Symptoms of What Kind of Depression?
 

My current and past symptoms are:

-Loss of some involuntary movements (eyes blinking; it seems like I have to manually blink or I have an altered eye blink rate)
-Weak, limp muscles/poor control over and generally body feels weak and like I will lose control over my muscles
-Low libido
-Frozen facial muscles; at one point it was actually harder to smile or push my facial muscles outward
-Head feels very light/like a feather almost
-Altered sense of surroundings/environment

I've seen one psychiatrist so far but now but I'm going to switch to another one soon. The medicines I've been on include Geodon, Abilify, Seroquel, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Lamictal. Right now I'm on Zoloft, Geodon, and Lamictal.

My main concern is what direction I should take regarding the medications since my symptoms are so bizarre and severe. When I say I have an altered eye blink rate, I really do mean like I notice every time I blink, and it like, isn't an autonomic function anymore.

What does everyone think of my situation and what would you do if you were me?

Hi Rdragon,
Welcome to NeuroTalk Forums.

The eye blinking sounds like some sort of movement problem. A bit like a tic in fact.

I'm not a doctor but some of those things you mention may be side-effects from the medications.

I have seen PubMed articles describing onset of tics while on Zoloft/Sertraline (Rare). Also seen reports of onset of movement disorders while using Geodon/ziprasidone.

NeuroTalk Medications Forum

You might like to repost your message over on the Medications Forum for some more insight.

I would definitely talk to your doctor about these symptoms ASAP!

Hi,
Can you get an appointment to see a neurologist?

It could be the meds or it could be something else.

Mari

Yeah I want to see a neurologist to rule anything out, definitely. The problem is my parents have their mind "set" on the diagnoses of depression and depersonalization when clearly I have many more symptoms that are severe and can't be explained properly.

The funny and not so funny thing is, what caused all of this was a simple supplement. The psychiatrist I've been to doesn't know what to think of it, but this was all caused by FISH Oil. I know right? Sounds ludicrous. But if you can trust me on one thing, trust me when I say it was caused by that supplement. It happened approximately 9 days after I took it. It was literally like a BAM, I'm ****ed type of thing. I was sitting in front of my computer, and I gradually became more aware of my blinking, and then this HUGEEE shift in my brain and body started happening.

Also, all these symptoms arose BEFORE I went on any medication. This was all caused by fish oil.

Hi

have you ever shown any allergy to fish?

interesting re the fish oil tho as my son has Tourette Syndrome and he can eat as much fish as he likes BUT if he has any fish oil supplement he immediately begins to tic more. he is not alone in this reaction as I have seen other people report the same thing. he uses flaxseed oil now instead of fish oil to get his Omega 3

ahhh, thanks for explaining Rdragon.

I thought you had meant that these symptoms came on after starting the medications. Now I understand why you titled the thread "Symptoms of What Kind of Depression?".

I've also heard of people who have problems with fish oil and use the flax instead.

Just curious if you get migraines or have panic attacks at all?
Some people get a form of facial paralysis with their migraines. I get the occasional migraine and I get a feeling (shortlived) of depersonalization prior to a migraine happening. Doesn't last very long though. The depersonalization could also be part of anxiety if you get really anxious about stuff. I get a bit that way when my anxiety levels are near the panic attack stage but I don't have that feeling all the time. Depersonalization can be a part of numerous conditions.

You mention your parents and their thoughts about depression etc.. Do you feel you have been depressed? I'm glad you are going to see someone else for another opinion. I hope that's not too far away.

Nope, I don't have any panic attacks or really any anxiety at all. It's just the depression and all these weird physical symptoms and just the whole way my body feels. I feel depressed over how this all came upon me, and the isolation in which I have now put myself into. It just feels so bad that I know there's a huge problem that's not being addressed yet.

Yeah I hope so to regarding the next appointment. All I want is for somebody to listen to what I have to say, take me seriously, and WORK for me in helping me to figure out how a supplement could cause all of this. Truthfully, I think that's the only way I can get better. It should be evident after 7 different medications that my problem is being caused by something the doctors haven't figured out.

Did you feel any better/different since stopping the fish oil ????

I hope that your new doc will be better :) It took me several years to find a doc that really understands me and help me....

Let us know !

:hug:

No, I feel like I just took it, actually. Even though I haven't taken it for 7 months. And my appointment with my psychiatrist went well, I decided to give this guy some more time to help me since he can now see me every month as opposed to every 3 months.

Depending on the quality of fish oil maybe there where high level of mercury in them. Mercury poisoning of which I beleive all my symptoms may be coming from causes a lot of weird stuff.

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The eye blink does sound like a neurological side effect of a medication, but unlike the gentleman just below my reply, I am not knowledgeable to know which one. Are you on other, medical, medications which could cause this side effect. Reglan, for example, causes movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, although your eyeblink does not sound a bit like tardive dyskinesia, but rather more like a tic. The replyer just before me seems to have excellent advise, e.g. posting to the medicate site. I would not discount side effects of Seroquel, although I was unable to tolerate it long enough to not any side effects. And like Seroquel, Geodon is an antipsychotic, which could cause at least some of the side effects you mention, such as facial immobility, at least in my unprofessional observation as a psych social worker. Lamictal is, I believe, for mood stabilization. Do you have Bipolar Disorder or Depression with Psychotic Features. This would be good to know. Antidepressants alone might suffice if you have only major depression, and this could relieve some side effects, if, indeed, that's what these symptoms you describe are. ~hugs and best wishes, Billie~

I didn't understand
 

Should have read the whole thing before replying. I thought it was medications. You are going to a neurologist? I would say you are right about the fish oil, as you know your body better than anyone, and it looks like you pay attention to it and to what you ingest. It is a bit unusual that fish oil would cause such an array of symptoms, and even more unusual that they would last for 7 months. If the neurologist doesn't help, you might try a nutritionist. I am sorry for what you are going through. - billie:grouphug: