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Zoloft causing long term IBS

Posted by wishingonastar @wishingonastar, Jan 27, 2024

Anybody had Zoloft trigger IBS that won't go away, even when stop Zoloft? Any suggestions? Did anyone at Mayo Clinic help with this?

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cyncha | @cyncha | Jan 21 2:19pm

I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis about 3 years ago. Budesonide helped cause remission for about a year, but since then I have had bouts of the runs and have unable to get off the drug. Then, reading about sertraline's effect on the digestive system over Christmas, I vowed to never take Sertraline again without having breakfast first. So far, it's like a miracle has happened. I'm in the process of trying to wean myself off budesonide again and I'm not having any close calls! Happiness! It's only been 4 weeks but I couldn't wait to share this with you!

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1 reply
wishingonastar | @wishingonastar | Jan 21 2:39pm
In reply to @lunagaialove "I have had Zoloft activated IBS for the last 4 years, after taking it for 6..." + (show)
@lunagaialove

I have had Zoloft activated IBS for the last 4 years, after taking it for 6 weeks.
Afterwards I experienced 8 months of nausea and IBS, winding up in the ER with a severe electrolyte imbalance and was in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks.
In those 8 months, whenever I spoke to my doctor about my severe bowel problems after taking Zoloft, they brushed my symptoms off as anxiety.
Loooong story short, I have found relief with low dose Nortryptiline.
However it’s not a resolution, I’ve tried to go off of it, but as soon as I get a little stressed about something it flares right up.
I will investigate further now that I know I’m not alone 🙏

Jump to this post

You are not alone! My relative with this problem has similar story. Has tried Budesonide even though colonoscopy did not diagnose microscopic colitis. Definitely helped but not resolved. Let's stay in touch to compare notes. Will mention the low dose Nortyptiline. I wonder if a lawyer would investigate this as a class action matter.

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wishingonastar | @wishingonastar | Jan 21 3:16pm
In reply to @cyncha "I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis about 3 years ago. Budesonide helped cause remission for about..." + (show)
@cyncha

I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis about 3 years ago. Budesonide helped cause remission for about a year, but since then I have had bouts of the runs and have unable to get off the drug. Then, reading about sertraline's effect on the digestive system over Christmas, I vowed to never take Sertraline again without having breakfast first. So far, it's like a miracle has happened. I'm in the process of trying to wean myself off budesonide again and I'm not having any close calls! Happiness! It's only been 4 weeks but I couldn't wait to share this with you!

Jump to this post

So happy to hear this good news! Please keep us posted.

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jacquejwal | @jacquejwal | Feb 8 1:30am

I took 400mg of Zoloft a day for a number of years in the 90’s and stopped cold turkey. I developed IBS that keeps getting worse. I can’t tolerate probiotics or enzymes. Antibiotics for SIBO helped for a few months. Dieticians recommend foods and fiber I can’t tolerate. I’m 5’6 and down to 95 lbs.

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1 reply
wishingonastar | @wishingonastar | Feb 8 5:30am

We continue to look for help on this problem ourselves and will keep you posted if we find anything. I'm wondering if Zoloft causes permanent nerve damage to the GI tract. I'm considering talking to an attorney about this as a possible class action suit. There must be others out there suffering the same thing.

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researchmaven | @researchmaven | Feb 8 10:13am
In reply to @jacquejwal "I took 400mg of Zoloft a day for a number of years in the 90’s and..." + (show)
@jacquejwal

I took 400mg of Zoloft a day for a number of years in the 90’s and stopped cold turkey. I developed IBS that keeps getting worse. I can’t tolerate probiotics or enzymes. Antibiotics for SIBO helped for a few months. Dieticians recommend foods and fiber I can’t tolerate. I’m 5’6 and down to 95 lbs.

Jump to this post

Hi jacquejwal, maybe there are enzymes and then there are enzymes. (1) Intoleran sell sample dietary packs for $5, so you can see if their products help you; maybe it depends on the brand. There are so many out there and they all seem to use weird units of measure; Intoleran, on the other hand, use standard units of measure. I can't live without them and I have IBS-C. (2) Have you checked out FODMAPs as an issue? Everyone is different, but I used Monash University's FODMAP app. I can eat only some "green light" low FODMAP foods. No grains at all. Limited quantities of most things. What I can count on is green plantain flour, egg whites and Lactaid milk. There must be some things you can count on too. Also, many get mileage from seeing functional MDs, though I have never gone to one.

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