Zoloft - Side Effects

[Nikki22]

Hello all :)

My doctor prescribed Zoloft for me a little over a month ago.  I just started my 2nd month of pills and I'm still getting diarrhea (and other unusual bowel movements) a few times a week.  Shouldn't it be over by now?  The same thing happened when I was on Lexapro and I told my dr. about it and he said he's never had anyone complain of diarrhea with Zoloft, so that's why he prescribed it.

I'm just a little concerned about this.  Is it normal?  Should I ask him to switch me to another pill?  Maybe I just can't tolerate SSRI's? 

[Nikki22]

Now it seems that I'm not having "diarrhea" but more like just a lot of really small, broken up stools.  Sorry to be so graphic but I don't know how else to describe it.  Is this loose stools?  Or are loose stools the same as diarrhea?  It's really worrying me.  Someone help please!

[GMan86]

Have you ever had problems with your stool like this before meds?

[Nikki22]

No, I haven't.  My diarrhea started the very same night I took my first Zoloft pill.  It has continued ever since.

[bcrazy]

The night that you took your Zoloft for the first time...did you have a nervous stomach? I mean, were you nervous about taking the pill or anything? That could've caused it that night.

[Nikki22]

Nope.  This same thing happened when I was on Lexapro though.  My diarrhea starts with the very first pill and I continue to have it every few days.

[bcrazy]

Hopefully your doctor will get this worked out for you! I know that when i have nausea I take a ginger root pill and it totally takes it away. Maybe there is something natural that you can take for this problem. Do you have irritable bowel or anything? My grandma can't take antibiotics because it gives her the "craps". Let me know what you get worked out! I'll be thinking of you!

[Nikki22]

I've had diarrhea already 4 times this morning.  It's so aggravating.  I've never been diagnosed with IBS, and I really never had any problems before taking the pills.  I think I'm just going to stop taking them.

[bcrazy]

Ok, wait though. You've been taking them long enough that you should probably be weaned off of them. Please don't do what I did and just stop taking them. Have you told your doctor about this at all? Don't just stop, ask first! Please!!

[Nikki22]

I did that with Lexapro too, but I hadn't even finished out a month of it...so I just stopped and I was ok.  What could happen if I just stop taking the Zoloft?  How do you wean yourself off?  Should I just take a half a pill for a week or so then every other day or something?  Thanks for your help!

[GMan86]

You should be asking your doctor how to wean yourself off of it. If done incorrectly you can experience alot of unnecessary side effects. Better to be safe than sorry.

[bcrazy]

Thanks for answering that for me GMAN.
Yep, just ask your doc and he'll help; however, if your asking me, yes, actually you can take one pill every other day and just slowly add a day. Or you can cut your pill in half.
I was just saying...don't cold turkey it like i did. It messes with you!!

[Nikki22]

Well, I quit cold turkey, even though I  know I wasn't supposed to.  Today is like my 4th or 5th day off of the pills and I'm STILL experiencing occasional diarrhea.  Is it just b/c it will take a few weeks to get out of my system completely?

[itsmeesindee]

Nikki,

Zoloft, unlike Prozac, leaves you body quite quickly. I don't believe you should just stop your meds without talking with you doc about the sideeffects.  From my experience and others I have talked too Zoloft is more likely to make you constipated then give you diarrah.  If you were diagnosed with IBS then stopping the meds is not going to solve your problem and may actually make it worse since you willl be more nervous and anxious.  Please discuss your options with your doc and not try to diagnosis your self as you do not have all the appropriate information.

Cin