How to stop diarrhea caused by antidepressants? Expert tips and management strategies

October 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to one study, gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea are the most common adverse reaction to certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with sertraline being a significant contributor. Fortunately, there are many effective strategies for those wondering how to stop diarrhea caused by antidepressants, ranging from simple lifestyle adjustments to medical intervention.

Quick Summary

Diarrhea is a common, often temporary, side effect of antidepressants, particularly SSRIs like sertraline. This article outlines management strategies, including dietary modifications, over-the-counter remedies like loperamide, and the importance of consulting a healthcare provider for dosage adjustments or medication switches.

Key Points

Consult your doctor before any changes: Never stop taking or adjust your antidepressant dose abruptly without your healthcare provider's guidance, as this can lead to withdrawal or relapse.
Start with dietary adjustments: Adopting a bland diet (BRAT) and avoiding high-fat, spicy, caffeinated, and alcoholic items can often provide initial relief.
Stay hydrated and replace electrolytes: Diarrhea can cause dehydration, so drink plenty of water, broth, and electrolyte-rich fluids.
Try short-term OTC relief: Under a doctor's supervision, temporary use of loperamide (Imodium) can help manage severe symptoms.
Probiotics may help: Adding a probiotic supplement can support gut flora balance, potentially easing gastrointestinal side effects.
Consider dose adjustments or medication changes: If diarrhea persists, your doctor might reduce your current dose or suggest switching to a different antidepressant with a more favorable side effect profile.
Be patient with your body: For many, antidepressant side effects like diarrhea are temporary and improve within the first few weeks as the body adjusts.

Understanding Antidepressant-Induced Diarrhea

Many antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline (Zoloft) and escitalopram (Lexapro), can cause gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea. This occurs because serotonin, a key neurotransmitter targeted by these drugs, is found in significant quantities in the gut. By increasing serotonin levels throughout the body, antidepressants can also accelerate intestinal motility and alter fluid balance, leading to loose stools.

For many people, this side effect is temporary, subsiding within the first few weeks as the body adjusts to the medication. However, if diarrhea is persistent, severe, or affects daily activities, it's crucial to take steps to manage it. It is important to never stop taking your medication suddenly without consulting a healthcare provider, as this can lead to withdrawal-like symptoms and a relapse of depression.

Immediate Relief: Managing Symptoms at Home

For most individuals, initial management can begin with lifestyle changes to help alleviate discomfort and provide temporary relief while the body adjusts.

Dietary Modifications

What you eat and drink can have a major impact on your gastrointestinal system. Consider these dietary strategies:

Follow the BRAT diet: Focus on bland, low-fiber foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These are easier to digest and can help bind stools.
Avoid trigger foods: Stay away from spicy, fried, and greasy foods, as well as those high in fat and sugar, which can all exacerbate diarrhea.
Limit caffeine and alcohol: Both can irritate the digestive tract and worsen symptoms.
Increase soluble fiber: Certain foods and supplements can increase soluble fiber intake, which can help firm up stools. Good sources include oats, psyllium husks, and some fruits and vegetables (without skins).
Eat smaller, more frequent meals: Large meals can place a strain on your digestive system. Eating smaller portions more often may be easier on your stomach.

Hydration and Electrolyte Balance

Diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes, which can be dangerous. Staying properly hydrated is vital.

Drink plenty of fluids: Focus on water, herbal teas, and broths.
Replenish electrolytes: Sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions can help replace lost salts and minerals.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications

For temporary relief, a healthcare provider may recommend an OTC medication.

Loperamide (Imodium): This medication works by slowing down gut motility and can be effective for short-term symptom management. Always consult your doctor before using it, especially for prolonged periods.
Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol): This can also help calm an upset stomach, but should be used with a doctor's guidance.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can help restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Some research suggests they may help mitigate gastrointestinal side effects associated with antidepressants. Your doctor may recommend a probiotic supplement.

Long-Term Solutions in Consultation with a Doctor

If at-home strategies are insufficient or if side effects persist beyond a few weeks, a conversation with your healthcare provider is necessary.

