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Hi, Background: I Recently Traveled Overseas Around Europe For 4
Question: Hi,
Background:
I recently traveled overseas around Europe for 4 weeks and experienced a lot of anxiety and stress. I didn't sleep very much and was drinking a lot of alcohol which made me feel good at the time but absolutely horrible mentally the next morning. I all of a sudden started experiencing random rapid disorganized thoughts only when I was trying to sleep, which I couldn't stop and only added to my stress and insomnia. For weeks on end I was barely getting any sleep and feeling extremely stressed
Upon return home, I was able to sleep okay for the first week, although still experiencing the random thoughts when I was trying to sleep, but my cognitive function during the day was very low. I couldn't concentrate at work, I couldn't think, I had bad memory loss and I couldn't read properly. I couldn't really function at all mentally, I felt at a 2/10 of my normal cognitive function. Physically I had a constant dull headache, mainly at the front of my head, above my temples felt swollen, and I had slight ringing in my ears. As the day progressed my symptoms would get worse and by the time I got home I was exhausted and had to go to sleep.
I went and saw a General doctor. He gave me diazepam, 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night and told me to take it for a 4-5 days and see if I felt better. It worked really well and I felt like I was returning to my normal self. I went back to see him (day6) a day after I stopped taking the diazepam for a return check-up and he gave me sertraline, 25mg a day for a week and then 50mg thereafter.
I've been taking the sertraline for two days now and I feel like I've spiraled back down, I experienced the random rapid disorganized thoughts again returning my insomnia back, I was have minor panic attacks at night. I'm really stressed again, my cognitive function is back to a 2/10 and im now feeling anxious during the day, I'm also sneezing a lot, I'm not sure if that's related. I would go to see him again but I can't get an appointment with him for a few days.
My Questions:
1. I understand that sertraline takes a while to work and I'll keep taking it. Can I take my diazepam again for a short period to ease the anxiety I'm feeling whilst starting the sertraline?
2. What is your diagnosis of my condition?
Background:
I recently traveled overseas around Europe for 4 weeks and experienced a lot of anxiety and stress. I didn't sleep very much and was drinking a lot of alcohol which made me feel good at the time but absolutely horrible mentally the next morning. I all of a sudden started experiencing random rapid disorganized thoughts only when I was trying to sleep, which I couldn't stop and only added to my stress and insomnia. For weeks on end I was barely getting any sleep and feeling extremely stressed
Upon return home, I was able to sleep okay for the first week, although still experiencing the random thoughts when I was trying to sleep, but my cognitive function during the day was very low. I couldn't concentrate at work, I couldn't think, I had bad memory loss and I couldn't read properly. I couldn't really function at all mentally, I felt at a 2/10 of my normal cognitive function. Physically I had a constant dull headache, mainly at the front of my head, above my temples felt swollen, and I had slight ringing in my ears. As the day progressed my symptoms would get worse and by the time I got home I was exhausted and had to go to sleep.
I went and saw a General doctor. He gave me diazepam, 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night and told me to take it for a 4-5 days and see if I felt better. It worked really well and I felt like I was returning to my normal self. I went back to see him (day6) a day after I stopped taking the diazepam for a return check-up and he gave me sertraline, 25mg a day for a week and then 50mg thereafter.
I've been taking the sertraline for two days now and I feel like I've spiraled back down, I experienced the random rapid disorganized thoughts again returning my insomnia back, I was have minor panic attacks at night. I'm really stressed again, my cognitive function is back to a 2/10 and im now feeling anxious during the day, I'm also sneezing a lot, I'm not sure if that's related. I would go to see him again but I can't get an appointment with him for a few days.
My Questions:
1. I understand that sertraline takes a while to work and I'll keep taking it. Can I take my diazepam again for a short period to ease the anxiety I'm feeling whilst starting the sertraline?
2. What is your diagnosis of my condition?
Brief Answer:
This is definitely anxiety related probeen.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to ask a doctor service,
I have gone through your query in detail and can certainly understand your concern towards your symptoms.
It could be definitely due to anxiety related problem.
You need to start any antidepressant with anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines.
Yes, sertraline is an antidepressant, but escitalopram is the most effective and more tolerable with least side effects when compared to sertraline.
So, the combination of escitalopram and benzodiazepines like clonazepam would work better.
You can discuss with your psychiatrist and can take prescription based medicine.
Hope this information would help you.
Thank you.
This is definitely anxiety related probeen.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to ask a doctor service,
I have gone through your query in detail and can certainly understand your concern towards your symptoms.
It could be definitely due to anxiety related problem.
You need to start any antidepressant with anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines.
Yes, sertraline is an antidepressant, but escitalopram is the most effective and more tolerable with least side effects when compared to sertraline.
So, the combination of escitalopram and benzodiazepines like clonazepam would work better.
You can discuss with your psychiatrist and can take prescription based medicine.
Hope this information would help you.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I appreciate your swift reply. Thank you.
Can I take Sertraline with Diazepam? The combination is safe?
I will raise the other combination with my doctor.
Thank you again.
Can I take Sertraline with Diazepam? The combination is safe?
I will raise the other combination with my doctor.
Thank you again.
Brief Answer:
Yes, you can take sertraline with diazepam.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back,
I have gone through your follow up query and can certainly understand your concern.
Yes you can take sertraline with diazepam.
But, better you can start the combination advised.
Hope this information would help you.
Thank you.
Yes, you can take sertraline with diazepam.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back,
I have gone through your follow up query and can certainly understand your concern.
Yes you can take sertraline with diazepam.
But, better you can start the combination advised.
Hope this information would help you.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you for your reply
I will see my docotor about this combination in a few days when he is back.
How long can I take the dizaepam (5mg moring and 5mg at night) for before I may build a dependence?
I've taken it already for 6 days (before being prescribed with Zoloft) and then I had a 3 day break whilst starting the Zoloft and now have started taking it again due to the new anxiety I am feeling.
This Anxiety I'm feeling only started happening when I started on the zoloft, I have never felt it before in my life in these episodes, is it a side effect of zoloft?
I will see my docotor about this combination in a few days when he is back.
How long can I take the dizaepam (5mg moring and 5mg at night) for before I may build a dependence?
I've taken it already for 6 days (before being prescribed with Zoloft) and then I had a 3 day break whilst starting the Zoloft and now have started taking it again due to the new anxiety I am feeling.
This Anxiety I'm feeling only started happening when I started on the zoloft, I have never felt it before in my life in these episodes, is it a side effect of zoloft?
Brief Answer:
You can continue for 1 month.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back,
I have gone through your follow up query and can certainly understand your concern.
Yes, you can continue diazepam for one month.
But, my advise you to switch on to another safest benzodiazepine like clonazepam with least dependency.
It could be a side effect of Zoloft as some persons are not able to tolerate sertraline.
So that could be the reason.
I advise you to switch on to the advised combination as soon as possible.
Hope you understood my suggestion.
Thank you.
You can continue for 1 month.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back,
I have gone through your follow up query and can certainly understand your concern.
Yes, you can continue diazepam for one month.
But, my advise you to switch on to another safest benzodiazepine like clonazepam with least dependency.
It could be a side effect of Zoloft as some persons are not able to tolerate sertraline.
So that could be the reason.
I advise you to switch on to the advised combination as soon as possible.
Hope you understood my suggestion.
Thank you.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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