Seroxat

[Jenny]

I have just stopped taking SEROXAT after four years. I did it very slowly,but it has left me with this horrible taste in my mouth. I have been told by a GP that this is quite common. I wondered if anyone else has had this experience, and if so how long for?

Jennyxx

J. Farmer

[Shelley]

Sorry cant say I had a problem with taste, but I was smoking at the time, I came of it in January this year - only on it for circa. 14 months, to be honest my worst problem was the shakes and the occasional head shock

Shell

[bishop]

hi there
what do you mean by head shocks shell,ive had like white flashes of light when my attacks have been really bad. i was coming off sleeping tablets at the time.
eva

[Shelley]

They were quite strange...like little electric shocks in my head..to be honest after the first few times I got to quite like it...sicky puppy I am!! - they didnt last very long, the only withdrawal symptom that did last when I came off Seroxat was the fact my left hand shook when I held something and it still does a little bit..more so if i have been out the night before

x Shell

Shell

[bishop]

hi shell
mine where the same after coming off the sleeping tablets,but the white flash of light was so bright,i found this very frighting,and did not want to go anywhere,wanted to stay at home where it was safe,but i was also scared of the phone ringing,people asking why?wanted to be alone by myself safe ,its nice to no im not the only fool
eva x

[Shelley]

It's crazy how these little pills affect us - I think the problem these days is that doctors dont have the time or the incliination to actually sit down and find out why we are feeling like this...it's just oh okay..there's a prescription now on your way!! - hope you're feeling over the worst of it now

Shell x

Shell

[alexiussooty]

Hi Folks:

SSRI's (Selective Seratonin Re-uptake Inhibitors)is the group of drugs that Seroxat belongs to, they have been "claimed" to have no withdraw syptoms and few side effects, however some recent studies are begining to provide evidence that withdraw syptoms for these drugs are present and complex. Bright flashes of light, headaches, shaking, disturbed sleep with lucid dreams, sweating, distubances in consciousness (little electric shocks), are all part and parcel of the withdraw syptoms of SSRI's. Unlike Trycyclic antidepressants that affect the level of a substance called HT5 in the brain, SSRI's work by affecting the action and levels of Seratonin involved in the higher functions of the brain. Most of what you are describing would seem to be withdraw syptoms, but if anything persists and worries you get back to your Doctor.

Regards:

Nick.

[Shelley]

Hi Nick

You seem to know your stuff are you a suffer who has looked in to it or do you have a medical background?

Shell

Shell

[alexiussooty]

Hi Shelley:

Sorry about the delay in my reply, I am a sufferer who has looked into it. I originally suffered from panic attacks but this has mellowed out to general anxiety. My GP prescribed Prozac followed by Seroxat but both SSRI's made me worse even though I continued to take them for a while. I take a Tricyclic antidepressant, this works for me but its not perfect. Much of what your were describing in your posting is not that different to what I have experienced at one time or another. Many of the antidepressant drugs we are prescribed can cause disturbances in consciousness, this can range from an "unreal" feeling to mood swings. Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam are also prime culprits for this and are known to cause depression as well as aggressive tendencies in some people.

SSRI's are an improvement in the treatment of anxiety and work for many people just not for me. The thing is that there is a tendency when drugs improve your condition for relatives in particular to say "well you are cured now so get off the drugs". This a simplistic way of looking at things. All I say is that if the drugs you take enable you to function better than you would if you were not on them then take the drugs!!! Its a quality of life thing really panic and anxiety can ruin your life I know because it happened to me and I dare say a lot of the people who post on this site.

The best thing I can say is that a combination of treatments seem to work better than one, antidepressants work well with CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and also with psychology, Benzodiazepines are no solution but might bring temporary relief. If you cannot take SSRI's then ask to try Trycyclics. If you find your GP unhelpful asked to be referred to a consultant psychiatrist he will know a great deal more than your GP or a general hospital consultant about anxiety. Just keep plodding along until you find something that works for you.

Regards:

Nick.[8)]

[Roxy]

Hello!

I resently came off seroxat.. probably 3 months now. And yes! I still have the bad taste. I wasn't sure if it was the remains of the withdrawal but I guess it is. I have been on *thinks* all types of anti-deps, and many many SSRI's, but this was the worst withdrawal hands down.

However! I am nearly over most of the problems (the main one which doesn't seem to be mentioned in any literature, either on the net or officially, is an inablity to eat anything)

My main suggestion to anyone considering anti-deps is to do your homework. And go on them VERY slowly. If problems develop, reduce the dose and try again. And advice to anyone trying to come off them.. just keep at it. The general theory among some of my friends who have been on seroxat (in particular and who also experienced the worse degree of all sideeffects) is that the 2 week point is the b*tch, but if you can get past it, it's up hill from there

I'm off everything at the moment, and trying councillors. To be honest it feels nice to be side-effect free! if only for a little while

Roxy