NaturalIgnorance: [Introduction] Not sure if this is long covid or kindling, any advice?

[NaturalIgnorance]

Hello everyone, thank you for creating this webboard.

Here's my introduction post.

 

[Past history]

34M (as of 2025), single, living alone

Was prescribed lorazepam for more than a year when I was 17, got myofascial pain syndrome, headache, brain zaps, feeling weird,  but successfully quit.

- Still have myofascial pain syndrome

Around 2018, on fluoxetine 40-60mg per day for a few years, sometimes with Trazodone for sleep. Successfully quit.

 

[Main issues]

- On August 2023, got Covid, one week later tried sertraline 50mg, got panic attacks after the first dose (never had panic attacks before in my life), and got weird neurological symptoms, genital pain, high gastric acid, and lingering anxiety symptoms, stopped the sertraline

- 3 weeks later mostly recovered, so I tried sertraline again (25mg) for the second dose, this time I got more severe panic attacks, akathisia-like symptoms(I walked all night and couldn't sleep), visual snow, shortness of breath, tremors , severe anxiety symptoms, depersonalization/derealization, genital pains and shrinkage, tinnitus, severe anxiety symptoms, I felt like my brain was permanently damaged and changed that night

- I stopped the sertraline after that (So I had sertraline for only 2 doses in my life, but the side effects still last until today)

- My genital issues was kind of resolved after around 3 weeks.

- Got diagnosed with long covid, blood test found low zinc level at first, so doctor gave me polaprezinc for 6 months, after that my zinc was too high so off the drug.

- At first, a doctor gave me amitriptyline, had it for 1 dose then too afraid to continue due to fear of psychotropic drugs side effects

 

Symptoms right now

 - visual snow, tinnitus, shortness of breath, tremors, palpitation, exercise intolerance, Post Exertional Malaise, brain fog, fatigue,  alcohol intolerance, occasional panic attacks, occasional DPDR, sometimes have flu-like symptoms, high resting heart rate, headache, high gastric acid (got H.pylori gastritis but successfully eradicated on December 2023), stomachache

 

Undergoing 

- Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy(EAT) once a week

- rTMS, once a week (for starter will do 10 sessions, already done 3 sessions so far)

- Take H2 blocker (lafutidine or famotidine) for gastric issues

 

Supplements (take sometimes)

- VitaminC, VitaminB-mix, Magnesium Glycinate, CoQ10

- Eat natto almost everyday

- Eat Kefir or Yogurt almost everyday

- Eat salmon at least twice a week

- Try to intermittent fasting everyday (eat in 10AM to 6PM window)

 

 

[Things I want to ask]

- Some doctor believe that just 2 doses sertraline won't affect me over a year, and think I may have somatic symptoms disorder, he gave me etifoxine, which didn't help, he suggested that I should try lexapro, starting with very low dose (1mg), should I give it a try? (I declined though, but I can get back to him and give it a try, but this is not psychological, more like neurological, brain damage to me)

- I'm not sure if this is long covid or damage from sertraline, or combinations of both. But sertraline definitely trigger the symptoms. Is this likely to be kindling things?

- There was a time that I had panic attacks, then after that my internal tremors were getting better, then my fatigue is getting worse instead. I'm not sure about the trend that I'm getting better, it's been ups and downs, or changing of symptoms. Was that wave and windows?

- If it is wave and windows, does that mean my brain is tuning and actually I'm getting better?

- I have only 2 doses of sertraline. Will I recover? How long? It's been more than a year.

- Any advice for recovery?

 

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm glad you found us.  What you experienced was an immediate adverse reaction to sertraline.  It is possible your nervous system was kindled from the previous psychiatric drugs, and quitting those.  Here is a link about kindling: 

 

Post Withdrawal Nervous System Hypersensitivity - Kindling

 

Can you please add the amitriptyline dosage to your signature box, along with the date and the dosage?  Thank you.  Please add any other drugs as well.  

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully. 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

 

Here is information about adverse reactions. 

 

Adverse Reactions to Antidepressants

 

Immediate Adverse Reaction

 

Unfortunately, it can take a long time to recover from an adverse reaction.  This is because the nervous system is extremely complex, and connected to all the systems in our body.  This could take months.  Not only that, but the COVID could complicate and prolong your recovery as well.  I'm sorry this has happened to you.  

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

[getofflex]

Because my first post was so long, I'll make a second post to say a few more things.  

 

It is strongly suggested to completely avoid alcohol.  Consuming alcohol can cause major setbacks that can last a long time.  Also avoid other mind altering substances of all kinds.  Be very careful with steroids, and antibiotics.  Try to avoid fluoroquinolone antibiotics if you can.  

