To want to sue my local surgery?

[beeblabs]

TRIGGER WARNING: If you’re taking Zoloft/Sertraline and it’s working for you, best skip this thread.

A few weeks ago I started having dizzy spells and mild panic attacks. I also noticed my thoughts were getting racier (if that makes sense). I’ve suffered from an overactive thyroid and low blood sugar in the past, so I rang the Dr and asked for a blood test! They told me they couldn’t see me face-to-face due to Covid but asked if I wanted something for my anxiety and prescribed me 50mg of Sertraline.

From the first day of taking these tablets, I couldn’t eat or sleep! I’d lie in bed at night breaking out in cold sweats and twitching involuntarily. I rang the GP and asked them to change my meds, but they told me the benefits will outweigh the side-effects eventually and prescribed me Diazepam! By week 2, I felt like I was tripping on LSD and became utterly delusional (convinced I needed to take my life to save my son from the “evil presence” in the house!). I spent a few days in a psychiatric hospital before being discharged (when I stopped taking Zoloft, the delusions stopped).

Now my mother is talking about suing the local surgery. My husband said that I had a very rare reaction to a popular SSRI and despite my experience, they do help a lot of people.

I can’t help but feel that these mind altering drugs are prescribed too easily and there should be further tests before writing a prescription (especially over the phone, by a nurse practitioner!). I’m currently on a new antidepressant called Mirtazipine and I’m still taking Diazepam for my nerves.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with SSRIs? Or is it all positive?

@abeanbaked I wrote the initial post in anger and shock at what had happened. After some reflection, I do realise that what happened to me is rare and these drugs do help a lot of people! Trust me, I’m not after money! I’d rather have amnesia and forget the whole thing! That being said, these are mind-altering drugs and should be prescribed with caution. That’s all! I take responsibility for the fact that I am also an adult who chose this route, but I wouldn’t wish this experience on my worst enemy! You don’t have to believe me, but money is the last thing on my mind right now.

They definitely should give more information about what can happen if things go wrong. Many psychiatrist agree.

@beeblabs

Thank you. It’s important to clarify: I’m not after money and I don’t want anyone to lose their job. I am just genuinely concerned that these tablets are prescribed too easily. 1 in 1000 people will experience suicidal thoughts whilst on Zoloft (I was never suicidal prior to taking it, I did suffer from panic attacks, though) and these tablets are given to millions! Don’t get me wrong, there are also many people whom these tablets have helped so it’s a very fine line! And, no, I never did get my thyroid or blood sugar checked 😂

So why sue them? Complain to the practice manager and official channels.

I have tried loads of psychotropic meds and usually I don't get any bad side effects. I guess I am lucky. Yours sounds really scary. How did you get better? Did you need antipsychotics to bring you down?

[quote beeblabs]@abeanbaked I wrote the initial post in anger and shock at what had happened. After some reflection, I do realise that what happened to me is rare and these drugs do help a lot of people! Trust me, I’m not after money! I’d rather have amnesia and forget the whole thing! That being said, these are mind-altering drugs and should be prescribed with caution. That’s all! I take responsibility for the fact that I am also an adult who chose this route, but I wouldn’t wish this experience on my worst enemy! You don’t have to believe me, but money is the last thing on my mind right now.[/quote]
@diwrnachoflleyn is right that your best option would be to complain to the surgery. I would lay out your experience and say that, whilst you understand it is not the norm for these reactions to happen, you believe that a) patients NEED to be warned about the possible side effects (even if all that is is a brief sentence from the GP, and the telling the patient that more detailed info will be in the leaflet with the drugs), and that b) you don't want other patients to be treated like you were, if they do report side effects.

No. I actually begged the Drs for antipsychotics before I went home but they refused to give me them as the symptoms stopped when I stopped taking the Sertraline! I am being monitored carefully, though, as it’s common for people with bipolar to have a manic episode on SSRIs. I haven’t been diagnosed with Bipolar but I imagine they’re watching for any symptoms on Mirtazapine.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGeniusthink That’s a good idea, thank you! I’ve spoken to the crisis team today and they reaffirmed that two people can have such a different response to an antidepressant. Like I said, I now realise that no one is to blame but I do think there should be more emphasis on potential side-effects with close monitoring from friends and family.

You should report through the yellow card reporting system.

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Yes I recommended report via yellow card system a few page back I hope op does so