Sertraline and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Jan...
• March 16, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I took sertraline 50 mg last night before bed, slept fine, had several episodes of diarrhea this morning, plus really bad anxiety attacks. My body was burning inside. Has anybody else experienced this?"

• Way...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "My doctor started me out on 25 mg a day for a week, then 50 mg a day after that. The first 3 weeks were not good-symptoms became somewhat worse. However, I had read enough reviews to understand that I needed to stick with it. After the 4th week, I could tell I was not nearly as anxious and worrisome but still didn't feel 100%. My doc upped the dosage to 100 mg a day, and it's the perfect dose for me. Stay with this drug! It has really helped me! At first, I had diarrhea for a few days, but that's gone. I yawn even when I'm not tired and catch myself clenching my jaws, but I will tolerate that to feel like myself again. Oh, I also had mild depression, which this drug also helped. Hope this helps someone else."

• Mic...
• March 18, 2019

For Depression "I've been on 50 mg of sertraline for about four months now, and it works. It was prescribed because I struggle with addiction and, hence, also depression. I have experienced side effects, though the first one is occasionally being unable to climax during sex, and the other one is occasional, not quite diarrhea, but soft stool, with a bubbly feeling in my stomach - it is not all the time, usually just in the morning when I take the medication. But it has completely eradicated my anxiety and made my impulses easier to control. Definitely worth giving a shot. I wish you the best, and God bless."

• Kaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2019

For Depression "I have been taking sertraline 50 mg for 5 weeks for depression and anxiety due to stressful life events. Well, I am sending this review hoping it will help someone else. First 2 weeks: brain fog, fatigue, and diarrhea in the mornings about half an hour after taking. 3rd week: mood a bit better, anxiety less. 4th week: terrible diarrhea, not only in the mornings, all day, couple of accidents. Yesterday, terrible on the toilet 10 times+. Decided I am going to have a bland diet from today: chamomile tea, no coffee. Porridge this morning and chamomile tea, well, been to the loo once, hoping I have got the answer for these initial side effects. Going to have toast for lunch, white rice, not sure what with for dinner. I feel the side effects are a small price to pay for how much better I feel in myself. This med has also helped with nerve pain due to breast surgery due to breast cancer. I would say if you can keep going, you may feel like garbage at first, but it does get easier."

• ALD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2023

Sertraline for Panic Disorder "I was just like all of us on here looking through the comments, scared to death to start. I have had panic disorder, anxiety, and OCD issues for the past 5 years. I could not drive far, I never went to social gatherings, stayed home for work, and made every excuse for why I could not drive to the office. At one point, I could not even walk my dog down the street. I was always at the doctor's and the emergency room. I have been in therapy for 2 years. I finally gave up my tactics that were not working and started Zoloft. I was originally prescribed 50 mg, and I was supposed to titrate up to 100 mg. I started at 12.5 mg. I stayed on that dose for 3 weeks. I had awful side effects, and you will too. I was so tired and had awful headaches, nausea, and diarrhea. The worst part about it was it made my anxiety and panic go through the roof. I am now on 37.5 mg, and my anxiety and panic are almost gone. Take it. It’s going to suck at first, but it will change you for the better."

• CMP...
• March 17, 2014

Sertraline for Panic Disorder "My doctor put me on 25 mg to help me sleep and stop unwanted thoughts as a result of marital stress. I was experiencing a knot in my stomach and episodes of weeping. Since starting this medication, I feel so much happier, rested, and relaxed. I had diarrhea for the first 2 days, but it was mild. I am not feeling out of control anymore. I think when my marriage issues are over, I will stop taking it. This medicine has really come through!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2019

Sertraline for Depression "I took this for 7 days but was sick from day one. Tried to hold out. Became suicidal and panicky, anxiety through the roof to where I had to take Ativan. Nightmares were horrible. Also, I had an upset stomach and diarrhea. Couldn't get out of bed, had to stop it."

