Can SSRI's cause violent/sexual obsessions?

[gf4me]

I have been on Zoloft (4 months) and now Lexapro (9 months) for depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.  I am extremely sensitive to medications and I had very adverse reactions to Lexapro and Zoloft causing severe anxiety for which I took Klonopin at the beginning of treatment. I am currently on 10mg of Lexapro. Since taking the SSRI's, I have had symptoms that I never had before which I call sudden "crazy spells"-thoughts, songs, or mind chatter racing through my head.  In the beginning I was often jittery and could not relax, sleep, or eat.  I had some twitches, heart palpitations, increased panic attacks.  Since the beginning, my dreams have continued to be extremely vivid and bizarre, and it's starting to really bother me because they've started to be disturbing in content.  I have recently had some violent and/or sexual intruding images.  Some days I don't have them at all but i have had some bad days.  Sometimes I liken it to the dreams when I'm asleep- very vivid and silly.  I know this is crazy and not characteristic of me at all before treatment.  I just feel like Lexapro is making me crazy and messing with my head in a bad way.  The problem is that aside from all this, I feel better than I have in years.  I am not depressed.  I am not having panic attacks.  I know these are characteristic of OCD- but it makes no sense to me why this would start only after I am in SSRI's.  I have read things about violent obsessions being a possible side-effect of SSRI's.  Do you think I should try decreasing or increasing the dosage?  I really would like to get off meds for good.  Thank you very much for your help.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

People's sensitivity varies, and lexapro is definetly a good medication but also sometimes a stimulant, but the mind is so complicated its impossible to predict which part will be more stimulated.  The fact that you are feeling better suggests it is helping in general, so your idea of lowering the dose a bit to see what happens sounds reasonable inasmuch as you may be able to find just the right dose that helps but doesn't cause this problem. Check with your doctor, but sounds like a good approach.

[gf4me]

p.s.- About 5 months after taking SSRI's I found out that my B-12 level was extremely low (48).  I take monthly injections and the depression got better once I started the injections.  It's suspected this was a major contributing factor the original depression.  Are there negative implications to one being on an SSRI who may not need to be on one?

[imcrazy2]

It is very possible for ssri's to have weird side effects, especially in someone who doesn't need to be on them.  However, with the symptoms you described, it sounds like you definitely need to be on something.  SSRIs work on neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) and imbalances of these chemicals cause all different types of problems from depression to panic, to OCD.  The thoughts and "episodes" you are describing sound very much like something I have experienced referred to in the psych community as "intrusive thoughts".  In other words, you may have disturbing thoughts, which cause you stress or anxiety, and the worry about them makes them more concerning, resulting in obsessive thinking about the thought.....it's a cycle.  If I've learned anything from my hours and hours of reading about other people's experiences, it's that everyone responds differently to different levels of seratonin, and the brain is a vast place that noone really knows enough about.  The doctors and scientists really don't even know exactly how these medications do what they do. That said, I personally am tremendously grateful to have access to them, and encourage people who seem to need help to try them.  If the medications you have tried are not working the way you need them to, or you can't deal with the side effects, I would suggest trying something different.  There are enough types of drugs, that hopefully something will work without the side effects you are having.  Tell your doctor what is going on right away, and be aware that many times, these meds cause problems initially that may subside (should only take a few weeks for that, though, not months), but may also cause residual problems after coming off of them.....WEAN SLOWLY, and good luck

[RWG]

I started taking Lexapro two days ago.  I don't think I was depressed, I just have trouble sleeping and my doc gave me these and doxepin.  I had also tried Zoloft a few months ago.  My problem is with the Zoloft then the Lexapro I am shaking so much I can't hardly type this.  I took one 10 mg the first two days.  I  broke it down to a fourth this morning, but I am still extremely nervous, shaking, can't eat, I feel like I am having a bad LSD trip.  I used Xanax to "bring me down" last night but now I am like this again.  Should I stop, or try to tuff this feeling out.  My wife just had surgery and I complain and shake in front of her anymore I think she will leave me.  I also have two teenagers that I can't let them see me like this.

[AJC]

My advice to anyone about SSRI-antidepressants,
If you do not want to hurt yourself or others, are unable to work or enjoy your life or do simple things such as go out in public or take a shower, or are not diagnosed with clinical depression, DO NOT TAKE ANY SSRI. The FDA has been far too lenient with the pharmaceutical companies due to weak laws passed by politicians taking campaign contributions from special interest pharmaceuticals. This makes it easy for pharmacy representatives to push drugs (and easy for the family doc)that are being prescribed for other conditions for which they haven't been tested. Please make it your last resort behind all other methods of therapy, most importantly, lifestyle changes. These meds haven't been tested for long term use and have been linked to birth defects to unborn children, killing some, also sending many to the ER with crazy side effects. These are very serious medications that should never be prescribed by anyone other than a specialist,(although, I am leary of them also)
Don't take chances with these meds until you've done very much research and investigation. (I took 1 pill of Lexapro (10mg.) and have been unable to work for 3 months!!!!)I have also communicated with 7 others who have had a very similar situation to mine. Don't let the Doctors throw these dangerous medications at you or it may ruin your life. It seems that some or many people may be benefitting from these medications, and I don't claim to know everything abot them. Keep in mind, all the doctors, specialists and pharmacists that I have spoken to, claim to know VERY LITTLE about what these drugs actually do to the brain and nervous system. My point is, once you take these meds, you are on your own. If you have a horrible problem caused by these drugs, you will be alone, noone will want to help you, noone will be able to help you, you will be considered a liability and pushed aside as if your case holds no importance. I am speaking from my experience.I hope this helps at least one person make a better decision and subsequently saves many the grief that I have endured.
Thank you for reading all of this.
Tony