Sertraline :: Zoloft - Brain Buzzing Vision Twitching Episodes
Jul 12, 2014
im on 100mg zoloft and have been since April 30 so approx 2.5 months. I was slowly upped from 25 to 50 to 75 to 100 over the course of a month. The last 2 weeks (but not daily) i've been getting those weird brain buzzing vision twitching episodes even when I haven't missed a dose. I normally take the meds at night after dinner and if I forget, by morning im getting those weird feelings and they don't go away for quite a while even after remembering the dose. I don't miss a dose often, maybe 2 or 3 times since I started taking it. Anyone else have this happen?! Does that mean my dose needs to be upped?!
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I'm going to start off by saying my condition/illness or whatever it may be is a medical mystery to six doctors (physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists) and that I am unemployed and rejecting job offers because my condition limits my abilities and brain function. It is a roadblock in my life and I can't seem to drive around it. I am a healthy and fit 24 y/o male who has been suffering from transient, hard to describe disorientating episodes/spells that I first had the pleasure of experiencing at 18. Since then, the episodes have occurred almost daily but do not last all day long - they are TRIGGERED by certain situations and environments. I can feel the spells gradually, but pretty quickly coming on (they don't occur at the drop of a hat) and I actually have the ability to stop them by laying down in a dark room and literally putting a pillow over my face and just "shutting down" for a couple minutes. Weird, I know. The "spells" last anywhere from 10 minutes to multiple hours, depending on if I get to a dark room with a pillow. I've tried multiple migraine medications and none have even remotely helped.
Triggers:
-Focusing on something for more than a few minutes - even talking to a person! I can't even talk to a freaking family member face-to-face without falling into one of these spells. One minute I'm fine and then there's a total disconnect between what I'm seeing and my cognitive function. Depth perception also throws me off here.
-Similar to focusing...when I'm talking for an extended period of time. It feels like my brain is totally deprived of oxygen and I then fall into one of these disorienting episodes
-Light contrast situations, especially when I'm in a well-lit room when it's dark outside. It's like my brain doesn't "agree" with what i'm seeing and the light situation
Symptoms:
In addition to feeling extremely disoriented, the other symptoms include a general feeling of disconnectedness, brain fog, a headache of pinpoint pain in the back right of my head that occurs during most of the episodes, a massive drop in mood and overall emotion (apathy I guess you could say), a minor lack of memory of anything that occurred during one of these episodes (for example if I read 5-10 pages during one of the spells I wouldn't remember specific details of the read but would remember the general theme and whatnot), and extreme cognition trouble (speaking, writing and even focusing on a person and their eyes). One minute I'm thinking and speaking clearly and the next minute one of these episodes can surface and I start to totally jumble my thoughts, words and sentences and I sound like a complete idiot. At this point in the dizzy spell, I want to just lay in bed and cover a pillow over my face in the dark. When I do that, it's literally like hitting the reset button and the symptoms decrease significantly.
I have had an EEG and and a brain MRI - both normal.
These episodes or spells or whatever they are are affecting my quality of life. I used to be a very happy, energetic and social person and now this issue is somewhat holding me back, though I do go up against it daily in hopes that I can increase my tolerance of the spells, which I can't.
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I have a lot of unanswered questions about the withdraw process of Zoloft.
In my desperate attempts to wean myself or completely stop taking it all together, I find myself just going back to my regular dosage of 150 mg a night. this medicine has changed me as a person all together. I was diagnosed with stress induced asthma 2 years ago and since then been on zoloft. I am no longer the outgoing, energetic, and spontaneous teen that i was and i have had just about enough of it.
Well now its day 4 of my withdraws My mind is racing and i cant focus on one particular thought.
every few minutes it feels like a brief electric charge is sent through my brain and body.
sex is not of interest to me (girlfriend= not happy) I feel weak, very very week. No energy to do anything, i just want to sleep. easily annoyed and angered (almost impossible to control) dizziness and fatigue are setting in. headache from hell.
if any of this sounds familiar or you can relate to and you have tried this for yourself. Let me know if its possible to just STOP.
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Hi, I’m hoping some people can hopefully give me some advice please regarding treatment. My history: I’m 30, diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency via an insulin tolerance test. I have borderline low hypothyroidism, low prolactin. No cysts. I am 40kg, 5ft tall so I am very petite.
