Sertraline and constant diarrhoea.

[Stygimoloch]

I started a thread on sertraline a few weeks ago because I found the side effects awful at first and received some excellent advice.

I’ve been taking them for about 5 weeks now and thought the side effects had settled down. I am starting to feel some positive effects. In fact, when I think about it, I feel much better than I did. People around me have told me how much better I look too.

However, I have started to have the most awful diarrhoea over the last two weeks. Since starting the tablets I’ve had quite loose bowel movements (sorry TMI) and I have IBS anyway so this isn’t unusual for me but it has got much worse. Awful cramping and urgency.

Has anyone experienced this 5 or more weeks in? It wasn’t this bad at first. Will it go away? I’m really frightened of having to stop taking them because I really think they are helping me. I can’t even contemplate the thought of going back to feeling the way I did in September and early October. I’ve read about a link between sertraline and microscopic colitis which has frightened me too. My mom has colitis and really suffers. I also take lansoprazole for reflux.

Thank you!

There's probably going to be TMI here.

My OH has dementia and has been on Sertraline for six months, 50mg. He had a lot of bowel problems from antibiotics too but eventually it all got sorted. He's in a care home now and when I visit him (4 or 5 afternoons a week) I always take him to the loo when I get there and again 2 hours later before he goes down for a meal. He is continent (because he is taken to the loo regularly) but wears pull-up pads.

He almost always has very explosive sharts, practically liquid, both times. Apparently he has a BM in the morning which is described as "loose". But he doesn't have cramps or urgency and in fact seems taken by surprise. This is almost certainly a side effect of the Sertraline and the Home say it must be considered as his "new normal". I certainly wouldn't want him to come off the Sertraline because before that he was terribly anxious and depressed.

Your situation is obviously a lot worse. Have you talked to your GP (I expect you have). I hope you find a solution.

@BlueHotel thanks so much for sharing that. I’ve read that it can be a side effect of sertraline. It’s helpful to know that your OH is still having it some months on. I’m desperate not to stop taking it. I’m going to call the doctors next week but am worried that the solution will be to try another medication.

I am worried about this because of the links with microscopic colitis (I have ulcerative colitis) and would come off straight away tbh if started having these issues down the line (I’m 3 weeks in with Sertraline)

@Yorkie177 I didn’t realise about the link until I started googling. My mom has ulcerative colitis so I sympathise. It’s hard to know whether what I’m experiencing now is just normal side effects and will lessen as time goes on.

I have ulcerative colitis and was in remission while on sertraline. Yes, diarrhoea was worse, but I didn't have any of my colitis symptoms (bleeding and mucus and pain). I found eating just before taking the medication helped and keeping a stock of loperamide handy.

diarrhea got worse on Sertraline? Stomach issues are the reason I’m taking Sertraline as had so much anxiety following a long flare up last year so am really worried bout Sertraline making anything worse. It hasn’t so far and things are pretty settled other than some nausea and stomach ache. How much worse did it get and how long were you on it?

@Yorkie177 I think perhaps I worded it wrong... when I'm in a colitis flare I can "go" 20 or more times in a day - my usual is 2-3 times a day, so the sertraline didn't really make much of a difference! Eating when taking the tablets definitely helped. The sertraline just made things more liquid, and I definitely had to drink more water while taking it.

Did you get the churning stomach/ nausea? I’m fed up of feeling like I have constant morning sickness! Did the side effects settle for you?

@Yorkie177 I had the sickness and churning stomach in my first week or so but that’s settled for me now. I’m just left with diarrhoea :(

Wondered if you’d tried psyllium husk? It’s been a game changer for me with colitis. It bulks things up and slows it down. I don’t know if it will help with Sertraline though. I am a bit worried about my stomach on it- definitely looser and going about 3 times a day.

I have(had!) PMDD/Anxiety with IBS (mixed) and Sertraline has really helped. Bowels were a bit too loose the first week or so and then a little loose. I found this OK as my IBS had been predominantly IBS-c, so it was a relief to be regular and not bloated. However at around 6 weeks I started to get liquid diarrhoea most of the time. My GP was concerned it might be something else as she said most folk get these issues in first few weeks, not 6 weeks in. I wa

.... Oops, pressed post accidentally..... More to come....

I was convinced it must be the sertraline and wanted to stick it out. After another 3 weeks or so it had mostly settled. I'm about 7 months on 50mg now and my bowel is the best it's been for years. It still has the odd day here and there of over loose stools, but not liquid diarrhoea ever now. My gut is a bit more gurgling than before, a bit looser, but it is so much better than pre-sertraline.

