Posted by SLS on March 14, 2012, at 1:35:36
In reply to What is 'SSRI activation syndrome?', posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on March 13, 2012, at 23:41:48
> Ive found I can tolerate 50 mg zoloft fine, but only if I take blood pressure meds and a lot of klonopin with it. If I take 100 mg Z for more than two days, I start getting increased blood pressure, chest pains, blurred vision, agitation, some mild irritatibility and have to stop and go back to 50 mg.
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> Ive been told this is "activation syndrome." Im not so sure because before I developed high blood pressure I used to be able to tolerate all these meds at real high doses easily. But after I developed hypertension, it has become like an SSRI is like speed almost. The stuff makes me feel like Im gonna have a heart attack or something. For real.
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> I dont know whether to believe the reaction I have is true SSRI "activation syndrome" or just a change in my body after I developed hypertension, and my body will only tolerate but so much stimulating medication to protect my blood vessels and heart from increased blood pressure.
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> But if it is activation syndrome, what causes it and what does it mean?I can't answer your question. I have never heard of this syndrome. I guess you learn something new every day. You could try lowering the dosage of Zoloft to 25 mg. You could try discontinuing the Zoloft completely. Perhaps you don't need it anymore. You could try switching to another drug, even another SSRI. You could remain on Zoloft and try adding propranolol to mitigate the autonomic symptoms.
I'll probably investigate the "SSRI activation syndrome" more tomorrow. It almost sounds like the behavioral disinhibition reaction seen with alcohol and benzodiazepines.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1013011
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120302/msgs/1013019.html