So difficult to pin it down

[RoniB]

I have just completed seven weeks on Sertraline (Anti Depression meds) and after a rocky couple of weeks I gradually felt better. I’d would now say that mentally I’m back to my old self which is great. I decided that it was a good time to try to improve my acid reflux using lanzoprazole which I had been prescribed in the past and despite not using them for more than a year was still on my repeat medications. After a day I began to have diarrhoea. It didn’t worry me because my husband had mild diarrhoea too and we concluded we had either eaten something or picked up a virus. After a couple of days his was fine but mine has carried on. I stopped taking the Lanzo two days ago but I still have the dreaded diarrhoea (nearly a week now). It’s not as bad as it was, it’s not walking me up and I feel well in myself.

I’m not sure if it’s the Sertraline (it didn’t cause this symptom when I first started taking it) the combination with the lanzo or IBS which I was diagnosed with a few years ago.

I’m also on Levothyroxine and have B12 injection every 8 weeks and I only have one kidney as one was removed 11 years ago due to a 15.8 cm cancer. The original scan for that, which I saw, showed quite a large stone in my gall bladder. The surgeons said they wouldn’t do anything about it if it didn’t cause any problems and I don’t think it has over the years. I continued to have CT scans for 10 years and it was never mentioned again. Reading this through I realise that I’m not exactly typical and my diarrhoea could be caused by so many things.

Even with all this confusion, if anyone has any ideas I would be very grateful. Basically I guess I’m asking: A. Could it be the Sertraline. B. Could it be the Lanzo. C. Could it be both of them?

Apologies for rambling on!!!!

[winfong]

It looks like both drugs can cause diarrhea. I'm sure having IBS isn't exactly helping matters any. I'm assuming you're IBS-D, correct? Ae you on the IBS group? Very helpful folks there.

[Luisa22]

It might be good if it's possible to chat with your doctor about the thyroid medication. If it's set a wee bit too high, you may get looser stools.

Sertraline is an SSRI drug and could cause loose stools too. Most SSRI meds can do that because of the way they work with Serotonin.

Lansoprazole lowers stomach acid. Fine if that's what's really needed, but they can often be prescribed inappropriately and for too long a time. They are designed to be short-term medication but patients can be kept on them for years! Meanwhile, having normal stomach acid not only digests food normally, but protects against many potential incoming bacterial infections via food and "stomach viruses".

Weirdly, doctors don't address that. I think they are ruled by the drug companies.

However, there is a time and place for all meds, including PPI drugs.

So it's impossible for me to say I know what is happening with you but it could be one or all three. Or it might not be related...it could be stress-involved? Or diet in some way?

I always find reverting to my baseline "super-bland diet" for a few days will often ease a bad flare up of IBS D. Then gradually I can introduce more healthy foods once my gut has a chance to settle.

For me, the emergency bland diet is plain white fish, hard boiled eggs, white rice, white toast, white cous-cous and maybe pasta, noodles. plain biscuits and crackers, and a couple of "friendly" well-steamed veggies that particularly suit me. No seasonings except salt. And not venturing outside that until my gut starts to settle and bm's are more normal. Boring diet but worth it for a few days if results happen!

But for each person their safe foods can be different. Meat eaters can eat plain cooked chicken too. What are safe veggies (or even fruits) for some people may not suit someone else.

[RoniB in reply to Luisa22]

Thank you. That's a lot of information and really informative. I think a good first step would be to have a very bland diet. Actually i have been eating a few of the foods you mention , i guess instinctively thinking they ought to be ok. I will then contact my doctor if things don’t improve.

I will update on here if I can ascertain what the problem is. Thank you again.

[xjrs]

Might be best to get a call back from the doctor, since you have lots of things going on. Hopefully they'll be able to pinpoint the specific one.

[JBaird1952]

I had to stop setraline because of recurring diaorrhea so glad I did, lanzaprozole certainly helps with the reflux, takes a couple days to kick in.

[TedsMum247]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear you've had a problem with Sertraline. My GP prescribed this for me last year and it also gave me diahorrea.I have IBS-D caused mainly by severe anxiety, so I stopped taking Sertraline because of the problem with acute diahorrea. I think GPS reach a point that they just dole out the anti-depressants as a last resort.

[Luisa22]

I don't have any experience personally with pharmaceutical antidepressants, but have heard from here and there that "Tricyclic" antidepressants can be more suitable for people with IBS D. You could discuss that with your doctor? It may be that your doctor could tell you they are not suitable for you for some reason, but it's worth asking.

[winfong in reply to Luisa22]

Kind of a last resort. Tend to have a lot of side effects. Now, one happens to be constipation, so there's that. Roni: Are you IBS-D, -C, or -M?

[RoniB in reply to winfong]

I honestly don’t know. It’s years ago since I was diagnosed and the doctor just said IBS and prescribed Buscopan. I’ve just accepted that and as it hasn’t really been too bad over the years, I’ve just bought Buscopan when needed over the counter. I didn’t have problems with my bowel movements, just cramping pains which were helped by taking them. I didn’t say before but I’m 78 and generally accept that at my age things won’t be perfect. I’m just hoping that I don’t have to stop taking the Sertraline as it’s really helped my anxiety. I always connected my IBS to anxiety so I’m hoping that when everything settles down it will be ok

Thank you winfong for your concern, this site is so supportive.

[winfong in reply to RoniB]

I've had a lot of luck with citalopram

[RoniB in reply to Luisa22]

Thank you, that’s very helpful.

[Sofaqueen21]

Hi Roni.

I too had lots of issues with sertraline. I have diverticular disease so a mixed bag most days.

I was put on mertzaphine which I have felt much more connected with. We are all different and one pill isn't a fix all scenario.

Please check the buscopan though as they should be taken with caution over 40 depends on your history and current meds

I'm not allowed them at all at 51

Good luck hope it all settles down xxx

[sg25]

Sertraline did this to me. My doctor prescribed it presumably knowing it was a potential side effect and that I suffered with IBS. Unfortunately I didn’t make the connection and suffered for some time then found it difficult to come off. When I researched it it was described as the drug from hell and I certainly agreed with that at the time!