What is Serotonin Syndrome - Is It Fatal?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 чер 2024
- Serotonin is a brain chemical, also called neurotransmitter that plays a role in controlling your mood and anxiety. Low levels of this in your brain contribute to depression and anxiety. Therefore, many of the medications we use to treat depression and anxiety work by increasing the levels of serotonin in your brain.
Serotonin syndrome happens when you get an excess amount of serotonin from taking super high doses of the medication like if you were to take an overdose or when medications get combined with other medications that increase serotonin.
Serotonin syndrome symptoms can range from mild to severe and fall into three groupings and you should have symptoms in all three categories:
Changes in your mental state
Abnormal muscular tone
Hyperactive autonomic nervous system
Here are the take aways from this video
1. If you are taking antidepressant medications be careful anytime you add another medication even something over the counter. You always want to check the drug-drug interactions. You can use the drug interaction checker on Web MD. This applies to some prescription pain medications like Tramadol and Imitrex for migraines.
2. Normal use of your antidepressant shouldn’t cause this problem, but if you have combined it with something, look out for odd signs like fever, wide open pupils, abnormal blood pressure and muscle stiffness. Those are the symptoms that are not the normal side effects. If you are experiencing these things call your doctor or go the your nearest urgent care or emergency room. To determine if you have serotonin syndrome, someone will need to examine you, monitor your vital signs and observe you. It usually goes away within 24 hours once you stop the medications.
Want to know more about mental health and self-improvement? On this channel I discuss topics such as bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), relationships and personal development/self-improvement. I upload weekly. If you don’t want to miss a video, click here to subscribe. goo.gl/DFfT33
Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.
I want to thank you, even if you dont see this. Sincerely and whole heartedly. Your channel has changed my outlook in such an intense way. I'm working on going through therapy right now for several mental illnesses. I've always struggled thinking something is wrong with me and not understanding why I feel the way I do. I didn't seek out therapy for my severe suicidal thoughts and mania until watching your videos and realizing that there are other people out there who have gotten through these debilitating feelings. Thank you for this channel, thank you for sharing your knowledge in ways that everyone can understand, and thank you for helping me. 🖤
This warms my heart to read this Megan I’m so glad you found my channel and that it’s helped you understand what’s going on, how you’re not alone and that you can get help. I wish you the best. Keep watching, There’s more to come
Believe in god he will save you dnt only lean on ur understand your ok dnt Believe what you mind always says
I understand your feelings... I want help but I can't seem to do it on my own.. I can't set it all up, I can't wait two months to see someone.. I need help now and no one can help me. I have no one.
That's good news! I'm so happy for you 😻
I had Serotonin Syndrome due to a suicide attempt. I was in the ICU for three days with constant seizures. The only thing that helped was Ativan. I regret it and I am glad to still be here
Me too was hallucinating audio and visual
@sayara sami doing better than ever! i’m glad to be alive
@sayara sami very precious thank you for checkin in on me !
@@nadiarittenberry944 how did you get through the SS? I’m still suffering with no quality of life. What meds helped you feel better x
@@leealice9070 my mom thinks it probably effected my brain in some way but i don’t have any noticeable symptoms i would say just give your brain time to heal it may take awhile i take trileptal which is a mood stabilizer/anticonvulsant i think that helps too
As a retired RN may I suggest that everyone take their meds or a list of current meds, including over the counter and herbals when going to any doctor. Also make sure each doctor has a list of any other doctors you see, especially the information for your Primary Care doctor. I am older so have a med planner. A small calendar to write down new noted symptoms no matter how small and the days and times the occur is very helpful to your doctor in helping you. Don’t be afraid to use your pharmacist too. Save and read those pages the pharmacist gives out to you with each new medicine. Dr. Marks you are an amazing and kind physician. I am a retired RN but love to still delve into all things medical. Take care of yourself. I also enjoy and learn from everyone’s comments. Thank you.
That's great advice 👍. Thank you!
Im 18 and was sent to the hospital last Sunday due to a mild case of serotonin syndrome. I was taking lexapro but recently increased my dosage to 10mL(I took a liquid form). My serotonin levels decreased within the next 1-2 days but it was the most mentally and physically painful/scary/exhausting experience i've ever had. I am currently recovering and being monitored by my doctor because it messed my body up. I have increased calcium levels and low white blood cell counts and a few other lingering symptoms(this could be from lexapro withdrawl). I am also dealing with withdrawal symptoms from lexapro and I am so mentally exhausted from it all. I never wish this pain on anyone. Thank you so much for posting his video because many people do not know serotonin syndrome exists. You are amazing Dr. Tracey
Did you take any other medication or supplements that raise serotonin???
What were your symptoms of serotonin syndrome,did the doctor immediately stop Lexapro???
Yes! It is scary AF. Mine lasted two weeks and I wouldn't wish it on a serial killer--it was that bad. Hope your recovery went well.
That sounds awful. 😢
I wish you were my psychiatrist. I'm having such a hard time right now with anxiety and depression, and having a lot of physical symptoms. I'm scared of meds and the first antidepressant I tried gave me tremors. You are so intelligent and comforting.
Dont trust her she is part of the system, she will only get you on meds and keep you on meds. Trust yourself and believe in yourself. Big Pharma only wants users not to have anyone be independent and free.
@@fourhumors9414 I haven't found this Doctor promoting medication, but I have noticed she recommends natural remedies. Either way, some people need medications or they suffer. Your advice could be damaging.
Look into black seed oil.
How did everything work out?
Yeah, same. I started taking Latuda and experience weird uncontrollable movement, severe feelings of agitation. I told my doctor and she increased the dose to 80mg from 20mg. I took it a few days and one day I felt like I was literally losing my mind. I couldn’t sit still could eat sleep nothing. I had to be admitted to a psych hospital and they put me on all kinds of meds. I just don’t feel up to staying here anymore I’m ready to go. I just want to sleep and never wake up I don’t mean to sound so miserable but I feel tired like a different heavy kind of tired.
