Lewis Capaldi opened up on being on sertraline as NHS difficulty extreme warning on doubtlessly deadly unwanted effects

Tens of millions of individuals within the UK are prescribed sertraline to assist deal with their psychological well being circumstances, and Lewis Capaldi used to take it too.

The Brit Award-winning singer, 29, has been admirably open about his struggles with nervousness and panic assaults, in addition to how being recognized with Tourette Syndrome impacted him.

He battled to complete his Glastonbury set in 2023 earlier than saying he was taking a break from music to get his ‘psychological and bodily well being so as’.

Capaldi then made an epic comeback final yr, seeing him return to the Glastonbury stage, launch a heartfelt observe titled ‘Survive’, and saying a string of gigs. What a turnaround, eh?

The ‘Somebody You Liked’ singer additionally revealed that he had stopped taking sertraline, the antidepressant he had been prescribed to assist deal with his nervousness, in July 2025.

“I’m doing significantly better,” he mentioned on the time, as per The Sun. “I’m not on antidepressants any extra.

“It was f***ing arduous to get off [them]. You can say I’ve survived getting off sertraline, however let’s not get into that. That is blissful stuff. I’m attempting to share much less.”

Capaldi mentioned he had discovered solace in remedy, including: “I believe I’ll at all times be an anxious individual. Accepting that’s at all times going to be there for me is a a giant factor. It’s about how I reply to nervousness.”

He had beforehand informed followers that he had additionally tried medical hashish to assist his psychological well being, however he ‘completely freaked’ out.

It goes to indicate that psychological well being remedy typically takes a variety of trial and error, as though remedy proved to be his saviour, Capaldi mentioned it initially made him really feel even worse.

Within the 2023 documentary, Lewis Capaldi: How I am Feeling Now, he opened up about a few of the avenues he had beforehand explored and the way efficient they have been.

Apparently, he additionally revealed he had skilled an intimate side-effect after taking sertraline for a chronic interval.

“I’ve bought a therapist…however simply discovering one is a f***ing ache within the ring,” Capaldi informed Netflix viewers. “One gave me homework and I used to be like, ‘You are including extra nervousness in my life’.

“I used to be doing the homework out in my automotive exterior her home simply earlier than I went in. I used to be like, ‘That is terrible’.”

Capaldi continued: “I am on these f***ing drugs, sertraline…they’re not likely doing something, apart from I am unable to get a f***ing hard-on to avoid wasting my life. Sorry! And so they gave me the s**ts for six weeks, in order that was nice.”

The antidepressant – which treats despair, obsessive compulsive dysfunction, panic dysfunction, post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) and nervousness – comes with just a few unwanted effects, like a variety of medicines.

It really works by rising the extent of serotonin, which is a chemical in your mind which controls your temper. Nevertheless, it may be a case of an excessive amount of of a great factor.

Taking sertraline comes with the chance of creating serotonin syndrome.

This describes an extreme construct up of serotonin within the physique and, if it goes untreated and reaches excessive ranges, it may be deadly.

The NHS explains it’s ‘a uncommon however severe situation that causes a quick heartbeat, sweating, shaking, twitching muscle mass and feeling confused or agitated’.

Different signs embody dry eyes, extreme sweating, stiffness within the muscle mass or joints and hyperreflexia. It is very important search medical consideration promptly for those who expertise any of those signs.

Explaining the potential causes, the NHS states: “It might be produced by giant doses/overdose of a single drug or by mixtures of medicine.

“The commonest causative mixtures embody a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).” Sertraline falls into this class.

Medics additionally urge folks taking sertraline to keep away from the natural complement St John’s wort, grapefruit juice and alcohol due to the impression it could possibly have on how the treatment works.

Capaldi might be glad to know that he wasn’t the one one who skilled intimate issues, as a lack of libido can also be one other widespread aspect impact that comes with taking the antidepressant.

Others embody complications, nausea, dizziness or drowsiness, dry mouth, diarrhoea, sleeping struggles and weight acquire.

Be sure to inform your physician about some other medicines, natural cures, nutritional vitamins or dietary supplements you’re taking whereas discussing your remedy choices.