Seratonin sydrome

[Mike7777]

Anyone have knowledge on this, i feel as if i have too much seratonin? I am beginning to think the docs just put me on antidepressants because they couldnt figure out what i had. I am going on 8-9 weeks of ssris and still have some symptoms, muscle spasms, agitation, brain fog, feels like i am in a dream, anxiety, head pressure. I felt like i was going to collapse yesterday and today. I feel like i am getting seratonin syndrome. Ativan helps a bit, but dont want to get dependant. My doc seems to just want to keep switching my meds, was on zoloft at first, now lexapro. Any suggestions guys?

[Landshark]

I know that trazadone 125 for sleep and Zoloft 75 had me so amped up and double blurry vision muscle twitching and jerking.. was only sleeping 4 hours, last week had a break down ... and now switching to Lexapro I am 25 X 2 days on Zoloft and serequel for sleep now .. Which I hate, I feel less amped up but very sedated in the morning ... I am hopeful the switch will help, but I am not going to titrate quickly on the Lexapro... I think they need to keep a closer eye on patients when switching meds ... I am keeping all stress away and really living in the moment 24 freaking hours at a time ... Living in my gratitudes... muscle spasms or jerk twitching is less... Hope full I can cut the serequel to 12.5 after I make the switch ... Every time you change meds it is like starting over... 4 to 6 weeks to help depression but I thing the anxiety is suppose to get better in the first few weeks... Take Care!!

[NeuronerdDoaty]

Perhaps ssri’s are not for you. If you feel that bad you can say you ‘failed’ on them. (Insurance/medical term) and make your doctor try other types of medication. Best of luck to you. I’m sorry you’re feeling so bad.

[Landshark in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

You really have to advocate for yourself in mental health..,

[Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Well i dont know what else to take.. i take ativan that helps but i know its not supposed to be used long term. Idk wat to do.

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777]

More and more they’re moving into the Neuro meds to help. 1/3 of people tried on ssri’s can’t take them. There’s other category drugs. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The pharmacist is the real biochemist.

[Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

I rarely talk to the pharmacist lol but i will talk to doctor. I just dont know why they put ppl on this.

[Mike7777]

Honestly how do you or the doctors know if you need an ssri?

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777]

They don’t. It’s trial an error according to symptoms from patient. On average the 3rd med works for approximately 5 years.

I’ve been on Klonopin for 25 years. It doesn’t matter if I’m addicted. I have to have it for complex partial seizures. My kids called it my ‘don’t cut a b$$ch’ pill though.

[Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Lol. What are your symptoms when you get a seizure? I have symptoms like confusion and me feeling like im in a dream. Feeling like in gonna collapse

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777]

There are 30 different DOCUMENTED complex partial seizures. It depends on what part of the brain decides to act up. You certainly describe one well. I see things like it’s through a thin waterfall and then I can see and hear you but I can’t respond. I used to get the ‘am I really here’ effect but klonopin takes care of that. My dog goes nuts. Wait, that’s her reaction😁. And then I’m exhausted. Sometimes beforehand I bust out with some verbal abuse of disproportionate levels on no one in particular. That’s always lady like. The whole thing is about 10 minutes. I’m confused and I sleep.

[Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Hmm. I usually can talk still and communicate. Im on ativan and it does help, but should i be on it long term? Would my doc put me on klonopin eventually

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777]

The ‘spells’ are all different. Ativan is the same thing. It just has a shorter half life. So you have to go with what works best for your situation. Ativan is stronger when first taken and then decreases in in strength over time. Klonopin stays in the system longer and doesn’t have that peak and low. (Sleep)

[Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

What do you mean peak and low sleep? I only have taken .75 the most but usually .5mg

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777]

Ativan works quicker with a peak and then a slow decline in efficacy. I can’t draw a tilted sine wave leaning left. That peak is what helps you go to sleep or calms a panic attack depending on your needs.

Klonopin is the same drug (chemically). It works more like an ongoing mid-level postal employee. Distribution is steady and the flow stays the same.

[Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Have you tried ativan or xanax as well?

