Long Term Effects of Sertraline
I will try and keep it short and sweet.
So, I stopped taking sertraline almost 3 years ago. I took it for about 6 months starting at 50 mg and then it was increased to 200 mg after the first month. During that time I suffered from memory loss, loss of appetite and hand tremors which were quite extreme. I drank quite heavily while I was taking them, I smoked and I took recreation drugs from time to time.
But now 3 years on my hands still shake and there seems to be very little I can do about it. I could not find any documentation on the long term effects of Sertraline and any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not the sort of person who ever goes to the doctors unless something is falling off. Has anybody else had similar issues or should this be a cause for concern?
So, I stopped taking sertraline almost 3 years ago. I took it for about 6 months starting at 50 mg and then it was increased to 200 mg after the first month. During that time I suffered from memory loss, loss of appetite and hand tremors which were quite extreme. I drank quite heavily while I was taking them, I smoked and I took recreation drugs from time to time.
But now 3 years on my hands still shake and there seems to be very little I can do about it. I could not find any documentation on the long term effects of Sertraline and any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not the sort of person who ever goes to the doctors unless something is falling off. Has anybody else had similar issues or should this be a cause for concern?
Original post by DiddyDec
I will try and keep it short and sweet.
So, I stopped taking sertraline almost 3 years ago. I took it for about 6 months starting at 50 mg and then it was increased to 200 mg after the first month. During that time I suffered from memory loss, loss of appetite and hand tremors which were quite extreme. I drank quite heavily while I was taking them, I smoked and I took recreation drugs from time to time.
But now 3 years on my hands still shake and there seems to be very little I can do about it. I could not find any documentation on the long term effects of Sertraline and any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not the sort of person who ever goes to the doctors unless something is falling off. Has anybody else had similar issues or should this be a cause for concern?
So, I stopped taking sertraline almost 3 years ago. I took it for about 6 months starting at 50 mg and then it was increased to 200 mg after the first month. During that time I suffered from memory loss, loss of appetite and hand tremors which were quite extreme. I drank quite heavily while I was taking them, I smoked and I took recreation drugs from time to time.
But now 3 years on my hands still shake and there seems to be very little I can do about it. I could not find any documentation on the long term effects of Sertraline and any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not the sort of person who ever goes to the doctors unless something is falling off. Has anybody else had similar issues or should this be a cause for concern?
Hi,
Sorry to hear about your hand tremors. As a user of Sertraline myself I can definitely understand what you mean by the memory loss and shaking, I once took 150MG Sertraline instead of my prescribed 50 and wasn't myself for nearly a week. I was shaking and my jaw felt weak as well as constantly falling asleep every few minutes! I haven't had any more since then.
Also, you mentioned about drinking and using drugs recreationally - doing drugs with any form of antidepressant is a bad idea. I'm also a recreational heavy user and my guess would be mixing these two, as well as alcohol could have done some permanent damage hence why you still have the shaking.
If it's bothering you maybe go to your doctors and explain it to them, as well as your history with recreational use.
Hope everything turns out okay
I doubt the use of recreational illicit drugs will have been the cause. SSRIs actually simply work to block at least some of the action of most stimulants.
Alcohol however, especially since you say you drank quite heavily, is the thing that flags up for me - it can increase side effects of SSRIs such as dizziness and poor coordination and is just generally very toxic. Once when I drank far too much I stayed sick for a solid month after the effects of the substance itself wore off - my hands were shakey and I had bizarre hearing/orientation problems.
Almost 3 years is a long time. I haven't known anyone else to have lasting effects like this from Sertraline (I was on it a year myself, but I didn't drink), I'd find this worrying and want to see what a doctor's opinion of the situation was.
Alcohol however, especially since you say you drank quite heavily, is the thing that flags up for me - it can increase side effects of SSRIs such as dizziness and poor coordination and is just generally very toxic. Once when I drank far too much I stayed sick for a solid month after the effects of the substance itself wore off - my hands were shakey and I had bizarre hearing/orientation problems.
Almost 3 years is a long time. I haven't known anyone else to have lasting effects like this from Sertraline (I was on it a year myself, but I didn't drink), I'd find this worrying and want to see what a doctor's opinion of the situation was.
I am not one to ever worry about my health, I find the opinions of others useful in these situations as otherwise I will not attend a doctors. Out of interest could the shaking possibly be a side effect of two dislocated shoulders I sustained 4 years ago? One f my many drinking injuries. (Before you say it, I don't have a drinking problem. I'm simply a student).
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Original post by DiddyDec01
I will try and keep it short and sweet.
So, I stopped taking sertraline almost 3 years ago. I took it for about 6 months starting at 50 mg and then it was increased to 200 mg after the first month. During that time I suffered from memory loss, loss of appetite and hand tremors which were quite extreme. I drank quite heavily while I was taking them, I smoked and I took recreation drugs from time to time.
But now 3 years on my hands still shake and there seems to be very little I can do about it. I could not find any documentation on the long term effects of Sertraline and any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not the sort of person who ever goes to the doctors unless something is falling off. Has anybody else had similar issues or should this be a cause for concern?
So, I stopped taking sertraline almost 3 years ago. I took it for about 6 months starting at 50 mg and then it was increased to 200 mg after the first month. During that time I suffered from memory loss, loss of appetite and hand tremors which were quite extreme. I drank quite heavily while I was taking them, I smoked and I took recreation drugs from time to time.
But now 3 years on my hands still shake and there seems to be very little I can do about it. I could not find any documentation on the long term effects of Sertraline and any input would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not the sort of person who ever goes to the doctors unless something is falling off. Has anybody else had similar issues or should this be a cause for concern?
200mg is a really high dose to be put on directly from 50g, especially after just one month. It seems like irresponsible prescribing. It's much more typical to try 50mg for several months, then 100mg for several more months if 50 has proved ineffective. I was on sertraline for around 5 yrs, and only ever on a maximum of 150mg, about 2.5yrs in. You're not meant to drink at all with this drug, let alone heavily while on a really high dose. I suspect this combination is the root of the tremor problem. Definitely see your doctor. There may be treatment that can halt or reverse the damage already done. Good luck!
Original post by GuestyGuestGuest
200mg is a really high dose to be put on directly from 50g, especially after just one month. It seems like irresponsible prescribing. It's much more typical to try 50mg for several months, then 100mg for several more months if 50 has proved ineffective. I was on sertraline for around 5 yrs, and only ever on a maximum of 150mg, about 2.5yrs in. You're not meant to drink at all with this drug, let alone heavily while on a really high dose. I suspect this combination is the root of the tremor problem. Definitely see your doctor. There may be treatment that can halt or reverse the damage already done. Good luck!
PS Are you still drinking heavily? TBH I think the tremor's more likely to be the booze than the sertraline if you are.
