Alternatives to Sertraline?

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

I've been trying to skim through past posts about Sertraline and it's tedious so I'm asking up front. Mom's not been swallowing her pills and they've been dissolving in her mouth with is not great for anyone. We're trying to figure out how to get her medication to her with the least amount of difficulties as getting her to take them properly is taking over an hour to do and lots of frustration on both ends.

I've been watching her closely while she eats for any signs of swallowing issues and I don't think this is that. She takes the pills and puts it in her mouth and then sits there. We have to do a lot of prompting to get her to drink her beverage with it and asking her to open her mouth so we can be sure it's not pocketed somewhere in there.

Her PCP says sertraline cannot be ground up but I have heard that it can come in liquid form and mixed into drinks. My younger sister and I are interested in trying that but my older sister is hesitant on it.

I'm interested in hearing what others experience with the liquid sertraline or if there's any comparative medication out there that would be okay to switch to. Mom's also on Mirtazapine but that doesn't seem to help with her anxiety/agitation which the sertraline does. (And we'll be looking into alternative ways to give that pill too.)

jfkoc

Certainly a problem. This is always a good sight and here is what they have to say;

Sertraline Oral Concentrate: Package Insert - Drugs.com

I always check drugs.coml and chat with my pharmacist before buying and meds. Started this when the pharmacist questioned a new prescription.

If you go liquid, I would discuss the need to take a dose all at once.

If push comes to shove you may need to switch to a crushable or sublingual. You will find a way.....

-J

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

Sublingual is a new term to me. Thank you for the information! I'll look into it and bring the findings to the sisters.

Marp

Can you hide it in pudding or applesauce?

I've not had to do that, but I've heard of others putting the pills in a favorite food. The loved one doesn't even notice the pill is in the food and swallows it.

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

Oh Marp, thanks. I'm concerned we'd have the same issue with it dissolving in there but it's definitely something I've been thinking about trying. I just got some applesauce so maybe I'll talk it over my sister.

Quilting brings calm

Sublingual would work well since she is holding the pills in her mouth. They would just dissolve.

Waldorf

I give her all her pills on a spoon along with a glass of juice. It is working for me. Have also resorted to giving her them prior to eating breakfast and dinner. That way they will be washed down.

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

QBC: Oh is that what sublingual is, something that is supposed to dissolve? I wouldn't mind that in the slightest. My dad was, at a time, against "unconventional" pills and didn't want mom to get confused on which pills where swallowed whole, crewed, or what have you. Perhaps now he'd be open to it since even he can't get her to take her pills.

Waldorf, we usually give evening pills right after dinner so she still has "put things in mouth" mood going on. Morning pills are usually before breakfast or after, depending on how awake she is and when it is. Certainly having it right before meals so it'll get cleared out makes a lot of sense. I'll bring that up with my sister and see if she wants to try it that way. Thank you!

Klest79

Some of these alternatives include:

1. Other SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or citalopram (Celexa).
2. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as venlafaxine (Effexor) or duloxetine (Cymbalta).
3. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or nortriptyline (Pamelor).
4. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate).

It is important to note that each of these medications may have different side effects and risks, and it is essential to discuss any medication changes with a healthcare provider. Also important to buy it at high-quality stores which personally I do at Canadian Pharmacy. So keep it in mind.

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

Thank you klest79. Definitely it's a discussion we're bringing up with her PCP and trying to get input from her.

My younger sister was on Prozac for a while and had adverse reactions to it. Not sure mom would be the same but it's possible. Definitely a lot of trial and error for these kinds of things.