I Got Seratonin Syndrome.....

[Meredyn]

......from Paroxetine. This last week has been the worst of my life, and I don't know how i'm still here. It happened on day 5 of being on Paroxetine. It was diagnosed in A & E and my muscles were so rigid from it that I had to have 30mg diazepam for 3 days and a liquid taper off the Paroxetine over 3 days.

To make matters worse, my psych. was on holiday at this time (which couldn't of course be helped) and I had minimal advice from our joke of a CMHT. They couldn't even organise a script for the liquid Paroxetine for my taper which was requested by the A & E doctor for the following day - my amazing GP had to do it at 5.45pm that day as the CMHT totally screwed up and didn't phone me and sent an email to the wrong surgery (so they now claim) for the drug. Without my GP, I would have had to take the full dose in tablet form again the following day as the pills couldn't be split (and possibly ended up in A & E again).

I have to see my psych. tomorrow at 1pm and i'm dreading it as I have to go alone and my anxiety is raging like never before, with intrusive thoughts and sheer panic. I no longer feel safe, and I don't think he believes how absolutely hideous this has all become.

The mental health system in the UK is broken - and A & E is bogged down with people just like me, and worse. They do their best at A & E.....

I feel as we are just left to rot as there are so few services available now and we are 'not unwell enough' to access crisis care - that is reserved only for those with psychotic breaks from schizophrenia, relapses in bipolar or those suffering illicit drug psychosis. There used to be 'care' for those with MDD, CPTSD, GAD, severe panic disorder etc. Now we are just supposed to live with it, so it seems. Or not live with it, as the case may be.....

I'm getting to the point where I've had enough and i'm tired of being patient, politely asking for help and spending multiple visits in A & E and being ashamed of being there like a total waste of space because I KNOW A & E here should be for sick people who need urgent help, not a dumping ground for people who have had enough of their mental torture and have no where else to turn because they are on the precipice of taking their own lives...

Sorry if this reads like a pity party - but i'm sure a few of you who have had to deal with the 'mental health system' in the UK can relate.

My hope for my future is now growing very dim indeed......

[Hidden]

Oh dear, I wish I could be able to help you 💕💕💕💕

I’ve no idea how the mental health system works (or not) in the UK but trust me, it must be better than here! My schizophrenic sister has no medical support at all and she has frequent visits from... the police officers!

You clearly have an intolerance to drugs in general, not to mention hormones.

Have you ever researched multiple chemical sensitivity? Why do you think you have such bad reactions to meds?

I know I have it to some extent because I can’t tolerate most drugs at the usual dosage, so when I really need to take them I usually have the minimum dose and increase very slowly. And that applies to a simple aspirin!

Maybe you need a good detox from all drugs (tapering of course) and go to a spa or a spiritual retreat or something!

I know an excellent health therapist who was trained by Osho himself. She is German and lives in Brazil, but she has many colleagues in the UK (she lived in London for many years). Would you like me to ask her if she can suggest someone for you?

I’m not a believer but her method really works, I’ve seen it work many times, including my sister (who also happens to be suffering the late effects of surgical menopause).

Huge gentle hug 🤗

[Meredyn in reply to Hidden]

My dear friend! Your words are always balm to my troubled soul - thank you.....

I was actually reading only a couple of weeks ago as how the rate of suicide is very high in Brazil. And yes - from the heart - I wish your dear sister WAS here in that case as although care for schizophrenia can be patchy, there is a set protocol in place for schizophrenic patients (thank goodness). It makes me ashamed to whinge about my issues, truly....

And how the HELL is she coping with surgical menopause as well?? My goodness - i'm sending her all the love I can muster! Did she try HRT? And if so, did it help? I know I read that it CAN with women diagnosed with schizophrenia (and yeah - like HRT in itself is easy)....😲😲

In a word - I think you're right and i'm buggered with drugs. I truly think I can trace this back to my biphasic anaphylaxis episode (my first of many) at the end of 2012 - my system just goes mental and I've even stayed off the MS drugs too as truly, things in that department are stable apart from the odd fall from episodes of spasticity (which are made worse by heat - and by jiminy, we've had HEAT here this last week but NOTHING like where you are! Mind you, Scotland isn't used to 30 degrees C)!

