Thank you, @Fullhealing, for your words of hope to everyone of us. Your advises to the other suffers help me to keep one's head above water. There are not words to describe this Hell on Earth we go throughout.

14 hours ago, Erimus said:

Bad news.

I have been trying CBD oil to try and help with the crushing pain I experience. I had been building up from 0.1mg over the last few weeks without trouble, until yesterday, when I tried 0.5mg for the first time.

Unfortunately, after yesterday’s dose, I developed moderate serotonin syndrome 1h45m post-ingestion, and spent 12 hours in hospital after an ambulance journey.

Apparently it can block the enzyme responsible for metabolising sertraline, and led to a massive overload of the drug and serotonin in my brain.

It was horrific. My heart rate went crazy and was elevated for a good few hours, body temp was high, blood pressure dropped, and I was lightheaded for hours. It was all the symptoms of serotonin toxicity I experience regularly, just magnified by 100. I felt like I’d taken 500mg.

It’s been over 27 hours since I took the CBD oil, and 33 hours since last sertraline dose, and I’m still getting waves of symptoms.

I had to skip my evening dose of sertraline yesterday, and based on symptoms, will have to skip both doses today.

I knew about all the risks of taking other psychoactive substances, but after 3 years of pain I reached breaking point, and began to experiment, which just caused more suffering.

I don’t know when I’ll next be able to take sertraline.

I was chucked out the hospital even though I still felt terrible, and left with no advice or support on how to proceed.

It made me realise how alone we are, and how, particularly in the UK, you can’t afford to get ill, because the waiting times for ambulances and doctors in emergency departments, are 6-8 hours.

Im so sorry to read this. I can understand you wanting to carefully try something to help yourself. Breaks my heart reading tbh.

What are your plans? RI the dose in a couple of days when things have calmed down and hope that keep WD at bay?

14 hours ago, Erimus said:

It made me realise how alone we are, and how, particularly in the UK, you can’t afford to get ill, because the waiting times for ambulances and doctors in emergency departments, are 6-8 hours.

Yes, and often once someone has had emergency care, that's the end of the road for them in terms of medical care, or at least anything further is often very poor and with long waiting times.

I'm really sorry to hear about all of this.

Do you any observations from skipping doses of sertraline?

9 hours ago, Chippy said:

What are your plans? RI the dose in a couple of days when things have calmed down and hope that keep WD at bay?

9 hours ago, Luke said:

Do you any observations from skipping doses of sertraline?

As of right now, I still feel wired with serotonin.

I tried 12.5mg sertraline at 1400 today, but I am already regretting it.

I don’t feel like I’ve missed doses at all. The serotonin level seems to have gone so high that my brain can sustain for some time without more sertraline.

My research tells me that CBD basically blocks the enzyme that metabolises sertraline, causing huge increases in blood concentration.

Apparently, it can take anywhere from 3-7 days for the CBD/THC to fully clear from my system.

On top of that, my body has to metabolise all the extra sertraline that accumulated.

Reintroduction of the drug seems like it’s going to be a nightmare.

I’m trying to drink lots of water and eat plenty fibre to remove it faster, but from what I’ve gathered it’s mostly time that clears it.

This is the worst mistake I’ve made in the ~5.5 yrs since I began tapering.

Edited Friday at 04:39 PM5 days by Erimus

5 minutes ago, Erimus said:

As of right now, I still feel wired with serotonin.

I tried 12.5mg sertraline at 1400 today, but I am already regretting it.

I don’t feel like I’ve missed doses at all. The serotonin level seems to have gone so high that my brain can sustain for some time without more sertraline.

My research tells me that CBD basically blocks the enzyme that metabolises sertraline, causing huge increases in blood concentration.

Apparently, it can take anywhere from 3-7 days for the CBD/THC to fully clear from my system.

On top of that, my body has to metabolise all the extra sertraline that accumulated.

Reintroduction of the drug seems like it’s going to be a nightmare.

I’m trying to drink lots of water and eat plenty fibre to remove it faster, but from what I’ve gathered it’s mostly time that clears it.

