Pharmacist says sertraline patients shouldn't mistake side effect for 'the weather'

Pharmacist says sertraline patients shouldn't mistake side effect for 'the weather' A pharmacist has reminded people to be aware of this - and not dismiss signs A pharmacist says people taking sertraline should not be "blaming the weather, their duvet or hormones" for a possible side effect of the commonly prescribed medication. Pharmacist Raj Patel, who regularly posts content online under the username @Therajrpatel, shared a new video claiming that people often dismiss excessive sweating as 'hormones' or just 'the weather' when it could be caused by their sertraline dose. Especially during hot weather, people may brush off extra sweat and 'night sweats' as something simply caused by the temperature outside. But the pharmacist says that people experiencing the side effect may notice it at any time, regardless of the weather. He claims that some people experience "sweating despite not feeling particularly hot", "waking with damp clothes or bedding" or "suddenly noticing that they perspire much more than they used to". The pharmacist says sertraline could be responsible for this change. Posting online, he said: "If you take sertraline, your medicine could be one possible contributor. Increased sweating is listed as a common side effect of sertraline in UK patient information, meaning it may affect up to one in 10 people." He added: "It surprises me how often waking up sweaty gets blamed entirely on hormones or the weather." What is sertraline? According to the NHS website, sertraline is an antidepressant medicine used to treat conditions like depression, OCD, PTSD and social anxiety disorder. It is only available with a prescription as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The NHS website adds: "It's thought to work by increasing the level of serotonin (a chemical in the brain linked to mood). When serotonin levels are normal, this may reduce stress levels and negative thoughts." What else could be responsible for excess sweating? The pharmacist claims that sweating "does not automatically mean sertraline is responsible", adding that there are a range of possible causes. Some are temporary and will go away eventually, but others may need further investigation, such as: - menopause or perimenopause - infections or fever - anxiety - thyroid problems - alcohol - other medicines - the temperature of your room or bedding - other underlying medical conditions The pharmacist said: "If it is new, persistent, excessive or troubling, speak to your pharmacist or prescriber. They can review whether sertraline could be contributing and whether there are other causes worth investigating." It is important that, if you suspect your medication could be the cause, you should never stop taking prescriptions. The pharmacist said: "Abruptly stopping an SSRI can cause withdrawal symptoms. "If treatment ever needs to be reduced or stopped, that should normally be planned gradually with your prescriber. Seek medical advice sooner if sweating is accompanied by symptoms such as persistent fever, feeling significantly unwell, unexplained weight loss or other concerning changes."