Sertraline

[mleec]

Newly diagnosed, wondering if the sertraline is causing my parkinsons, I am on a low dose for about 3 years. I am thinking about tapering off to test my theory. Has anyone else had this experience? Still need to find a Parkinson's specialist.

[silvestrov]

Don't think so and here is a study to contemplate:

asm.confex.com/ipa/11congre...

[nourilo in reply to silvestrov]

Silvestrov, do you know anything about Trazodone? My psychiatrist who treats me for depression has recommended I try a low dose together with a low dose of sertraline. She has seen reports that it could be neuroprotective for Parkinson's but I just googled Trazodone and found a report that says it may cause Parkinson's. It's so confusing!!!

[mleec in reply to nourilo]

I agree, it is confusing 😳

[silvestrov in reply to nourilo]

I am not too familiar with trazadone but did a little of research on the subject. The following is an article about a woman who had trazadone-induced parkinsonism after taking 150 mg/day for 4 years:

albanese.biz/pdf/01241.pdf

But then again, here is a study featuring the treatment of depression and PD:

The use of an antagonist 5-HT2a/c for depression and motor function in Parkinson’s disease

"Conclusion: Data analysis shows that this agent significantly improves depression, but the motor function improved only in the depressed patients. Because of the known anti-dopaminergic property of the 5-HT2c receptors, a possible approach for depression in PD could be the use of 5-HT2c antagonists, similarly to the use of atypical neuroleptics in case of psychotic symptoms. "

scielo.br/pdf/anp/v67n2b/v6...

This is extremely interesting because only the PD patients with depression had their motor function improved when taking 50 mg of trazadone twice a day.

There is a possible complication when taking trazadone and sertraline together: serotonin syndrome.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Mind you, if these drugs are taken at low dose a problem should not develop but amino acids like tryptophan and 5-htp should not be taken with these drugs. Both tryptophan and 5-htp are precursors of serotonin.

The paper which originated the current 'frenzy' over trazadone and PD is the following:

academic.oup.com/brain/arti...

And finally, in a head to head trail of sertraline and wellbutrin in PD patients, wellbutrin improved motor function and depression while sertraline (Zoloft) did not:

Comparative Study of Efficacy for Bupropion vs. Sertraline (SSRI) in Depression with Parkinson�s Disease

asm.confex.com/ipa/11congre...

I wonder if trazadone and wellbutrin can be taken together? The answer is an apparent no:

drugs.com/drug-interactions...

So it is either trazadone or wellbutrin but not both.

[nourilo in reply to silvestrov]

Thank you for sifting through the studies and coming up with this information! Denise

[adrienneb]

I have been on antidepressants for many years. I have a strong family history of depression and suicide, and have found myself needing help for a very long time. I was taking Prozac, sertraline and trazodone when diagnosed with PD four years ago. My MDS had me taper off the Prozac, in order to start Azilect. He had me increase my sertraline to 150 mg and to continue trazodone 50 mg at bedtime for sleep. My depression has been much better since I have been on PD treatment. I often wonder how much 20 years of Prozac had to do with the PD diagnosis, but am convinced that the sertraline is helping, and would not go off it. Best of luck with your decision. Welcome to the club no one wants to be a member of!

[GailBailey]

I take Sertroline, it was given to me when I was first diagnosed over 7 years ago. Along with my other meds it works well

[Motorbiker]

Hi , I was diagnosed last April I went into shock! Dr prescribed sertraline caused my anxiety to go through the roof, couldn't move couldn't breathe. Dr. Took me off and prescribed mertazapine . I'm not so bad now but I think all antidepressants have an effect on your Pd pone way or the other keep tryin different things as everyone's brain is different, you'll get there eventually. Good hunting

[TheresaCurley]

I'm on Sertraline (Zoloft) and Trazodone and would not think of stopping either. I never heard of an SSRI, which these are, causing Parkinson's. I have heard of some anti-depressants like Wellbutin causing tremors but these are what are called Essential Tremors and not Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism.

PD has depression as one of it's more prominent symptoms and most all PD patients are on some kind of anti-depressant. If I were you I would not stop or even decrease the Zoloft before asking your Neurologist. If you can, it is strongly recommended you go to a Movement Disorder Clinic for treating your PD. Many neurologist are not familiar with the best handling of PD but a Movement Disorder Clinic specializes in it.

Even though you were just diagnosed you probably have had Parkinson's for years, that is the most common situation. PD starts off as a nothing kind of thing and keeps progressing and one day you realize that your symptoms are getting worse and a more variety of symptoms.

May I ask how you were diagnosed? Was it your GP? That's what happened to me.

And welcome to our group....there are a bunch of great folks here.

[mleec in reply to TheresaCurley]

I started noticing a slight tremor in my left arm Spring of 2016, then my left leg felt a little like I was dragging it. Tremor started in my right leg a little. Overall, did not feel right. Other silly things I just figured was getting older (I am 57). I did a lot of reading and it sounded like Parkinsons. I went to my GP and he referred me to a neurologist. Went to the neurologist and wound up being examined by the PA, and then the neurologist. Had an MRI and then a DATscan. MRI was negative for tumors and alzheimers (yay!), but DATscan was consistent with Parkinsons. While I do think it is Parkinsons, I don't like seeing a PA when I am paying to see a neurologist, even if they do confer with the Dr. before they meet with me. She wanted to put me on medication right away. The tremors are not that bad. I do not want to start meds until I have more info. I need to try and get an appointment with a movement disorder specialist. I would like to treat holistically if possible. I just starting boxing and I love it! My left hand looks funny because it does not do what I want it to, but I love hitting stuff. I am trying to keep positive, but I do think I am a bit in denial. I don't want to think I am going to be totally down and out with this.

[TheresaCurley in reply to mleec]

If your DATscan was consistent with Parkinson's I think there is no doubt that is what you have. I wish you all the luck in the world. My personal opinion is that I will not start or slow down or stop any medication I've been prescribed without discussing it with my doctor frist. Everyone is different and has had difference experience and on here we can only tell you our own story. There are so many factors that can cause a negative reaction to a medication so I will listen to the folks here but the final yay or nay for me has got to come from my doctor.

[ddmagee1 in reply to TheresaCurley]

Good advice, ThrresaCurley! That's how I feel about it, too.

[GailBailey in reply to mleec]

My Neurologist at first said stay off medication for as long as possible then much later on said new guidelines had changed and that the sooner you start taking medication the better. I feel so much better for it and have been on the same meds for at least five years and I am doing really well. I take Mirapexin slow release and co-coraldopa.

[Serenity_finaly-1]

I take 200 mg of the stuff and nothing wrong with my eyes I mean brain.