Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Intermittent Headache, Constant Vertigo And Anxiety After Taking MDMA?
Question: Almost 4 weeks ago i was drunk at a party and digested ca 400mg MDMA in total. I never used drugs before and i lost control that night and took the drug. After 6 days i had a massive headache for about 5 days, for almost 3 weeks now I've had a light headache sometimes, constant vertigo/dizziness mild to strong.
And 5 days ago my vision got blurry and still is. I've also had a lot of anxiety and a few panic attacks. I'm now very afraid and would like to know how long time it might take until these symptoms disappear and if they will disappear at all.
Please help me! //Best wishes
And 5 days ago my vision got blurry and still is. I've also had a lot of anxiety and a few panic attacks. I'm now very afraid and would like to know how long time it might take until these symptoms disappear and if they will disappear at all.
Please help me! //Best wishes
Brief Answer:
You would get better.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your details and would like to reassure you that you would get better and there is no need to worry.
Total improvement usually takes 3-4 weeks.
If your neurological examination was normal, then, no further action is needed, and you would spontaneously improve with rest and good sleep.
However, if any abnormalities were detected on clinical examination, an MRI scan of brain may be needed.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
You would get better.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your details and would like to reassure you that you would get better and there is no need to worry.
Total improvement usually takes 3-4 weeks.
If your neurological examination was normal, then, no further action is needed, and you would spontaneously improve with rest and good sleep.
However, if any abnormalities were detected on clinical examination, an MRI scan of brain may be needed.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for your answer!
I just want to understand, when you say 3-4 weeks do you mean from now? Since its been like this for 3 weeks already.
I also want to add that i have improved and i want to thank you for reassuring me that this is not permanent!
Thank you so much for everything!
I just want to understand, when you say 3-4 weeks do you mean from now? Since its been like this for 3 weeks already.
I also want to add that i have improved and i want to thank you for reassuring me that this is not permanent!
Thank you so much for everything!
Brief Answer:
Yes, 3-4 weeks from now.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Yes, I meant 3-4 weeks from now, as it takes about six weeks from the initial intake of MDMA.
I am glad to note that you have improved!
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Yes, 3-4 weeks from now.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Yes, I meant 3-4 weeks from now, as it takes about six weeks from the initial intake of MDMA.
I am glad to note that you have improved!
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for taking your time to help me. I just have one more question.
The symptom that i have that scares me the most is hard to describe. I will try to explain it as good as i can.
"spaciness, A sensory fog, Being trapped in a glass jar, surreal, feeling cut off or distant from your immediate environment, dream-like, mentally detached."
I try not to think about this since it makes me feel very sad. Will these symptoms also disappear? Or do you think i will have to live with this?
Thanks
The symptom that i have that scares me the most is hard to describe. I will try to explain it as good as i can.
"spaciness, A sensory fog, Being trapped in a glass jar, surreal, feeling cut off or distant from your immediate environment, dream-like, mentally detached."
I try not to think about this since it makes me feel very sad. Will these symptoms also disappear? Or do you think i will have to live with this?
Thanks
Brief Answer:
This symptoms would also disappear.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I can understand your anxiety about this symptom, but would like to reassure you that this would also disappear.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
This symptoms would also disappear.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I can understand your anxiety about this symptom, but would like to reassure you that this would also disappear.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Its now been 6 weeks of this horrible cycle where ive gone from having a great normal life with a good income and a good job. To the use of different medications, visits to doctors and therapy. I've been on benzo for a week and my doctor said that i need to use it one more week to calm me down and it has helped me think normal and reduced my panic/anxiety attacks. The benzo is the only medication im using right now. 3 times a day 10mg oxazepam. I also regularly eat good and take multi-vitamins and vitamin C and B12.
The symptoms that i have follows:
* Constant feeling of "jet-lag"
* "Dizziness" (as if my eyes dont sync) from the moment i wake up to i go to bed. This has lessened compared to week 1-2 when this all started.
* Dizziness feeling in the head as if im on a boat.
* Blurry vision. My near-sigh is fine and feels quite normal. Beyond a few meters nothing that i see looks sharp. Ive never had any eye problems before.
* Pressure behind my eyes.
* Halos arround light. Streetlight and christmas decorational light is the worst.
