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What Causes Blurred Vision And Dizziness While Having A History Of Depression?
Question: I have a history of depression and anxiety and depression. I have been on anti-depressants from like four years now. I was taking Zoloft 200 mg recently but it showed no affect for a long time. I told my doctor to change my drug and he has now put me on Duloxetine 20 mg. It has been 7 days and I have been getting horrible brain shocks. As I turn my head I get a brain shock. My vision is blurry and I feel fatigued and dizzy. I have no strength or enthusiasm. At one point I'm happy that I have come down to a lower dose of medicine as I wanted my body to be free of anti-depressants. Brains Zaps are not new to me. I have been having them on and off. But this time are are really bad. I need your advice on how to minimize them and stay health and sane. Your advice is very important to me. Please help me with suggestions. I want to win and live a healthy life. I have been already taking medicines for acidity and other illnesses which I believe are the by-product of depression and anxiety.
Brief Answer:
probably due to abrupt stoppage of zoloft.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details. I completely understand your concerns.
You are experiencing horrible brain zaps.
In my opinion, these are due to abrupt stoppage of zoloft. Sudden discontinuation of any antidepressant can cause such withdrawal symptoms.
I would suggest you to restart with zoloft. 200mg is a quite high dose. It MUST BE reduced gradually.
In my opinion, a cross tapering of drugs should be considered. You can gradually reduce the dose of zoloft and simultaneously increase duloxetine slowly.
These symptoms usually decrease with time and are not serious. It may take 1-2 weeks to 1-2 months.
To minimize these symptoms for now, you must drink lots of water. Try and practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation.
Hope this helps.
Kindly discuss this with your doctor.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
Regards.
probably due to abrupt stoppage of zoloft.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details. I completely understand your concerns.
You are experiencing horrible brain zaps.
In my opinion, these are due to abrupt stoppage of zoloft. Sudden discontinuation of any antidepressant can cause such withdrawal symptoms.
I would suggest you to restart with zoloft. 200mg is a quite high dose. It MUST BE reduced gradually.
In my opinion, a cross tapering of drugs should be considered. You can gradually reduce the dose of zoloft and simultaneously increase duloxetine slowly.
These symptoms usually decrease with time and are not serious. It may take 1-2 weeks to 1-2 months.
To minimize these symptoms for now, you must drink lots of water. Try and practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation.
Hope this helps.
Kindly discuss this with your doctor.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thanks,
I have now started taking 20 mg Duloxetine in morning and 20 mg in the night. Earlier I was talking only 20 mg but the problem still persists. What should I do? I also feel tired all the time. I feel I will die soon. My body shivers and I have butterfly feeling in the ches. My head is always heavy. Every time I climb the stairs I feel my heart pounding and I feel I may get a heart attack. Yesterday I was playing cricket, I couldn't stand on my feet and felt so fatigued and tired. After 10 overs I had to move out of the field. My vision is hazy and dull. I also have dark circles under my eyes. I have got several blood tests done but all appear normal. Can you suggest me what is going wrong? Pls.
I have now started taking 20 mg Duloxetine in morning and 20 mg in the night. Earlier I was talking only 20 mg but the problem still persists. What should I do? I also feel tired all the time. I feel I will die soon. My body shivers and I have butterfly feeling in the ches. My head is always heavy. Every time I climb the stairs I feel my heart pounding and I feel I may get a heart attack. Yesterday I was playing cricket, I couldn't stand on my feet and felt so fatigued and tired. After 10 overs I had to move out of the field. My vision is hazy and dull. I also have dark circles under my eyes. I have got several blood tests done but all appear normal. Can you suggest me what is going wrong? Pls.
Brief Answer:
discontinuation syndrome or relapse of anxiety-depression.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Sorry for the late response.
In my opinion, you symptoms are probably due to sudden discontinuation of high dose zoloft or relapse of your anxiety and depression.
Please be assured that these symptoms are not life-threatening.
As I mentioned earlier, your doctor should have slowly tapered down zoloft.
In my clinical experience, duloxetine is not a great antidepressant drug.
Anyhiw, if your doctor has put you on this drug, he must have has something in his mind.
I would again recommend you to restart zoloft with same dose and consider its slow downward tapering. Simultaneously, upward titration of duloxetine should be done. This would have been a safer approach.
For now,
Please drink lots of water. This MAY help in your symptoms.
Try and practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation.
Consider using clonazepam (prescription drug) for short term, till severity of your symptoms decrease.
If I would have been your treating doctor, I would have added low dose olanzapine or risperidone. These are antipsychotic drugs but excellent mood stabilisers in low doses.
Kindly discuss these issues with your treating doctor.
Hope this helps.
I wish you well.
Take care.
Regards.
discontinuation syndrome or relapse of anxiety-depression.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Sorry for the late response.
In my opinion, you symptoms are probably due to sudden discontinuation of high dose zoloft or relapse of your anxiety and depression.
Please be assured that these symptoms are not life-threatening.
As I mentioned earlier, your doctor should have slowly tapered down zoloft.
In my clinical experience, duloxetine is not a great antidepressant drug.
Anyhiw, if your doctor has put you on this drug, he must have has something in his mind.
I would again recommend you to restart zoloft with same dose and consider its slow downward tapering. Simultaneously, upward titration of duloxetine should be done. This would have been a safer approach.
For now,
Please drink lots of water. This MAY help in your symptoms.
Try and practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation.
Consider using clonazepam (prescription drug) for short term, till severity of your symptoms decrease.
If I would have been your treating doctor, I would have added low dose olanzapine or risperidone. These are antipsychotic drugs but excellent mood stabilisers in low doses.
Kindly discuss these issues with your treating doctor.
Hope this helps.
I wish you well.
Take care.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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