I am certainly interested in alternative avenues - so please, anything you can think of would be most welcome! 👍👍

I think one of my other issues is tbat I've become a bit scared of my psychiatrist - he's actually OK as an individual but I just think he sees things in a vacuum and doesn't appreciate how physical health impacts all the mental stuff (which is kinda unreal, when you think about it)! And he certainly doesn't understand menopause.....he said 'psychiatry went through a phase where hormones seemed relevant, but that is less so now'. I personally think he has some catching up to do......😲😲

And oh.....by the way.....this is SO sad.

'Over there', I was reading earlier that Racjen has attempted to take her life. I couldn't believe (well I could) that I was reading today that she was turfed out of A & E in her pyjamas late at night to go home alone in a taxi....She really SHOULD be admitted as an inpatient. I think i'm scared for her more than anyone.....wish we could reach out to her. 😢😢😢

❤❤❤❤❤

[Meredyn in reply to Hidden]

Oh - and CLKD is carping on at Racjen like a flippin' ninny as usual, telling her to phone the samaritans and soon it's going to be about her own 'prehensile fear aged 3' or a bloody mood and food diary.....Racjen doesn't need that crap at the point she is at right now. I really do wonder about CLKD.... (sorry, but I just had to say it)......❤❤❤

[Hidden in reply to Meredyn]

I have texted my friend and as soon as she replies I'll let you know. She is a really competent therapist and she's also post-menopause and has had a thyroidectomy, so she knows exactly how things can be dreadful for women going into hormonal withdrawal. Here's a bit of info on her oshoviha.org/connection/200... She has her own website but it seems to be off atm. Google 'Samvara Bodewig', there are some nice photos of her, she's such a lovely soul.

I have 2 sisters 😬 sorry... The schizophrenic has suffered with natural menopause, mainly weight gain and more rage than usual. The other one is a sweet soul and has nearly died during hysterectomy and BSO. She's now on estrogel, which has worked for hot flushes but did nothing to emotional issues, her Osho friend was much more helpful.

Poor Racjen, she needs some real support. Sometimes I wonder why some ladies who live so close to each other can't offer personal support. I mean, the UK is so small compared to Brazil. If she lived here I would offer my personal help, of course I'm not talking about professional help, but sometimes all you need is 'a little help from my friends', innit?

CLKD needs help too 🙄, that's all I can say...

[Meredyn in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so VERY much!!! I didn't realise you had two sisters.😃 What I can say is that both are exhibiting 'typical' reactions to 2 very different types of menopause.

Your dear sweet sister with the surgical menopause won't be experiencing the rage, just like I don't. I know myself that this is because we have drastically less testosterone left after our ovaries are gone. It leaves you feeling particularly anxious and vulnerable.....i'm glad the estrogel is helping her flushes, though. For me, nothing seems to help them now unfortunately! But yes - the mental side seems VERY hard to treat as is reflected in poor Racjen's experience! If that poor lassie were a wee bit nearer - I think she's at the very bottom of the UK and i'm at the top - and I was able to contact her in any way, I would have her come and stay with me for a while in a heartbeat! I really don't think there is anyone apart from Tc on there now who comes close to knowing how bad surgical meno. messes with your mind......AND i'm livid that Racjen's GP has allowed her to become dependent on valium.....that is a whole other mess!

Have you ever read Stevie Nick's experiences of her years of benzo addiction? She had a hell of a time getting off them and lost years of her life to being on them. She is also completely honest about how awful her menopause is - this is why you have to love Stevie (apart from her ethereal timeless beauty and voice, of course)!❤❤

[Kkimm]

Hi Meredyn

I am so sorry to hear how bad you are feeling.

