Got the courage to take an antidepressant and then landed in the ER. Anyone else have this issue? I’m scared to try another one if needed.

[Likeabadstorm]

I finally attempted a antidepressant and ended up going out by an ambulance and spending the day in the ER. Fast racing heart rate and chest redness and all from a very low dose of escitalopram 2.5mg since I am sensitive to meds I was started on a low dose. I had waves all night and zaps in my head from it. As I already have 24/7 head pressure on top of all this. We were hoping this would have helped in the long run. Anyone else had a reaction like this. The dr said some people can not tolerate SSRIs at all. And some can do good on one and not the other. But after having his kind of reaction, how do you get over that and attempt to try another one of that if that is what the doc wants to do again. Thanks. It leaves me feeling hopefully in my neurological symptoms of recovery.

[Fireking1]

I've just had nearly the same as you on sertraline,I wasnt sure if my brain was telling me to make all those symptoms but they surely felt real,i too am sensitive and was told to try to ride it out until symptoms got better by a few that had had same issues at start,which is great advice as for some,it does get better.I consulted a dr about discontinuing as I'd only had two days of a low dose and i couldn't see myself continuing with the ' not common ' side effects...I felt worse than ever which is maybe a rebound swing..dr said,however I said I'd rather my normal panic attacks for now and maybe really work the counselling and diet and exercise before thinking is my go to.I can only say what happened for me,but there it is and I wish you all the best with your decision.

[Likeabadstorm in reply to Fireking1]

The ER told me to stop taking it because mine would go up and come back down then go back up again and kept almost fainting and she said don’t take anymore of it. And prednisone 50mg given to take for four more days. I even got red on chest and arm. Thanks for replying and hope you are feeling better now.

[BlueSky125]

I had a similar experience. Had to go to the er after taking an antidepressant one time. I had tried different ones and although the side effects were different they all ended up being worse then the condition I was trying to address. And this was at the lowest does possible. There is some information I’ve seen that certain anxiety disorders may be related to serotonin levels being to high - instead of too low - and if that were the case then taking an SSRI would only make the problem worse.

[Likeabadstorm in reply to BlueSky125]

Thank you for that info.

[LadyZen]

I had a bad reaction to Zoloft. My heart was racing, my breathing was strange, and I thought I was dying. This was after 1 pill. I went back to the doctor and asked for Wellbutrin. I had used it to help me stop smoking, but it also helped with my depression. I'm sensitive to a lot of things, Tylenol, caffeine, and vodka (not taken together of course). My depression was really bad, so for me, I had to find something that worked.

[Likeabadstorm in reply to LadyZen]

I am scared to try anything else I don’t know what to do. But I am not doing good with how I feel either and need to be better.

[LadyZen in reply to Likeabadstorm]

I'm no expert, but I know that my Zoloft worked differently from Wellbutrin. When I told the doctor about my reaction to Zoloft, he was going to prescribe be Prozac and I put my foot down and said no. From what I remember, both Zoloft and Prozac regulated serotonin. But Wellbutrin regulated dopamine. Maybe you can tell the doctor you'd like to try something that works differently from escitalopram. I think escitalopram regulates serotonin too. I won't take any of those serotonin meds after my reaction.

[Likeabadstorm in reply to LadyZen]

Thank you so much for that info LadyZen. Yes it regulates serotonin too.

[Sprinkle1]

Never know what is going to happen when we put these pills in our mouth, they get in our blood stream and go to the brain, some of us are lucky, some of us really suffer for which I am so sorry. I was on Trazadone for several months, it pushed me into suicide. That was in my 40's, now I take it for sleep and have no problems??!!!

I wish you well, I hope you have a good therapist who will help you thru this. Yes try changing your diet and getting some exercise, that could help. We are here for you, talk to us we will offer love and support, share our knowledge with you. I send you love, courage, strength, peace of mind and big hugs.....Sprinkle 1....

[Likeabadstorm in reply to Sprinkle1]

Thank you Sprinkle1

[Hidden]

Oh my how I feel for you.. I am so sorry you had to go through this. Are you able to do genetic testing~ that will tell you what meds agree with your body? I wish you all the best..

Sparkles & dump trucks Likeabadstorm!

[Likeabadstorm]

I will ask when I follow up and see if I’m we can do that. If my insurance won’t cover it I’ll ask to see how much it cost to do it.

[Agora1]

Likeabadstorm, I am sorry that you had a bad experience on Lexapro.

With any medication it is always about trial and error involving the right

med and dose for the right person.

I was started on Lexapro while in the hospital. They were able to play with

the dosage which made me feel secure knowing I was in the right place just

in case.

I was in for something else at the time. I'm sure your doctor will take what

happened into consideration when having your try another med. Stay Safe. xx

[Likeabadstorm]

Thank you agora. I was optimistic yet scared to take it and it was the very lowest dose possible. I read your messages and others on how it worked so well for them and tried to focus only in the positive messages with using this med and well it didn’t work. I shall see what he wants to try next. I did get a PT referral for the constant head pressure 24/7 and feeling of faintness and zaps and stuff through my head hoping to see if o can get relief. I can only lay flat for a little relief. Minute I am up it starts back. And I know you had had 6 weeks of pt and I so hope that can give me some relief. Though if it doesn’t he may ha e to do an LP he doesn’t want to because he feels it is all stress related, but this does not feel normal at all. I’ve had migraines and headaches and nothing has ever felt like this. Even getting ice pick headaches at times too ouch. But the pressure is intense and then bones in my face will start hurting too. Breathing in or talking causes pressure to feel more so. Acupuncture didn’t help much at all maybe once. So I don’t know. I just need my life back. Going on almost two years now all the neurological symptoms and episodes. Thanks agora. You are amazing and help so many people on here.