Scared of serotonin syndrome

[kingkax]

Hi am just looking for some advice on here. I’ve been suffering mentally for quite a while now mostly thoughts about things that happened in the past keep coming in my head and I keep fighting back with them over and over it’s a bit like ocd or maybe ptsd I have been diagnosed with ocd and been given 25mg of sertaline. My only concern is I also take co codomol 30mg/500 for my arthritis pain that I suffer from and I’ve read stories on google about serotonin syndrome and now am scared to start them. I’ve been taking co codomol for 4 years and it works really well for my arthritis but scared sertaline will interact with them and give me serotonin syndrome

I am not a Doctor (!) but my understanding is that co-codamol and sertraline are ok together, and don’t cause seretonin syndrome? In my experience of myself it never affected me. I think opioids cause serotonin syndrome when used with antidepressants.

Good old Dr Google search says that the sertraline might reduce the effectiveness of the co-codamol but nothing about making you ill from it.

I've been on a similar level of cocodamol and a max dose of sertraline (as well as other SSRIs) and it's never been an issue. The main problem is potential risk of around stomach/gastric issues so I took it alongside omeprazole. Serotonin syndrome is a pretty rare side effect.

Thankyou very much for the advice it's definitely eased my anxiety a bit. I haven't been on here for a while still trying to figure out how to reply back. Il definitely start the sertaline tonight and see how I get on xx

I would either telephone the doctor to ask them or if that is something that worries you, then pop in to your local
pharmacy and ask the pharmacist. I have always found them very helpful. It will put your mind at rest. Hope you feel better soon.

Thankyou op il definitely phone the pharmacy. Hopefully I can take the sertaline today it's been lying in kitchen cupboards for weeks didn't have the courage to take it after reading all the horror stories.

At that dose risk is tiny. Also medications last ages - check the expiry date on the box. Good luck.

Serotonin syndrome is very rarer. I take 200mg Sertraline alongside Zapain, which are 30/500mg codeine paracetamol, for many years with no problems. Hope that helps.

My husband is on both and this never crossed our minds. Talk to the doctor if you’re worried, but this could be a lifesaver for you to take both.

Cross reference them https://bnf.nice.org.uk/interactions/codeine/

Talk to your pharmacist about the risks - I think serotonin syndrome is rare and tends to happen to people on high doses. The pharmacist should be able to tell you what symptoms to look out for so that you could spot it and stop the medication in the unlikely event of it happening.

Thankyou ladies for your lovely advice. I've already taken the sertaline 25mg and will continue taking the co codomol aswell and see how I get on x Hopefully I feel better because pure ocd ptsd is not a nice place to be in constantly living in my head 24/7. First time trying sertaline aswell so fingers crossed xxxx

@kingkax if you're suffering mentally with what's happened in the past, are you also having some form of help - other than medication - to deal with the effects of that? x

I've had serotonin syndrome in the past.

I'm currently taking sertraline at a higher dose than you as well as codeine and no sign of it. If you were to get it, it would simply be unpleasant and you would wait for the effects to wear off.

@Lilylula that sounds scary was the codeine that caused the serotonin syndrome? Taking it along with the sertaline x

@ilovemyspace I've had cbt in the past it did help for a bit was diagnosed was ocd that's why I ruminate a lot and I don't think there is a cure for ocd but I've seen people manage so well with medications mine is pure ocd am always worrying thinking something bad is going to happen also suffer from social anxiety

@SwedishSchnauzer Thankyou x

@kingkax have you had cbt for your ocd? I had cbt for mine and it completely rid me of it and gave me the skills to cope if it came back during difficult times.

I was stupid and didn’t take ads alongside it. I did however take sertraline for pnd after my DTs were born, and they gave me my life back, I’ve said it on here before that my world became colour again.

Good luck with the ads, I hope they help you 💐

No it was probably ondanestron (an anti emetic) that pushed it up too high. I just went to a and e and waited for it to pass. It doesn't last long.

@MuchTooTired I've had cbt in the past it did help me to some extent but my ocd has never really gone away. Maybe il ask the doctor to refer me again. Xx

Hi OP, I had the exact same anxieties before I first took sertraline some years ago.

It's a very safe medicine and has been around for decades.

Stick to taking it at the same time each day and don't eat/drink grapefruit. You'll be fine! The sooner you take it, the sooner it'll start working (it takes a few weeks to start working).

@yhk Thanks is it okay to have orange and mango squash with sertaline? As I struggle to drink plain water can only mix it with fruit juice