenching my jaw now. Seems to reappear in the evenings when my anxiety peaks.
I haven't been to the toilet today - yet which also feels wrong because I've been going everyday.

Did you have withdrawal symptoms?

I think I must be jaw clenching too which is probably not helping with the fact that my teeth and gums feel tender. I’m think I will have to up my dose from 50 to 100, I’m just worried about getting the side effects again.

My side effects didn't really take off until I'd been on them for about 3 weeks and went up to 100mg.
I had no withdrawal effects and went straight onto escitalopram which has the lowest side effect profile of the type that I had from Sertraline.
And I'm going to start CBT in the next few weeks.

@cheeseybeans19 I keep catching myself doing it. It's mostly stopped now until the evening and I think I must be doing it in my sleep because it does ache first thing.

@PollyGray that's good news. I'll definitely bear in mind about the side effects. I self referred for CBT in January but I think the waiting list is really long. Hope it goes well for you. At times I feel so helpless and like im a failure for feeling like this.

So I’ve upped to 75mg today, I didn’t dare double straight up to 100. Hoping I don’t get the side effects again did as I have upped my dose. Planning on going up to 100 as soon as I can as 50mg although it was helping just wasn’t enough for me. How are you all today?

Morning @cheeseybeans19 that's a good idea. I still have 2 weeks before the doctor will review me but I don't think I'm brave enough to go straight to 100mg either. Hope any side effects are few and the benefits are plenty xx

I feel utterly exhausted this morning. I slept heavy after a tearful night. My sister has been put on the 2 week colorectal pathway so my thoughts were dominated by her. I then turned to reddit for medical advice (re: tongue).... I don't know why we do this to ourselves.

Hoping for a settled day for us all x

Morning @Chummy21. Sorry to hear about your sister Google is my nemesis and I have managed to keep off it in the last couple of weeks, before that I googled everything constantly. Did you say you had covid recently? I’ve heard of people having marks on their tongue following that. Or it could be if you have been off your food, your mouths just a bit sensitive. I’ve avoided the mirror and looking at my gum and tooth and am determined not to look, it’s amazing how our brains convince us of pain and sensations isn’t it. Really hoping we all have a good day and feel more like ourselves.

Thank you @cheeseybeans19.
Googling and searching for answers has become almost a habit. I've done well for a few days but yesterday I couldn't help it.

Yes, I had covid in December. About 4 weeks after I had a cold and sore throat which is when I noticed my tongue. I only noticed it because my partner pointed out my tongue looked white.... its not painful or sore.
I've heard about covid tongue and logically, I know that's what it is. But, my mind is telling me its so much more!

I think it looks fine @Chummy21, I know that’s easy for me to say but I honestly don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about. I was constantly checking my gum and tooth yesterday, I’ve managed not to check today because if I check once I will keep checking. It’s hard fo rationalise when you’re in the grips of panic isn’t it? I honestly wouldn’t wish health anxiety on anyone.

Stomach upsets are really common when you start

I found the first 20 days of sertraline a nightmare. It made me totally paranoid about small things. It was worth sticking with as it really helped

I’ve got the awful diarrhoea again today, glad I only upped to 75 now instead of straight into 100. Anxiety voice is making me question if it was ok to up my dose without speaking to the doctor, but I’ve only had 75 after a week on 25 followed by almost 5 weeks on 50. Can anyone please reassure me it’s ok to have increased?

I think it's OK @cheeseybeans19 I started straight away on 50mg and was told it would be reviewed in 4 weeks with a view to increasing to 100mg. Have you been OK other than the diarrhoea?
We really question everything. The self doubt and paranoia is real.
I took 2 ibuprofen last night and then spent ages fretting about gastric bleeds. I spent a good hour researching if would be ok, i concluded that as long as it wasn't a regular thing id be fine (I hope)

I haven't checked my tongue today, I made myself have a productive day out in the garden. The anxiety usually gets worse in the evening though, I'm determined to keep busy.

@Chummy21 thank you, yes I’ve been ok apart from the diarrhoea. Now I’m feeling calm I’m satisfied it’s fine to have increased, when I was originally prescribed sertraline after my mum died 5 years ago I was initially given 100mg but it made me feel awful then I saw a different doctor who changed it to 50 as she said 100 was a high starting dose. I’ve also seen a lot of people on the sertraline threads saying they have increased their doses. It’s just when you’re in the grips of the anxiety that it makes you question everything doesn’t it. I’m glad you’ve managed to keep busy today, I have too. It’s great you have avoided checking your tongue, I’ve avoided checking all day too. Was hoping to watch killing eve tonight I didn’t realise it isn’t on iplayer until tomorrow 🤦‍♀️ Hope you have a relaxing evening.

