After being honest with my dr she put me on Xanax and Zoloft. But because I was taking St John's Wort I had to stop taking that for 8 days so I can take the Zoloft. Things are all ready out of control: cant sleep, wake up having panic attack, racing heart, chest pains, out of control emotions, and I dont leave my house unless I have to and I'm axious the whole time. After day 2 I felt like I was starting to spin out of control and now its day 6. The St John's Wort was masking more than I thought it was.
Then the pharmist said that once I start Zoloft I will feel worse the first few weeks before I feel better. And wanted To make sure I didn't live alone.
Is this true? Is it going to get worse? Because I feel like I'm just hanging on some times.

hi

did your doctor say not to take your meds with st johns wort the pharmacist should not be saying things like that to you

go back to your doctor, you need to get some rest the symptoms you are feeling, are real for you, so get some help, these feelings are very common,

you will get through this the meds ,will help

see if any one can take you to the doctor

try slow deep breathing and a warm hot chocolate until you can see your GP he /she maybe able to give you something that will give you some rest thats why you need someone with you, because it will work straight away

I agree with the post that said talk to your dr. You don't need to hear that it is going to get worse. I don't belive it will. Zoloft is a good med. I took it for several years with no real side effects, and then was changed to seraquel. No problem The pharmacy, should not have said that to scare you.:hug ginnie

mbrook,

After reading accounts of people coming off St John's Wort and SSRI's, I can understand your struggle to get off StJW

I am surprised at the advice you were given. You might consider tempering off the StJW. It acts like an SSRI. Getting on and off SSRI's can be rough.

It may be worthwhile to get off the StJW and then see the doctor. As you say, the StJW was masking symptoms.

Self medicating with St John's Wort has been know to be a hit and miss endeavor, especially with an mTBI.

Getting clean and then getting a targeted medication would sound better to me.

What amounts of B, D and anti-oxidants vitamins, folic acid, Omega 3's, and such are you taking daily?

My perspective is to give the brain the best chance to function with good 'normal' supplementation before adding extras like SSRI's and St John's Wort. I am not against pharmaceuticals. I just like to see the brain given a good change to work first. I have experienced the improvement that good supplementation can do.

Your pharmacist is on the right track about not living alone. You sound like you have a very sensitive system. You need a support structure of caring people while you are going through this.

You might ask your doctor for a blood pressure med (propanolol, atenolol or such to help keep you blood pressure down). This can be a very effective short term remedy while your system purges the St John's Wort. I take propanolol for break-out anxiety issues. Occasionally. I will get over-stimulated and need to get settled. Works for me with low side effects and does not interact with most other meds.

My best to you, especially in this trying time.

Thanks.
My dr is the one who told me to to wait 8 days. I started taking st Johns wort on my own after my drs wanted to put me on SSRI over 7 months ago but I didnt want to take more meds so I started taking STJW instead.

My dr knew but while reading the info that comes with the meds it said to not take with or right after stopping STJW. So I called my dr and she said to wait to start it. I stopped cold turkey.

I the begaining I was taking my norm vitomines and added omaga 3 and 6 and magnesium plus a phosphatidylserine supplement, but I just cant swollow any more pills. so I slowly missed a day and then just stopped altogether.

Stopping my pain just seemed more important than the bigger picture. I'm just trying to make it through the day.

You can get vitamins crushed and put in a liquid form. You can do it yourself of get a pharmacist to do it for you. All you need is a mortar and pestle. Walmart sells one for only $8.59.

The syrup can be many different things. Ask a pharmacist about it. Your brain is very likely in a toxic condition from your injury and depression and anxiety.

Emergen C is a good way to take some vitamins. My wife can not swallow pills due to a benign tumor on her thyroid. She uses Emercen-C and some other liquid supplements. You can get high potency B-12 in a sub-lingual form.

Hope you can find some help to get your brain some good nutrition.

My best to you.

OK I went and started taking my vitamines and fishoil and stuff again. You are right I need to be doing this.

Is it normal to have your weight go up and down?

After the accident I lost 15 pounds. Now I have gained 25- I blame it on no physical activity because of pain and being tired. I use to do 5 and 10 Ks and walk every day.

Some days I will only eat a yogurt and some toast. I just dont want anything and It takes so much effort just to get something from the frig that most days I wont eat untill after 3pm.

Is this normal?