* Headaches that come and go quite frequent.
* Visual snow. Occasionally bothers me when its dark. I manage to ignore it somewhat.
* Tinnitus that i manage to deal with most of the time.
Its been 7 weeks now since i took the 400mg MDMA
What can i do?
The symptoms that i have follows:
* Constant feeling of "jet-lag"
* "Dizziness" (as if my eyes dont sync) from the moment i wake up to i go to bed. This has lessened compared to week 1-2 when this all started.
* Dizziness feeling in the head as if im on a boat.
* Blurry vision. My near-sigh is fine and feels quite normal. Beyond a few meters nothing that i see looks sharp. Ive never had any eye problems before.
* Pressure behind my eyes.
* Halos arround light. Streetlight and christmas decorational light is the worst.
* Headaches that come and go quite frequent.
* Visual snow. Occasionally bothers me when its dark. I manage to ignore it somewhat.
* Tinnitus that i manage to deal with most of the time.
Its been 7 weeks now since i took the 400mg MDMA
What can i do?
Brief Answer:
Glad to note that you are getting better.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
It is a good news that you are getting better, and this much recovery in six weeks seems fine.
You can continue to take oxazepam as now, along with vitamin supplements.
Regarding other symptoms, symptomatic treatment may be used, such as betahistine tablets for dizziness, and etoricoxib tablets for headache.
I am sure you would continue to improve.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Glad to note that you are getting better.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
It is a good news that you are getting better, and this much recovery in six weeks seems fine.
You can continue to take oxazepam as now, along with vitamin supplements.
Regarding other symptoms, symptomatic treatment may be used, such as betahistine tablets for dizziness, and etoricoxib tablets for headache.
I am sure you would continue to improve.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How long time is it safe to use oxazepam before i risk to get addicted and risk withdrawal symptoms.
I know benzos can be really dangerous and might cause the same symptoms that im already suffering from. My general thinking is to not use benzos or anti-depressants.
One of the doctors i met told me to start taking an SSRI called Zoloft/Sertraline.
Do you think SSRI is something i should consider? I havent started taking any anti depressants.
In general since you seem to know about issues caused by MDMA/Ecstasy
Do you think my symptoms will vanish over time and if so. How long time might i have to wait before i feel ok again. I do understand its a hard question to ask.
It is hard for me to be objective aswell since the progress is slow.
Unfortenately we dont have betahistine here.
I have an MRI planned just to be sure that theres nothing physical.
Thank you for time and help. Im having a hard time with the doctors i meet here and they refuse to help me in the right way.
I know benzos can be really dangerous and might cause the same symptoms that im already suffering from. My general thinking is to not use benzos or anti-depressants.
One of the doctors i met told me to start taking an SSRI called Zoloft/Sertraline.
Do you think SSRI is something i should consider? I havent started taking any anti depressants.
In general since you seem to know about issues caused by MDMA/Ecstasy
Do you think my symptoms will vanish over time and if so. How long time might i have to wait before i feel ok again. I do understand its a hard question to ask.
It is hard for me to be objective aswell since the progress is slow.
Unfortenately we dont have betahistine here.
I have an MRI planned just to be sure that theres nothing physical.
Thank you for time and help. Im having a hard time with the doctors i meet here and they refuse to help me in the right way.
Brief Answer:
Oxazepam is safer
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I agree that benzodiazepines have a risk for causing dependence as well as withdrawal symptoms on stopping them.
Oxazepam has lesser potential to cause either of these two side effects, however, in my opinion, use of oxazepam upto three months should be alright.
As you said, it is difficult to predict the exact time frame for recovery, but it may take a further period of 2-3 months.
Sertraline is safe as an antidepressant. So, if needed, you can take it.
Getting an MRI done is a good idea to make sure everything is ok.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Oxazepam is safer
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
I agree that benzodiazepines have a risk for causing dependence as well as withdrawal symptoms on stopping them.
Oxazepam has lesser potential to cause either of these two side effects, however, in my opinion, use of oxazepam upto three months should be alright.
As you said, it is difficult to predict the exact time frame for recovery, but it may take a further period of 2-3 months.
Sertraline is safe as an antidepressant. So, if needed, you can take it.
Getting an MRI done is a good idea to make sure everything is ok.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
