dimi27: Desperate for guidance (Bad reaction to sertraline?)

[dimi27]

Hi all,

 

I am desperate for some guidance. I will write my story below about my experience with Sertraline (25mg). 

 

Backstory: Since may dealing with panic attacks and anxiety disorder and OCD. Made some progress but still not able to do many things.

 

Symptoms I experienced:

• Jelly legs

• Shortness of breath

• Anxiety

• Heart palpitations/PVCs

• Vertigo/dizzy spells

• Weakness in right hand and right leg 

• Stabbing nerve pains

• Tense muscles

• Tingling/numbness

 

September after running some cardiology tests to rule out an underlying condition causing the PVCs, I decided I wanted to try out medication in hopes it would give me that final push into full recovery. I felt like I was informed pretty well by my psychiatrist and we decided on Sertraline because that's what my sister takes and it did wonders for her. I was therefore quite hopeful it would do well for me too. 

25 september dose 1 of Sertraline (25 mg)

This day I felt my anxiety slightly elevated and more tense muscles which caused some uncomfortable stabbing pains but I was already used to these since I had them before.

 

26 september - 29 september (25 mg a day)

I had headaches, nausea, increased anxiety, pretty intense bruxism and tension in my body. It was still quite manegable though and since i was nearing the '7 days' mark where I was told my side effects would become less and less, I was pushing through still quite excited and hopeful for when the relief would kick in.

 

However, on the evening of 29 september out of nowhere (can't recall any trigger) my body seemed to go into a pretty heavy fight or flight mode. I felt very off balance, vertigo, floaty, this extreme tension in my face by my jaws. I decided to get up off bed and splash my face with some cold water and went to lay back down.

 

When I laid back down I believe I experienced a panic attack, however I've had many panic attacks in the previous month and this experience was like no other. Usually my panic attacks were the typical, tunnel vision, racing heart, sweats, shortness of breath, hyperventilating, dizzy, tingling in my legs, heavy legs.

 

But what happened here I still don't know till this day. I laid down and noticed a tingling coming up. In my legs and hands. It didn't stay there however as usually would. Instead it took over my whole body. I did not know what was overcoming me. My entire body felt on fire, like i was being burned alive. I was extremely hot and the pins and needles were everywhere, my entire body, face, everything. It was the most painful, uncomfortable and scary experience of my life. I don't know why I did not call 911. All I could tell myself was just breathe breathe. So i was just breathing through it. I was not hyperventilating. In fact I was able to be quite calm throughout the whole experience. The entire body burning ended up subsiding a bit after what felt like an eternity. I just remember lying in the same position too scared to move or get up. I remember my lips were completely numb, i could not feel any touch to it. I had a constant falling sensation, like i was fallout out of my body and melting through my bed. I laid in that position focusing on my breath for hours until eventually I fell asleep. The day after I called my psychiatrist and he assured me I should continue as it would get better.

 

I decided to continue, 30 september - 2 october I kept taking the 25 mg. These days were met with random panic attacks, not as bad as the one just described but still extremely uncomfortable. The anxiety kept raising and I felt suicidal and paranoid for the first ever time in my life. I decided to quit the next day, october 3rd. However I was so scared for withdrawal on october 4 I took 12.5mg. On october 5 I did however decide to quit definitely after having been able to have an emergency call with another psychiatrist who assured me I would need no taper since I only took it for 9 days. 
 

Good to mention I took oxazepam 10 mg on 1-4 october to help manage. 

 

The first week after quitting was still rough but after this week my extremely heightened anxiety subsided back to how i was pre meds. The intrusive thoughts, suicidal thoughts and paranoia subsided over the next few days too which I was very grateful for.

 

However physically I remained a wreck. Barely unable to walk to the toilet from being extremely off balance, weak and dizzy feeling like i'm on a boat. Along with a floating/falling sensation in my body. 