I have seen it referred to as "Squirtraline" elsewhere 😂.
Hope it settles for you soon.

Ive been on Sertraline for a long time (6 years or so) and vividly remember this, it was awful. Also hideous reflux and terrible overheating/sweating.

However the impact on my mood was so positive I stuck it out and these did all settle down (apart from the reflux, still taking Omeprazole).

If you can bear to stick it out, it should improve, but may take a few months. I think I took immodium when I needed to keep better control of the bowels, probably best to check with GP or pharmacist before you try that though.

@OverWintered That really helps because it sounds exactly like me. I was ok for a few weeks and then around week 5 the diarrhoea became liquid! And it’s still like that now over a week later. It gives me real hope that it settled for you. I’m absolutely convinced it’s the sertraline.

@HellonHeels I am really going to try and stick it out. I feel better than I have for a long time and I don’t want to go back to how I was feeling back in Aug/Sept.

@Yorkie177 I’ll def give that a try. Never heard of it. My mom has ulcerative colitis so I’ll mention it to her too. Thank you.

I had this after being 4 months on setraline, got when i ate i'd have issues,cost lots in imodium,with work i was always on edge,i decided to come off setraline and the problem was gone! Just like thst!, luckily i im on HRT aswell but i notice changes since having to stop sertraline,its a struggle but with my work i cant live on imodiums or not eating

@Stygimoloch hey you. So I’m there now, almost at the five week mark and oh my days, my tummy is shot. I really don’t want to come off as the benefits to mental health are really showing now. May I ask, did you improve?

@Catmummyof2 to be fair, I’ve been like that the whole time. Right now I’m in a bra top. I sleep on top of the covers too. Im just permanently hot, I assumed it was menopause symptoms but just as likely to be the sertraline.

@TreeHuggerMum1 I’m so sorry I’ve only just seen your message! Yes it got better. I think it was bad for around 6 weeks in total but then things went back to normal. I was so glad because the benefits of being on sertraline are massive to me. Hope things are better for you too.

I was prescribed 50mg Sertraline for my feelings of low mood and apathy. It actually made me feel even more flat and my emotions were completely numbed. My dose was increased to 100mg but I still felt unmotivated plus I started experiencing chronic diarrhoea several times a day; I even lost control completely in my kitchen! Horrible. I was recommended to cut my dose in half and stop completely after a week. It’s not been 10 days and my diarrhoea is still chronic. I also still feel flat and tired; made worse by the sudden death of my sister in March. I realised that I couldn’t cry! My emotions were completely numb. I’m taking anti diarrhoea tablets and Buscopan several times a day and I’ve started taking 5HTP which has improved my mood in the past.
Has anyone else had chronic diarrhoea and how long before it went away?

It’s linked to microscopic colitis so I would see your GP and change to something else asap. I have ulcerative colitis so this was a concern of mine but I’ve been fine with Sertraline. Take a good probiotic like Optibac extra and sacchromyces boullardi too.

I'm so glad I found this. I'm on my third lot of sertraline 50mg. The first time I was on it for 4 months and everything was ok. Second I had terrible diarrhoea on day 1 and nausea on and off for two weeks but I came off it a bit abruptly due to unrelated illness. It's now 3 months later and I'm back on it and I'm 5 weeks in. It's pretty much been constant abdo gurgle/wind and abdo pain that moves around randomly plus nausea that comes and goes. I have no clue why this time it's far worse on the GI stuff but it's good to read that it might be the sertraline and not something sinister. I'll report to GP anyway at my check but thanks all for this thread.

Hey love, I totally get how frustrating this must be! I’ve been on Zoloft for quite a while now, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer for me—no major side effects like what you’re describing. But I know everyone reacts differently, so don’t stress too much just yet!

Since you already have IBS, sertraline might be irritating your gut more than usual. It could just be your body still adjusting, but if it’s getting worse instead of better, maybe check in with your doctor? You might need a lower dose for a bit or some kind of gut-friendly support. Also, are you taking it with food? That can sometimes help ease stomach issues.

One thing that’s been working great for me—I always get my Zoloft from this pharmacy: fast-supply24.com. The quality is solid, and I’ve had basically zero side effects from it, so maybe worth a shot?

And about the microscopic colitis thing, try not to panic! I know Google can be a scary place, but unless you’re seeing blood or having serious weight loss, it’s probably not that. Still, no harm in bringing it up with your doc for peace of mind.

Hang in there, babe! You’re already feeling better mentally, and that’s a huge win. This might just be a bump in the road, and there’s always a way to tweak things so you can keep feeling good. 💛✨