Does Zoloft Cause Diarrhea?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses diarrhea as a side effect of taking Zoloft (sertraline).
I have been taking 50 mg of Sertraline for almost a month and I am experiencing major diarrhea. Could it be from that?
Sep 26, 2022- Diarrhea is one of the most common side effects of Zoloft, affecting about 20% of people who take it.
- Gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea are usually worse when starting Zoloft or increasing the dose, but tend to improve over the first few weeks of treatment.
- Taking Zoloft with food can help reduce the severity of diarrhea.
Answer
Diarrhea is one of the most commonly reported side effects of Zoloft (sertraline) therapy. In fact, gastrointestinal side effects, in general, are well-known to occur in those taking SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) medications.
The gastrointestinal side effects of Zoloft occur most frequently when you first start on the medication, or when you increase your dose, but they do tend to decrease over time.
Taking your medication with food can help to reduce the incidence and severity of diarrhea too.
Zoloft-induced Diarrhea
The prescribing information for Zoloft states that 20% of individuals taking the medication experience diarrhea/loose stools. In fact, it is the second most common side effect (behind nausea which comes in at 26%).
Additionally, diarrhea was the second most common reason (again, behind nausea) why participants in clinical trials for the drug discontinued it.
The 'Guidelines for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder' discusses the side effects of antidepressant therapy and lists 'gastrointestinal effects' as the most common. It states the following:
SSRIs commonly cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These adverse events are generally dose dependent and tend to dissipate over the first few weeks of treatment. In some patients, however, diarrhea persists.
Saying these effects are 'dose-dependent' means that the risk of them occurring is higher with increasing dosages.
What To Do
Taking Zoloft with food is likely your best bet to reduce the severity of diarrhea you are experiencing.
You should start to experience the medication being better tolerated as you continue taking it. However, if it doesn't seem to be getting better, even after being on it for a few weeks, discuss your options with your doctor.
They may recommend lowering your dosage and tapering up based on how you tolerate it, or they may even recommend a medication switch.
Final Words
Thanks for reaching out to us! I hope this answer helped.
References & sources
- Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder — Psychiatry Online
- Zoloft Prescribing Information — AccessFDA
- Sertraline Monograph — PubChem
- SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Zoloft
- A brand name for the medication sertraline, used to treat depression and other mental health conditions.
- Sertraline
- The generic name for an antidepressant medication sold under the brand name Zoloft.
- SSRI
- A class of antidepressant medications that work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
- Gastrointestinal
- Relating to the stomach and digestive system.
- Adverse events
- Unwanted side effects or harmful reactions that occur from taking a medication.
- Dose dependent
- A characteristic where the risk or severity of an effect increases as the amount of medication taken increases.
- Antidepressant
- A medication prescribed to treat depression and other mood disorders.
- Tapering
- Gradually increasing or decreasing the dose of a medication over time rather than making sudden changes.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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