I currently take hydrocortisone after each meal 8am-4 mg, 12m-4mg, 3.30pm-4mg, 8pm- 3 mg. I have to take my medication following food to reduce the intensity of the spike. I also cannot tolerate more than 5mg at one time without getting awful side effects of anxiety and panic when the tablet peaks in my blood at 30 minutes. Each doe I take only lasts around 2.5-3 hours.If I am to take 10mg at once I feel ‘high’ and ‘rushy’ and anxious when it kicks in then after 3 hours its starts to drop and I feel low cortisol again.
I feel like I am swinging all day every day. I am still so fatigued, have very bad dizziness and brain fog, light sensitivity, blurred vision, weakness, leg and arm cramps, reactive hypoglycemia and achy.
4 weeks ago I ended up having an adrenal crises, yes it was horrendous and scary but I got through it and in a way it was a blessing because it has been a BIG wake up call that I need to stop being scared of trying new medication in fear of getting sicker and realised I have got to try and get myself well.
I have been so unwell since I was 21 I am now 30. ….i have lost so much of my life and I am sacred I am never going to get better or managed.
My consultant prescribes medrol a while ago and I have been too scared to start to but after my crises I started it. I am now taking 1mg Medrol in the morning and then 3 more doses of hydrocortisone at 4mg, 4mg and 2.5mg…
When I first started the Medrol I could feel it working but now its like I can not feel it and by 4 hours later I am feeling hypoglycaemic, weak nauseas etc… I am feeling so unwell after I eat a meal, like all my bodies energy is wiped out from digesting my food and im now lying in bed weak, giddy and lots of pain cramps in my arms and legs…
I have low blood pressure and my consultants suggested
fludrocortisone. I just don’t know what to do anymore. My consultants saying I shouldn’t feel so unwell and im just so lost.
Has anyone been on Medrol and can give advice on this. Im very petite, 5ft and 40 kg…I just feel so up and down and struggling with it all and also feel my symptoms get worse or better during certain times of the month..
i also cannot tolerate many carbohydrates because my blood glucose pikes very high at 1 1/2 hours post eating and drops every low by 21/2-3 hours.
I’ve now had to set up a backup carer to help when am unwell because i am on my own with 2 young children. I am getting help with them now and also trying to get support for taking them to school…im slowly getting there
I have also done a month of blood tests looking at progesterone and estrogen and have found a pattern in some of my symptoms.. I most definitely feel my worst when I am coming off my period, stopping bleeding where I start to feel cold and foggy and nauseous I then when ovulating feel at my worst and the 2 days when my estrogen was highest I had severe anxiety, tremor, agoraphobia, intense drowsiness after eating and these symptoms always disappear once I ovulate and start seeing progesterone mucous . Apart from these symptoms which come on with my cycle I suffer with all my other symptoms throughout the whole month with increase and decrease throughout my cycle.
I have included a lot of tests below and anyone who feels they can help would be so much appreciated. Thank you for your time
These are my most recent blood test
June 20th 2014
Autoimmune profile – normal no action
Mitochondrial antibody level – negative
Anti-smooth muscle autoantibodies – negative
Panetta cell autoantibodies – negative
Reticulum antibody titre – negative
Anti-liver kidney micro ab lev – negative
Serum vitamin D – 71 nmol/l
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate – 9 mm/h (0-15)
Total white cell count - 6.5 10*9/L (3.5-10.0010*9/L)
Red blood cell count - 4.14 10*12/L (3.8-5.0010*12/L)