Thank you for clarifying, I’ve found a lot of the symptoms look similar to the side effects on the leaflets and I know it can be fatal so I was quite worried, but now I know the more in depth symptoms serotonin syndrome has and how they differ to regular side effects I know what to look for and when not to worry, so thanks for putting my mind at ease
This video really demonstrates how important it is to tell your health professionals what medications you are currently taking. If anyone is like me, sometimes you don't feel like listing (seemingly unimportant) medication after you've filled out multiple pages of paperwork.
P.S. I love your videos and the VALUE you are providing to the world and people who need it most!! UA-cam algorithm brought me to your channel. Not by coincidence. Thank you, sincerely!
Thank you Dr. Tracey for a calm and detailed explanation. I was getting a little anxious about this for myself but after watching you it all just went away. Thank you and God bless you.
Your videos helped me review for the LMSW exam and I passed yesterday! Your videos are great for clinicians too!
Oh wow that’s really cool! Congrats on passing your exam 👏🏽
I have learned so much from your videos! I’m a special education teacher, and many of my students have mental health related concerns. Your videos help me to understand the nature of mental health problems and therefore support my students better.
So glad that you're shedding light on this. I havent looked, but I would be very interested on your take on how many psychiatric meds have an impact on weight and possibly can lead to cormid diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes can lead to some serious complications and I feel like this is not properly discussed openly with those who are qualified. While I have made the personal decision to stop medication, as a diabetic I feel it is something that needs to be brought to the public's attention.
Thanks to Sage for asking this question and to Dr. Marks for your thorough explanation (as always) 👍
You’re welcome Wez Zew and thank you 😊
@@DrTraceyMarks sorry doc but you are wrong ..... unless someone is abusing tramadol to levels which could rapidly become lethal there is very little that opiates will do if being taken as prescribed. If you are getting high off opiates , then they are not needed since the analgesic is not being used up and instead it is making you high. This is drug abuse not prescribe use
@@nottsork the Doctor is talking about possible multiple drug interactions, not appropriate, or inappropriate, use of opiates.
Thank you for sharing. I recently experienced a severe case of seritonin syndrome. I am on several antimigraine medications and antidepressants. I was with a bunch of friends and since it has become legalized in my state, I was offered a puff of marijuana. It wasn't laced at all as everyone else was fine. That little extra just put my body into full seritonin syndrome. Vomiting, convulsions, confusion, profuse sweating were some of my immediate symptoms. I had to go to the hospital and was discharged the next day. It was one of the scariest times in my life
Hi Dr Tracy! I love u videos and follow weekly. I ve had depression and anxiety for years treated by my primary care but my panic attacks have been so bad lately and listening to you I finally got the nerve to see a psychiatrist for the first time. She has helped me so much already. She said of course I had depression and anxiety but PTSD, which I never knew. I had a been abused my entire childhood and 22 years of a bad marriage mental abuse but never thought I had that. It is starting to make sense now. She started me on two medications as she said therapy and medicine will help with my PTSD but there is no total cure but maybe I will get part of my life back😊
Oh great Rhonda it sounds like you’re on a really good track now. Its totally fair to believe you can get a good part of your life back. Realistically yes they’ll still scars left behind but you can feel better than you have been feeling especially with trauma therapy
One of the things that I like about you DR Tracy Marks is that you make us aware of things that a normal medical Doctor can't.
That because she's a psychiatrist, and specializes in medications, and must know and understand their effects. Same with a registered pharmacist. MDs also understand the effects of the medications they prescribe, but I'd imagine that a psychiatrist or pharmacist has a much more in depth understanding.
You’re a godsend 🙏 thank you from the bottom of my heart for the amazing knowledge your channel gives me.❤️
That was a really enlightening video. Especially the reference to other meds that raise serotonin.
Thanks a lot Elektra. 😊
You explained everything so perfectly and clearly along with a relaxing / soothing voice!
10 out of 10!
Definitely gonna subscribe
Thanks for all the info, it more than helped me understand SS better!
I just had this. My doctors have been trying to figure out why I have been so sick for the past 4 months, that was when one of them put me on a new antidepressant without bothering to check my other medications. Otherwise she would have seen I was already taking a pain med and migraine med that would increase the risk is serotonin syndrome. I have never felt so crappy than in the past few months and I'm so glad to have a new Dr that immediately saw I shouldn't be taking that mix of medications and knew what the long list of symptoms meant. Thank you for the video for giving me more info on the topic!
Love you so much Dr Tracy. You care so much for us !
Very few people have actually helped me as much as you have !! You’ve helped me immensely !
Oh awesome Dylan! 😊❤️
Thank you Sage!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. Dr Marks if I tell you God is so good!! Literally three days ago I was looking up, “what symptoms a high serotonin lab could cause?” The results had me shook! Exactly as you explained ( oh, I should have waited three days🤣😂) most of the symptoms I live with on the daily. What it also revealed is that it is so very important for doctors to know more about mental health, and how they may have to treat both body and mind. I have a neuroendocrine cancer, and suffer carcinoid syndrome. You happen to have elevated “serotonin” labs regularly. I now wonder how overlapping these diseases are, and now see why it’s been so difficult to treat this cancer. Thank you so much so this video 💜🦓🦄
What a clear, complete class! Good teacher.
Great video. Dr. Marks you always present your videos so well.
awesome channel. you describe things so thoroughly and simply for us lamens out there.
