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Suggest Treatment For Pressure Sensation In The Head

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Posted on Tue, 8 Nov 2016
Question: Hi my name is XXXXXXX Some years ago I was administered the antibiotic drug Wycillin (procaine penicillin) through an injection to my upper right buttocks (very close to my spinal canal). As the medicine entered my body, a very cold chill went up my spine and suddenly there in my head was sound likened to the sound of mosquitos. The sound got louder and an enormous pressure in my head ensued. I loss my motor skills (both my arms and hands I had not control over them. The pain in my head was so traumatic I wanted to die to get free from the pain. Suddenly medical personnel were about to give me another injection of something but I became frighten of any injections and I vehemenently ask for something else. My blood pressure was rushed to 180/110, I was scared and didn't know what was happening. Today I on occassion still experience the sounds of mosquitos often. This took place in 1981 and it's 2016 and everytime I sense that sound in my head I worry. Am I expericing ptsd?
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Read below

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Judging by that description I do not think that episode was directly related to the antibiotic itself. Such an injection does not cause any symptoms, at times there may be allergic reactions but they manifest differently, with low blood pressure.

I think the episode was a panic attack due to an understandably stressful situation. It is common for the blood pressure to raise during such an attack due to the rush of catecholamines which justifies that sound you describe as well.
So these repeated episodes are also related to anxiety as well though not to the full scale of a panic attack. The fact that you are treated for depression supports that as anxiety and depression often coexist
.
As for whether to call it PTSD or not, PTSD is in itself as well an axiety disorder after a traumatic event. However usually PTSD contains other symtoms such as flashbacks, memories and dreams of the episode. So I do not think it is a case of PTSD although as I said it is part of the same spectrum of disorders.

I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Pressure Sensation In The Head

Brief Answer: Read below Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Judging by that description I do not think that episode was directly related to the antibiotic itself. Such an injection does not cause any symptoms, at times there may be allergic reactions but they manifest differently, with low blood pressure. I think the episode was a panic attack due to an understandably stressful situation. It is common for the blood pressure to raise during such an attack due to the rush of catecholamines which justifies that sound you describe as well. So these repeated episodes are also related to anxiety as well though not to the full scale of a panic attack. The fact that you are treated for depression supports that as anxiety and depression often coexist . As for whether to call it PTSD or not, PTSD is in itself as well an axiety disorder after a traumatic event. However usually PTSD contains other symtoms such as flashbacks, memories and dreams of the episode. So I do not think it is a case of PTSD although as I said it is part of the same spectrum of disorders. I hope to have been of help.