Haemoglobin estimation - 119g/L (115.00-145.00g/L)
Haematocrit - 0.360L/L (0.36-0.46L/L)
Mean Corpuscular volume (MCV) - 87Fl (84-98)
Mean Corusc. Haemoglobin (MCH) - 28.7pg (27.5-32)
Mean Corpusc. HB conc (MCHC) - 331g/L (300-360)
Red cell distribution width - 15.1% (<14.50%)
Platelet count - 194 10.9/L (150-400 0010*9/L)
Neutrophil count 3.3 - 10.9/L (1-3.5010*9/L)
Lymphocyte count - 2.0 10*9/l (1-3.5010*9/L)
Monocyte count 0.8 - 10.9/L (0.31.0010*9/L)
Eosinophil count - 0.3 10*9/L (<0.401089/L)
Basophil count - 0.1 10*9/L (<0.1010*9/L)
Serum folate - 4ug/L (3-20)
Serum ferritin - 8ug/L (10-200)
Vitamin B12 - 632 ng/L (200-910)
TSH - 3.04 mu/L (0.35-5)
Free T4 - 11pmol/L (9-22)
Liver function tests
Total bilirubin level - 7umol/L (1-21)
ALT - 9 U/L (1-50)
Blood calcium level 2.16 mmol//L
Corrected serum calcium level – 2.14 mmol/L (2.20-2.60)
Serum inorganic phosphate - 1.44mmol/L (0.8-1.50)
Serum alkaline phosphatase – 54 U/L (30-130)
Serum total protein 69 g/L (60-80)
Serum albumin - 40 g/L (35-50)
Serum globulin - 29 g/L(22-40)
Serum sodium - 136 mmol/L (133-146)
Serum potassium - 4mmol (3.5-5.3)
Serum urea level - 3.8 (2.50-7.8)
Serum creatinine - 49 umol/L (20-103)
Plasma C reactive protein - 0.3mg/L (<5.00mg/l)
I paid for a whole series of blood tests. They was taken on day 4 of my period, I had fasted for 12 hours. I was salt fasted for 24 hours and remained sitting up prior to the test and during the test so the aldosterone and renin tests were accurate. The bloods were taken at 9am. I take hydrocortisone 15mg a day and took my last dose of 2.5mg at 8pm the night before the test. I was taking no supplimenst or anything else around the time of the test.
HORMONE PROFILE
Aldosterone 399.0 pmol/L Upright 100 - 800 pmol/L Supine 100 - 8450pmol/L
RENIN 66.2 mU/L Upright 5.4 - 60 mU/L Supine 5.4 - 30 mU/L
Aldosterone: Renin ratio 6 <80 Conn's Unlikely
FSH 6.1 U/L
LH 11.9
Oestradiol 106 pmol/L
Prolactin 144 mU/L 102 - 496
Cortisol (basal) 449 nmol/L (171 - 536) (BASAL 171-536, EVENING 64 - 327)
Free T3 4.8 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)
Thyroid stimulating hormone 2.310 mU/L (0.270 -4.200)
Free T4 14.0 pmol/L (12 - 22)
FULL BLOOD COUNT
WBC 4.90 x10^9/L (4.0 - 11.0)
RBC 4.43 x10^12/L (3.80 -5.80)
Haemoglobin 135 g/L (120 - 150) R
HCT 0.41 ratio (0.36 -0.46)
MCV 93.0 fL (80.0 -100.0)
MCH 30.4 pg (27.0 -32.0)
MCHC 326 g/L (315 - 345)
Platelets 241 x10^9/L (140 - 440)
RDW 11.8 (0.0 - 14.0) **
MPV 9.3 fL
Neutrophils(Abs) 2.58 10^9/L (2.0 - 7.5)
Lymphocytes (Abs) 1.69 10^9/L (1.5 - 4.0)
Monocytes (Abs) 0.44 10^9/L (0.2 - 0.8)
Eosinophils (Abs) 0.22 10^9/L (0.0 - 0.4)
Basophils (Abs) 0.02 10^9/L (0 - 0.1)
CRP< 0.3 mg/L (0 - 5)
BIOCHEMISTRY
Sodium 139 mmol/L (133 - 146)
Potassium 4.2 mmol/L (3.5 - 5.3)
Urea 4.9 mmol/L (2.8 - 7.8)
Creatinine 56 umol/L (45 - 84)
estimated GFR (eGFR) >90 ml/min
LIVER FUNCTION TEST
Total bilirubin 5 umol/L (0 - 21)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 65 Iu/L (30 - 130)
ALT 11 Iu/L (0 - 33)
GGT 8 Iu/L (UP TO 40)
Total Protein 78 g/L (60 - 80)
Albumin 49 g/L (35 - 50)
Globulin 29 g/L (18 - 35)
AST 16 Iu/L (UP TO 32)
Lactate dehydrogenase 171 Iu/L (135 - 214)
Serum Calcium 2.39 mmol/L (2.2 - 2.6)
Albumin 49 g/L (35 - 50)
Adjusted Calcium 2.30 mmol/L (2.20 -2.60)
Uric Acid 278 umol/L (140 - 360)
Glucose 3.8 mmol/L (4.2 - 6.1) **
LIPID PROFILE
Cholesterol 3.94 mmol/L (0.0 - 5.2)
Triglycerides 0.54 mmol/L (2.26) *
HDL cholesterol 1.41 mmol/L (> 1.68)
Cholesterol/HDL ratio 2.8 ( <5)
Low density lipoprotein 2.28 mmol/L (2.5 - 4.5) **
% HDL/Total Cholesterol 35.79 %
B12 687 ng/L (191 - 663) **
Folate (serum) 5.4 ug/L (4.6 - 18.7)
IRON AND UIBC
UIBC 60.0 umol/L
Iron 17.0 umol/L (6.6 - 30.4)
Total iron binding Capacity 77.0 umol/L (41-77)
Transferrin saturation 22.1 % (20-55)
Ferritin 13.1 ug/L (13 - 400)