• M56...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "This is a most bizarre drug. Spent two weeks on it, could not bear it anymore, and tapered off. Severe side effects (and I only took 50 mg), the worst of which is increased anxiety. This was really bad, with paranoia being almost clinical and accompanied by awful physical symptoms, including rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, poor sleep, and loss of libido. I feel so much happier once I have stopped being terrified of leaving the house (another side effect), speaking to anyone, or catastrophizing every tiny thought. So it kind of worked, but not the way it was supposed to: being on this drug felt so horrible that not having it in your system feels like bliss. I am full of energy and hope now."

• Zol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2022

Sertraline for Social Anxiety Disorder "I told myself I would post on here after I felt Zoloft had helped me. I'm a 28-year-old female who has never been on medications before or treated for anxiety. Currently, I’m an RN who works in a high-stress area. This summer, I experienced severe anxiety (21/21 on the GAD scale) and was very distraught by it. My GP started me on Zoloft in conjunction with therapy. I started at 25 mg for a week and increased by 25 mg until my dose is now at 100 mg. The Zoloft onboarding for me was HARD. Increased anxiety the first couple of weeks, loss of appetite, insomnia, diarrhea, loss of libido. I think if I would have known beforehand and received better education on Zoloft, it would have been less distressing. BUT I’m here to tell you I’m over 3 months on Zoloft and feel 90% better. I also supplement with CBD gummies when I feel stressed or hydroxizine and propranolol when required when I feel even more anxious. Also, exercising, meditation, and decreasing my caffeine and alcohol intake has helped. My GAD score is now 6."

• liv...
• April 3, 2013

Sertraline for Panic Disorder "After a heat stroke, I would have random, uncontrollable cry spells-sometimes for hours. I also developed horrible anxiety. I always had knots in my stomach, and sometimes in public, I would suffer from 'fight or flight.' It was just exhausting. I tried Celexa 20 mg, and that made me cry more. So, a few months later, I tried Zoloft. On 50 mg, and it's been only 6 days. I feel more at ease, better when I wake up, and sleep better! It's easier to go to work. Have the courage to try this, it seems like it is turning my life around for the better! The only side effect I have had is diarrhea, but it is a small price to pay for happiness, trust me."

• Ano...
• February 23, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I am on day 2 of my sertraline prescription. I’ll write another review when I start seeing positive effects, but thought I’d share my experience now in case I forget, as it might be helpful. I had a 50mg pill at 9 pm and had insomnia that night and wicked bad nausea, diarrhoea, and lightheadedness the following day. I also had the worst depressive thoughts/anxiety ever! I decided to reduce my dose, so I halved my pill and took it 36 hours later with breakfast (half-life is 24 hours). Day 2 is not as bad, but I still have nausea and diarrhoea. I’d recommend starting over a weekend or planning time off work and letting others around you know what you’re doing and the possible side effects because the first few days (or maybe more) are going to be rough! Looking forward to getting through this phase and onto better things. I’m taking this for mild depression/anxiety that is affecting my relationship and started taking it 2 weeks after surgery, which may have been a poor decision."

• mat...
• April 8, 2012

Sertraline for Panic Disorder "After 1 week of loose bowels and strange stomach noises/sensations, week 2 came and the jaw clenching/teeth grinding sensation in my temples started. Along with throat pain and suicidal thoughts, it was tough to stick it out and stay on, but I did. I started on 25 mg, then up to 50 mg, then on to 75 mg by week 3. Things got better around then. I still felt anxious, but the medicine was blocking my physical response that my body would produce from stress and anxiety. I would get chest pains, stomach pains, head pains all the time, got checked out by every specialist under the sun, and I'm a healthy 31-year-old man with normal or better than normal heart, brain, lung, and organ function. It was all in my head, and Zoloft stopped my suffering."

