Started on 50 mg and had minimal side effects. Slept good, some diarrhea for about two days and better mood after a week but still some anxiety and agoraphobia. My doctor raised the dosage to 100 mg and that's what it all started. Severe insomnia and frequent diarrhea at least 3 times or more per day. Other than that my mood is even better and I definitely feel it working for anxiety but just wonder is I should stick it out with the diarrhea or go on something else? I've been on the 100 mg for about 17 days. Will the diarrhea go away? Please someone help. I'm getting ready to go back to work in a few days and can't be running back and forward to bathroom. Did anyone had a diarrhea for longer than 2 weeks or should I just give up on this medicine?
Should I stop Zoloft of wait this misery out? I've been on it for a few weeks now.
Question posted by MCback21 on 20 Feb 2019
Last updated on 21 February 2019
Answers
Hello! Unfortunately, Zoloft does tend to cause diarrhea as a side effect more commonly than most other antidepressants:
"Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more of users): Nausea (up to 26%), diarrhea/loose stools (up to 20%), dry mouth (up to 14%)"
Side effects usually resolve within 2-3 weeks for most people, but in the meantime have you tried Imodium (loperamide)? You can buy it OTC and it's safe to use with Zoloft... no interactions.
Best regards and I hope you're feeling better quickly. Wild Cat
Just for the record, Zoloft is one of the three antidepressants most commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders.
Thank you. I haven't tried any diarrhea medication but I will. I'm always scared of interaction because I heard Zoloft interacts with many things. It's great to know this doesn't interact. Thank you so much for your response.
Do NOT use PeptoBismol... it can have a GI bleeding interaction with Zoloft and don't use excessive amounts of Imodium. Ask your pharmacist for assistance.
I went to get some Imodium and the pharmacist told me it's okay and I should try to take no more than 1-2 pills. Going to check with my doctor this Friday to see what else to do. This seriously sucks. I've never had to run to bathroom so much!
I used Imodium myself and have recommended it to several other people who said it worked great.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
@WildcatVet
Thank you. Just curious. Did you take SSRI too? How long these runs lasted for you? It says online 1-2 weeks which I already passed but then it says on some other websites it can take more than 4 weeks. Or Imodium something you can take long term? Because I really like how Zoloft is helping me with my depression and anxiety.
I've taken every SSRI except Prozac and then the SNRI, Effexor, which ended up being my "drug of choice". I'm one of the lucky people who doesn't have side effects or at worst only for a couple of days.
Hopefully you won't need to take Imodium long term because it really does a pretty good job at what it's supposed to do and I think the diarrhea should be resolving on it's own pretty soon anyway.
I am SO hoping so. Thank you so much for all your responses. I really appreciate it so much.
No problem... that's why we're here. Give us an update on how you do, okay?
Will do:)
Hello NCback21:
While you didn't mention how long you were on the 50 mg dose, at this point you should probably wait out these side effects for a couple of more weeks. These side effects should dissipate. Too bad your Doctor didn't bump you up to just 75 mg. You would have had less side effects and you could have learned if 75 mg was a sufficient dose for you. Often Doctors are motivated by expediency and it sometimes to our detriment.
Take care for now and all the best.
Thank you for your response
I was on the 50 mg dose for 2.5 weeks and currently on the 100 mg dose for 17 days.
I will try to wait it out but gosh is it rough lol.
Have a doctor's appt this Friday as well. Will see what he thinks.
Thank you again for your response. I'm new on this site and it's amazing to know there are people lile like me and people who take the time to respond.
Related topics
zoloft, depression, diarrhea, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, side effect, dosage, doctor, agoraphobia
Further information
- Zoloft uses and safety info
- Zoloft prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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