Age: 36–45 · Duration of use: 5+ years · Current status: No longer taking
Symptoms: Brain zaps, emotional blunting, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, insomnia, depersonalization/derealization, suicidal ideation, severe anxiety/panic, GI disturbances
Symptoms: Brain zaps, emotional blunting, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, insomnia, depersonalization/derealization, suicidal ideation, severe anxiety/panic, GI disturbances
At age 23 I was fighting an eating disorder and depression. This led to my being prescribed prozac. Soon after I was disassociated and suicidal. I did not feel attached to my body and would walk carelessly in the city wishing to be hit by traffic. Ultimately I tried to kill myself twice, and both times I was on an SSRI. First prozac, then lexapro. I finally ended up on zoloft and getting off of it was a horrible experience. I experienced brain zaps, insomnia, night sweats, and felt generally emotionally unstable. I have been off SSRIs for 2+ years now and am so grateful that I now know how dangerous these drugs are.