My old Psych doc muttered serotonin syndrome under her breath before putting me on way too many medications that did cause me to get serotonin syndrome. I had it last November/December and I'm still recovering from it. Was one of the worst experiences of my life. I'm thankful I'm on my proper medication now 🙏🏽
And you didn't bother to say anything when you heard her say that???
I was on 2 Antidepressants and Tramadol. I fell out in a Grand mal seizure, my hubby had a hard time getting me to the ER, I was fighting him but I don't remember. After getting to the ER I had more seizures and my heart rate was in the 200s for hours. I was I ICU for 4 days.
They called it Severe Serotonin Syndrome
What antidepressants were you on if you dont mind my asking? I'm currently on Lexapro and I'm having some major episodes where I'm getting disoriented/forgetting things, heart racing, and light sensitivity with weird feelings like I'm about to have a seizure. Just wondering if maybe you were on lexapro at that time if you dont mind answering that publicly.
Also, I'm sorry about your experience. It shouldn't be this hard to feel okay, but you're strong for making it through that and continuing to work on your mental health.
@@meganleigh6611 I was on Celexa and Wellbutrin. Not sure about the spelling. To those
@@carris3ringcircus390 okay thank you! I hope you've recovered well from that incident. 🖤
@@meganleigh6611 Thank you. I did. It's been almost 4 years ago. To make it even worse, I was almost 4 months pregnant when it happened and didn't even know. I lost the baby the day after I got home on Christmas.😥 I hadn't been feeling good for a while anyway, so I guess I just didn't think much about it.
But it should have never happened, My doctor should have known better. Even the Pharmacy should have caught it. That's what the Doctors at the hospital said anyway💁
So glad I'm past all that❤ Good luck to you, And pay close attention to your body even ask people who are close to you to tell you if something seems off.
Would've been great to see this 6 months ago when you know, this started.
Thank you for this video. More people need to be aware.
Did you have SS ? Have you recovered from it and how lond did it take ?
@@ritomoshjuntaa2643 I have this so bad it nearly killed me was put in coma. You never recover. Hope you don’t have this cruel SS.
Thank you for always providing such useful and interesting information! This is my favorite channel. I was wondering if you might consider one day talking about the psychology of people who believe conspiracy theories. I’ve learned a little about biases that predispose people to distrust vaccines for example, but the QAnon phenomenon seems like something else, with ordinary people buying into ideas that should be unbelievable. From a psychological standpoint, what is happening? I feel this is important politically, yes, but I have also been reading about families being deeply affected when one member starts to believe these wild things and can’t be convinced they’re not real. Thank you for considering my question!!
Thank you Doc for educating us on mental health❤️🙏
Is that your child? Y'all are so cute together. 😊
Thank you yes that’s my son 😊
He is such a good sport!!
@@DrTraceyMarks 😁
Such a lucky child to have a mother like you!
@@DrTraceyMarks The scene in the driveway cracked me up because I was thinking about it from the neighbor's view, lol. Your son reminds me of my boys. Your channel has been priceless, as mental illnesses seem to touch every family, especially these days.
Conclusion: if you have a "mild" form of the serotonin syndrome, you're NEVER diagnosed, never die, but spend the whole life in the state of being dead.
I just wrote this syndrome into my new book on managing health and trauma. If you understand the triad and are able to show the timeline of dosing and symptom evolution, you have powerful ammo to speak with your healthcare provider about your symptoms and get the care you need.
Exactly i have been low since brain damage as teenager and i am now near 50 years old and two months since i got the medication i need for the first time. And just because i was able to diagnose myself and tell my doctor what i needen.
@@keto4life197 be very careful about ssri's they fix one thing and put you to struggle with one thousand!!
I promise!!
Stay away from quimicals for your brain
@@yardartistry4121 yeah ssri made me worse. Never going to take that crap again..
i mean that is true
Thank you for talking about this !!i had something like this after starting with paroxetine 20 mg while also taking st. johns worth, diziness ,agitation and my pupils were huge for almost 4 days until i stopped the meds and then it went away on its own. when i bought it up to my psych after doing some research and he didnt know what i was talking about.
Andrea Chueca Pharmacists now have information and references for all OTC vitamins, minerals and herbal meds that can interact with prescription meds. Even things like eating too much licorice can effect your heart, drinking grapefruit juice with some meds can cause major changes in a meds effectiveness, sometimes increasing the effect or decreasing the effect. Be safe.
I actually just dealt with/still experiencing serotonin syndrome. The weirdest part is that I only got it from starting one drug with serotonin in it. It didn’t end up being bad but it’s probably the worst drug interaction I’ve had. I’m also going through some Xanax withdrawal symptoms even though I only took less than 0.5 mg.
How long were you taking the xanax?
My favorite Dr. and Channel, thank you for all the awesome information.
This is Great information. Thank you for discussing it.
I love your videos. I wish I could find an intelligent, caring, psych doctor like you near me. 😧
You are such a sharp and with it person. Thank you!!!
This explains so much. I haven't mixed anything or had serotonin syndrome like this, but I had less pain when I was taking antidepressants. The way I feel on painkillers is very similar to how I felt on Lexapro. Very interesting.
Yes that is interesting. Cymbalta doubles as depressant and pain medication
Always a big help listening to your talks Tracy. Thankyou. 🇦🇺
Thank you Dr. Marks. your channel is very informative.
Thank you, I think I have a loved one going through a mild case now because of taking some cough medicine and not realizing. Sure wish more people were warned about that.
I had Serotonin Syndrome about 3 months ago. It was AWFUL. It happened because I tried to OD. I took my regular antidepressant (Fluvoxamine) and a MAOI (an old antidepressant I had left in the cupboard). It was the worst experience I’ve ever had. It’s made me never want to try and OD again. Mine resolved within the 24 hour time frame and they had me take Cyproheptadine for a few days.
