Greg Luther's List: Hallucinations while on meds

• Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur
• memory problems
• severe or persistent trouble sleeping
• depression (13.9%)
• epression (13.9%)
• akathisia (1.6%)
• insomnia (8.9%)
• fatigue and tiredness (48.6%)
• memory impairment (33.1%)
• insomnia (29.4%)
• cognitive disorder (28.8%),
• disinhibition (2.7%)
• akathisia (3.0%)
• dream abnormalities (1.8%)
• hallucinations
• depersonalization
• anterograde memory loss
• The following nervous system side effects have been reported to result in discontinuation of treatment in over 5% of patients and at a greater rate than placebo: insomnia (29.5%), lightheadedness (19.3%), anxiety (19.2%), fatigue and tiredness (18.4%), abnormal involuntary movement (17.3%), headache (17.0%), irritability (10.5%), cognitive disorder (10.3%), muscular twitching (6.9%), impaired coordination (6.6%), muscle tone disorders (5.9%), and weakness (5.8%), memory impairment (5.5%), depression (5.1%), and confused state (5.0%).
  
  There have been reports of seizures in patients following rapid decrease in dose or abrupt withdrawal of treatment with alprazolam. The risk of withdrawal seizures may be higher in patients receiving doses greater than 4 mg per day.
• Psychiatric side effects reported during treatment for panic disorder have included major depression (12.1% to 13.8%).
• aggression
• constipation (10.4%)

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• Anterograde amnesia is a loss of the ability to create new memories after the event that caused the amnesia, leading to a partial or complete inability to recall the recent past, while long-term memories from before the event remain intact.

• Depersonalization (or depersonalisation) is a malfunction or anomaly of the mechanism by which an individual has self-awareness. It is a feeling of watching oneself act, while having no control over a situation.^[1] It can be considered desirable, such as in the use of recreational drugs, but it usually refers to the severe form found in anxiety and, in the most intense cases, panic attacks. Sufferers feel they have changed, and the world has become less real, vague, dreamlike, or lacking in significance. It can be a disturbing experience, since many feel that, indeed, they are living in a "dream".

• aggression, violence, impulsivity, irritability and suicidal behavior sometimes occur. These reactions have been explained as consequences of disinhibition, that is loss of control over socially unacceptable behavior. Paradoxical reactions are rare in the general population, with an incidence rate below 1% and similar to placebo
• they occur with greater frequency in recreational abusers, individuals with borderline personality disorder, children
• may induce complete anterograde amnesia
• it interferes with the formation and consolidation of memories of new material
• are not resolved after quitting benzodiazepines
• the former view recently received support from a meta-analysis of 13 small studies
• This meta-analysis found that long-term use of benzodiazepines was associated with moderate to large adverse effects on all areas of cognition, with visuospatial memory being the most commonly detected impairment.
• verbal learning
• information processing
• visiomotor coordination
• concentration
• decreased IQ

• Long-term effects

   

  The long-term adverse effects of benzodiazepines include a general deterioration in physical and mental health and tend to increase with time. Not everyone, however, experiences problems with long-term use. The adverse effects can include cognitive impairment, as well as affective and behavioural problems. Feelings of turmoil, difficulty in thinking constructively, loss of sex-drive, agoraphobia and social phobia, increasing anxiety and depression, loss of interest in leisure pursuits and interests, and an inability to experience or express feelings can also occur.^[9][81] Additionally an altered perception of self, environment and relationships may occur.^[80]
• The main problem of the chronic use of benzodiazepines is the development of tolerance and dependence.
• Discontinuation of benzodiazepines or abrupt reduction of the dose, even after a relatively short course of treatment (three to four weeks), may result in two groups of symptoms—rebound and withdrawal. Rebound symptoms are the return of the symptoms for which the patient was treated but worse than before. Withdrawal symptoms are the new symptoms that occur when the benzodiazepine is stopped. They are the main sign of physical dependence.^[85]

• Withdrawal symptoms and management

   

   

   

   

  

   Chlordiazepoxide 5 mg capsules, which are sometimes used as an alternative to diazepam for benzodiazepine withdrawal. Like diazepam it has a long elimination half-life and long-acting active metabolites.

