Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 81591

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My one day with Zoloft and the side effects

Posted by Aaron on October 18, 2001, at 13:04:49

I've been experiencing mild anxiety attacks over the past few years, nothing out of my control. Over the last six months I began experiencing more and more attacks, as well as developing phobias and obsessive compulsive traits. These led me to quit my second job and cut down my current job to two days a week. It also started to affect my relationship with my girlfriend.
So, Monday I decided to talk to my doctor about Paxil and Zoloft. I had printed several surveys off of the internet and filled them out for my doctor to review. He concluded that Zoloft was right for me.
I took my first Zoloft pill that evening, a 20mg starter pill was supplied each day for the first week until it increased to the standard(?) 50mg pill.
That evening I tried to take a short nap but was suddenly awakened by a restlessness in my legs. An hour or two later and amazing sense of euphoria came over me but only lasted a very short time. Both of these effects were tolerable and I expected a few to occur but they persisted to get worse.
The next morning, after only sleeping 3 1/2 hours I was wide awake. I felt as if I had consumed 3 pots of coffee. Lying in bed I started to remember the most vivid-nightmarish dreams I have ever had in that 3 1/2 hours. 10 minutes later my whole body began shaking and I was extremely cold. After 15 minutes this had passed and the hyperness returned to the point that I was dancing and giggling. Then, the chills returned. This went back and forth for the next hour and a half. (Oh, not to mention that I had 7 bowel movements within a 4 hour period). I was also very disoriented, I almost poured Gatorade into a already half-full glass of water and tried to was my hair with body soap...among other embarrassing things.
I decided it was a good idea to return to my doctor. He practically laughed at me and told me that the things I was experiencing could not be coming from Zoloft because it is a mild pill, nothing like Prozac. But, he proceeded to tell me to wait two days before I took another one. A bit contradicting in my eyes.
I went to work that day, barely able to function. Very spacey and "detached" from my body. I thought I saw a 14 foot man on the side of the expressway, not to mention that my anxieties were enhanced 200% about everything. That evening I went to my weekly music lesson and was unable to perform, began shaking incredibly bad and totally broke down crying in front of my teacher.
That night I slept 13 1/2 hours. When I awoke (now Wednesday) I was still in a haze. I couldn't remember phone numbers or what I was doing. It wasn't until 4:00pm that I felt I had regained my sense of being.
All of this from one little 20mg pill of Zoloft, which I vowed never to take again. I know Zoloft has helped many people regain their lives but evidentally this pill is not for everyone. I am going to persue therapy to try to overcome my fears and phobias.

A question for Dr. Bob if he is reading this: I have learned that by taking one 200mg caffeine pill every morning that nearly all of my anxieties disappear and I am able to function my day to day activities flawlessly. I am very social with people and feel like going places and doing things. How dangerous is this 200mg of caffeine a day? What kind of strain am I putting on my body? Do I have to worry about my heart, liver or kidneys? I've read that Zoloft leaves "residue" in the kidneys among other side effects when you try to get off of it, so what would be the lesser of the two evils?

Thanks,
-Aaron

 

To Hell and Back Again: U R not alone

Posted by Cressida on October 18, 2001, at 19:08:00

In reply to My one day with Zoloft and the side effects, posted by Aaron on October 18, 2001, at 13:04:49

Aaron, sounds like you had an uncommon reaction. Seeing a 14ft man and feeling detached is medically referred to as derealization and depersonalization, respectively. I initially felt worse on Zoloft as well; and what I believed were unusual side-effects were explained as unrelated to the medicine. I took 150mg-200mg Zoloft every day for three years before realizing that it wasn't compatible with my mind and body.

It's usually never a mistake to listen to your body, and especially to commonsense. Do whatever works for you. By the way, 200mg of caffeine is no different from driking a cup of coffee - so it should be safe unless you have a heart condition or hypertension.

You're right in the sense that one man's pleasure is another man's pain. If you find that behavioral therapy isn't enough, you might consider talking with your doctor about these drugs:

Paxil
Celexa
Effexor
Remeron
BuSpar

Take care...

 

Re: My one day with Zoloft and the side effects » Aaron

Posted by Mitch on October 19, 2001, at 10:00:31

In reply to My one day with Zoloft and the side effects, posted by Aaron on October 18, 2001, at 13:04:49


> That evening I tried to take a short nap but was suddenly awakened by a restlessness in my legs. An hour or two later and amazing sense of euphoria came over me but only lasted a very short time. Both of these effects were tolerable and I expected a few to occur but they persisted to get worse.
> The next morning, after only sleeping 3 1/2 hours I was wide awake. I felt as if I had consumed 3 pots of coffee. Lying in bed I started to remember the most vivid-nightmarish dreams I have ever had in that 3 1/2 hours. 10 minutes later my whole body began shaking and I was extremely cold. After 15 minutes this had passed and the hyperness returned to the point that I was dancing and giggling. Then, the chills returned. This went back and forth for the next hour and a half. (Oh, not to mention that I had 7 bowel movements within a 4 hour period). I was also very disoriented, I almost poured Gatorade into a already half-full glass of water and tried to was my hair with body soap...among other embarrassing things.
> Thanks,
> -Aaron

Aaron,

There are a few possibiities that could explain some of the stuff that you experienced with the Zoloft. Some people are extremely med-sensitive (especially folks with panic symptoms). Also Zoloft is quite activating (in comparison to similar drugs) and can cause a lot of the things you mentioned. Something at a lower dose that would be somewhat sedative probably would fit you better (i.e. Paxil). Your pdoc shouldn't laugh and brushoff this type of reaction either. Another possibility could be you have some mild bipolar symptoms (hence your antidepressant sensitivity). Also, some of the things you described are consonant with abnormal temporal lobe function in the brain (you might want to repeat this story to a neurologist or behavioural neuro). I am bipolarII and I take a *tiny* dose of Celexa to help with anxiety-any more than that and I get some of the symptoms you described. If you can get decent therapy that works and it helps enough to avoid meds than consider yourself lucky.

good luck
Mitch

 

Re: My one day with Zoloft and the side effects

Posted by Jackster on October 22, 2001, at 4:48:44

In reply to My one day with Zoloft and the side effects, posted by Aaron on October 18, 2001, at 13:04:49

I found Zoloft incredibly activating - it actually made my panic attacks worse. I think doctors are very quick to dismiss effects as being 'impossible to come from the medication' - but not everyone reacts the same, and some people (myself included) are med sensitive. Paxil works best for me - isn't activating, shame about the weight gain though.


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