Sertraline and Heart Palpitations

[GreyFeather]

Just wondering if there is anyone here who experiences heart palpitations and is taking Sertraline (or another SSRI)?

I took Sertraline briefly a few years back (and probably stopped taking it earlier than I should have) and have now been prescribed it again. I'm concerned because I experience heart palpitations and have read that certain drugs, inc. Sertraline (and other antidepressants) can exacerbate them. Haven't worked up the courage to take a dose yet.

 

[Petal]

Hiya, I get palpitations and I am on sertraline but I am on a few medications. Please mention these side effects to your doctor as you may be on a too high dose or the wrong medication for you. Good luck & sorry i couldn't be of more help.

 

[GreyFeather]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I'm not taking Sertraline right now - I get the palpitations without it. Am just worried that going back on the Sertraline might exacerbate them, but don't see that I've got much choice other than to try Setraline again. Did you experience palpitations before starting your meds, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Ash600]

Hi, palpitations is one of the common side efffects seen sertraline. However,alon with heart palpitations, did you also experience high temperature, high blood pressure,agitation,sweating, diarrhoea, confusion? These could be the signs of serotonin syndrome which can be dangerous.
As Petal has already said, do mention this to your doctor. There are alternatives out there, and hopefully you'll be able to find one which suits you the best.

 

[Rebreb]

Ah I just took Sertraline for a month (I posted recently under it's name Zoloft actually) and I'm switching to Citalopram starting tomorrow because of a weird side effect in my ears. I've been on Citalopram in the past with no residual side effects.

Interesting that @Ash600 mentions sweating because the past few mornings I woke up in a sweat which is unusual for me. I'm on a lose dose though, so I don't know how that could be seratonin syndrome....

My heart definitely raced a lot this month but I'm also experiencing extreme anxiety and panic so it's hard for me to know if it's from the sertraline.

If it's a more common symptom, as Ash says, maybe do a bit of research on alternatives.

 

[Harmony]

. I'm not taking Sertraline right now - I get the palpitations without it. Am just worried that going back on the Sertraline might exacerbate them, but don't see that I've got much choice other than to try Setraline again. Did you experience palpitations before starting your meds, if you don't mind me asking?

If you are having heart palpitations my advice would be to request a CBC (complete blood count) from your doctor, if you haven't already, in order to rule out physical causes first. This could detect anemia which can cause heart palpitations. I would also advise you to check for hyperthyroidism which also causes a racing heart and may be another culprit for having heart palpitations. Best of luck to you in feeling better soon.

 

[GreyFeather]

Thank you all. I've had blood tests, an ECG and am waiting on a 24 hour holter monitor test. I started taking Sertraline again and haven't found it's affecting me negatively so far, so fingers crossed!