Dosage Adjustments

Your doctor might suggest adjusting your medication dose. A lower dose may be enough to reduce side effects while still providing therapeutic benefits. In some cases, a gradual dose increase can also help your body acclimate more smoothly.

Switching Antidepressants

If side effects are intolerable, your doctor may suggest switching to a different antidepressant. This process requires careful medical supervision and may involve one of several methods:

Cross-tapering: Gradually decreasing the dose of your current medication while increasing the dose of the new one.
Taper and switch: Completely tapering off the old medication before starting the new one.
Washout period: A short medication-free period between stopping the old drug and starting the new one, required for certain combinations to avoid adverse interactions.

It's important to remember that different antidepressants have different side effect profiles, so a switch could resolve the diarrhea.

Ruling Out Other Conditions

Persistent or severe diarrhea could be a symptom of another condition. It's important for your doctor to rule out other potential causes, such as infections or other underlying gastrointestinal issues, to ensure proper treatment. In some cases, severe or persistent diarrhea associated with sertraline may indicate a rare condition called microscopic colitis.

Antidepressant Gastrointestinal Side Effects: A Comparison

Different antidepressants have varying propensities to cause gastrointestinal side effects. Here is a general comparison, based on findings from clinical studies:


Antidepressant Class	Example Drugs	Propensity for Diarrhea	General GI Side Effect Profile
SSRI	Sertraline (Zoloft)	High	High probability for GI side effects, especially diarrhea and nausea.
SSRI	Escitalopram (Lexapro)	Moderate	Relatively lower GI issues than sertraline but still possible; nausea is also common.
SSRI	Fluoxetine (Prozac)	Low	Lower probability of GI side effects compared to other SSRIs.
SNRI	Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)	Low-Moderate	Nausea is more common; diarrhea is less frequent than with sertraline.
TCA	Clomipramine (Anafranil)	Low	Constipation is more commonly associated with TCAs than diarrhea.
Atypical	Bupropion (Wellbutrin)	Low	Works differently than SSRIs; GI side effects are less common.

Conclusion

Experiencing diarrhea while on an antidepressant can be a distressing side effect, but it is often temporary and manageable. The key is to communicate openly with your healthcare provider and not to make any changes to your medication regimen on your own. By implementing dietary and hydration strategies, and considering short-term, doctor-approved over-the-counter remedies, you can find relief. If symptoms persist or are severe, exploring long-term solutions like dosage adjustments or switching to a different medication under medical guidance is the safest and most effective path forward. For additional information on coping with antidepressant side effects, you can refer to resources from reputable health organizations, such as based on information from the Mayo Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Antidepressants, especially SSRIs, increase serotonin levels. Because a large percentage of serotonin receptors are in the gut, this increase can lead to heightened intestinal motility and fluid changes, resulting in diarrhea.

Among SSRIs, sertraline (Zoloft) is the most likely to cause diarrhea, with studies showing it can occur in up to 20% of users. Escitalopram (Lexapro) can also cause it, while fluoxetine (Prozac) has a lower association.

In many cases, the diarrhea is a temporary side effect that resolves as your body adjusts to the medication, often within a few weeks of starting treatment. If it persists beyond this, talk to your doctor.

For temporary relief, your doctor might approve the use of loperamide (Imodium). However, you should always consult a healthcare provider first, as these medications are not for long-term use and your doctor needs to ensure there isn't another cause.

Yes. It's best to avoid spicy, fried, and high-fat foods. Additionally, limit caffeine and alcohol, as they can irritate the digestive tract. Focusing on bland foods like bananas, rice, and toast can help.

No, you should never stop taking your antidepressant suddenly without consulting your doctor. Abrupt discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms and a return of depressive symptoms. Work with your healthcare provider to find a safe solution.

If dietary and lifestyle changes aren't enough, your doctor might suggest a dosage adjustment or switching to a different antidepressant with a lower risk of causing diarrhea. This should be done under careful medical supervision.