Sertraline (Zoloft) advice?

[Tekodu]

So, I developed HPPD about 3 weeks ago after going a bit too far microdosing LSD. I had some incapacitating anxiety alongside moderate vs for about a week when the anxiety was replaced by some intense dpdr and brainfog. The week after that I could barley notice anything besides light vs that was unnoticeable unless consciously looking for it on a white wall. Then, about 5 days ago I made the stupid decision to try 10mg of prescribed adderall two days in a row because I thought I might not have legit long-term HPPD. I subsequently received a severe reality check in the form of worsening vs that’s now noticeable outside alongside bfep that I hadn’t noticed before.

I’m hoping this is not a permanent worsening and that I’ll get back down to my previous baseline soon, but I recently received a sertraline prescription from my psychiatrist for the anxiety. My anxiety is almost entirely a result of the visual disturbances, and after reading several accounts of SSRIs like sertraline making visuals worse, I would think taking the medication might just be counterproductive.

I’m confident I can handle the anxiety medication-free although it would be nice to feel a bit better, so I’m wondering if there is a serious risk of sertraline exacerbating visual symptoms. I still have pretty light visual symptoms compared to most of the experiences I’ve read, so I very much do not want to take any serious risk of worsening, especially considering that I seemed to be recovering quite quickly prior to my adderall fuckup.

Also, it’s god damn annoying how every single medication that’s helped someone’s symptoms has also made another person’s symptoms equally worse. It’s like quality-of-life russian roulette with anything that could treat this bullshit.

(I was also prescribed hydroxyzine, but after reading several accounts of people’s symptoms permanently worsening, I’m not touching that shit)

[cosmiccharlie]

As you may have seen from some of my posts, I am one of the lucky ones who has not had my symptoms greatly exacerbated by Zoloft.  I think there was a slight uptick early on but in the long run it's greatly improved my life.  I use it for OCD, anxiety and depression.  That being said, if you can function without it that's probably the best.  I think your symptoms should dissipate with time since you've already seen come improvement.  However, I am not a doctor and can only direct you to follow their advice.  The best advice I can give you is what I tell everyone:

• Stop all drugs (even alcohol for a bit if you can) 
• Get as much sleep as you can 
• Exercise regularly even if it makes your symptoms worse
• Eat well 
• Stay busy with work/ school/ hobby etc
• Try not to worry 
• Learn to meditate if you can (this was really helpful for me and I am willing to give tips for beginners) 
• If you're open to it, start praying to God (it doesn't have to be any particular religion and you don't even have to believe in anything; just go through the motions and ask for help on your knees everyday.  I really believe relief  will come if we reach out)

You'll be fine just stay busy and try to stay positive.  

 

Take Care,

Nick 

[Hall89]

I woulf take Nicks advice, especially when it comes to staying away from all drugs and training.

[Tekodu]

@cosmiccharlie @Hall89 thanks guys, I think I’m gonna hold off on the medication at least for a few months and just see what happens. I’ve been working out daily, eating healthy, and meditating much more after quitting a daily weed habit as well, all of which I was trying to do before the hppd so I’m honestly thankful it drove me to take those steps, especially since I’m a young tech startup founder also about to start university in a few months, so those things were really necessary for my future. Also feeling quite lucky since I’m just left with relatively light visual symptoms now, so I’ll try to keep up the positive attitude!

[Reflector]

I've found exercise is as good as the Espiride I have been on for anxiety. I've also found brainwave entrainment (https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/isochronicBrainwaveGenerator.php?l=00305030000000000000) to be useful for focus (especially) or relaxation. Also Coherent Breathing rather than Mindfullness and meditation which can make things worse actually for me: https://www.verywellmind.com/an-overview-of-coherent-breathing-4178943. 

YMMV etc., but I'm pretty much in the same boat as you and this is working for me. Also backed off on the daily weed, limit to a few puffs on a saturday and a few beers. More than that and I content with more anxiety. Yeah it kicks the trails back in, but they don't really bug me anyway now.

Not in a startup, but big tech here. You'll make it, just gotta tighten up a bit .