This is the worst mistake I’ve made in the ~5.5 yrs since I began tapering.

Im so sorry to hear about the suffering youve had to endure.. this is news to me that cbd would cause such a horrible time when on ssris as i used to take cbd gummies at times while on escitalopram before all this WD stuff. Its natural to want to find something that could possibly help so please dont blame yourself.

16 minutes ago, Erimus said:

As of right now, I still feel wired with serotonin.

I tried 12.5mg sertraline at 1400 today, but I am already regretting it.

I don’t feel like I’ve missed doses at all. The serotonin level seems to have gone so high that my brain can sustain for some time without more sertraline.

My research tells me that CBD basically blocks the enzyme that metabolises sertraline, causing huge increases in blood concentration.

Apparently, it can take anywhere from 3-7 days for the CBD/THC to fully clear from my system.

On top of that, my body has to metabolise all the extra sertraline that accumulated.

Reintroduction of the drug seems like it’s going to be a nightmare.

I’m trying to drink lots of water and eat plenty fibre to remove it faster, but from what I’ve gathered it’s mostly time that clears it.

This is the worst mistake I’ve made in the ~5.5 yrs since I began tapering.

I’m sorry. What a nightmare.

Just a thought. Have you considered the possibility of ri a low dose when you’re ready and seeing if that is enough to keep back the worst of wd instead of a full dose?

2 hours ago, Chippy said:

Just a thought. Have you considered the possibility of ri a low dose when you’re ready and seeing if that is enough to keep back the worst of wd instead of a full dose?

Yes. My biggest concern right now is my brain adapting to the higher levels or serotonin, and then going into severe withdrawal when I resume taking my usual dose.

Historically, my brain has adapted to increases in dose really quickly, to the point it will not allow the removal of them after a matter of days to weeks.

7 hours ago, Erimus said:

Yes. My biggest concern right now is my brain adapting to the higher levels or serotonin, and then going into severe withdrawal when I resume taking my usual dose.

For sure.

7 hours ago, Erimus said:

Historically, my brain has adapted to increases in dose really quickly, to the point it will not allow the removal of them after a matter of days to weeks

So you think the low dose ri wouldn’t be sufficient, 3mg or something like that, to keep your brain stable but reduce the negative effects of being on a ‘full’ dose?

Hey @Erimus ,

I’m so so sorry this happened to you. I thought I would comment to offer support as someone who has also been through serotonin syndrome, it was rough and so so scary and mine was classes as “mild/mod” because I didn’t have seizures. The hospital didn’t even recognise it and actually a nurse told me I needed to calm down when experiencing serotonin induced akathesia.

Anyway, as expected the doctors didn’t know how to help at all. It took me 3/4 days to come down off the serotonin high and I was told it would be 24 hours. I don’t know the next steps in terms of RI because I was an ADR case technically from only 3 pills. If you have any q’s though, I am 13 months out and happy to support! There’s a content creator - Jason Hernandez - who is in a similar position to you, trying to get off a drug but suffered serotonin syndrome. Might be worth reaching out?

All the best, G

4 hours ago, SparklingG said:

I thought I would comment to offer support as someone who has also been through serotonin syndrome, it was rough and so so scary and mine was classes as “mild/mod” because I didn’t have seizures. The hospital didn’t even recognise it and actually a nurse told me I needed to calm down when experiencing serotonin induced akathesia.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I mentioned serotonin syndrome many times, as I immediately recognised what was happening to me. Seemingly nobody is well versed on it, which is alarming considering the number of people on serotonin drugs. When I finally saw the doctor, some 8 or so hours after it started, she did check for signs of it, by which point my system had calmed down somewhat.

4 hours ago, SparklingG said:

Anyway, as expected the doctors didn’t know how to help at all. It took me 3/4 days to come down off the serotonin high and I was told it would be 24 hours. I don’t know the next steps in terms of RI because I was an ADR case technically from only 3 pills.

