Okay, first of all is serotonin syndrome a cut and dry syndrome, or can there be various levels of severity? If I were experiencing serotonin syndrome and needed help, would I be able to recognize that or would I be to out of it to know? Are there any warning signs? Thanks in advance.
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Serotonin Syndrome - When do you know?
- Thread starter Alex000
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NeighborhoodThreat
Bluelight Crew
It is varying in severity for sure. the wikidoc article for it is quite extensive in scope and outlines the effects quite well.
Cognitive effects: mental confusion, hypomania, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma.
Autonomic effects: shivering, sweating, fever, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea.
Somatic effects: myoclonus/clonus (muscle twitching), hyperreflexia, tremor.
^From the wikidoc article.
Don't think because you're not experiencing all these symptoms that you don't have serotonin syndrome. Yes, serotonin syndrome is potentially life-threatening. Always make sure to check for interactions before mixing drugs to minimize the possibility of negative effects such as serotonin syndrome.
Cognitive effects: mental confusion, hypomania, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma.
Autonomic effects: shivering, sweating, fever, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea.
Somatic effects: myoclonus/clonus (muscle twitching), hyperreflexia, tremor.
^From the wikidoc article.
Don't think because you're not experiencing all these symptoms that you don't have serotonin syndrome. Yes, serotonin syndrome is potentially life-threatening. Always make sure to check for interactions before mixing drugs to minimize the possibility of negative effects such as serotonin syndrome.
StaySedated
Bluelighter
oh you'll know...
Limpet_Chicken
Bluelighter
Oh you will know, in fact you will KNOW, with no shadow of a doubt, and really wish to god you didn't.
My g/f went through it once not long ago, after a sudden, unpredictable interaction between a triptan migrain medication and daily SSRI treatment, had taken both together many times, and all of a sudden, the shit hit the fan.
Left her collapsed on the floor in agony, unable to stand or do much of anything.
She would have called the hospital, but by the time she was able to move she had begun to recover. Thought she was going to die at the time, scared the piss out of her, not to mention me when I found out, and she doesn't scare easily at all, for the lady in question to think about seeing a doctor, it takes little short of a mauling by a rabies-infected mountain lion, or a swim in a lake full of starving pirhana.
Unless perhaps it happens, and you were 'lucky' enough for it to be the merest hint of a bad reaction from a tiny dose of whatever combination triggers it, you will damned well know about it.
If you needed help, there is every chance you would be sufficiently incapacitated to seek it.
My g/f went through it once not long ago, after a sudden, unpredictable interaction between a triptan migrain medication and daily SSRI treatment, had taken both together many times, and all of a sudden, the shit hit the fan.
Left her collapsed on the floor in agony, unable to stand or do much of anything.
She would have called the hospital, but by the time she was able to move she had begun to recover. Thought she was going to die at the time, scared the piss out of her, not to mention me when I found out, and she doesn't scare easily at all, for the lady in question to think about seeing a doctor, it takes little short of a mauling by a rabies-infected mountain lion, or a swim in a lake full of starving pirhana.
Unless perhaps it happens, and you were 'lucky' enough for it to be the merest hint of a bad reaction from a tiny dose of whatever combination triggers it, you will damned well know about it.
If you needed help, there is every chance you would be sufficiently incapacitated to seek it.
K'd-OUT-in-AZ
Bluelighter
I believe I may have suffered it once, I took a bunch of unknown pills together thinking they were maybe pain killers and muscle relaxers and then I suffered symptoms similar to what Neighborhood mentioned and what Limpet's girlfriend went through. Sounds similar, it sucked because I thought I was going to die. My friend took them too and went through the same shit.
Albion
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2010
- Messages
- 11,070
Yes it is absolutely HORRIBLE. No matter what severity, it's intolerable. Torture from the inside out, basically. There are a few people on here who can testify. Those of us who have had it obviously only have had mild-moderate SS. Those who get severe SS unfortunately probably don't live to tell the tale. I believe you die after your body goes into shock. Cardiac arrest? Or Hypothermia? Extremely unpleasant...
Escapedysphoria
Ex-Bluelighter
I also believe I experienced this during a dxm trip while taking an SNRI (I was ignorant to the interaction at the time). It was hell... I was hypomanic at first one second I'd feel really euphoric and then the next I was having a panic attack and I had to be suffering from hypothermia (also my heart was beating waaay too fast) because my body was covered in sweat and I kept feeling freezing cold then the next minute I would feel extremely overheated and my body would go completely numb, and I kept feeling like I was going to faint. I was so confused and was completely delusional. Definitely had visual hallucinations as well. The hypomania went away in the daytime and I was just completely dysphoric, anxious and felt physically sick too
Limpet_Chicken
Bluelighter
My dear lady suffered severe hyperthermia, heart rate went through the roof, severe anxiety, nausea, and muscle rigidity, so much so she couldn't move, after she collapsed, and very severe head pain.
I found out after she recovered and was terrified for her, so much so I would far rather it had been me in that situation, rather than her. For my other half to seek medical help for anything it has to be severe, she finds it very difficult to get to the doctors, because she has a problem of unknown cause, that stops her producing ACTH, and is always exhausted, and not often fit to drive. Although of course, driving in the middle of a serotonin syndrom attack is going to be pretty much impossible. At least if it had been me, I would probably be more likely to survive, given I don't have any problem with my adrenal function.
I found out after she recovered and was terrified for her, so much so I would far rather it had been me in that situation, rather than her. For my other half to seek medical help for anything it has to be severe, she finds it very difficult to get to the doctors, because she has a problem of unknown cause, that stops her producing ACTH, and is always exhausted, and not often fit to drive. Although of course, driving in the middle of a serotonin syndrom attack is going to be pretty much impossible. At least if it had been me, I would probably be more likely to survive, given I don't have any problem with my adrenal function.
K'd-OUT-in-AZ
Bluelighter
If what I suffered from was serotonin syndrome I can testify that it was awful. I didn't know if I should move or stay put but either way I felt like I was going to die going back and forth, my friend I kept saying we're going to die. We even had a 30 pack and didn't feel like drinking which those words have never been said before. I drove down to my house to pick up some Klonopin, took like 6mg and it didn't work. I can't explain how I felt, all I know is that I couldn't figure out what to do because I felt like I was going to die either way. Awful feeling. But like I said, if what was happening really was SS.