Hi.

I have had three concussions in the past year and a half with my most recent being three months ago where I don't really remember the following 2 days. I live in China so at first finding a doctor to take things seriously was hard until I went back home for a trip and managed to see an expert in neurology.She diagnosed me with post concussion syndrome. She prescribed me a low dose of anti depressants but only 2 months worth which she said would be enough.

I've since returned to China and started a new job which is a little stressful and last week officially ran out of the antidepressants. My headaches are back. I've stopped passing out but now I just feel a bit down and tired. Sometimes I feel a little dizzy but it passes quite quickly. My memory isn't getting better at all. Because I moved cities I don't have any people here I can trust which makes me feel a little alone because I have no one to talk to about this.

But now something else has also come up. I am getting paranoid about things. Is this normal?

I just want to know if this sounds right? Is this normal? I'm just so tired of this and just want it all to go away so I can be my old happy self again.

Hi, did you taper off the anti depressants or did you cold turkey? Stopping AD's suddenly can be a shock to the system so that could be a cause of some of your symptoms. I would try and rest like your body is telling you, it can only be beneficial.

Also, curious as to how you got your concussions, three in eighteen months sounds unlucky.

Sophie,

My first inclination is that SuperElectric is spot on.

Paranoia, anxiety, headaches, dizziness ....all Classic symptoms of quitting anti depressants cold turkey.

Docs tell you that there are no problems quitting meds and especially if you have only been on one for 2 months.....they are dead wrong and they know absolutely zero about how to taper from ssri's, benzos etc.

Look at Point Of Return website....good info there on anti depressants.

My best to you.

Bud

SophieRose,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

You don't say what anti-depressant. The common prescription for PCS is amitriptyline at only 10 to 20 mgs. Cold turkey discontinuation is not usually a problem at that low dose but you may be an exception. It is unfortunate the neuro believes you will have healed in 2 months. She was not an expert in concussions.

Stress is not good for PCS. It will be best if you can lower your stress levels. I know this is hard in China.

My best to you.

Thanks for all of your replies.

Yes it was amitriptyline and my doctor said that it would be enough time and then when I emailed her last week she said I will have to see another specialist in China because it hasn't got better.

So yes it was cold turkey. I was fine for the first few days as I was on holiday and relaxing but it really hit when I got back.

Thanks for the link. I'll take a look. I guess I need to make an appointment with the doctor to get some more!

Today wasn't so bad. I went outside for a walk and some fresh air but now feel exhausted. I feel like i'm back to square one.

Oh and the concussions? The first one I was hit by a motorbike at high speed, the second was a freak incident where someone fell on me and we both fell into a wall and I knocked my head on the wall and the third was I felt dizzy and just toppled over.

Thanks all so much for your comments.
I got my concussions in all freak incidents - the first I was hit by a motorbike, the second someone fell on me and we both fell into a wall where I hit my head and then the last one was from me feeling dizzy and I fell over.

Yes I am taking amitriptyline. The doctor said 2 months was enough time for it to make me feel better. I ran out of tablets so it was a cold turkey situation. I emailed her asking her for advice and she said I would have to go and see a specialist in China which is irritating because I don't really trust them here thanks to bad experiences.

I will have to go back and see someone anyway because I can't carry on like this. It's got considerably worse. I came off them two weeks ago and the first couple of days were okay because I was on holiday and relaxing but now i'm back at work etc I feel like i'm back at square one.

Welcome sophierose23.

Hi sophierose. I too had 3 concussions in a year while teaching in California. I am from Oregon. Being a state away from my home and support system was hard so I can't imagine being in China. I was wondering if you have considered acupuncture? I had acupuncture for two years after and during my concussions and it really helped me.

I haven't been able to find the meds anywhere in China however my doctor in the UK has finally agreed to prescribing me the medicine. Now got to wait it out until it arrives.

It's got considerably worse. This weekend has been awful. I went out to the shops and had to come back because I was in so much pain. I tried looking at my computer later in the day and that was painful - which has never happened before. I spent the rest of the evening in bed and the following morning. Looking at the computer now is fine - thankfully.

I'm getting so frustrated with it all.

Make sure you get plenty of rest, it will help better than medications in the long term.