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Is serotonin syndrome recovery worse than SSRI withdrawal in duration?

Posted , 4 users are following.

jackie_86635
jackie_86635

Hi all, I developed serotonin syndrome in February, or at least a sensitivity to amitriptyline.

I was being kept awake every night, all night by brain zaps and strong muscle jerks.

My doctors said it was just stress and sent me away. I was admittedly suffering with crushing anxiety alongside these symptoms.

I was prescribed zopiclone which made me feel grotty, antihistamines which would have interacted with serotonin (phenergen) to help me sleep. Eventually I asked for melotonin which I was refused so I bought some over the counter which I didn't realise had 5htp in it.

I took it that night and ended up with a massive panic attack and a burning stomach. Since then, I have had muscle spasms, the same crushing anxiety, buzzing in my muscles, blurred vision and all of the classic moderate symptoms. Still it went undiagnosed. I stumbled upon it on the Web and stopped taking my meds 8 weeks ago.

I now have very few windows. It's got worse. I went 5 days without sleep but had a lovely, happy window day yesterday. Last night I was back to no sleep again, and worse, my jerks and brain zaps are back which had disappeared weeks ago.

I don't take supplements, I am very sensitive to foods and most days I can't eat at all. I'm devastated that my parents are having to care for my beautiful little boy and that I feel no affection for him on bad days. The guilt is eating me up but I just can't bear to be around people but I'm so lonely too.

I can't sustain this much longer. I've read that ssri withdrawals can last many years and I'm terrified that this will too since the Windows and waves symptoms are so similar.

I was expecting the trajectory to carry on like it was but why I have I had such a long and hard crash this time? Could this, at 2 months be amitriptyline withdrawals onset? I was doing so much better two weeks ago. I really need some hope.

Thanks

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Gillian_68
    Gillian_68 jackie_86635

    Posted

    You’ve increased your Serotonin levels by taking 5HTP. Definitely sounds like an overdose of serotonin. Recent studies have shown that meds for depression, actually make people even more depressed. Although serotonin is found in the brain, a lot is found in the digestive system, if your digestive system is healthy, it lowers your chance of depression. A good B vitamin supplement is helpful. 
    • david911
      david911 Gillian_68

      Posted

       Hello Gillian. I absolutely agree with you. Some of these drugs actually produce the effects that they are meant to suppress. Therefore, great caution and reluctance should be applied to using them.
    • jackie_86635
      jackie_86635 Gillian_68

      Posted

      I worked out this afternoon that I've just has SS again!!!! I was taking cyproheptadine but not consistently, so it was blocking the serotonin and on days that I hadn't taken it, letting it all go at once. Now know need to be careful with that too. Won't be taking it again. Thanks for the reply

    • jackie_86635
      jackie_86635 Gillian_68

      Posted

      They've gone now, but I had extreme vomiting and diarrhea. Everything was just getting worse. Slept well last night, no brain zaps. It was definitely another attack of SS from the cyproheptadine. I'll get it yellow carded at the pharmacy today.

      Have you had SS or take SSRIs?

    • jackie_86635
      jackie_86635 david911

      Posted

      They do. My daughter is taking SSRIs. I've been begging her to taper and go onto a TCA instead.

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