Is this a normal reaction to Zoloft or should I be concerned?
August 12, 2012 4:27 AM Subscribe
I've recently started taking Zoloft (sertraline), and I'm not sure whether my reaction warrants a visit to the psychiatrist- but I feel weird.
Ok, so basically I feel like I'm on Ecstasy. (I'm not on ecstasy, I haven't used drugs in at least 5 years. My psychiatrist is aware of my drug history).
I'm having a hard time staying focused on anything- like, staying focused enough to write this post is really difficult. I keep loosing my train of thought or/and getting distracted by other trains of thought.
And in the back of my head there's so much noise. It honestly sounds like there's a cartoon character in my brain, or like my brain is a cartoon character: I'm internally going "whoowhoo! Wheeee! Zip! Hahahahahahah! Zoooomm! Brrrrrrrrrr Zing Zing Zing!", or repeating the same word or the same thought in my mind over and over. If I have something to stay focused on, like writing this post, it's not so bad, but it's still a problem. Like, normally I would have already completed this post, edited it, and posted it, in the length of time it's taken me to get this far. I keep forgetting what I'm doing and what point I'm trying to make. There's also weird commentary. For example, I thought "there should be a comma there", which is normal. But then my brain yelled "A COMMA? COMMA THERE!COMMA COMMA COMMA!" Also, when I try to force myself to focus on something like reading a paragraph, I read it almost musically- in a lilting, rythmic pattern, rather than just reading it normally. I hope that's a good explaination.
I have heard that this kind of medication can trigger mania if you're bipolar, but 1) I wasn't diagnosed as bipolar and 2)I'm not sure if this is mania or just my body adjusting to the chemicals. I heard that "people who are having manic episodes aren't worried that they might be having manic episodes". I don't seem to have any other symptoms of mania other than having woken up early, but my sleep is always really erratic and unpredictable anyways. I feel like if I were to try to describe what is happening in my mind in spoken words, I wouldn't be able to do it, even though I can type it out. I'm not going to run up and down the street going "zip, zoom! Woglewoglewogledoo!", as hilarious as that sounds. It's just constant noise in my mind. And, like I said, the focus thing is a problem.
I'm taking a really low dose, if that's relevant. I really hope that this is coherent enough to follow. Oh, right, so the point of the question was to ask is this normal? Should I talk to her about it? If so, should I keep taking the medication until I see her or stop? Or am I overthinking it, and this is just what happy people feel like? Or maybe this is what it's always been like inside of my head, and I've just been too sluggish to notice?
Ok, so basically I feel like I'm on Ecstasy. (I'm not on ecstasy, I haven't used drugs in at least 5 years. My psychiatrist is aware of my drug history).
I'm having a hard time staying focused on anything- like, staying focused enough to write this post is really difficult. I keep loosing my train of thought or/and getting distracted by other trains of thought.
And in the back of my head there's so much noise. It honestly sounds like there's a cartoon character in my brain, or like my brain is a cartoon character: I'm internally going "whoowhoo! Wheeee! Zip! Hahahahahahah! Zoooomm! Brrrrrrrrrr Zing Zing Zing!", or repeating the same word or the same thought in my mind over and over. If I have something to stay focused on, like writing this post, it's not so bad, but it's still a problem. Like, normally I would have already completed this post, edited it, and posted it, in the length of time it's taken me to get this far. I keep forgetting what I'm doing and what point I'm trying to make. There's also weird commentary. For example, I thought "there should be a comma there", which is normal. But then my brain yelled "A COMMA? COMMA THERE!COMMA COMMA COMMA!" Also, when I try to force myself to focus on something like reading a paragraph, I read it almost musically- in a lilting, rythmic pattern, rather than just reading it normally. I hope that's a good explaination.
I have heard that this kind of medication can trigger mania if you're bipolar, but 1) I wasn't diagnosed as bipolar and 2)I'm not sure if this is mania or just my body adjusting to the chemicals. I heard that "people who are having manic episodes aren't worried that they might be having manic episodes". I don't seem to have any other symptoms of mania other than having woken up early, but my sleep is always really erratic and unpredictable anyways. I feel like if I were to try to describe what is happening in my mind in spoken words, I wouldn't be able to do it, even though I can type it out. I'm not going to run up and down the street going "zip, zoom! Woglewoglewogledoo!", as hilarious as that sounds. It's just constant noise in my mind. And, like I said, the focus thing is a problem.
I'm taking a really low dose, if that's relevant. I really hope that this is coherent enough to follow. Oh, right, so the point of the question was to ask is this normal? Should I talk to her about it? If so, should I keep taking the medication until I see her or stop? Or am I overthinking it, and this is just what happy people feel like? Or maybe this is what it's always been like inside of my head, and I've just been too sluggish to notice?
Response by poster: 25mg/day, for depression, panic and anxiety.
posted by windykites at 4:41 AM on August 12, 2012
posted by windykites at 4:41 AM on August 12, 2012
Best answer: How long have you been taking the Sertraline? I presume you're on a 25 or 50 Mg dosage? Are you prescribed anything else (specifically for the anxiety and panic?)?
If it's been less than 2 weeks, I'd say stick it out until then, UNLESS your symptoms turn to thoughts of self injury, suicide, or harming others. If that happens, or if you've been on this dosage for over 2 weeks, I'd recommend calling your psychiatrist to schedule an appointment.