 

The next few weeks I was bed bound BUT quite hopeful as I felt like I was slowly recovering. I'd say around 3 weeks after quitting I was able to sit on the couch for not too long, make my own food and started feeling a bit better. However I had bad headaches, an extremely heavy head feeling and when I would stand or sit unsupported for longer than a few minutes I would become unwell. Like my body could not tolerate it. This made me still pretty much bed bound but at least I was able to do little things. I also started to experience extreme muscle fatigue but overall felt like I was still slowly improving. Trying really mild excercise and yoga from bed etc. 

 

I'd say around november 1 I started feeling worse again, I felt ill and unwell. I seem to have a throat infection and initially I thought this just made me feel extra worse. I don't know about that though. Right now I'm barely able to walk again, and to sit. I now have intense full body numbness, again extreme floating feelings, falling sensations when I'm lying down, weakness and coordination loss in both my hands, severe feeling of disconnection from my body. I had extreme neck pain but in this dissociation state I don't feel my pain anymore but I know it's still there if that makes sense? Which makes me really scared because I'm afraid I'll hurt my body since I can't properly feel it now. Also sensitiviy to light, smell and sound. 

 

I guess I just wish some guidance, tips, techniques. Maybe some recognition... I'm very alone in this. A few days back I had a full blood panel done which did not show anything odd. My GP therefore does not want to refer me to a neurologist. 
 

I feel like that medication and the initial panic attack with the extremely heightened anxiety it caused was like the final nail in the coffin for my nervous system? Mentally I barely feel anxious these days. It feels like my nervous system is severely burnt out and behaving very wrong. I don't know where to go from here. What should I do. What can I do. I'm scared. 

[dimi27]

I have added my signature  apologies

[Jane318]

Greetings @dimi27 and welcome to SA!  We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes. 

 

Thank you for completing you drug signature.  Just to be sure - Oxazepam 10 mg is the only drug you are taking currently, correct?  If you take supplements, it would be helpful to list those also, because some can be neuro-active and may worsen withdrawal symptoms.

 

I am so sorry for all you have experienced / are experiencing.  Your history indicates that you had a strong adverse reaction to sertraline.  Many of the symptoms you list as having occurred after starting this drug are mentioned in the list of side effects at: https://www.drugs.com/sfx/sertraline-side-effects.html.  If you search this site for sertraline, you will find other members who also experienced adverse reactions to this powerful drug.   I am sorry your doctor did not have you stop the drug immediately.  Recommend you try to avoid using oxazepam also.   You might also check out https://www.drugs.com/sfx/oxazepam-side-effects.html. 

13 hours ago, dimi27 said:

I guess I just wish some guidance, tips, techniques. Maybe some recognition... I'm very alone in this. A few days back I had a full blood panel done which did not show anything odd. My GP therefore does not want to refer me to a neurologist. 

You are in the right place.  You are not alone here.  I am grateful that your bloodwork came back normal, that is very important.

 

13 hours ago, dimi27 said:

I feel like that medication and the initial panic attack with the extremely heightened anxiety it caused was like the final nail in the coffin for my nervous system? Mentally I barely feel anxious these days. It feels like my nervous system is severely burnt out and behaving very wrong. I don't know where to go from here. What should I do. What can I do. I'm scared. 

You have been through a lot, but our amazing bodies are designed to heal.  The numbness you feel right now is your CNS / brain taking a necessary but temporary "time out."  Please know this is temporary.  Try not to fear, this only works against you.  I will share some resources that I hope will help you understand and cope with what you are dealing with.  You will heal.  It may take months, but you will get through this.

 

As you heal, it is very normal to have periods where you feel better, and periods where you feel terrible.  This is what we call the windows and waves pattern of stabilization.  This is actually a good sign of healing!  Read more about windows and waves here:   The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization.

 

In terms of coping with symptoms, we have many, many threads on this subject here at SA- I will link some of them below. 