Jamie, I'm sure I won't be the only one suggesting that you find an antidepressant, maybe one that has actually worked in the past, and stick to it. I can speak from personal experience, with a lifelong battle with depression and CPTSD, stemming from a childhood in a toxic environment.
When I would get to feeling better, emotionally, I would stop taking my antidepressants, thinking "Ok, I got this, and I don't need meds any longer"...WRONG. Depression is guaranteed to return, if that's the only remedy you are utilizing to treat it. Exercise and hobbies are a great ADDITION to antidepressants. The rollercoaster rides I've subjected myself to with the on-and-off-again regiments of antidepressants has prolonged my suffering. Never again will I stop taking them.
Also, personally, I would recommend not wasting your time and money on counseling visits. You can find some great information and better insight with videos like these, and believe me, this doctor is terrific.
So do yourself a favor and stick to your antidepressant. If the pain and discomfort of attempting suicide got your attention, I don't think you are serious about ending it all. I don't say this lightly, or to question your choice of existing, but your focus being more on the uncomfortable aspects of the act tell me that you are extremely depressed, and just want a quick fix. This can be a lifelong illness.
@@SteeleMagnolia I thought I could taper off my antidepressant-Effexor XR as things in my life improved...I was told that I will probably be on my antidepressant for the rest of my life. That's cool. Now I know
Your videos help my friend so much thanks for making her strong !
You’re welcome. I’m so glad. 👍🏽
@@DrTraceyMarks hi dr tracey, my friend wants to know if kids can get bipolar disorder?
Thanks for a very thorough explanation
You’re welcome Barbara 😊
2/3 hospitals told me i was faking it. Then the 3rd had to resuscitate me. More hospitals and ERs need to hear information like this :( ty for this video
The syptoms are very similar to a panic attack, so now i have to tell my health anxiety filled mind that i'm not dying 😅
same ! 😭😂
Moon: You need the whole triad, even with mild serotonin syndrome. That differentiates it from panic attacks. Watch her video on heath anxiety it will help you.
Yes ,it scares me 😨😨
Oh health anxiety is horrible. I suffered SS from taking zofran and going straight into 36 degree heat under the sun. I felt weird like I wasn't myself and I started to progress over a couple of hours it was horrifying.
You rock and congrats on the 1M subs coming yo
I had to go to the hospital 4 days ago with serotonin syndrome, I was on Stesolid 5mg for 2 days and now I'm feeling better but I am still so anxious that I'm still sick, I'm so afraid of losing my life! But I think I'm better since I haven't taken stesolid for 48 hours and my muscle twitching and pacing have gone down so much! Thank you so much for this video it really cleared up some of the things I thought and made my mind feel at ease!
Thank you for acknowledging mild to moderate cases. I've had mild a few times with the agitation. However one time after adding buspirone 10 mg tid to sertraline 50 mg I developed a 102 degree fever, BP of 180/120, pulse of 100-120 constantly, diarrhea, twitching, dilated pupils, agitation. Treated at home by tapering down buspar and Klonopin. I told doctor I had serotonin syndrome and she said, "If you had serotonin syndrome you'de be in the ICU and delirious. You might have had the flu, it's flu season." Frustrated me, I took it as gaslighting because I knew damn well I didn't have respiratory symptoms. I now know I have to be careful. Never had anything as severe as the buspar but every 150 mg of lithium I've added (on 300 mg now), I've had to taper down fluoxetine by 20 mg so from 80 mg to 40 mg now as I felt agitation coming on each time which resolved after a few days when I cut back Prozac and started more lithium again. My BP will go up too quite a bit even in my mild cases that lasted for weeks since I thought they were anxiety. That's why I think it's very important for psychiatrist to monitor BP, I think it's a crucial aspect being overlooked in most of the new psychiatry telemedicine platforms.
You’re welcome DTM I bet that was frustrating to be dismissed like that. And good point with the blood pressure monitoring with telehealth. I would guess most people who don’t have regular blood pressure issues don’t have a blood pressure monitor at home.
Dr. Tracey Marks - Is it possible to get Serotonin Syndrome from a stimulant? The symptoms that you were describing seemed pretty identical to what I was experiencing when I took (prescribed) Adderall back in college.
Is it also possible for stimulants to cause NMS-like symptoms? When taking Adderall - and especially Vyvanse - I would notice significant muscle rigidly, difficultly with fine and gross motor movement, and this bizarre difficulty swallowing - almost as if my body forgot how to swallow, if that makes any sense. It was also difficult to think, and my mind felt completely “blank”.
@@j.h.miretskay3430 I had that too with Vyvanse. Yes, stimulants can cause Serotonin Syndrome. Put Vyvanse and any other medications you are taking into an online drug interactions checker and it will pop up that it does.
Wow, a lot of the stories below describe my experience. At the time it wasn't recognized. Instead I was treated for an "apparent overdose" in the emergency department via NG tube and charcoal. The illness came on abruptly. I was disoriented, had dilated pupils, tremor, high blood pressure, incoherent speech, extreme anxiety, etc... My recollection of the illness is poor.
For years I thought it was an SSRI induced mania. At the time I was on a very high dose of Prozac and a lot of other psychiatric medications. I recently learned what it was by reading my medical records and discussing my findings with my doctor.
How did they fix it? I’m currently in a similar position but it feels like everybody just thinks my illness got worse...I’m feeling really defeated and am just about ready to give up on life, what should I tell my doctor?
Thank you so much for making this video!! I was prescribed Imitrex a few years ago for chronic migraines. I was also taking Zoloft and Mirtazapine at the time for depression. I had no idea that my “side effects” from the imitrex may have been serotonin syndrome! I only took it once or twice because it caused my muscles to become really stiff.
