![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fairywings on May 27, 2006, at 14:57:10
I've been on Zoloft about 3 weeks now - 50mg.
At first I felt more depressed, better now, but I'm really irritable, and all the muscles in my body ache and burn, and there's more tension in my shoulders and jaw. Could there be a connection?
Also, sometimes when I look at words they don't look right, and when I really "look" at them I get almost a dizzyness, or loss of equilibrium - my imagination?Thanks!
fw
Posted by linkadge on May 27, 2006, at 15:51:48
In reply to Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability?, posted by fairywings on May 27, 2006, at 14:57:10
I've had visual hallucinations, and mild perceptual distortions on antidepressants many times before. Could you elaborate on "the words don't look right"
Linkadge
Posted by fairywings on May 27, 2006, at 20:41:21
In reply to Re: Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability? » fairywings, posted by linkadge on May 27, 2006, at 15:51:48
Hi Link,
Well...it's kind of weird...I'll be reading on the computer, look at a word, and it's almost like my brain can't comprehend it. So, I backtrack, look at the word, and my head gets "swimmy". When I'm doing schoolwork, I start reading, and get really sleepy - can't make myself read.
I've had that, memory problems, and ditsyness. The other day I was going somewhere, and on the way forgot where I was headed, and passed it by. I don't think I've had visual hallucinations, but I didn't realize the memory stuff, or "drifting" on my own.
Thanks,
fw
Posted by Phillipa on May 27, 2006, at 21:11:25
In reply to Re: Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability? » linkadge, posted by fairywings on May 27, 2006, at 20:41:21
fw does it feel like when you're reading that the words are going fast like your eyes and making you read faster and faster and feel more anxious when reading? I took zoloft and didnt have those problems but wer're all individuals did you call your pdoc? Love Phillipa
Posted by fairywings on May 27, 2006, at 22:19:52
In reply to Re: Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability? » fairywings, posted by Phillipa on May 27, 2006, at 21:11:25
Hi Phillipa,
No, it doesn't make me anxious when I'm reading or other times. I "just" feel like I'm slow..."fuzzy" - nothing I read sinks in. The concepts I've learned this past quarter in school seem like they're completely foreign to me. I've taken SSRI's before, and they've made me "fuzzy", don't know if that goes away or not.
Thanks,
fw
Posted by 4WD on May 28, 2006, at 23:08:24
In reply to Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability?, posted by fairywings on May 27, 2006, at 14:57:10
> I've been on Zoloft about 3 weeks now - 50mg.
> At first I felt more depressed, better now, but I'm really irritable, and all the muscles in my body ache and burn, and there's more tension in my shoulders and jaw. Could there be a connection?
> Also, sometimes when I look at words they don't look right, and when I really "look" at them I get almost a dizzyness, or loss of equilibrium - my imagination?
>
> Thanks!
> fw
Hi.Can't speak about the dizzyness but the muscle tightness has been a constant problem for me with any SSRI. So I'd definitely say it's related. And it doesn't go away with time, it just gets worse. I have knots in the muscles in my shoulders and neck. Hurts like everything.
Marsha
Posted by fairywings on May 29, 2006, at 12:28:08
In reply to Re: Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability? » fairywings, posted by 4WD on May 28, 2006, at 23:08:24
Thanks Marsha,
I had to go off the Zoloft bec. I had a terrible reaction to it - very scary thoughts were going through my head, my memory is shot, and my cognitive abilities seem affected. I guess that will all get better again.
S*cks about the muscle tightness - can you do anything for it? Have you ever tried Trigger point massage? It's helped me and my daughter emmensely before with knotted muscles. Here's a link, just in case you're interested:
http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/massage-types-trigger.htmthanks again!
fw
Posted by Cairo on May 29, 2006, at 13:28:55
In reply to Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability?, posted by fairywings on May 27, 2006, at 14:57:10
I've never tried Zoloft, but every other SSRI I've tried (Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, plus other meds with SSRI component - Effexor, Cymbalta, Ultram) cause severe muscle tightness and muscle twitching as well as sleep disturbances, irritability, sweats, etc. Just can't take 'em.
Regarding the eye problems, I brought this up with my opthalmologist who said that dry eyes can cause the swimming/blurry thing when you're reading. He saw no problems in my eyes, so I guess I'll go with his explanation because I do suffer from dry mouth, eyes on various meds.
Good luck!
Cairo
Posted by fairywings on May 29, 2006, at 18:21:33
In reply to Re: Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability?, posted by Cairo on May 29, 2006, at 13:28:55
Bleh - even with Cymbalta? I think my pdoc mentioned that one. With Zoloft I had sweating and muscle twitching too, didn't know that was a side effect of the med....and you know how when you're falling asleep, and your body jerks? I had that - weird.
fw
Posted by Cairo on May 31, 2006, at 16:38:01
In reply to Re: Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability? » Cairo, posted by fairywings on May 29, 2006, at 18:21:33
I think I'm a slow metabolizer, thus side effects at low doses, but I also think that the serotonergic system isn't the culprit with me. I can't take caffeine or anything too stimulating either...causes anxiety/panic attacks.
Prozac was the worst offender because it has such a long half life. It was two months of pure h*%$, gradually upping the dose and sticking to the schedule to placate a new doctor that was convinced it would help despite my previous fiascos with Lexapro/Celexa/Effexor. I won't do that again for anyone. I'd wake up with chattering teeth and be curled up in the fetal position due to tight muscles. Brain zaps happened, too.
Cymbalta at 5mg was good for energy, alertness, and even less positional dizziness. But it didn't do anything for pain or muscle tightness. I'm afraid to try it again after all the panic attacks started with Topamax. I haven't been the same since.
Hope you find something that works!
Cairo
> Bleh - even with Cymbalta? I think my pdoc mentioned that one. With Zoloft I had sweating and muscle twitching too, didn't know that was a side effect of the med....and you know how when you're falling asleep, and your body jerks? I had that - weird.
>
> fw
Posted by fairywings on May 31, 2006, at 19:11:21
In reply to Re: Zoloft - muscle aches, irritability?, posted by Cairo on May 31, 2006, at 16:38:01
I have side effects at low doses too - so maybe that's true for me. Topamax was bad for me too -not panic, but depression. When you say serotonin isn't the culprit for you, do you mean you don't need an SSRI, or it's not the SSRI that affects you badly, but the slow metabolism of the meds?
Geeze, I'm glad I've never had to endure adverse effects for a pdoc - do you still have the same pdoc? Mine's awesome - always understood when I had problems with meds. I'm anxious to hear what he says about the reaction I had to Zoloft...don't know if you read my other thread, but I had a horrible reaction over the weekend. I'd like to know why.
I understand your reluctance to try another med -I've had bad luck with SSRI's and Wellbutrin.
Did Cymbalta have any effects on your sex drive? Why did you go off of it?
Thanks! ; )
fw
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.