• Max...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started taking 50 mg Sertraline just over 2 weeks ago due to suspected panic disorder and generalized anxiety. The first few days were strange, I felt wired and couldn’t sleep barely at all and kept clenching my jaw, had a bad case of the runs too. This leveled out pretty quickly, however (about day 5), and now I feel much better, I felt a noticeable difference by a week and now into my second week my anxiety is near non-existent. I was shocked how quickly it made a difference for me. The first few days were scary, though, but I tried exercise to get me through it. If I carry on feeling this way, then I highly recommend Sertraline for anyone suffering from the same. That being said, it is different for everyone."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2018

Sertraline for Panic Disorder "For many years, I have dealt with generalized anxiety disorder. Earlier this year, I began having severe panic attacks that landed me in the ER. The first week on 25 mg was really hard, I had a very upset stomach, diarrhea, and increased anxiety. The side effects started to lessen after that, only to start back up all over again when I went up to 50 mg. Those side effects only lasted about a week again, but I didn’t get a good night's sleep for about a month after starting 50 mg. It was awful. But that has also now passed, and I can truly say that I feel better than ever entering month 3. The one side effect that I think is here to stay, unfortunately, is the sexual side effect. However, I have none to very minimal anxiety, no panic attacks. I feel back to my normal self. This is a medication that you definitely have to ride out the storm in order to get to the positives. It helps going into it knowing that it’s going to be hard, but it’s worth the outcome!"

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I struggled for twelve months with severe anxiety, and it got so bad that I ended up with moderate depression too. I didn't like the thought of going on medication and tried everything to heal myself ‘naturally’. I meditated daily, ate a healthy diet, read endless self-help books, took magnesium and fish oil supplements, practiced mindfulness…. You name it, I did it! The final straw was a weekend away to our favorite place. Normally being there took all my anxiety away, but not this time. I had a panic attack and spent all week crying. The next day I made an appointment with my doctor, who prescribed me 50mg Zoloft. Day 12, 13, and 14 were the hardest, with increased anxiety and diarrhea. I visited here daily to read the encouraging reviews. Day 15 everything changed, a calm came over me. From then on, it continued to get better. By week 5, I felt completely well. Don’t suffer unnecessarily! There is help."

• Its...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 13, 2019

Sertraline for Postpartum Depression "First off, don’t stop taking Zoloft. I learned it the hard way. I suffered from postpartum depression (PPD) severely after I had my son in 2009. I was hospitalized for 2-3 weeks. Zoloft did give me side effects the first couple of weeks, like headaches, insomnia, loss of appetite, anxiety, panic, and diarrhea. It felt like I was a zombie the first 3 weeks. My PPD gradually subsided the 3rd week. I weaned off of it when my son was 3. Fast forward 2 years later, I went through a rough patch and needed to be on Zoloft again. Then again, I tapered off of it after 2 years. Then I had another child 10 years after 2009, and my PPD came back, so I’m on it again. So far, I’m trying to pull through this tough time again. Zoloft has helped me plenty of times, and I hope this will help someone that is going through PPD."

• Jaz...
• December 3, 2015

Sertraline for Depression "My psychiatrist started me on 25 mg for a month and then upped my dose to 50 mg for my anxiety. I have to say that I'm doing great. The only side effects I had were diarrhea, which only lasted for a couple of days. Now the only thing I have is a tingling feeling in my legs, but other than that, Zoloft is a lifesaver. Going on two months with this medication."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 12, 2025

For Anxiety and Stress "This is my second time on sertraline. I seem to be more fortunate than most people as my depression and anxiety practically ceased within days, if not hours, of taking the medication. Initial side effects are unpleasant, but I'd take them any day compared with the terrible symptoms of the disease. I get nausea, diarrhea, sweating, ED, and the shakes, but it goes away in a fortnight or so. I had more insomnia the first time around, but it doesn't seem so bad this time. When I came off sertraline, I dropped my dose by 25mg every three weeks or so. I also coordinated completely coming off the medicine with a high exercise camping trip, which was a good choice. I experienced some minor brain zaps for a few weeks of dropping to zero, but nothing nasty, just a bit weird like a sudden burst of audio static. Would recommend sertraline for assisting with anxiety and depression but caution people to read many reviews, as I seem to be one of the lucky people. I definitely had more insomnia the first time."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

Sertraline for Depression "I went on Zoloft for 4 days. I had been on it before and did not experience any side effects. However, this time I experienced every side effect in the book: dizziness, drowsiness, hot flashes, nervousness, shaking, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea. Most importantly, my mental state declined immensely. I felt 100x worse on the pill than before taking it. I had uncontrollable crying, anxiety attacks, and feelings of hopelessness. I really scared myself, and I felt that I was never going to get better. And this was only after 4 days of being on the medication, and I was at my lowest point I ever have been. This was not the right medication for me."

