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BG up after tapering Sertraline

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T

Teadance

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi guys,
Sorry, I seem to only post when I have a problem.
I've been on Sertraline, an SSRI antidepressant, for about 5 years and have been tapering it for about 3 months. I'm now down to virtually nothing. 1/8 of a tablet a couple of days ago and that will almost certainly be the last one even though I'm suffering some discontinuation symptoms like hot sweats, digestive upset, 'thick' head, some wooziness etc. The problem is this morning and yesterday morning my waking BG was over 7. This is not a number I've ever had before. Could it be to do with the confusion in my system from discontinuing Sertraline, and it will settle down or has the Sertraline been keeping it artificially low? I'd really like to get back down to 5's or 6's.
Many thanks
Td
 
Hi Teadance! I don't know, but I would imagine that it is entirely possible that, as you come off the medication and your body is adjusting to its absence, you will be experiencing a little more stress (whether you feel stressed or not), and this may have the effect of elevating your levels for a while until you get used to the 'new you'. Has your diet or behaviour changed at all, do you think? If so, that might be something to consider.

Well done on your efforts so far! Let us know how you get on 🙂
 
Hi Teadance
It could just be your body readjusting to working without the sertraline but I do know that some SSRI class drugs can have an impact on blood sugar. I'm not sure which direction they impact but I seem to recall they potentially lower blood sugar so it would be worth keeping an eye on it for a while and asking the doctor. What I can say is my blood sugar reacts to any changes so it's entirely possible it will just settle down on its own, especially since experiencing exit symptoms usually means the body is struggling to rebalance itself. Hope you feel better soon and that blood sugar returns to normal 🙂
 
Thanks for quick replies,
Northerner, no I don't really feel stressed. I know stress on your body is a different thing, but I was really pleased to be coming off them. Have wanted to do it for ages. Not sure the Sertraline isn't responsible for a whole host of problems, not least type 2 diabetes!! But that's another story! I feel more in touch with everything. Food tastes better, colours clearer etc. No change in diet, just the discontinuation symptoms which are a known side effect of coming off.

I'm just really worried that I've been under the illusion
of controlling my BG levels through diet and exercise when in reality it may have been the Sertraline keeping a check on things.

KookyCat, any ideas where to look for effect of Sertraline on BG levels at discontinuation? I really hope it settles down when my body has readjusted. Many thanks for your replies. Just off to Zumba gold, if I can see straight!!!!!

Td
 
What about asking the pharmacist Teadance? They're really good advice wise in terms of side effects etc.

I only know about the drug because my dad took it and had some blood sugar issues (he was type 2 too), he came off it because initially he had low blood sugar issues with it, but I can't remember if they said it raised blood sugar and he had reactive hypoglycaemia or if the drug actually lowered his blood sugar because he then took another SSRI which also gave him blood sugar issues so it's a bit mangled. I wasn't diabetic then so when they were explaining it in A&E (he was having a hypo) it was like gibberish. When he came off them altogether I know his control was very erratic for a while but it did calm down.

Incidentally even if you don't feel stressed your body could be physically stressed, it's been used to the help from the Sertraline and taking that away will confuse it. I do remember the A&E doc telling us that withdrawal from it can be very challenging.
 
Hi KookyCat,
Thanks for that. It's really interesting. I did ask a pharmacist yesterday. She disappeared and returned with a heavy tome, but didn't seem to be able to find anything specific relating to the effect of discontinuation on BG levels. I'm separating the effects of Sertraline on BG whilst you're on it, with Sertraline's effect during the tapering period, and I assume that is less well known. Discontinuation is certainly challenging. I wasn't expecting to feel such physical symptoms. Also it's hard to know how long they'll last. I think I'll just keep taking BG reading each morning for a while. I've been invited for an HbA1c and cholesterol check, but I'm inclined to leave it a few weeks until things have settled down to a new normal. I'm just worried I've been under a false assumption of where my BG levels really are. Just when I though I was doing so well. Last HbA1c was 41. Thanks for your interest,
Td
 
Teadance said:
Hi,
BG 6.2 this morning. (Sat.) Phew!! Was it the Zumba????

Td
Click to expand...

Ah, looking better 🙂 I would imagine that the Zumba did play its part, sensitising you more to the insulin you are producing. Hope the better numbers continue, as you continue to taper 🙂
 
Thanks Northerner,
Will have to keep up the exercise!!!
Really hope the numbers start to stabilise. And thank goodness for the good people on this site!!!
Td
 
Hi Teadance, well done on managing to taper your Sertraline massively. It's never easy and you seem to be doing well 🙂

There's quite a bit of info on the interaction on the net and I've copied this little bit;

'Taking medications for depression can impact the management of your diabetes. In a study published in “Annals of Clinical Psychiatry,” subjects taking SSRIs like Prozac® and Zoloft® experienced a reduction in blood glucose levels. Conversely, subjects who took a tricyclic antidepressant had less control of their blood glucose levels.'

Hopefully your efforts and getting the drug completely out of your system might help to stabilise your glucose levels now but there does appear to be a documented link between Sertraline and a lowering impact on BG levels.

Amigo
 
Thanks Amigo for your kind words and for taking the trouble to find the info. The lowering effect was what I was afraid of. I suppose I'll know more when it's completely out of my system. I'll keep monitoring until then, but I feel very disappointed as I thought this had all been through my own efforts! 'Wind taken out of my sails' comes to mind.
Td
 
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