Some patients may notice a connection between sertraline and nausea, particularly when the drug is given at higher doses. This medication commonly causes nausea as a side effect, along with general gastrointestinal upset. If the side effects become severe, the patient can discuss the situation with a care provider to determine what the best option for managing the issue may be. Often, patients may benefit from a different medication or a dosage change to make the drug easier to tolerate.
Sertraline is a mood stabilizer used to treat people with depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and some anxiety disorders. It may be prescribed for other reasons as well. Patients typically start on a low dosage which increases gradually over time. The goal of tapering the dose up is to give the patient time to get accustomed to it. Slowly increasing the dose also allows the patient to find the lowest effective dose, which can limit side effects by avoiding unnecessarily high doses.
As many as 30% of patients in some studies reported a connection between sertraline and nausea. They experienced other symptoms of stomach upset, like diarrhea and vomiting, as well. Sometimes these symptoms may resolve as the body adjusts to the medication. In other instances, they may become more severe over time. Inability to tolerate the medication may make it hard to adhere to a dosing schedule, which could create problems for the patient.
One option for patients who have a problem with sertraline and nausea is to change the dosing schedule. It may be possible to reduce nausea by taking the medication with food, for example. For patients who have trouble eating on a schedule, a snack like a yogurt or granola bar may be enough to settle the stomach while taking a dose.
Dietary modifications may help as well, if patients notice that symptoms are particularly bad with specific foods. The link between sertraline and nausea may also be the result of a medication interaction. Changing a medication schedule or eliminating another drug or supplement, with advice from a care provider, might solve the problem.
Patients should be aware that sertraline and nausea can also be a problem during withdrawal. When patients go off the medication, they taper the dose back down to give the body time to adjust. This may be accompanied with some nausea and discomfort. The side effects should pass once the patient is completely weaned from the medication, and if they do not, they may be a sign of another medical problem. A care provider can evaluate the patient to determine if diagnostic testing or treatment is necessary.