 

I suggest being very cautious with B vitamins.  They affect the nervous system, and can cause problems for a nervous system that is destabilized. I would suggest not taking any more than the daily recommended allowance.  Many Vitamins have high amounts of B vitamins.  They can be activating, and cause insomnia, agitation, anxiety, etc.  

 

On 1/8/2025 at 4:49 AM, NaturalIgnorance said:

- Some doctor believe that just 2 doses sertraline won't affect me over a year, and think I may have somatic symptoms disorder, he gave me etifoxine, which didn't help, he suggested that I should try lexapro, starting with very low dose (1mg), should I give it a try? (I declined though, but I can get back to him and give it a try, but this is not psychological, more like neurological, brain damage to me

Personally, if it were me, I would avoid the Lexapro.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of doctors will try to keep giving more psych drugs, but this puts you at risk for yet another bad reaction.  I've worked with many people, and once a persons system is destabilized, another psych med is likely to make things even worse.  I agree, that your symptoms are probably more from temporary brain damage.  

 

On 1/8/2025 at 4:49 AM, NaturalIgnorance said:

- I'm not sure if this is long covid or damage from sertraline, or combinations of both. But sertraline definitely trigger the symptoms. Is this likely to be kindling things?

I would suspect it is a combination of both. And yes, you could very well be kindled, by the sertraline.    

 

On 1/8/2025 at 4:49 AM, NaturalIgnorance said:

- There was a time that I had panic attacks, then after that my internal tremors were getting better, then my fatigue is getting worse instead. I'm not sure about the trend that I'm getting better, it's been ups and downs, or changing of symptoms. Was that wave and windows?

It's very common for symptoms to change, for some to stop and new ones come up as we are recovering.  I'm glad to hear the internal tremors are better.  Yes, it sounds like you are having waves and windows.  

 

On 1/8/2025 at 4:49 AM, NaturalIgnorance said:

- If it is wave and windows, does that mean my brain is tuning and actually I'm getting better?

Yes, it does.  

 

Hang in there, and work on learning and applying non drug coping techniques.  It will help you, and these skills will serve you for the rest of your life, long after this is over.  It takes a long time, but in time, with patience, you will recover.  

[NaturalIgnorance]

First, thank you for your reply.

 

15 hours ago, getofflex said:

 

It is strongly suggested to completely avoid alcohol.  Consuming alcohol can cause major setbacks that can last a long time.  Also avoid other mind altering substances of all kinds.  Be very careful with steroids, and antibiotics.  Try to avoid fluoroquinolone antibiotics if you can.

I quitted alcohol since I couldn't tolerate them anymore. 

I also try to avoid hard exercises (before this I was fit and lift weights 5 times a week, I quit gym membership now, but still try to lift dumbbells at home).

Which align with long covid managements (pacing, avoid to do things that make the symptoms worse)

Most doctors don't believe that sertraline just 2 doses can cause these, so I got treated as long covid, or somatic disorder.

 

About antibiotics, on October 2023, I had H.pylori gastritis after covid so I took amoxicillin + clarithromycin, luckily I could tolerate that.

Then November 2023, I had rosacea (never had them before, and no one in my family had them, I think there were inflammations going on on my body), so a dermatologist gave me doxycycline, I couldn't tolerate that.

Then November 2023, A doctor gave me fluoroquinolone for sinusitis, I didn't take them, he gave me amoxicillin instead, I asked for culture the bacteria, it was not even bacterial.

 

Thank you again for your response, it gives me some hope.

 

 

[getofflex]

I'm glad you avoided the fluoroquinolone, and that you avoid alcohol.  Exercise intolerance is very common with destabilized nervous systems.  I still have this myself.  

[getofflex]

I see you are undergoing rTMS.  (Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation).  Are you having this done to try and treat the long COVID?  When our nervous systems are destabilized, anything that affects the brain can cause unpredictable results, and may further aggravate our nervous system problems.  You might want to reconsider this.  

 

TMS Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

 

 

Edited Saturday at 03:33 PM by getofflex

[NaturalIgnorance]

10 hours ago, getofflex said:

I see you are undergoing rTMS.  (Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation).  Are you having this done to try and treat the long COVID?

Yes. It is for long covid (brain fog, cognitive decline, they also measured my IQ before going into the first session too), because most doctors think it's long covid anyway.

I have done 4 sessions of rTMS, for the starter doctor will have me try 10 sessions, once a week.

I still don't feel the positive effects from it, but felt some side effects (headache, neck pain, dizziness, the most noticeable thing that I don't have before is nystagmus) which I can still tolerate.

 

I also tried acupuncture last year, had them for around 10 sessions.

It was kind of working at first, I could feel the effects right after the first session and the next day I could run 5 kilometers.

But as the days go by I felt more panicky and had to stop the acupuncture session because I felt panic attacks were coming during the session, so I quit acupuncture.