Edited April 17, 2021 by Reflector
Spelling

[Hall89]

1 hour ago, Reflector said:

Also backed off on the daily weed, limit to a few puffs on a saturday and a few beers. 

Two puffs is what caused my HPPD, so if i were you i wouldn't touch it if you hope to recover.

[Reflector]

5 hours ago, Hall89 said:

Two puffs is what caused my HPPD, so if i were you i wouldn't touch it if you hope to recover.

Thanks, @Hall89, I'm ramping down from almost daily use for 35 years (with some periods of abstinence here and there) so this is progress for me. 

[Hall89]

1 hour ago, Reflector said:

Thanks, @Hall89, I'm ramping down from almost daily use for 35 years (with some periods of abstinence here and there) so this is progress for me. 

Keep it up mate! When did you get your HPPD and was it weed that caused it?

[Tekodu]

@Reflector I've found working out to be an anxiety killer as well, but I hadn't heard of brainwave entrainment or coherent breathing until now. They both seem really interesting, but I think meditation and mindfulness are also pretty effective for me, so I'll do some experimenting.

Also, damn 35 years? I only had a daily habit for about 2 years rarely being able to handle more than a few days off and straight up cold turkeyed after anxiously downing 1000mg of edibles over the first two days of symptoms. I'm pretty sure the withdrawal is what kicked my ass the first two weeks, but I'm lucky as hell to be where I am right now. My VS is back down to only really being noticeable with solid colors and low light and the only other things annoying the shit out of me are floaters and tracers (which I can honestly enjoy a little bit when bored lol). So, thank god I don't have many psychological symptoms anymore - that's what really scared me to death.

Curious about what you do in tech? I work at an ecommerce startup doing visual marketing and ux design as well as being in the very early stages of a retail space rental startup I founded with a few friends.

[Reflector]

My Intro here for some background: 

I work in Digital Transformation strategy (consulting) and also quite a bit of early stage company acceleration.

Edited April 18, 2021 by Reflector

[Gonich]

On 4/15/2021 at 10:52 PM, Tekodu said:

So, I developed HPPD about 3 weeks ago after going a bit too far microdosing LSD. I had some incapacitating anxiety alongside moderate vs for about a week when the anxiety was replaced by some intense dpdr and brainfog. The week after that I could barley notice anything besides light vs that was unnoticeable unless consciously looking for it on a white wall. Then, about 5 days ago I made the stupid decision to try 10mg of prescribed adderall two days in a row because I thought I might not have legit long-term HPPD. I subsequently received a severe reality check in the form of worsening vs that’s now noticeable outside alongside bfep that I hadn’t noticed before.

I’m hoping this is not a permanent worsening and that I’ll get back down to my previous baseline soon, but I recently received a sertraline prescription from my psychiatrist for the anxiety. My anxiety is almost entirely a result of the visual disturbances, and after reading several accounts of SSRIs like sertraline making visuals worse, I would think taking the medication might just be counterproductive.

I’m confident I can handle the anxiety medication-free although it would be nice to feel a bit better, so I’m wondering if there is a serious risk of sertraline exacerbating visual symptoms. I still have pretty light visual symptoms compared to most of the experiences I’ve read, so I very much do not want to take any serious risk of worsening, especially considering that I seemed to be recovering quite quickly prior to my adderall fuckup.

Also, it’s god damn annoying how every single medication that’s helped someone’s symptoms has also made another person’s symptoms equally worse. It’s like quality-of-life russian roulette with anything that could treat this bullshit.

(I was also prescribed hydroxyzine, but after reading several accounts of people’s symptoms permanently worsening, I’m not touching that shit)

Sertraline will worsen symptoms for the first month. But after that many people said, that their HPPD is basically gone.

[Hall89]

On 4/22/2021 at 8:02 AM, Gonich said:

Sertraline will worsen symptoms for the first month. But after that many people said, that their HPPD is basically gone.

Yea, it's really interesting. I read a post on reddit about it yesterday were a girl said that it saved her life, still some visuals though, like vs.