Do you still use mirtazapine and Zoloft together ???I use mirtazapine and Lexapro together ,it never bothered me before but now I am scared
@@SRBOMBONICA86 I wasn't referring to a direct correlation between the Zoloft and Mirtazapine specifically, I meant the affects of taking those drugs along with Imitrex (a prescription migraine medication). I'm currently taking Lexapro and Mirtazapine, and I've never experienced any negative effects or interactions between these two antidepressants.
@@DevCoffey oh I understand now😊what's your dosage of each of those meds(Lexapro and mirtazapine)?
@@SRBOMBONICA86 Lexapro: 20mg
Mirtazapine: 15mg
Amazing , very clear and easy to understand - thank you
ALWAYS ENLIGHTENING!
Thank you second opinion 😊
Very elegently articulated. Thank you doc!
Dr Marks thank you for the website. What a good idea.
Oh you’re welcome Cat. Bookmark it and you can always go back to it when you need to do a quick check. 😊
i had this. thank you for explaining!
I really like I found your video because for many years I have suffering for depression, anxiety and insomnia right now I am changing centers that’s give me therapy and psychiatrist treatment they were treating me with no respect and they change my medication without consulting or telling me and for more than a year I couldn’t figure out what to do at the end the tunnel I started looking for another place and thank god I found one I am starting this month and just see this people really trying to help me in many areas that I need help it’s unbelievable. I enjoy very your videos because I am learning a lot about my condition and finding the right hekp
Thank you for this! Very informative!
You’re welcome Sage!
Looking good sis!! 😍😍😍 I love your vids! I'm wondering about treatment options for mood disorders or improper coping mechanisms that could link to hypothyroidism. I've been learning that every illness starts with an emotional imbalance. Do you agree/disagree? Any thoughts would be helpful.
Last week I did a video talking about medication treatments for bipolar disorder ua-cam.com/video/KDMbRW_fEwM/v-deo.html That has a dedicated video because the treatment is more complicated than for depression. I do have a medication playlist ua-cam.com/play/PLazcP3-djRZ2j3Md3h3EARyJNX_0FIW5S.html. I do think thyroid abnormalities can be the basis for depression or mania. I don’t believe emotional imbalance causes thyroid abnormalities. I also don’t believe all of the psychiatric disorders like mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD and schizophrenia start with an emotional imbalance.
Another confounding factor, I was fine until acute kidney failure raised the levels of Sertraline in my system because of my inability to excrete the drug. Just for a future topic, it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on reasons individual reactions to drugs vary.
Omg that's so dangerous
I read this and RRRAANNN to the bathroom
You are a gift to humanity. Thank you. ❤
Hello, thank you for your videos. Is there a chance that you could talk about separation anxiety? And is living alone e for the first time anxiety a form of separation anxiety? How do you deal with these?
I'm the first person that you've heard of with this now.
I spent 6 hrs yesterday (my b-day of all days) in the ER with serotonin syndrome. I couldn't walk on my own due to severe shaking. My BP was 158/90! My muscles were rigid & even my neck & throat were hard. I noticed a few days prior that I thought my arm was twitching a little. I had been on zoloft for 6 wks & the dose was increased after 4 wks from 50 to 100 mg & then increased to 200 mg on 4/26. I felt a little 'off' on 4/30, but I thought it was due to drinking too much at my b-day party the night b4. I was having a bit of trouble talking. I'd start & pause a lot during each sentence & flip flop words & forget words. I went out again on Saturday & I was exhausted before I even left my house at 9 pm. I could barely eat dinner & was still feeling out of sorts. When I got home at 2 a.m., I had really rigid muscles when I got in bed. I just couldn't relax at all. I took all my meds, which included a muscle relaxer, 200 mg zoloft & 400 mg lamotrigine. Then I fell asleep. The next day, I started shaking & told my husband I thought I had signs of Parkinson's. The shaking of my arms started later in the evening & by the time I went to bed, they were shaking a lot & so was the rest of my body. In the morning, I wasn't shaking right away, but an hour after getting up, I started shaking uncontrollably.
My doctor's office told me to go to the ER. I was given a cat scan, blood work & everything about me was checked out. My blood work came back normal & my BP was 158/90!! I was given Ativan to make me relax. I fell asleep & woke up feeling better. When that wore off, I started shaking again. Today, I'm still shaking. I feel like a dashboard holu dancer wiggling all over.
Sorry to hear that, it's a terrible thing, I know. Did it finally go away?
Eagerly waiting for ur cbt programme
Excellent presentation!
I recently was diagnosed with Serotonin Syndrome; I am pregnant and was experiencing 'Hyperemesis Gravidarum', thus, I was put on multiple anti nausea medications (of which boost serotonin). I was on LEXAPRO long-term (antidepressant), alongside VRAYLAR (atypical antipsychotic - long-term) and experienced severe symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome. More information needs to be publicly, and medically, available because this is not a well known condition - half, if not 80% of, the doctors and pharmacists that I've been in contact with weren't even aware of this condition! I had multiple doctors prescribing me serotonin boosting medications without even taking a look at what other serotonin boosting medications I was on; it's appalling to see such a lack of cohesive, educated care towards patients!
This can happen very quickly in people with mast cell disease and dysautonomia. One pill of Zoloft sent me to the ER. Initially I thought it was an allergic reaction, but it happened again with each SSRI I was tried on.
I have a mast cell disease and it makes my body very hyperreactive to medication. In the ER, though, I was treated as a psych patient instead. I would have all the symptoms including the clonus and rigidity and significant confusion and word slurring and they consistently treat me as if it is "panic attacks."
I took myself to emergency in the hospital and was told i was having a panic attack by a consultant!.
