Do I have Serotonin Syndrome??

[HayleyLou94]

Okay, so, 2 weeks ago today I was prescribed 50mg sertraline for intrusive thoughts that were very distressing and made me cry alot, I wasn't aware that non-depressed people couldn't use it. Anyways, I took just the one and 6 hours later I started to feel really hot I started to sweat really badly, my temperature was high and my blood pressure felt high too my ears were popping and my head felt like it was going to explode!, I stood up and I was really lightheaded and dizzy, I knew instantly that something was wrong, I went into my parents and they wouldn't believe me, I had diarrhea for 2 days straight and had no appetite, my heart was racing and my mind was all over the place. the first three days I couldn't get out of bed, I was so poorly. A week later my temperature had returned to normal, my blood pressure had returned to normal and my heart rate returned to normal and some of the symptoms went away. And now for the past 1 and half weeks I have been dealing with derealization/depersonalization, blurry vision, lack of concentration, feeling disoriented at times, short-term memory loss, tingling sensation in all parts of my body, muscle twitches constantly, shivering. I really think I had serotonin syndrome and I am really worried that I may still have it because these symptoms are not going away :/  I have been to doctors and they say it's anxiety but It is not anxiety! I was never like this before taking that tablet, my mind has comepletely changed and I don't do half the things I use to do :'/ it's so upsetting and frustrating. I don't know who to see about this as no one will help me, any help on here or suggestions as to what I should do would be much appreciated! <3 thank you.

[JGF25]

Why don't you try posting on the anxiety forum.  You can talk to people that have taken Zoloft.  Whatever you do, don't give up because intrusive thoughts in my book is OCD and of course anxiety comes along with the intrusive thoughts and when left untreated goes on to depression.  So please find a psychologist to help you through this.  

[HayleyLou94]

Yeah I have always had health anxiety but it wasn't this bad before I tok the medication, the doctor prescribed me with it for intrusive thoughts  which I was told she shouldn't of. And no, I didn't do internet searches before I took the tablet, I started searching a week after because I was getting poorly and wanted answers, no one wants to help me they just  brush it all off like im making it up, I feel really unwell my mind is going crazy :(  but yeah I think you might be right that I do have anxiety lingering too, im just really scared, I don't want to forget everyone im already feeling more disconnected from everything and its getting worse! :/ anyways thanks for the reply. x

[JGF25]

Hi there.  Hopefully you are still monitoring this forum.  In any event, I am the CL of the OCD forum.  50 mg of Zoloft is usually the starting dose.  Non-depressed people take it all the time to help them with anxiety and OCD.  Can I ask, did you do internet searches before you took the medication?  

There are a lot of SSRIs on the market and they all have different side effects.  I have tried a few and had some different side effects that I didn't like and promptly switched to something else.  Did you talk to your doctor about possibly switching you to something else?  Remember, you are a worrier and if you had a bad reaction to a drug you are more than likely having anxiety over it so it could kind of be a little of both actually...drug reaction and increased and lingering anxiety because of it.