 

Apathy, anhedonia, emotional numbness, emotional anesthesia 

 Derealization or Depersonalization

 Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

"Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms

Dealing With Emotional Spirals

Symptoms and self-care

Getting Started With Mindfulness

 

There are a few things you can do to help your nervous system heal.  Eat a balanced, whole foods diet, stay well hydrated, engage in gentle exercise, and get adequate rest/sleep.  Avoid all neurologically active substances, like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and recreational drugs- these are like pouring gasoline on a fire for your symptoms.  Avoid adding any further psychiatric medications to deal with your withdrawal from psych meds- the effects of these meds on a destabilized nervous system is unpredictable, and taking something else could make you worse.

 

We recommend only two supplements here at SA, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.  

 

 

The important thing is to trust your body, that it knows how to heal and never give up Trust Your Body: Learning to Heal

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  

 

I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

Best wishes.

[dimi27]

Hi Jane, Thank you so much for giving me a sense of support and understanding. I have not been able to get this within my network. Your post made me cry instantly and give a sigh of relief.

 

13 minutes ago, Jane318 said:

Thank you for completing you drug signature.  Just to be sure - Oxazepam 10 mg is the only drug you are taking currently, correct?  If you take supplements, it would be helpful to list those also, because some can be neuro-active and may worsen withdrawal symptoms.

 

I only took oxazepam on oct 1st until oct 4 to cope with the sertraline side effects  I have avoided it since then as well. I also don't take any supplements as I've been indeed scared it will worsen me. 

 

Thank you for the resources I am excited to read through them all 

[dimi27]

@Jane318 Hi Jane,

 

Is it okay to take paracetamol for pain/headaches or better not? And what about gaviscon for acid reflux?

[Jane318]

15 hours ago, dimi27 said:

Hi Jane, Thank you so much for giving me a sense of support and understanding. I have not been able to get this within my network. Your post made me cry instantly and give a sigh of relief.

I only took oxazepam on oct 1st until oct 4 to cope with the sertraline side effects  I have avoided it since then as well. I also don't take any supplements as I've been indeed scared it will worsen me. 

Thank you for the resources I am excited to read through them all 

@dimi27 - Your kind words are so appreciated, and nearly made ME cry.  We are all suffering so much, it is important and consoling to know we have a community here that understands.

Grateful you took oxazepam so briefly.  It can be helpful, but can quickly get you to the point where you have another drug needing to be tapered.  I am glad you are avoiding it.  Also, probably good to avoid supplements too right now, too.  If / when you wish to find out more about SA's take on supplements during tapering / withdrawal, you can read about it here:  https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/606-important-topics-about-tests-supplements-treatments-diet/

 

[Jane318]

8 hours ago, dimi27 said:

@Jane318 Hi Jane,

 

Is it okay to take paracetamol for pain/headaches or better not? And what about for acid reflux?

I have no personal knowledge, but I did search the site for paracetamol (acetaminophen).  It appears it is helpful for some while others felt it worsened their symptoms.  You might try a small dose and see how it affects you and whether it seems to help the headache. Here's a page that discusses this:  Painkillers in withdrawal: aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, acetaminophen, naproxen, codeine.

 

We do discourage taking NSAIDs, like ibuprofen.  

 

Regarding gaviscon, again, I have no personal knowledge but I searched the site and again, found that seems to help some people, not others.  I didn't spot any "avoid at all costs" flags.  One concern are additives that may be problematic.  Again, you might try and see how you respond and if it helps.  Regardless, you want to avoid over-use.  You might Google natural therapies for acid reflux.  Perhaps try some baking soda dissolved in water?

 

 

[Yesyes123]

It's great you're here.

 

On 11/12/2024 at 11:32 AM, dimi27 said:

I felt like I was informed pretty well by my psychiatrist

We all did my dear...