This does sound a bit like mania, but I'm also wondering if you have any history of ADD or ADHD? And, are you on any other regular/daily meds?
posted by 6 of 1 at 4:44 AM on August 12, 2012
If it's been less than 2 weeks, I'd say stick it out until then, UNLESS your symptoms turn to thoughts of self injury, suicide, or harming others. If that happens, or if you've been on this dosage for over 2 weeks, I'd recommend calling your psychiatrist to schedule an appointment.
This does sound a bit like mania, but I'm also wondering if you have any history of ADD or ADHD? And, are you on any other regular/daily meds?
posted by 6 of 1 at 4:44 AM on August 12, 2012
I have no experience with meds but it does sound like it would have strong effects on daily life. And if you are all hyper now, I would worry if there was a crash to follow. I would contact the doctor. Hope you feel better soon.
posted by travelwithcats at 4:46 AM on August 12, 2012
posted by travelwithcats at 4:46 AM on August 12, 2012
Note that manic (or hypomanic) episodes triggered by SSRI's are a common path to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, so not yet having been diagnosed doesn't necessarily mean anything. I don't know your psychiatric history, but I do know that the side effect you are describing is exactly the same as one that I experienced on sertraline.
I *am* diagnosed bipolar, and my psychiatrist said that she was 'concerned' about that side effect. She told me that if I experience anything like that again to discontinue use of whatever drug I was taking and call her right away.
Just another data point.
posted by jpziller at 5:40 AM on August 12, 2012 [6 favorites]
I *am* diagnosed bipolar, and my psychiatrist said that she was 'concerned' about that side effect. She told me that if I experience anything like that again to discontinue use of whatever drug I was taking and call her right away.
Just another data point.
posted by jpziller at 5:40 AM on August 12, 2012 [6 favorites]
This is a good time to call your prescribing doctor. Yes, it's Sunday, but call the number and leave a message with the service that you would like a call back.
That doctor is much more qualified than we are to decide how concerned to be and whether you should go in to be seen tomorrow/soonish or wait until your next scheduled appointment.
Good luck!
posted by bilabial at 6:30 AM on August 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
That doctor is much more qualified than we are to decide how concerned to be and whether you should go in to be seen tomorrow/soonish or wait until your next scheduled appointment.
Good luck!
posted by bilabial at 6:30 AM on August 12, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yes, definitely call and tell the doctor. It's enough to warrant that.
posted by dawkins_7 at 7:12 AM on August 12, 2012
posted by dawkins_7 at 7:12 AM on August 12, 2012
Wow, yes, what you are describing is not normal, and it sounds a lot like the effects of various illegal drugs. The linguistic stuff is very typically trippy. It's also a little manic-like.
You should know that people's individual drug reactions, especially to neuro-pharms, are not at all well understood by science at the moment. For the SSRIs, it's known that your personal genetic makeup that regulates your liver enzymes can affect how they are metabolized.
Beyond that, serotonin receptors (and receptors for other neurotransmitters) are proteins and therefore tightly linked to a person's genetic makeup. Some people may have more or less receptors, variations in subtypes, dysfunctional receptors, and dysfunctional machinery in general in the process of neuronal firing. None of this is the least bit measurable with modern medical tools. When doctors prescribe a drug, it's guesswork.
It sounds like you're having a strong reaction to an SSRI, which might have to do with your personal genetic makeup. If your doctor doesn't switch you to a different non-SSRI drug, you should probably insist. A lot of doctors are not neuroscientists (2000-2010 was "the decade of the brain" with lots of scientific knowledge being generated, and many went to med school much before).
posted by kellybird at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2012
You should know that people's individual drug reactions, especially to neuro-pharms, are not at all well understood by science at the moment. For the SSRIs, it's known that your personal genetic makeup that regulates your liver enzymes can affect how they are metabolized.
Beyond that, serotonin receptors (and receptors for other neurotransmitters) are proteins and therefore tightly linked to a person's genetic makeup. Some people may have more or less receptors, variations in subtypes, dysfunctional receptors, and dysfunctional machinery in general in the process of neuronal firing. None of this is the least bit measurable with modern medical tools. When doctors prescribe a drug, it's guesswork.
It sounds like you're having a strong reaction to an SSRI, which might have to do with your personal genetic makeup. If your doctor doesn't switch you to a different non-SSRI drug, you should probably insist. A lot of doctors are not neuroscientists (2000-2010 was "the decade of the brain" with lots of scientific knowledge being generated, and many went to med school much before).
posted by kellybird at 9:33 AM on August 12, 2012
Call the doctor. This is NOT a normal reaction to zoloft. And yep that sounds like you may be about to have a change in diagnosis.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:02 AM on August 12, 2012
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:02 AM on August 12, 2012
Call ASAP and then get the to the doc!
Not your normal reaction.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:02 PM on August 12, 2012
Not your normal reaction.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:02 PM on August 12, 2012
Response by poster: Ok, thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to talk to her asap.
posted by windykites at 12:13 PM on August 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by windykites at 12:13 PM on August 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this is what I was like on Zoloft, and I turned out to be bipolar. Doc away!
posted by whitneyarner at 12:21 PM on August 12, 2012
posted by whitneyarner at 12:21 PM on August 12, 2012
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This symptom seems a pretty harsh one to tolerate. I would definitely contact the doctor right away. You don't say exactly why you are taking this, but there are a lot of drugs to try before people get the right fit sometimes.
posted by maxg94 at 4:35 AM on August 12, 2012