Hi all,
How are you all today? Yea it’s fine that you have upped your dose, just remember to check in with your doctor to let them know. It’s hard upping our doses when we are in the mist of our anxiety too because it can heighten it. It really is a wonder drug in my opinion so I’m really hoping and praying for all our sakes we get some relief soon.
I started on 50mg and that was fine right up until recently and I’m day 5 of 100mg - im on day 2 of not feeling nauseous which is a big thing for me and I even managed some wheatabix this morning so I’m praying things are on the up!!
X

@SpecialK01 thank you, I needed to hear that reassurance. I do feel really anxious, I think I had plateaued on 50 but it just wasn’t a high enough dose to keep me level. Day 2 of 75mg, just on hold trying to get through to the doctor, also want to ask when I should up to 100. Part of me would just prefer to get it done and the side effects over and done with rather than drag it out, glad you’re nausea has passed. I really find these threads such a help.

Can anyone tell me how they went about increasing their dose? My tablets are 50 and I’ve upped to 75 and plan to go to 100. My anxiety is terrible at the moment hence me increasing, but I’m panicking about taking more than one tablet. I’ve read threads where people have not drank enough water and suffered with acid so I’ve always made sure to drink loads with my tablet but the thought of even an extra half of one is freaking me out. I do take lanzaprasole every day as I have a hiatus hernia so a voice in my head is telling me this means il definitely get acid/pain from the sertraline. I never do suffer with acid I didn’t even know about the hernia it was discovered when I had an endoscopy to diagnose my coeliac disease but now I know it’s there that’s a different matter! Can anyone offer any reassurance? When the doctor does ring I want to swap my prescription to 100 so it’s only one tablet but today I should take one and a half again and am so anxious about it. I was ok yesterday but constantly worrying after I took them. How are you @Chummy21 and @SpecialK01? Doing better then me I hope!

Hi @cheeseybeans19 hope you're doing OK. I've had a couple of good days but for some reason today I've been feeling all the anxiety. My tongue is still on my mind.
One of my friends told me about a friend of hers who has recently passed away following vulva cancer. I now can't stop thinking about it. How it's an area we don't generally think about, how it could easily go undetected, how everything I have itching down there (tonight) could it be the early stages???

This black cloud is never far away x

Just reading my above post and now I feel ridiculous and selfish. A 46 year old woman has died and I'm applying her symptoms to myself!

Hi @Chummy21. I had a couple of rough days as I increased from 50 to 75, and still haven’t been able to speak to the doctor about it despite several calls to the surgery. I spoke to the pharmacist in the end who reassured me and I will just keep trying the doctors so I can get my prescription changed. Have done 5 days of 75 and am going to take 100 today. Sorry to hear you’ve had a bad day yesterday, how are you feeling this morning? And don’t feel bad or that you are applying someone else’s death to you, that’s just the way health anxiety works it’s not you’re fault. If we hear about any illness our anxiety conjours up symptoms in our brains. You are ok x

I've been having quite a few palpitations. I don't normally feel them until the evening but these have been during the day. So, I've been a little on edge with those aswell.

Hope your increase goes well @cheeseybeans19. How are you today? I'm on day 21. I should be having a review after 4 weeks, I'm not sure about increasing...?!?

Thank you for the kind words. I go from feeling like "that could be me, I have similar symptoms" to "I must be the worst person to think about myself all the time".

I’ve been ok @Chummy21, not felt any increase in side effects and feel lighter. 50 definitely wasn’t a high enough dose for me. Hope the palpitations pass soon, I’ve been reading loads which I used to love years ago but haven’t done it in a long time. It’s really helped me to just lose myself in books, would that help you do you think?

Hope you’re ok @Chummy21

Hi @cheeseybeans19. Hope you're ok? Hope the increase is still not being problematic for you. You definitely listened to your body and did the right thing.

I've avoided being online and watching the TV in the evenings and have instead been reading. I find it keeps my mind focused and less likely to catastrophise everything.

I've been coping OK until this evening. I've been monitoring my cycle to see which days are worse or are more linked to my anxiety. I'm on day 19 (of day 26) and have started with period pain.... and I know this but I can't help but build it into something more sinister.

I had my review yesterday and the GP thinks I should continue on 50mg for another couple of weeks.