Question on Sertraline

[ivanovic16]

Hi guys! For around a month now I have been on Sertraline, and while I at first only experienced some minor(ish) side effects (such as teeth grinding) I feel I'm actually getting more side effects now? The main two side effects I have noticed are real difficulty sleeping and my stomach lately has been frequently gurgling/bubbling and I do feel slight pain there. To be fair I do suffer from IBS but it is only an issue when I'm anxious. I do have some underlying stresses at the moment regarding work and things, but it's not entirely troubling me and I am sensing this is more to do with medication. What do you guys think? Can someone advise what would be best for me to do? Thank you & I hope everyone is well! X

[Paxiled]

These are both common side effects of taking antidepressants but different people get very different experiences.  You're about at the point where you know if the drug is going to work or not, but side effects start right away.  Stomach issues can often be dealt with by looking at your diet, how well you chew your food, exercising, meditating, not going to bed too soon after eating.  Some people have some of these problems because these meds can interfere with magnesium absorption, so trying a magnesium supplement -- most do well on the citrate or taureate form -- before going to bed can help.  Usually, you would take magnesium with a meal, but for these symptoms, taking it at bedtime can help some.  But the issue always is, is the drug necessary -- therapy didn't work, your life is so off from your anxiety you just can't live it -- and are the benefits outweighing the downsides.  If the benefits are good, you try to work with it and use gentle remedies -- try not to overdo medication -- and changes in lifestyle to control the other stuff.  For me, ssris were always sedating, but others find them stimulating -- these drugs affect us differently.