   

   

   

  The most frequent symptoms of withdrawal from benzodiazepines are insomnia, gastric problems, tremors, agitation, fearfulness and muscle spasms.^[85] The less frequent effects are irritability, sweating, depersonalization, derealization, hypersensitivity to stimuli, depression, suicidal behavior, psychosis, seizures and delirium tremens.^[86] Severe symptoms usually occur as a result of abrupt or over-rapid withdrawal. Abrupt withdrawal can be dangerous, therefore a gradual reduction regime is recommended.^[7]
• Approximately 10% of patients will experience a notable protracted withdrawal syndrome, which can persist for many months or in some cases a year or longer.

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• Does Xanax make you "hallucinate" or think weird things? 

   

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      I got prescribed Xanax yesterday for my panic disorder, and being the dumbass with no self-control that I am, I'm already abusing it.
   
   I took two last night, had a bit of a nice woozy chill-session, then fell asleep. This morning though, I woke up with the feeling that there were <i>mice</i> scurrying around in my bedsheets (no, we've never had mice in our house..). I was *so sure* they were there, but I was still only half-awake so I quit looking for them and fell back asleep. I woke up a while later, this time positive that one of my pet rats had somehow escaped and was running around on my bed... check at the rat cage and they're all in there. THEN, I don't know how long after this was, but I was sure that there was a CAT in my bed.
   
   Then I really woke up and got out of bed.
   
   WTF? was that the xanax? Of am I just a nutcase? It was really weird. Anyone have similar experiences? 
• The sensation of something (usually bugs ) crawling on the skin is called formication and is a known side effect of benzodiazepine's. Hallucinations can also occur.
• if you are getting these effects already, then Xanax may not be the right drug for you (particularly not if you are just going to abuse it - your panic disorder will not improve and may get worse if you build a tolerance to benzo's). I suggest you go back to your Dr and discuss other treatment options.

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• Zoloft Overdose: An Introduction

    
  Zoloft^® (sertraline hydrochloride) is a medication that is used to treat a number of conditions within the brain. As with all medicines, it is possible for a person to overdose on Zoloft. The Zoloft overdose effects will vary depending on a number of factors, including how much Zoloft is taken and if it is taken with any other medicines.
   
   
   
   

  Symptoms of a Zoloft Overdose

    
  If a person overdoses on Zoloft, the symptoms can vary. The most common Zoloft overdose symptoms include:
   
   
   
   
  • Drowsiness
   
  • Vomiting
   
  • Increased heart rate (tachycardia) or slow heart rate (bradycardia)
   
  • Nausea
   
  • Dizziness
   
  • Agitation
   
  • Shakiness (tremor). 
     
     
   
   
  Other Zoloft overdose symptoms may include, but are not limited to:
   
   
   
   
  • Coma
   
  • Seizures
   
  • Delirium
   
  • Hallucinations
   
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
   
  • Fainting

• Some of these symptoms may include anxiety, hostility, agitation, panic, restlessness,
• hallucinations
• extreme hyperactivity
• • Antidepressants can cause a group of dangerous symptoms known as serotonin syndrome. Taking Zoloft with other medications that affect serotonin can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome. These medications include other antidepressants, triptans (migraine medications), and several other medications (see Zoloft Drug Interactions for more information). Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have any possible symptoms of serotonin syndrome, including:
   
   

   

  o Confusion

   

  o Seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations)

   

  o Fast heartbeat (tachycardia)

   

  o Feeling faint

   

  o Fever

   

  o Sweating

   

  o Muscle spasms

   

  o Difficulty walking

   

  o Diarrhea.
• If you are stopping Zoloft, you should be monitored by a healthcare professional for Zoloft withdrawal symptoms. If you do develop any symptoms of Zoloft withdrawal, such as irritability, anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, or insomnia, your healthcare provider may slow down the rate at which the Zoloft is stopped (see Zoloft Withdrawal).
• • Zoloft may cause bleeding in the stomach or intestines. This risk is increased in those taking aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. Symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding may include:
   
   

   

  o Bright red blood coating the stool

   

  o Dark blood mixed with the stool

   

  o Black or tarry stool

   

  o Bright red blood in vomit

   

  o Vomit that has the appearance of coffee grounds.
• Zoloft may affect your ability to perform complex tasks requiring mental and motor skills.

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