The junior doctor didnt know what was going because i had tremors and a stutter then asked the consultant. Consultant came in and spoke a load of bs and i asked “so do I continue to take my meds or do i stop?” He told me its up to me because every medication has side effects 🤡
@@PotatoChipse well that’s no help at allll :/
Wow, mast cell after mold exposure and dysautonomia after mold exposure here. This makes sense why SSRIs have wreaked havoc when I try them and they vamp up my nervous system. I won’t be trying anymore of them but I really need to find something to help all of these symptoms. I’m so up and down all the time!
Very informative. Thank you!
Very good information! Thank you
Love your videos, your a fantastic doctor
Thank you for the video, it was really helpful
I've had this...I even ended up with a heart arrhythmia (while in ER). Crazy because I thought I was having a panic attack but I was having so many symptoms at once even fever.
what medication did you took,did you combine more medc or just one
I had it too. I was on Lexapro even though it wasn't appropriate (I'm autistic not depressed or anxious) and they put me on a tricyclic and a yeast infection med, then i took NyQuil for a cold
I don't think I have a lack of serotonin to begin with and I was on at least 4 drugs that increase the availability of it. I should have been on Adderall.
Oh and trazodone
They said "oh they're all such low doses"
@@addmee333 oh boy I ended up in the psych ward and I was taking 100 mg of Zoloft for 3 years vaping nicotine smoking weed and what sent me into SS is when I took SHROOMS they said it was generalized anxiety disorder which is BS I low key had this unlimited tremors and doctors be working with so many other ppl they low key don’t give af what u have I know I had this for a fact I know I was being dumb but definitely had this for sure and doctors need to watch out for this
Thank You. Very informative.
Have you encountered malignant neuroleptic syndrome in your experience? I kept hearing about it in pharmacology and related classes but never heard about anyone getting it in practice thankfully.
Also, as a health professional myself, your videos help me a lot in understanding myself and my own patients. That also helped me get my diagnosis revised, my treatment changed and I got my life back! Thank you so much!
I wish you had been my Dr in the ER last Friday when I went in with serotonin syndrome. I told them exactly what I had taken, Cymbalta for depression as well as Flexeril and Tramadol for relief of pain from a surgery I had and Bactrum because I got an infection in one of my incisions. I had pretty much all the symptoms and told them that I believed I had SS but they didn't believe me. They just gave me fluids through an IV some valium and discharged me. It was the scariest day of my life, thank God it wasn't my last.
This really really eases my mind thank you so much.
Hello dr, thank you so much for your videos. About serotine is it possible to know the levels we have in the body (brain) ? By a blood analyse for exemple. And can that help in the diagnostic and médication to take ? ? Thank you
You can measure blood levels for some of the medications however it’s measuring the level in your blood and not your brain. Since we don’t normally measure blood levels of antidepressants we don’t have a standard for what would be considered high levels that could lead to serotonin syndrome.ua-cam.com/video/VDqsHl3lBlA/v-deo.html
Great info. Important to note that many street drugs-like psychedelics, can cause seratonin syndrome.
Hi Dr. Tracy, thank you for all what yo do and did in your channel. I’ve been diagnosed long time ago with GAD, my bothering symptoms are physical muscles and joints pain in addition to the anxiety and Panic attacks, loss of sleeping, and strong fatigue, the antidepressants ease the pain and solve the feeling issue to a very good limit.But I feel my self demotivated and I get mild to moderate muscle pain when I’m anxious. Any issue in my stomach aggravate or provoke the pain, what is your advice to me? I’m on Brintlex 20 mg in the 6th week after I built a tolerance for Effexor. (I used Effexor for 1.5 year, at 35mg and it was greet, but gradually after one year all the symptoms get back to me till I was out of control and not being able to function at all even on 150 mg)
What about Dopamine in the brain? Can you do a video about Dopamine problems in the brain?
my daughter is recovering from an OD of Ciprolex...excessive tremors and eye sensitivity and many many muscle spasms..doctors have said due to the slow half life, it will take a few days before it resolves..two visits in 24 hours to hosp... all vitals and blood work is clear...it is heartbreaking to see my daughter this way....thank you for posting these videos.
How much dose did she took and from how long she is taking please reply i am facing the sane symptoms
Thanks for this, I have been reading on this for awhile now. I was afraid when my doctor prescribed Buspirone 7.5 MG to be added to my Cymbalta where I now take 30 mg of Cymbalta and the Busiprone once in the morning together and once at night. I was afraid because every site I read not to combine the two. However, I have been fine so far. I haven't even experience the mild symptoms. That may change, but I will keep my eye out on it. Good point on the fact that just because it says there is a drug interaction, it doesn't mean that you will get the syndrome.
Wow, thank you, what an eye-opener.
This is very helpful, thank you.
Thanks for the information.
Dr first of all thank you very much for all your videos. It helps us all. I feel happy and positive watching your videos. I have clinically diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I am on 50mg sertraline for two months. Not sure whether its working or not. One thing i know for sure is that i am emotionally stable now. But still have social anxiety and some depression episodes. I have racing heart and some other side effects like nausea and fatigue. Please if you can advice me something that whether the meds working or not and how do i know that its working. Thanking you again for your hard work.
Was prescribed a few different medications by a few different doctors and didn’t know that there was a high probability of serotonin syndrome. First of all I have been consuming kratom for years now and I have also been taking an SSRI of some sort for years now and went from citalopram over to paroxitine. Although it worked for a little while and I had absolutely no serious side effects that I could really tell. So I started to get anxiety again and so I was prescribed buspirone by a completely different doctor (it’s complicated but I have lots of friends in the medical field and didn’t have time to go to an appointment and all that) and around the time I started to take it religiously i started to get very bad tremors in arms, legs, hands and feet. Along with a few other problems that I just chalked up to either bad anxiety and wasn’t really sure what was going on. I was also given trazodone from another doctor friend that had a bottle that they never consumed and they gave it to me bc I was having problems sleeping. I never really took it but only a few times within a several month period and only took a half of one.
