Posted by Cam W. on August 30, 2001, at 16:42:55
In reply to Zoloft and aerophobia?, posted by Paddy on August 30, 2001, at 15:11:07
Paddy - How long have you been taking the Zoloft™ (sertaline). One of the start-up side effects of Zoloft is anxiety, but this usually disappears within the first month.
If you have been taking it longer, one of the minor side effects of Zoloft is tinnitus (ringing in the ears). This is probably due to a disruption in the inner ear.
The inner ear is closely related, in proximity, to the vestibular apparatus. The vestibular apparatus is composed of 3 looped canals with different spatial orientations, that are half-filled with fluid. The inner surface of the canals are lined with tiny hairs that are stimulated when the fluid flows over them. This structure, via hair stimulation ), gives the body feedback on its orientation in three-dimensional space (due to gravity causing the fluid to trigger the hairs as you move - ie. lie down, bend over, flip, etc.).
This is only a guess, but what could be happening is that you have an extension of tinnitus that is affecting the vestibular apparatus. I my be wrong, but hey, it sounds good.
I hope that this is some food for thought. Since you are able to overcome this problem intellectually, you really shouldn't need to take anything to counteract this feeling. If it bugs you enough, you could try Benadryl™ (diphenhydramine) or Bonamine™ (meclizine), or any antinauseant, and this will deaden the little hairs in the semicircular canals (but also cause drowsiness).
Good luck with flying. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:76981
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76997.html