Need help and advice - lexapro question

[aliassaila]

Hey whats up everyone. So im new here but I have been lurking for years. I love this forum its great for harm reduction and ive learned alot about pharmacodynamics and just generally everything to do with substances.

So ill get down to the point. And thank you in advance:

My doctor prescribed me lexapro because of some things going on in my life for depression. I was taking it for one week it was working quite well. Last night me and my gf decided to hang out with our friend mj and things were good for a bit then all hell turned loose and I got the worst panic attack ever. Cold sweats and everything. So I tried having a beer which exacerbated the situation. That was 6 hours ago and I still cant sleep and I have a pounding headache. Its not bad enough to go to the hospital, I just want some sleep! There are no medicenters open around here either and I have a pounding headache. Bad decision on my part as I knew the possibility of interaction.

So basically I was wondering if any of the following drugs I have on hand would help and if they would be dangerous after having this effect(possibly due to serotonin toxicity) or mixing with lexapro:

-clorpheniramine
-codeine with aspirin
-tramadol
-seroquel

It sucks I know these all act on serotonin(except sq) and I have no tylenol or anything either. And all these drugs are otc or prescribed.

Thnx all

 

[Bob Loblaw]

-> O Dee

 

[Cyanoide]

I've taken escitalopram with quite a few other medicines together (I've been off escitalopram for a few months now, luckily). I had massive doses of escitalopram and quetiapine at one point, and it is a commonly prescribed combination.

Some SSRI's can actually induce paradoxical reactions, and can exacerbate anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Quetiapine does act on serotonin but as an antagonist, and would reduce the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Codeine should help with the headache, and most people tend to experience opiates/opioides as more or less anxiolytic (maybe less than strong benzos, but still significantly). Also, Codeine is metabolised into morphine by an enzyme called CYP2D6 in your liver and works on the opioid receptor, not your serotonin levels.

Tramadol is, amongst other things, a serotonin releaser, and if you're afraid escitalopram is the problem, I wouldn't recommend taking Tramadol. Although rare, SSRI's and Tramadol can cause serotonin toxicity. Just to be on the safe side I'd avoid Tramadol at the moment.

Quetiapine (Seroquel) is heavily sedating and as it acts as an antagonist on so many receptors, including serotonin, I'd say its' your best bet for calming down (maybe in combination with Codeine).

 

[aliassaila]

reply

Link to origional: http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/...vice-lexapro-question?p=11733096#post11733096

@cyanoide Thank you so much for your quick reply the seroquel and codeine turned my panic into extreme relaxation... I think im more than able to pass out I kinda feel like a big wussy now >. <

Seriously this was more help and information than I would get from any physician around here. You guys are freaking awesome! This saved me a visit to the er and my gf from freaking out telling me to go to the hospital lol. Im signing up as soon as I wake up. And just so you know this forum has also helped many friends of mine in times of crisis and prevented me and many others from doing dangerous and potentially fatal things. BTW There is definitely a huge gap between real world application of this kind of knowledge and the behind the desk knowledge of doctors where I live and it shows. I would take primary advice from many posters here over anyone else which sounds kinda silly considering its an internet forum, but it feels more like an internet community if that makes sense

May karma catch you on the rebound

Thnx again!

Im feeling kinda loopy but in a good way. Vera nice hehe