Mental Health Serotonin syndrome help

[adrianctn]

Dear bluelight users, please help out with my question.

I recently tool 10mg of Prozac, daily, for approximately 1 month. It was supposed to help with a bout of anxiety during a stressful time.

Unfortunately, my anxiety increased significantly while taking the pill. On day 18, I lost the ability to sleep and dream.

I also felt extreme anxiety and some muscle twitching. At the worst, I was almost unable to watch a movie or do a Lego. For 4 days, my dosage was increased to 20mg. My pulse was 120 for several days.

I do not know if I had a fever.

I was stil able to drive/walk/talk to people.

It's been 2 months since stopping the Prozac. I still have significant insomnia and anxiety (but I'm also scared of brain damage). The insomnia bothers me most. I still have some muscle twitches. My lower jaw sometimes has tremor.

Was this Serotonin syndrome? How bad was it and what should I expect for the future?

What can I do for the insomnia?

Thank you so much.

 

[mountainrange]

Prozac is an old drug in comparison to the new ones and in terms of side effects has been noted as being one of the most dangerous antidepressants out there. Many who hurt themselves whilst on the drug or even killing themselves or developing further mental health conditions from using the drug. That being said, some people swear by Zoloft. And some people hate the drug.

You would know if you have serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome in most cases, can be fatal. It's when you have too much serotonin in your brain which overloads your brain and your body and the results obviously, can be devastating. Antidepressants STOP the reuptake of serotonin so basically, does the opposite of what serotonin syndrome clinically does to a human being. Unless you've mixed Prozac with an MAOI or you've been drinking heavily or taken drugs which encourage the over stimulation of serotonin production in your brain then it's probably the side effects of the medication. Tremors are fairly normal with most antidepressants. As is insomnia in some. Anxiety too.

I think you need to change your medication. It sounds like Prozac isn't working for you. It didn't work for me and I think it shouldn't even be legal considering the evidence of its overwhelming side effects but hey, whatever makes big pharma money right..

If you are struggling with sleep and anxiety, why not try Remeron. Or mirtazapine as it's commonly known. It's not an SSRI, it's a tetracyclic antidepressant and works in a different way than other antidepressants and has been well rated and reviewed in terms of combating anxiety and insomnia. I've taken it myself and although the side effects are just too much to bare for me, like confusion and tiredness, also lack of cardiovascular ability too, I could sleep for hours quite easily and my anxiety at the best of time was reasonably controlled.

But these drugs work differently with different people. What might work for me might nor work for you. What IS important is you keep your doctor IN THE LOOP. If your feeling like shit, tell your doctor ASAP. If he is persistent in keeping you on medication that has consistently caused disadvantageous side effects then write to your practice and complain. You are the patient. It's YOUR life. These guys, the doctors and such are paid to help people. But they also can't be held accountable for the things you do not tell them. So strike up a friendship with your doctor and try at the very least to get him to have a look at other alternatives.

Hope I helped