Is sertraline causing my husband to feel suicidal?

[Woodrow21]

Hi my husband spent 7 months on duloxotine at various doses and it didn't help his mental health improve much but was ok. He switched to sertraline 50mg 5 days ago and he is awful! Feels suicidal, crying all time, basically given up on life. He hasn't been like this since before antidepressants. Is the sertraline doing this? I'm just not sure what to do as he won't help himself as just can't see a way out so I want to help all I can. I'm just shocked how downhill he has gone in 5 days. Thanks.

[Blueruth]

Please ask your doctor. All we can do is share our experiences which can be vastly different. Everyone has different chemistry.

[Woodrow21 in reply to Blueruth]

Thank you, it is on my list to do, just wondered if anyone had had a similar experience. We were told to expect a rough few weeks but I suppose I wasn't expecting this so fast that's all. I know it must be so so hard for him and the depression just makes him loose his way which is hard on all of us to see and watch and be helpless.

[Blueruth in reply to Woodrow21]

Some side affects are okay. Being suicidal is not. There are tons of alternatives.

[Agora1]

Woodrow21, please reach out to help him. In the state he is in, he is not much goodto himself. Please talk with his doctor or if dire, bring him to the ER.

As Blueruth stated, everyone reacts to medication differently. Suicidal ideations being

one of the more serious side effects. My best to you both xx

[Woodrow21 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you, that's what I'm thinking that it's a side effect as I just can't see how in 5 days of coming off 1 and onto another he can go from a bit down and capable of making decisions to a complete wreck not thinking rationally and basically given up. I'm just worried the doctor will say stick it out and leave us to it 😔

[Agora1 in reply to Woodrow21]

The doctor just may state that... That's your husband and you know him betterthan anyone else. Stick to your guns in relaying your concerns re: suicide and tears.

Keeping you in my thoughts. xx

[Woodrow21 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you really appreciate your kind words x

[Hidden]

If you feel the meds are causing him to have thoughts of suicide then, I would have him stop the meds and talk with his doctor. You do not want to wait to talk with the doctor. I hope this is helpful. Also, if your husband is in danger or you might think he might hurt someone, please call 911, or your local emergency number. 911 is the emergency number for the United States. Also you can ask the hospital to hold him for 72 hours. Bring the meds with you. Please get your husband some help and have him tested. Please do not delay.

[seeder]

I definitely agree Sertraline does this.

Whilst beginning to taper off diazepam 5 years ago; this was prescribed as an anti-depressant to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines. I took it for 8 months while also on over 20mg diazepam daily. It was fine and the only side effect was a tingly face.

I stopped taking the Sertraline as the Diazepam reduction continued. Things started to get very difficult by 2018 and I begged to be restarted on the Sertraline. This time I could only take it for 3 days and was much like your husband sounds. (44 year old male at that point..)

Incidentally. I was prescribed Duloxetine for 70 days this year because I was suicidal but I was effectively bedridden for 2 months and lost about 2 stone in weight due to nausea. I've not yet recovered.

These "safer" slow uptake meds can be good for some people but horrendous for others.

Even stranger is that the Sertraline worked once but not again.

I cannot advise if these early symptoms will subside or not. For sure you should report it and see what the professionals suggest.

Personally I don't trust SSRIs or SNRIs at all now. I fear them and have just refused Venflaxetine .

I wish him the best and you too. It's hard on the families of patients as well.

May you be better soon.🙏

[Midori]

It sounds as if the Sertraline is not helping him. but they do need a month to six weeks before they show much sign of helping. 5 days is not long enough to evaluate the action.

It's worth talking to your Pharmacist about it. Pharmacists know more about the drugs they sell than doctors, as it is their specialisation. They can almost certainly advise you.

Cheers Midori

[ShakeyD]

I have been taking sertraline for sometime now and and have not experienced any negative effects. It has been very helpful. It may be, for whatever reason, that that particular medication doesn't bode well with your husband. What have his doctors said?