Ferritin 13.1 ug/L (13 - 400)
Vitamin D 24.5 nmol/L Reported
<25 nmol/L: Severe Vitamin D deficiency
25-75 nmol/L:Borderline ranging to insufficiency
75-200 nmol/L: Optimally replete
>250 nmol/L:Possible toxicity, if sustained
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I started Zoloft 25mg on 5/18/15 today is 5/21/15. The side effects are wicked and I don't want to take these anymore. Should I just cut the tablet in half and take for a couple days. Does anyone have any experience with this?
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I was on 25mg of Zoloft for 3 weeks, before deciding to come off, due to emotional blunting/disconnect I was feeling. I talked to my psychiatrist and doctors, and they both agreed that it was fine to stop cold turkey. So far I have been off of the Zoloft for about a week, but I'm still experiencing feelings of emotionless. I can cry and smile, but when I do, the feelings feel masked within my head. I was just wondering how long this sensation would last, and if anyone else has experienced the same thing?
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I have been on 50mg of Zoloft since I was in JR high. Now I am switching doctors, and he says my diagnosis (I was diagnosed as bi polar) doesn't match up with the medication. So until I go to see him in October, I have no medication whatsoever. I am now 19 and I am having the weirdest withdrawals. Aside from insomnia, stomach pain, irritability, anxiety, and muscle tensions, I also have this urge to scratch. My skin and scalp is always itching (I've experienced that before whenever it would take a few days to get the meds refilled), I always have heartburn the nightmares I have the little bit I do sleep are so bad that I wake up in tears,and my muscles are cramping up more and I have random fits of crying for no reason whatsoever (I guess I just feel that sad every hour or so), but either I'm seeing things, or a shadow moved on my wall earlier.... and there was no light for there to even create the shadow. I have been without my Zoloft for a week now and supposedly it should be out of my system. If it is, then what the hell is going on? This is getting very difficult to deal with and I have college that starts next week...
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I've been taking25mg Zoloft for depression for 3weeks.little change put on 50mg has anyone done better taking it 25mg/am,25mg/pm?
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Hi all. I'm on day 14 of Zoloft. I was put on it for anxiety & I would feel depressed the odd time. Iv noticed while I no longer feel anxious I feel depressed instead. I'm hoping this will lift as it's still very early days & maybe I'm still having side effects.
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Im currently in the process of withdrawing from Zoloft / Sertraline and finding it a lot harder than I thought it would be.
I was on 50mg a day for 6 months approx, then I moved down to 50mg every other day and then finally down to 50mg every 2 days.
I took my last pill 9 days ago. The first 5 days were absolutely fine but then on the 6th day the extreme dizzy spells and brain zaps started to occur, 4 days later they are no better.
Has anyone else been through a similar experience to me? was i foolish in thinking that tapering off would result in zero side effects? how long are they likely to last and is there anything I can do to take the edge of the side effects ?
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I started taking sertraline two months ago, after it turned out that my sleep issues were caused by depression. However, even though I’m on 100mg dose, neither my sleep or emotions feel like they are getting any better. If anything, I’m feeling worse since I’ve started taking it.