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777]

I’ve had Ativan in the past. I refuse Xanax. The very first Xanax a human brain receives requires it to have another. I refuse anything that gives me a high. Whether a person feels it or not Xanax gives the brain a rush. There’s extended release Xanax and people won’t use it because they need the rush. On brain studies the brain looks like it’s on cocaine. No thank you.

[Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Ive had xanax it just seemed stronger than ativan and klonopin. Thats it. I wasnt addicted. I like ativan but ive tried klonopin once actually lol from my old boss. Its relaxed me a bit but kinda took longer.

[Joanne1972]

I had chronic Seratonin syndrome after years of being on tramadol and an ssri anti depressant.

I ended up needing to see a neurologist. My brain had trouble processing what I was seeing and hearing properly. Like if a group of people walked towards me I couldn’t take all the visual info in, things that you normally ignore suddenly my brain noticed n tried to process like every pattern on their clothing n everyone’s clothing all at once. I couldn’t cope with anything fast moving like looking out of a window on a bus or standing at the side of the road. Sounds also triggered my brain off, like different conversations, different engine noises, conversations n people’s car radios everything overloaded my brain, I’d have to close my eyes to stop any more info coming into my brain, I’d have to hold onto something as I’d feel like I was rocking backwards n forwards n going to fall over. It was horrible. I also had hyperreflexia. I know I had the chronic version of serratonin syndrome n that different from the acute one which I thought was an emergency.

I think I was on tramadol and ssri anti depressants about 5 years before I started with symptoms. Treatment was going thru controlled withdrawal.

I hadn’t realised tramadol also adds seratonin n combined with the anti depressants. I’d been having double doses for years.

I’d say I’m mostly recovered. My brain got used to the regular things I see n don’t need to really focus on but sometimes I can still get overloaded on new or unexpected things.

Jo

[Mike7777 in reply to Joanne1972]

Well with me it seems the opposite sometimes but sometimes i get like that, my thoughts race, i feel like im in a fog or dream most of the time though. Like i could collapse at any time, it adds to my anxiety. Like my brain is not getting oxygen and my body isnt connected to my brain, sometimes i feel like im not in control of my body. Its crazy. Idk if its seratonin syndrome but i see a neurologist next week

[Hidden]

I don’t know but it seems you’re overloaded on things. You should have an advocate because that’s a serious thing if you’re going through it. Drugs are drugs. I went through it 7 years ago I have difficulty with a lot of meds for pain or head meds a lot of meds since I went through multiple surgeries I think they overloaded me. At 9 weeks you should be feeling less like that. You’ll probably need an antipsychotic to get you out of it fir a few months then get off that.

[Dolphin14]

How often do you see the md Mike?

You should keep them up to date on your symptoms.

Are you feeling worse since the trazadone?

[Mike7777 in reply to Dolphin14]

I see him atleast once a month. I havent started the trazodone. Ive been taking ativan. But i will probably start the trazodone in a day or 2

[lillyofthevalley37]

They put people on SSRI drugs weather they need serotonin or not here in UK.there was a programme on TV about all the young people on SSRI drugs and how some have awful side effects and withdrawal symptoms

Not only that they can mess with your dopamine receptors so you can't experience fun

Furthermore there was a programme on TV about male suicide which featured some young guys and I wondered if they had a history of long term SSRI.drugs leaving them with no feeling of joy in their life culminating in attempting suicide ?

If they aren't making you feel better you should stop taking them under the guidence of your GP.

[abic77 in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

Hi Lilly-I’m in the UK and interested in the programme you’re referring to. Can you give me any more info pls? Thanks x

[lillyofthevalley37 in reply to abic77]

Yes it was on channel 4 Despatches go to it online you need to register the title is something like young people on drugs

It should still.be available to watch

[Mike7777 in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

The thing is i never have had any thoughts of suicide. I still experience emotion. But these symptoms come and go it seems like. In long or short periods. Lately its been constant. I had these symptoms before ssris..

[lillyofthevalley37 in reply to Mike7777]

Nausea sweating , internal trembling and dilated pupils are symptoms of serotonin syndrome and that is considered mild serotonin syndrome

[Lm92]

Believe me, if you had seratonin, you would know it. I had it after being placed on Celexa and Trazodone at the same time. Nausea, vomiting, cramps, non-stop crying even though I felt numb, no appetite, body aches, so tired you can't move but you can't sleep either, staring listlessly. It was hell. When you have it, there's absolutely no doubt about it.