It is terrible what a bad service it is for anxiety related problems and depression.

I really hope you get some relief from the suggestion made by chinchi.

My thoughts and good wishes are with you.

Kim

[Meredyn in reply to Kkimm]

Thank you so very much, Kim. You are always so very kind.....❤❤❤❤

[HealthAnxietyGuy]

Wow so sorry to hear the terrible situation. I am suppose to start taking an SSRI and have always been terrified of Seratonin Syndrome.

What does were you taking and for how long?

[rebecca3455 in reply to HealthAnxietyGuy]

Start taking the SSRI, it’s the first line medicine doctors prescribe in treating health anxiety. There are lots of them. I would ask to start on the lowest dose they make, and if you are still anxious about that, perhaps cut it in half for the first few days. Part of my anxiety is also taking any new meds. However when I hit rock bottom I was willing to try anything. Serotonin syndrome is extremely rare, especially if you are on 1 SSRI and start at a reasonable dose. I just started using this app so not sure if we are allowed to give med advice, but Zoloft and lexapro have very minor side effects and you can cut a 25mg Zoloft in 1/2 or try 5 mg lexapro. Good luck let us know how it goes

[HealthAnxietyGuy in reply to rebecca3455]

Great! thanks for the advice. I actually did that this morning as I did that to come off of Effexor 2 years ago. I figured it can be the same when starting since the Effexor was horrible at the start since the lowest dose was still giving me many side effects.

[Ragdoll15]

Well said, agree with you 100%

[Hidden]

Hi Meredyn. Guess you may have perimenopause symptoms. A well woman check in the form of hormone tests at certain times of the month, might give an insight to if you are oestrogen or progesterone dominant. The body fails to produce seratonin in the brain if there is a shortage of oestrogen. If you had a history of PMS, Post partum depression/psychosis this may be linked with progesterone deficiency. If you have not had hormone level tests, then the extra amount of Seratonin on top of that produced naturally might be too high. This may lead to your biphasic anaphalyxis.

If your history and tests point to progesterone deficiency then you may want to have progesterone medication or top it up through your food. The tendency in the UK is to treat women as men disregarding how fluctuations of oestrogen and progesterone can affect your moods, and your health. May be you could get an appointment with a gynaecologist and have tests. Hearing about your treatment makes me feel how women are being failed. Blind HRT hormones if you get migraines tiredness, heavy periods and other symptoms may make you feel worse. You could ask your doctor for tests on your hormones and ask for a referral privately when the NHS tests are back. You get a print out from the practice manager to take to the specialist. The Serotonin Syndrome is recognised so the hormone tests are relevant to you. There are different websites which give lists of foods for progesterone increase on the web such as Healthspan. Sweet potatoes are high, as well as chard, kale, and many other vegetables and nuts. To lower oestrogen if you are dominant, then cutting down on fats and cream, and certain cheese, may help reduce it if it is too high. Hope you can ask some questions as think you have been wrongly assessed. An interesting discovery is that 750mg of vitamin c every day can help your progesterone levels as well as foods. Vitamin c is water soluble so you can't take too much. Zinc and vitamin C may also help your immune system, and your hormone imbalance. Take care.

[rebecca3455]

Wow.. that must have been torture for you and soo scary. The mental health is not any better in the US,unless you live in an urban area. Even then the wait times are crazy to get a psychological eval. So what happens is gp’s and physican assistants or a general nurse practitioner has to prescribe everything. I have never heard of SSRI syndrome happening in that short amount of time, also if you were on Paxil for 5 days why did you have to taper? Perhaps I mixed up what you posted. Same here as far as hospital admissions. Most hospitals don’t have a psych ward and if they do it’s for actively suicidal patients. I have had GAD, panic disorder, PtSD, and agoraphobia since age 23 (now 48) and am / was a therapist working with an MD for many years. I really hope your dr can find the right med or combo that works. Don’t give up as I promise you it’s out there. Unfortunately it’s trial and error.❤️