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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Edgefield on April 19, 2003, at 15:36:01
Could it be possible that the SSRI that I've taken have cased my derealization? I am wondering if others have noticed this?
I take Fluoxetine at night before going to bed. In the morning I've been feeling extremely detached until I take Ativan or Klonopin which helps this detached feeling to subside...a little. After taking 1mg of Ativan this morning I'm able to function the rest of the day.
I've noticed this occurred also with Lexapro and especially Zoloft.
I am looking for some suggestions. I will see my psychiatrist on Wed. and I would like some options to discuss with her. Maybe I need to try Celexa or leave the SSRI meds. alone....
Thanks for your help.
God Bless
Edgefield
Posted by lady fever on April 19, 2003, at 16:37:36
In reply to SSRI and derealization, posted by Edgefield on April 19, 2003, at 15:36:01
This happened to me very badly on Zoloft as well. I felt like I was on LSD and my pupils were dilated to enormous proportions. After 2 weeks I had to discontinue Zoloft because of the strange sense of derealization, which reminded me of acid trips I'd had, where everything seemed detached from me, especially my body.
I recall feeling like my head was floating over my body. Weird, huh?
It freaked me out and made my panic disorder much worse.
Posted by Edgefield on April 19, 2003, at 21:00:21
In reply to Re: SSRI and derealization, posted by lady fever on April 19, 2003, at 16:37:36
Thanks for the information. What med. are you now taking?
> This happened to me very badly on Zoloft as well. I felt like I was on LSD and my pupils were dilated to enormous proportions. After 2 weeks I had to discontinue Zoloft because of the strange sense of derealization, which reminded me of acid trips I'd had, where everything seemed detached from me, especially my body.
>
> I recall feeling like my head was floating over my body. Weird, huh?
>
> It freaked me out and made my panic disorder much worse.
Posted by jemma on April 21, 2003, at 9:59:18
In reply to Re: SSRI and derealization » lady fever, posted by Edgefield on April 19, 2003, at 21:00:21
SSRIs definitely cause derealization for me. I put it down to dopamine depletion, because dopamine agonists like ritalin and selegiline improve it.
Jemma
Posted by Edgefield on April 21, 2003, at 15:46:17
In reply to Re: SSRI and derealization, posted by jemma on April 21, 2003, at 9:59:18
Thanks so much for this information. Did all SSRIs cause you to have that spacey unreal feeling?
Does other classes of ADs have this same effect?
Is there something that I can add to the SSRI to increase dopamine?
I just want the opinions of others who have already dealt with this issue so that I can share some of their options with my pdoc on Wednesday.
God Bless
> SSRIs definitely cause derealization for me. I put it down to dopamine depletion, because dopamine agonists like ritalin and selegiline improve it.
>
> Jemma
Posted by jemma on April 22, 2003, at 13:05:18
In reply to Re: SSRI and derealization » jemma, posted by Edgefield on April 21, 2003, at 15:46:17
For me, zoloft was the main culprit, but only after I'd been on it a while. After that, it seemed every ssri had the same effect. Even effexor felt like I'd filled my brain with cotton batten - everything was so muffled and far away.
For me, it seems that any ssri in the mix is now going to cause derealization. But that could be because of all the years I was on zoloft. Maybe you could try wellbutrin or ritalin with your ssri. Provigil doesn't act directly on dopamine, but I've found it helps to pierce through the veil very effectively. Plus, it augments all the ssri's except celexa - something to do with liver enzymes.
Good luck with your pdoc. Mine is pretty skeptical, so I've learned to work around him. But maybe yours is more open.
- jemma
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