I was rarely anxious before sertraline/ Zoloft and now I have to go through several bouts of anxiety, usually triggered by everyday things which I was able to do normally before starting Zoloft. Is it normal to experience increased anxiety when you’re on sertraline?
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I have been suffering for some years during the winter time with anxiety and depression. I have been on and off meds for 4 years now. I always seem to have to go back on them when the winter comes. I would stay on them, but I was trying to get pregnant so I went off. Well its been a tough time for me lately and decided to put trying on hold to help myself. I started 50mgs of zoloft 13 days ago. Haven't really felt any relief...my therapist says I should feel better after 2 and maybe meds aren't right for me. I kind of think I need to wait at least up to 4 weeks. I have terrible anxiety all day with physical symptoms. I push through my day because its the right thing to do. I eat, workout, go to work, but just not enjoying it because I feel "weird". Hoping I will feel better soon....this worrying about worrying is starting to make me mad!! Help anyone else have a similar story or hope?
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I've been on Prozac about a week and a half and it isn't agreeing with me. My anxiety is the worse at ever been and I can't leave the house. My doctor wants to switch me to Zoloft. The main reason her and I agreed to try Prozac first was because I'm terrified of gaining weight. I'm 23 and already have a major weight issue. I took lexapro as a teen and gained tons of weight. So, I am wondering, does anyone notice any significant weight changes on Zoloft? Also, how do people find Zoloft to help with anxiety?
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Due to circumstances out of my control I have currently gone cold turkey from sertraline and am unable to get back on for a wee bit and am
Experiencing withdrawal and am very dizzy to the point I can't drive and have waves of nausea and cold sweats and aching body.
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I was on 50mg for 5 years and I gain 20 pounds. I finally decide to stop taking sertraline and I beg my doctor to let me do it. She finally agree and I went from 50mg to 25mg for 2 weeks and 12 mg for 2 weeks and then I was off. I was fine until today 2 MONTHS later. I get waves of anxiety and then it goes away, I sweat cold and then goes away, my arms tingling and then it goes away. I am not sure if I should have to go back to Zoloft ?
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So I'm on day 28 of starting Zoloft & I'm feeling worse than before I started the meds. I'm sleeping okay but having horrible vivid dreams. I've had a few good days but now if I don't feel anxious I feel depressed & Iv zero enthusiasm for anything 😞 I'm unsure whether to persevere or up my dose.
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I was taking Zoloft for about 3 weeks or so. I had to go off of it because it caused chest pains. I asked the doctor will I have withdrawals. He said no! I am so sick everyday now. I have nausea so bad. My head hurts, I have to lay down during the day. I feel like I have fever. I don't know what to do? I am busy planning my wedding for August. I can't feel like this everyday. Can please anyone help on what I can do to make myself get better.
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I’ve been suffering from depression and have been on several anti depressants during past two years and most of them didn’t really help or I got bad side effects - like when I completely lost my appetite while I was on Prozac. At the moment, I’m on sertraline (Zoloft) and I’m experiencing weird side effect, if it is side effect. It seems that throughout the day I’d get strange feelings of confusion, something like my memory getting blurry - I can’t remember some specific word or date… it’s hard to explain, it’s just like I’m getting bouts of confusion I didn’t have when I wasn’t on Zoloft. Is this common side effect?
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I was wondering how common does sertraline (Zoloft) side effects include major changes in your appetite? When I first started taking it it was because Prozac completely removed my appetite and I went from normal weight to pretty much underweight. At that point I still had no appetite even when my Zoloft dose was increased to 100 mg daily.
Six months later and I’ve found myself in a completely opposite situation. I keep on gaining and gaining weight while I’m on 100 mg Zoloft. I’ve gained 20 lbs which I thought was impossible and I’m still gaining extra weight. I don’t want to stop taking Zoloft because it’s helping me, but the weight gain is starting to get to me.
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hiya ive taken 10 50mg sertraline pills. what should i do n whats goin to happen to me?
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I am curious to here there's experience to Zoloft for self diagnosed ocd haveing thoughts you do t want to that can bring in stress anxiety and depression and even effect your confidence and life ? I am fairly new to Zoloft and I am hoping and praying that as I up the dose it will help me gay back into my everyday living and help me gain that confidence back?
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