How long does diarrhoea last on Sertraline?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this article, we will discuss Sertraline-induced diarrhoea and how long it lasts. We will also talk about the incidence of this side effect and some treatment strategies to help your symptoms.
How long does diarrhoea last on Sertraline?
Sertraline-induced diarrhoea typically lasts anywhere from a few days to a week or two.
Gastrointestinal side effects, including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, abdominal pain, etc are quite common with antidepressants, particularly with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – the class of antidepressants to which Sertraline belongs. (1,2)
However, diarrhoea is still not as common as other GI side effects are and it does start getting better within a few days as your body adjusts to the antidepressant.
It is also important to note that Sertraline can affect people differently and the presence of other factors affecting your health can also make a difference. It’s best to keep a close eye on your side effects and discuss them with your healthcare provider.
What is the incidence of Sertraline-induced diarrhoea?
The incidence of diarrhoea induced by Sertraline is relatively common and has been reported in a number of cases. Many individuals taking Sertraline have experienced this side effect.
The exact mechanism through which Sertraline can increase gastrointestinal motility, leading to diarrhoea, is not fully understood. However, it is believed to be related to the medication’s influence on serotonin levels in the gut (3).
Sertraline is known to increase gastrointestinal motility, meaning it speeds up the movement of things through your digestive system.
This can lead to diarrhoea in some people because when things move too quickly, your body doesn’t have enough time to absorb water from your stool, resulting in loose and watery bowel movements.
So, if you’ve been prescribed Sertraline and are experiencing diarrhoea, it’s not uncommon, and you should discuss it with your healthcare provider. They may suggest ways to manage this side effect or consider adjusting your medication if it becomes too troublesome.
What to do if Sertraline causes diarrhoea?
If Sertraline causes diarrhoea, there are a few things you can do to manage it:
- Talk to your doctor: It’s crucial to discuss this side effect with your doctor, especially if you’re a new user. They may consider adjusting your dose to help alleviate diarrhoea.
- Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications: You can consider using over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal medications that are safe to take with Sertraline. These can help reduce diarrhoea symptoms (4).
- Probiotics: Adding probiotics, like Acidophilus, to your diet can be helpful in managing Sertraline-induced diarrhoea (5). Probiotics can help balance your gut flora.
- BRAT diet: The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, can be gentle on your stomach and may help firm up stools during episodes of diarrhoea (6).
- Dietary adjustments: Avoid heavy, greasy, or spicy foods as they can exacerbate diarrhoea. Opt for bland and easily digestible foods.
- Stay hydrated: Diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, so it’s essential to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. This is crucial for your overall health.
- Electrolyte replenishers: Consider using oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or electrolyte replenishers cautiously, especially if you have hypertension. These can help replace lost fluids and electrolytes during bouts of diarrhoea.
Remember, it’s essential to keep your doctor in the loop about any side effects you experience with Sertraline. Your provider can help you deal with them in a safe and effective manner.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed Sertraline-induced diarrhoea and how long it lasts. We have also talked about the incidence of this side effect and some treatment strategies to help your symptoms.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. ZOLOFT (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839s74s86s87_20990s35s44s45lbl.pdf
2.-
National Library of Medicine. Sertraline: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697048.html
3.-
Singh HK, Saadabadi A. Sertraline. 2023 Feb 13. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31613469. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547689
4.-
Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Antidiarrheal drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Final rule. Fed Regist. 2003 Apr 17;68(74):18869-82. PMID: 12701600. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12701600/
5.-
Kline MD, Koppes S. Acidophilus for sertraline-induced diarrhea. Am J Psychiatry. 1994 Oct;151(10):1521-2. doi: 10.1176/ajp.151.10.1521b. PMID: 8092348. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8092348/
6.-
Weir SBS, Akhondi H. Bland Diet. 2023 Jul 25. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30844169. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538142
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