I am over 3 days in now and still getting smaller episodes of the serotonin high throughout the day. As of now my plan is to avoid taking sertraline for as long as possible, until I enter back into withdrawal. Unfortunately I have no choice but to continue taking the drug given my protracted withdrawal and taper.

4 hours ago, SparklingG said:

ort! There’s a content creator - Jason Hernandez - who is in a similar position to you, trying to get off a drug but suffered serotonin syndrome. Might be worth reaching out?

Thanks, I will check it out.

Sending some love ❤️❤️❤️

I truly hope the flames continue to gently fade away @Erimus Hang in there, smoother, easier days are steadily heading your way.

17 hours ago, Erimus said:

I am over 3 days in now and still getting smaller episodes of the serotonin high throughout the day. As of now my plan is to avoid taking sertraline for as long as possible, until I enter back into withdrawal. Unfortunately I have no choice but to continue taking the drug given my protracted withdrawal and taper.

There's no clear and obvious right answer.

I would potentially start very small, when you do start, and then increase it if it clearly isn't enough as @Chippy suggested.

17 hours ago, Erimus said:

Seemingly nobody is well versed on it, which is alarming considering the number of people on serotonin drugs.

Even the clinical information you can read about it is extremely basic and sparse and it's pretty clear that medicine has gone "wow this is very dangerous and sometimes even fatal...oh well".

18 hours ago, Erimus said:

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I mentioned serotonin syndrome many times, as I immediately recognised what was happening to me. Seemingly nobody is well versed on it, which is alarming considering the number of people on serotonin drugs. When I finally saw the doctor, some 8 or so hours after it started, she did check for signs of it, by which point my system had calmed down somewhat.

I’m so sorry you had the same experience. It really is not studied enough. They literally told me I was having a panic attack 🙄. That came on shortly after taking a drug 🙄. The featured all the symptoms of SS without the seizures 🙄. That’s after effects have lasted 13 months and counting 🙄. Anyway, not surprised but very sorry for you.

18 hours ago, Erimus said:

I am over 3 days in now and still getting smaller episodes of the serotonin high throughout the day. As of now my plan is to avoid taking sertraline for as long as possible, until I enter back into withdrawal. Unfortunately I have no choice but to continue taking the drug given my protracted withdrawal and taper.

Thanks, I will check it out.

I hope it starts to ease off for you soon, it will. Many people find that they are unable to return to their drug due to adverse reaction though, I’m on a Facebook group for SS that has others experiences and it may be worth reaching out? SS seems to change the way your body processes these drugs, it’s a different type of receptor damage.

I’ve taken 12.5mg of sertraline for the last 3 days and am managing reasonably well.

All things well I will try 25mg, half my usual dose, tomorrow.

The withdrawal symptoms have been creeping back in yesterday and today.

Ideally I would like to be back on my normal dose no later than 7 days post reaction (this coming Wednesday), but I will see how my body responds.

Edited Sunday at 12:47 PM3 days by Erimus

I had 25mg sertraline in total yesterday, plus 12.5mg this morning, and it has been too much.

Obviously still too soon.

I'm sorry to hear that. It's going to be a balancing act, I think.

6 hours ago, Erimus said:

I had 25mg sertraline in total yesterday, plus 12.5mg this morning, and it has been too much.

Obviously still too soon.

Hi Erimus,

What symptoms are you getting when you try to updose? Are you able to do it more slowly? I’m so sorry you are going through this, it’s such a rock and a hard place situation.

17 hours ago, SparklingG said:

Hi Erimus,

What symptoms are you getting when you try to updose? Are you able to do it more slowly? I’m so sorry you are going through this, it’s such a rock and a hard place situation.

Just milder versions of the symptoms I experienced during the reaction last Wednesday, which is still pretty terrifying.

Based on the fact I have not entered severe withdrawal yet, there is obviously still more than enough sertraline circulating in my blood.

When the sertraline level drops below what my body expects I should enter withdrawal, and be able to updose.

Right now I am taking 12.5mg, split into morning and evening, as usual.

Edited yesterday at 01:44 PM1 day by Erimus