Also, it's very common to need to change medications to find one that works for you. My advice... Try the Celexa. It's a very good medication.

[Mike7777 in reply to Lm92]

I take lexapro which is the cousin of celexa. I was on zoloft previously. I havent started trazodone yet, but im going too. im not on a high dosage either. I havent vomit or anything. A bit of nausea here and there. Back aches are pretty back. Mainly muscle pain though in my back. Ativan helps me sleep. Appetite is good. I do stare off all the time though. So idk..

[JJCP8 in reply to Lm92]

Hi, I know this is an older thread but hopefully you will see this! I’m having similar symptoms as you did. Can you tell me what you did to correct seratonin syndrome? Also, how long did it last? Thank you!!

[Lm92 in reply to JJCP8]

I went to my doctor who told my he was suspicious it was serotonin syndrome. He kept me in the hospital for 24 hours giving me fluids, meds for the nausea and vomiting I had and Ativan to help calm my nervous system and stopped the antidepressants I was taking. After being off them for 3 days, he started me on Lexapro. The most important thing if you think you have this is to communicate with your doctor. This isn't something you can self diagnose.

[Mike7777 in reply to JJCP8]

Hello, sorry for the late response. Im off anti depressants and just take ativan. I dont recommend antidepressants from my own experience. Stay in contact with a psychiatrist or psychologist as well as pcp.

[Plato38]

I was on lexapro and I also had the brain fog. It wasn't the right SSRI for me. But serotonin syndrome would have happened in the beginning I think., but you should talk to your dr. And let them know how you are feeling.

[Mike7777 in reply to Plato38]

What did you end up switching too?

[Plato38 in reply to Mike7777]

I switched back to Zoloft which I was on for years and thought it stopped working but soon realized it was working more than I thought it was when I was on Lexapro. But I am also on Remeron and I really think having that second medication has helped a lot. I was in a constant state of anxiety and felt like I was in Hell. And would never be myself again. It's a lot of trial and error unfortunately, but you will find the right formula and when you do, it will be like a light switch went off and you will start to feel that sense of normal again. Hang in there!

[Mike7777 in reply to Plato38]

What is remeron used for?

[Plato38 in reply to Mike7777]

It is used for depression and anxiety. It's an interesting med because the lower the dose, the more sleepy it makes you and helps with depression, the higher the dose, the more it helps with anxiety. I have a difficult time sleeping because of my anxiety so I take it for both the sleeping issue and the anxiety issue. My sleep dr had me on a low dose of Klonopin for years for my insomnia, but that stopped working and isn't meant for long term use. But Klonopin is good for as needed because it doesn't have as addicting properties. I got to a point where I had to go to an urgent care for mental health because I was so desperate to get some sleep and not have such anxiety. It was honestly the best thing I could have done. It got me streamlined into seeing a psychiatrist, where you have to wait several months otherwise. They adjusted my meds, and I finally felt relief. I'm still in the early stages of figuring it all out, but I've been on zoloft now for 5 weeks and remeron for a couple months, I also work out about 5 days a week and meditate. Every little bit helps.

[Mike7777 in reply to Plato38]

I do all that as well. My doc gave me trazodone but i havent taken it yet. Heard its similiar to remeron. Cuz ive had sleep issues too

[Plato38 in reply to Mike7777]

Yep, I took that as well and it does wonders for sleep. Good luck!

[shawshankredemention]

Is your doc a psychiatrist or a primary care doc. My own bias is that psychiatrist are much better at prescribing and dosing and are more familiar with side effects.

[Mike7777 in reply to shawshankredemention]

Hes a pcp

[Hidden]

Symptoms

Serotonin syndrome symptoms usually occur within several hours of taking a new drug or increasing the dose of a drug you're already taking.

Signs and symptoms include:

Agitation or restlessness

Confusion

Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure

Dilated pupils

Loss of muscle coordination or twitching muscles

Muscle rigidity

Heavy sweating

Diarrhea

Headache

Shivering

Goose bumps

Severe serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening. Signs include:

High fever

Seizures

Irregular heartbeat

Unconsciousness