• Cra...
• April 29, 2014

For Depression "Well, I was gonna write a lot, but apparently there's a character limit. So I guess we get the short version. Was on Paxil, after a while on it, it made me have extreme outbursts of anger, constant depression, etc. Psychiatrist switched me to sertraline (started at 50 mg, by the end of 2 weeks, I'm at 200 mg). It's so wonderful. Reminds me of when you have a procedure, that first oxygen stuff. They give you that, just takes the edge off everything. First couple of days had nausea and diarrhea. Was worried this would last, but didn't. Longest side effect has been headaches, which are easily handled with ibuprofen. The goods easily outweigh the bads, and this medicine has helped me in more ways than I can explain."

• kal...
• June 3, 2016

Sertraline for Major Depressive Disorder "I was apprehensive about trying Zoloft, but I wanted to share my experience. I started taking Zoloft 2 weeks ago primarily for major depression. When I'm less depressed, I also suffer from social anxiety disorder. I took 25 mg for the first 4 days, then upped it to 50 mg. The first few days on 25 mg, I had moments of feeling very spaced out. When I increased the dose to 50 mg, I had a few days of nausea, diarrhea, and again felt quite spaced out, but after 4 or so days, this stopped. I also experienced a few waves of anxiety, but this has since disappeared. 2 weeks in, and I'm feeling better. Not all the way there, but I feel more stable. Less hopeless, more in control. Calmer. I'm starting to feel like myself again."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I've only been using it for 4 days. Nausea was the major side effect, and I'm sleeping extremely well. On the third day, I experienced diarrhea, which was a less pleasant side effect. I am 32 years old, and my doctor started me on 50 mg, 1x daily. I have not had any heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat since taking the medication. (I was having them before I started). I seem calmer and feel a bit happier. My doctor recommended I use Zoloft (I'm taking the generic) because I was having panic attacks nearly every day. I hope it works as well for me as it has for others, so far, the side effects don't outweigh the benefits."

• Lee...
• June 1, 2015

Sertraline for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have suffered from OCD for over a decade, and it has taken over my life. I've been on Zoloft for three months and am seeing progress. It has helped mildly with the anxiety. I am finding that my life choices are changing. I am eating healthier, going outside more, taking up new hobbies, reconnecting with old friends, maintaining a healthier relationship with my family members, my anger has decreased significantly, and I am not ruminating on repetitive thoughts quite as often. This medication is very helpful for getting on the road to recovery. I am using it in conjunction with meditation and mindfulness therapy. The only drawback is that it gives me diarrhea and short-term memory loss. I have been using Post-it notes."

• lui...
• February 28, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "This medicine has been a blessing to my life. I have been taking this medicine for 8 months and now have control over my panic attacks, agoraphobia, and anxiety. I personally take it at nighttime because I like taking medicine before going to bed. Since the age of 10, I have been suffering from RA, and now I'm 29. This led me to be depressed, but I'm enjoying life once again in the midst of all my complications due to RA. I totally recommend this medicine. In the beginning, I had side effects like diarrhea, but it was only for two weeks. It was actually good because I lost some weight, but then I gained it back again. So people, do not be afraid, this really can help you!"

• Boy...
• April 7, 2014

Sertraline for Depression "I took it for 8 weeks, 53-year-old male. I moved to a new town for a job. It is pretty depressing when you don't know anyone. Zoloft 50 mg. First night, NO sleep. Started taking it at night with Ambien. I sleep for about 5 hours, then I'm up at 3 am. Major side effects: inability to orgasm, clenched teeth, restless legs, trembling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and sweating. The first week was nausea, trembling, but emotions were better. After 8 weeks, I think the side effects aren't worth the benefit. Quit cold turkey 4 days ago. No major problems. Teeth clench still, but not as bad."