Vaso-Vagal Discussion

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vaso-vagal and anti-depressants

From: Julian

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I would like to share the following: About 10 years ago, I was experiencing a pretty bad depressive episode and my doctor prescribed fluoxitine hydrochloride (prozac). At first the meds made me feel better, but after a while I started to experience regular vaso-vagal episodes. It was extremely frightening--I would experience clammy palms and a feeling of weakness, then a very cerebral feeling of lanuage not making sense anymore, then I thought I was dying--but I was passing out. When I came to, usually with people around, I was in a cold sweat, but i felt so great--like tension was released. I only made the connection years later, but since disconuing the fluoxitine, I have *never* once, not one time, passed out. In my mind, there *had* to be a connection between the medication and the episodes. I was scanned for epilepsy and all sorts of things, and finally diagnosed vasovagal. But not once since I stopped the prozac have I passed out. I will never take depression meds again no matter how severe my depression, because of that. I know that this isn't something a doctor wants to hear, but it's sincerely the truth.


This web site is not a substitute for a thorough medical evaluation and diagnosis of your vaso-vagal type symptoms.  Medical treatment and diagnosis is the only acceptable initial response to these serious symptoms since they might present from any number of life threatening and treatable illnesses. It is for you and your physician to rule out more serious illnesses; Please don't use this online forum as an alternative to getting responsible medical attention and being under the care of a physician for the duration of any unknown, suspected or dangerous vaso-vagal syndrome symptoms.
Last changed: June 22, 2007