 

First thing to know is that although this might feel permanent in the moment, it truly is not, in due time and with the proper information you will be able to make the right decisions that will aid you and direct you towards healing.

 

Doctors will always call it relapse when in fact it is withdrawal symptoms from the drugs they gave you.

 

It would be very hard for them to take responsability for what is going on and forcing that onto them is also useless.

 

Changing doses and drugs often is like playing ping pong with your brain - your body seeks stability and not this constant rollercoaster, it only intensifies the symptoms.

 

What I would do in this scenario is maybe reinstate a small dose of sertraline.

[Yesyes123]

On 11/13/2024 at 1:58 AM, dimi27 said:

I have not been able to get this within my network.

 

It is very hard to get anyone to truly understand these things and often times best to only talk about it with those truly familiar with them

[Jane318]

18 hours ago, Yesyes123 said:

What I would do in this scenario is maybe reinstate a small dose of sertraline.

I do not recommend this since you had a strong adverse reaction to this drug.  You were on it for such a short period of time, you are not dealing with withdrawal, you are healing from the adverse reaction. In the case of an adverse reaction, SA's recommendation is to immediately stop taking the drug.  Taking again, even a small dose, would likely add fuel to the fire.

[dimi27]

1 hour ago, Jane318 said:

I do not recommend this since you had a strong adverse reaction to this drug.  

 

I agree, I don't feel like it would be right for me to re-instate. As I never experienced any positive effects of the med to begin with and I've been off it now for nearly 8 weeks

[Yesyes123]

Jane318 is a moderator so I would follow whatever their recommendation is.

I only mention reinstating a small dose because that is one of the only known methods for alleviating deep suffering with problems caused by these drugs.

But since you were on them for such a small time period there might be better options to cope until fully healed.

Peace

[Jane318]

On 11/14/2024 at 8:46 PM, Yesyes123 said:

I only mention reinstating a small dose because that is one of the only known methods for alleviating deep suffering with problems caused by these drugs.

Reinstatement is appropriate when dealing with severe withdrawal due to a CT or too-fast taper.  It is not appropriate when dealing with an adverse reaction to a drug.

[Jane318]

How are you doing @dimi27?  Wishing you the best for the holidays.

[dimi27]

@Jane318 Hello Jane happy holidays. Still very much suffering unfortunately. Every day is different but on my best days I'm still 80% bedbound. 

 

I am pursuing further investigations now because I suspect possibly cervical instability and POTS that were made worse by the SSRI

[Jane318]

I am so sorry to hear of your continued extreme suffering.  What are your symptoms at present?  Do you see any improvement compared to about a month ago?  Do you have help around the house, someone to be with / talk to?  It's really important to be eating nutritious food - protein and healthy fats.  Are you able to prepare food or have help with this?  Please keep us posted on the additional investigations.  

[dimi27]

@Jane318 Hi Jane,

 

Currently I experience

 

• a lot of neck pain, jaw pain, a feeling of instability, like my head it too heavy. 

• dizziness and vertigo upon being upright (sitting or standing)

• breathing issues (laboured breathing when upright)

• dissociated/spaced out episodes

• weakness in hands and feet

• nerve pain (burning or stabbing) in lower legs and feet + arms and hands

• brainfog/coginitive issues

• loss of balance and coordination

• muscle fasciculations, spasms, internal tremors, weird skin sensations like crawling bugs

 

I'm lucky to stay with family now and they take care of me. Though, diet is hard because we don't have a lot of money but I try my best. I dont really see any improvement in my symptoms. There is only mental improvement as in my attitude towards the symptoms is less anxious and more accepting, even though it remains extremely hard. 

[Jane318]

I am so grieved for what you are suffering.  Are all these symptoms new, since the two weeks on sertraline? 

 

I commend you for having the courage to work on your mental attitude in the midst of this - this is huge.  Our thinking affects our healing.  And I am relieved to hear you are have family to take care of you through this.  

 

Please keep us posted.