Anti depressants adverse effects

[lacylay66]

Hi everyone, I am writing here because I feel so many people go through things and the support you guys give is amazing on here, so I would like to ask here, I’ve been on fluoxetine for 7 weeks, it gave me random side effects that I pushed through because I so badly wanted them to work, I experienced chest pain, reflux, stomach pain back to back, even had an a&e trip due to the chest pain it was so bad, it never really went either even after the a&e trip not right away anyway it took a good week. Unfortunately the worst I guess side effects? Could have happened to me, 3 days ago I woke up at midnight with intense panic and my heart rate was 133 as I checked it right away, I was so terrified I got out of bed drank water and it wasn’t going down so I called an ambulance as the whole thing even woke me out of my sleep so I thought it was an emergency, ambulance came said ECG is good, call doctors in morning as likely to do with medication I’m on, from then on I didn’t sleep all night as everytime I tried I had sheer impending doom in my stomach, I went all night without sleeping, it just wouldn’t come! I called doctors in the morning crying as I couldn’t sleep and sleep is so important for me, I always get fussy and out of wack if I don’t sleep a full cycle, and I’ve never had an issue with sleep I also felt so charged and erratic like I had so much energy, doctor said I need to stop the meds that maybe SSRI’s don’t agree with me (previously was on sertraline and it did a similar thing though it did not affect sleep) of course we have to taper off slowly I’m on 20mg so took 10mg yesterday but my issue, I still can’t sleep 😭😭😭😭 it’s like my body is tired, my eyes are weak, another night has passed and I’ve probably slept I’d say 2 hours, I’ve laid in bed all night but the sleep has just not came, I’m really really really concerned, my head is hurting from lack of sleep and so are my eyes, has anyone experienced this? The doctor said it’s probably the medication causing the lack of sleep. I’m just really frightened as my head is just hurting, eyes hurt, I’m so so tired, I’m not even sure how much sleep I got as I’m waiting for sleep to come and it feels like I’m just waiting all night, I remember checking my phone around 3am and my eyes were hurting as if I have not slept, so I just thought what is going on why can’t I sleep it is so not normal for me at all. Anyway I’m just frightened to be honest so I wanted advice and if this has happened to anyone else? What should I do from here as I really don’t know 😭

Bump😭😭😭😭

It’s likely the medication combined with what happened is stopping you from sleeping. It’s not surprising given what you experienced, it must have been really frightening.

Are you following all of the good sleep advice? No caffeine after lunch, fresh air and gentle exercise in the day, sticking to a bedtime, no screens an hour before bed, a cool dark room? Could you try a podcast to drift off to? I used to use sleep meditations and they often let me relax enough to drop off.

I would query the doctor saying SSRIs don’t suit you after only trying one, it’s quite normal to have to try another if one isn’t working for you.

I'm sorry. I've been there and it's hellish.

You aren't taking any other medication, are you? SSRIs are powerful and can interact with other stuff, including herbal supplements and natural remedies. Check really carefully and get medical advice if unsure. I accidentally gave myself a serotonin overdose doing this and it was one of the worst days of my life!

It took me about 5 weeks to settle on Fluoxetine, and those 5 weeks were horrible as the Fluoxetine actually worsened my symptoms, even without accidental overdoses! It might be that your dose needs tweaking or you need longer to settle on it.

I'm sorry you feel so shit. X

Thanks for the podcast idea, usually noise stops me from sleeping but I’m willing to try anything, I feel so so unwell 😭😭 so I didn’t write in the post I should have added that as context aswell, I did take one SSRI when I was 20 I’m now 30, they took me off it as it caused rapid palpitations that were seen on ECG, I believe it was citalopram. So it’s 3 that haven’t worked. I just can’t fathom why I can’t sleep this has never happened to me before, it’s so scary

No not taking any other medications, nothing has changed honestly it just happened out of nowhere, doctors have said to taper off the tablets so 10mg now but honestly it’s been days and I haven’t had a good nights rest, I really don’t want to have to result in asking for sleeping pills my dad went down that road and it was a very long one. I don’t want to be the same, I’ve never struggled with sleep ever

Ask the GP for Promethazine. Its an antihistamine but a drowsy one so it will help you sleep. They don't give out a lot as it can be addictive. You will be fine after a couple of nights of good sleep.