So last Wednesday that day I consumed some adderal, along with my usual paroxitine, buspar, and kratom. Something I’ve combined quite a few times and besides my typical tremors and high amounts of anxiety that is pretty much my baseline, I wasn’t having anything crazy going on which would soon change…. So that night I decided I was going to take a trazadone bc i was stimulated more so than usual probably bc of the adderal but I had only ever taken half of the pill and only enough times in my whole life for me to count on one hand . So that night I took a whole one but still ended up only getting around 3-4 hours of sleep.
I got up the next morning and I knew immediately something was wrong. My pupils were VERY dilated which is strange bc they are always pinpoint from kratom, and I was more paranoid than I have ever been and felt like I was having a non stop panic attack on top of having audio-hallucinations of police sirens that 100% weren’t real and I knew I was hearing things. Once I got to work I felt as if people were looking at me and talking about me despite having absolutely no reason to think they were and I was just honestly delusional. I felt like I was drunk and so much to the point where I kept dropping things, spilling the ink my company creates, and just literally looking like I was very very messed up on something.
It was a very important day at work and I didn’t want to mess that up bc the higher ups already had meetings and stuff planned for me to attend and a few tests for me to take and I was already very paranoid so I was super scared to go and talk to my boss and say something was wrong bc I thought he would think I was heavily intoxicated from alchohol or some type of other illicit drugs and I didn’t even know what was going on myself and wasn’t able to even think correctly to even make a reasonable judgement on the situation, I was in pure survival mode.
I ended up getting into an argument with the guy I was partnered with because he was being super annoying and trying to tell me how to do certain things a certain way despite it not mattering and everyone has their own way of doing these specific things and I was shown many different ways by many different people and it’s kind of “a whatever works best for you as long as you don’t take forever and the product turns out the same” (specifically he was getting mad about stuff like me putting labels on boxes in a different order than he does and other stuff that really makes absolutely NO difference in the product or the time it takes me to complete and he was acting like a literal child ) it got heated and soon after I went on break and sat in my car. I tried to calm down and I couldn’t. I came back in and started working and ended up spilling a ton of the ink all over the scales and of course my team lead and the guy who was arguing with me were looking at me after that happened and I 100% know they thought I was drugged up or drunk. So at that point I was losing my mind and was so paranoid I had adrenaline pumping through my veins and couldnt stand still for a single second and was looking around like a maniac thinking people were watching me when they weren’t.
I don’t remember anything after that really but I figured out that stepped up on the step ladder after that to pour some ink and only know that bc my arm was covered in ink that only could have gotten on me from falling onto the machine which is only accessible by step ladder, and I proceeded to have a major seizure in which I I fell off the step ladder and hit the concrete ground and seized so bad that I wasn’t breathing and turned blue. I seized for around 4 minutes, around 2-3 minute mark I coughed a few times and they told me I started breathing again and regained my color and I came to and of course couldn’t remember my age or anything really, couldn’t walk, and really just didn’t even know anything happened at all and had typical post seizure symptoms.
After a few minutes with paramedics I ended up leaving work with my sister who is a doctor after refusing to go to the hospital bc they can’t really do anything for a seizure and haven’t the past two times I’ve had them in the past and I already have huge amounts of hospital bills I owe. So started doing some research and realized all three of those medications are not supposed to be combined and puts the patient at very very high risk for serotonin syndrome.
What I think was the two huge things that really sent me over the edge was the trazadone (added to my already bad combo of Peroxitine and Buspar) and also me getting into that argument with my coworker and having that stress on top of running on only a few hours of sleep.
Anybody taking buspar needs to be very very cautious if combining with an SSRI and same thing with taking any combination of any of the three medications I fore mentioned, let alone all three together. I got very lucky and didn’t get severely hurt besides a bruise on my face from hitting something while falling and also my shoulders I’m guessing from either landing directly on them or landing in some weird way while seizing and almost tearing my rotator cuff’s.
Long story I know but to end it all I will never take trazodone EVER again and stopped taking the buspar and the very next day the symptoms like tremors are almost completely gone and I feel like I’m completely almost back to more of a normal than I have been in a very long time. Hope someone reads this and it can help them in some way!
I could have very well killed myself, crippled myself, got caught in the machine that I fell onto and where I probably smacked my face, I could have wrecked on the way to work and hurt myself and others and who knows what else could have happened. The thing was I was too out of my mind to think rationally at all and we all need to be on the lookout for symptoms(like my serious tremors for the past few months) and immediately go see a doctor before it gets to the point it did with me and now I have to do something different at my work bc I can’t be trusted to work on the large mill(s) bc I could easily kill myself if it were to happen again.
I have a high respect for psychiatrists in the ER. I have had SS everytime they try me on SSRIs, SRI and Tricyclic antidepressants. Symptoms: Red as a lobster, blurred vision, core temp feels super hot (iced my groin, arm pits, neck down. Could not think clear. Happened with Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, etc. EKG was bad. admitted to ER with Klonopin and ativan. Kidneys felt like two hot bricks. The psychiatrist diagnosed it right off. I had a nerve conduction study and the orthopedist wrote me amitriptyline and I was currently on a 50 ug fentanyl patch. My speech was pressured. Melissa Talbert the psychichrist said if I had not come in again I would have died within 24 hours. It can be deadly. Since I have this serotonin level issue I am prescribed Klonopin twice a day which controls the anxiety very well. Concomitant use of benzodiazapines with opioid is approved when other methods are ineffective. Many opioids cause anxiety. I do not drink alcohol so no problems there. Another dose of an SRI, SSRI could be a death sentence in my case.
