Zoloft interaction

After almost 20 years of UC and all the depression that comes and goes with the territory, I know how miserable we get to feeling from time to time.  So I decided to do something about it and asked my GI for something for depression. He prescribed Zoloft and believe me I thought that was the best thing since sliced bread.

Well, after a while I started having nosebleeds--something I never get.  Over a two year period, they got worse and worse, until I ended up in the ER and it took them 2 hours to get it stopped, using liquid cocaine no less!

When my ENT Doc blamed the Asacol I got busy researching it and found a little footnote saying occasionally Zoloft taken with an anti-inflammatory can lead to upper GI bleeds or nosebleeds.  So it was the combination of the two.  I was sure glad to find this out, because he wanted me to drop the Asacol.  I thought--that's great--I can either bleed to death thru my nose or bleed to death thru my rear!!

My GI Doc was sure surprised at the news--just goes to show you've GOT to educate yourself for your own protection.

 

I had a similiar experience, but not with Zoloft. After I quit smoking last year (which lead to a flare of UC - it always did ...), I suffered from depression and anxiety due to smoking cessation. My doctor gave me Celexa and I too felt it was the best than sliced bread. When I started it, my flare was almost completely gone. I took Celexa for 6 months and then I was fine.

Around 4 weeks ago - at the height of my worst flare ever -, I wanted to start Celexa again, because I was so depressed and anxious about my flare and all that comes with the UC. Within three days my flare got even worse and I don't think it was a coincidence. I went from 15 bloody BM to 30+ BM. So I quit the Celexa again and I am scared of taking it ever again.

All SSRIs carry the risks for GI bleedings, but I have never ever thought it can make a flare worse? Seems to be true though.