I messaged my GP this morning by after trying to sleep again and it didn’t work. They replied via text and sent me ‘good sleep advice’ and said they can offer me an appointment on the 1st November 😭😭😭😭😭 that is so long and when I’m already not sleeping what can I even do in the meantime. Thank you for this though I’m going to check my cupboard as I had a allergic reaction when I got my tattoo a couple months ago and they prescribed me a strong antihistamine I’m not sure if it was this one but I will check.

Do you work? When I had severe insomnia, anxiety about not being able to work the next day made it so much worse. Can you get signed off for a little while?

You could ask for propranolol - it calms the physical signs of anxiety and can be helpful.
At my worst, my GP gave me a few opioid based tranquillisers. You could ask for a couple to break the anxiety-insomnia cycle.

If you've had the experience of a panicked wake up, perhaps sleep itself feels quite frightening (and at the same time you really need some in order to cope better with anxiety about sleep).

Could you help yourself out while you wait for your appointment by constructing a calming wake up kit? Something you like to smell - could be a pillow spray or pulse point -, a thermos of a calming tea, an old favourite book or some music that helps settle you?

I’m not currently working, I do have proponal but I don’t feel anxious, the energetic charged feeling as really calmed down since that scary night but now I am only worried about this lack of sleep and the head and eye pain it’s giving me

I’m going to try a podcast tonight and hope for the best, I’m just amazed at the fact my body has not simply crashed out yet, because I have only had I’d say a couple of hours at most each day, it doesn’t seem normal to me at all

I was told that you do get 'micro sleeps' during bouts of insomnia, so you aren't as completely sleepless as you think.

I find putting an old, cosy film and having it at low volume is very comforting and helps me sleep. I like the Ealing films because I'm so familiar with them. Maybe try a gentle romcom tonight? I put my phone face down so it's just the soundtrack I'm hearing.

I know it's absolutely stressful but your insomnia will pass. You'll be OK x.

Think you can get it OTC under the name Phenergan. Get warm and cosy under soft covers and think nice thoughts like I am safe and everything is ok, there is nothing for me to do right now. Usually helps me drop off. Or a word game in my head like three letter words beginning A,B,C etc. I never get beyond mid way through four letter words and I am asleep. Another good one is close your eyes ans focus really hard on the backs of your eyelids. I usually find myself suddenly waking up and it is the next day.

Double bagged camomile tea also helps. And epsom salt bath soaks as they have magnesium which relaxes muscles.

I couldn't get Phenergan over the counter recently.
Op, you could try nytol for a few nights. The 50mg one

Thank you! I purchased ‘pukka night time tea for sleep’ in Tesco’s and got a lavender spray aswell, I am hoping that will help me to sleep, I’m going to do the podcast tonight aswell thanks so much for the advice I really appreciate it ❤️❤️

I did see nytol in boots but I checked the reviews and a lot of people said it was a waste of money and didn’t work so I didn’t want to waste money, I did purchase a tea and lavender spray so I think if this doesn’t work I probably will try the nytol as a last resort

Phenergan is available over the counter or order from an online chemist

Ok now I’m starting to worry if there’s something going on, I went to sleep this evening at 10pm and I was very tired, I was tossing and turning so not sure when I fell asleep exactly but just woke up with my heart racing again and I always have the oximeter next to my bed, I could feel it pounding so I checked and it was 99bpm and then was slowly going down and back up again, I’m laid here now just thinking this is the second time my body has woke me up with racing heart, I called the ambulance Monday due to this but I didn’t think it would happen twice within the space of a couple of days, it’s really worrying me this is just not like me at all 😭

Day 5 of next to no sleep 😭 how long can this last