Hi Tracey. I recently was prescribed Wellbutrin for the first time ever, my therapist has been wanting to put me on ADs for over a year but I’ll be honest, they scare the living daylights out me. However, as of late my depression has gotten so bad that I was desperate enough to take the plunge. I’m on day 2 and I’ll be honest I feel like someone put bricks in a canvas bag and beat me with it, my doc AND the pharmacist both stressed I’d feel... odd for a few weeks while my body adjusted but I wasn’t prepared for this at all. I was wondering if you could do a video on just the initial phase of starting treatment, I know the experience is going to be different for everyone but there has to be a general baseline of things to expect that could make people a little more prepared. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. You provide an invaluable service and I’m so grateful to have found your channel, sorry for the obnoxiously long comment. Take care ❤️
I hope you're holding up well. The adjustment can be rough.
PerfumeCognac I’m on Wellbutrin and it works great for me. I get energy and not hungry all the time plus no sexual side effects. Maybe your does is too high. I’m on 150 mg per day
Could you make a video about having bipolar and bpd. And what that looks and feels like. I have both but would love to see how you describe what they look like together
Hello Dr. Tracey! I like your videos, but I can't always understand everything, because my English is terrible. Please enable instant subtitles in Portuguese so that your videos can help Portuguese speakers like me.
My daughter was in the hospital over a week. It was not diagnosed until she figured it out later by researching it herself. Was being treated for fibromyalgia, uti and diarrhea at the same time.
I got diagnosed with bppv about a week ago, I was already on bupropion but was prescribed zofran, scopolamine, and clindamycin for the bppv and a toothache I had. On the 3rd day of taking this medicine I took my second dose of zofran and went out for a cigarette. While smoking I realized that I was having tremors that quickly turned into jolts and clonis, sending me into full blown panic mode. I kept getting the feeling you get when you wake up and feel like you are falling, but it was more of a split-second full body shutdown. During this my limbs felt like they were in a different dimension almost(there but not feeling). I had pain in my chest and a "resting" heart rate of 157(have a monitor laying around the house), accompanied by sharp pains(zaps) in my fingertips and a constant pain under my left arm. I dried out almost immediately and couldn't swallow because there was no spit to swallow, sending me further Into a panic state. I also had minor hallucinations almost like a light dose of LSA, brightening of colors and slight dissociation. During all this I had moments of extreme tremors that I fought as hard as I could against assuming I was going to go into a seizure. These symptoms continued for a good solid hour. Here I am 4 days later and I am still getting jolts from my scalp to my toes when I move after sitting still for a period of time, when I'm walking around I get the feeling my legs are going to buckle. I still don't know exactly what I went through weather it was serotonin syndrome or a sever panic attack(likely both) or how close to death I was but in many years of putting stupid substances in my body and staying up all night so I wouldn't die in my sleep, I had never felt that close. Sorry for rambling this is my first time really expressing the extent of what I went through
A few years ago I was on Tramadol for pain. I got a bad cold and was given some kind of cough medicine that sent me into serotonin syndrome at one in the morning. I was CONVINCED I was dying. I knew it. I was racing. my mind was full of the highest anxiety and feeling of overwhelming doom. I tried to call my doctor at three in the morning. tried to go the ER at four in the morning. IT WAS TOO MUCH. the bright lights, all the people, I literally ran back to the car and rode it out at home. It was the WORST. And it was the same doc that prescribed both to me. I have switched docs, and off all of that crap. Thank you for the video, because not many people know about this.
Thanks for your video.
I changed my meds by my own from fluoxetin to paroxetin, after 4 days I went nuts... Really anxious, motor agitation, thought racing... I went to the hospital at 1am walking for 2 hours and always running sometimes for fear of being chased.... The doctor was very prejudiced and asked me if I had cocaine.... I said no... She gave me a pill and sent me home...... Sad...
dude that’s literally me right now almost, i took prozac but it didn’t work for me, so then my physc decided to focus on my adhd and i started adereall two weeks ago and then it’s been good but then my doctor decided to give me lexapro- and it’s been two days and i feel like my hearts been beating faster then usual, i feel confused, i feel shaky even while typing this, i my stomach hurts so so bad, and my body keeps twitching- LMAO IM SCARED but i hope everything works out for you lol.
I hated paroxetin
Same. All I had was Prozac but I guess it was the wrong med for me. I had terrible panic attacks constantly and I would shake so hard I’d wake up in the night multiple times
QUESTION: Dr. Mark's, please, how to make professionals to look into the possibility of the "mild" form of the syndrome??!!?? Can a person be chronically fatigued?? Thank you so much.
I'm so glad I learnt about seratonin syndrome and checked my drug interactions, I started fluoxetine a few months back and my dr prescribed me quitiapine at 25mg to help me sleep. Each night I took the quitiapine I felt worse and then one night I had blood when I went to the toilet and I thought nothing of it, later that night I started feeling manically euphoric, had a rapid heart rate and cold sweats. I called a ambulance and when they tooky blood pressure it was roughly 185/130 at 120bpm, I believe if I didn't go to the hospital and continued to take the quitiapine the next night I may have been in a much worse state and I think I might have died if I didn't stop the quitiapine when I did
Hey Doctor Tracy! You are truly an amazing psychiatrist. I wish you were my doctor :) Anyway I am taking medications for mdd and I have been very scared of the meds and it is making my depression worse. I always feel like the meds are changing my personality and the way I used to be as a person. It sucks to feel this way. I feel like my psychiatrist over prescribed me with more antidepressants than I need. I have developed some mild features of serotonin syndrome. My psych doesn't believe me when I tell him to reduce my dosage. I feel like a completely different person. Can antidepressants make my brain worse?
great work thanks fab channel greetings from england
Thanks a lot Chris. And thanks for watching from England👍🏽