Depression & Panic
Posted over a year ago
I experienced bad depression (suicidal) and extreme panic attacks that came in waves while on Doxycycline. It has been 2 months since I quit taking it. Since then I have taken Keflex and after that Ciprofloxacin, which I am done. I didn't have much ... more »
I experienced bad depression (suicidal) and extreme panic attacks that came in waves while on Doxycycline. It has been 2 months since I quit taking it. Since then I have taken Keflex and after that Ciprofloxacin, which I am done. I didn't have much mental/emotional side effects from those at all (although bad physical side effects with Keflex but tolerable). My question is, it is 2 months since the Doxy, and on occasion I still have a couple days were suddenly I'll experience bouts of depression and bursts of panic. Has this happened to anybody else?
Baba_dark - the last time i took doxycycline hyclate was 9 days ago and i still have deep deep depression. i took it for 4 days. You said you still get this feeling after 2 months quitting the medication. i'm scared now!!
Have you taken any medical advice or help for this?
please reply smacky..
Smacky - Please don't be scared. It is "normal" to still be feeling depressed 9 days after quitting taking it. That really isn't that long in the big picture (I know it feels like forever). It WILL get better! I got better and better progressively after I quit, even though slowly, and sometimes there was dips. I feel like I am pretty much completely better by now. My question was that on rare occasions I would get SMALL SHORT bursts of panic and times during a day or two where I would feel depressed -- nothing compared to the deep, deep depression I experienced while on Doxy and the days & weeks following. Don't be surprised if you are only better after a month or so after quitting it. It doesn't mean you have a "disease" like "depression". It is just the awful side affects of a horrible medication and things DO improve.
Did you get the ringing in your ears while taking it? For me, this was somewhat of a comfort, because as long as the ringing in my ears was there (intermittently, not constantly) I knew the depression was being caused by the Doxy and not some "disease".
If you go to a doctor or psychologist or psychiatrist about the depression, they will most likely not believe that it is caused by the Doxy, and they will want to put you on an antidepressant. Please don't start taking antidepressants because I used to be on them for years, and they made me very depressed and anxious. So going on antidepressants will only make the problems worse, I can guarantee you, from personal experience.
Just stick it out, baba_dark! Please rest assured that things do improve!! I am feeling hopeful, I have energy & strength, and I don't have panic attacks anymore. But it did take a while to get to this point. I'm sorry there isn't any quick cure. You just gotta stick it out.
What helped for me was, I got my husband to take all our meds with him to work when I was home alone so that I wouldn't try to do anything to myself. I went outside frequently to get fresh air & sunshine. I spent a lot of time on Facebook to distract myself, haha! And I leaned very heavily on my husband emotionally. It helps to have someone tell you that everything WILL get better yet!
Take care, okay? Let me know how you're doing!
Smacky - I am glad to hear you are doing better. The ringing in my ears is gone, at least it's been a while since it happened last. If it pops up again, it's not a big deal and I won't worry about it. I have heard that exercising helps, so go for it. I don't know if it is the sweating that helps or not, but I know that being outside & exercising helps calm me down & clear my mind, and of course it's healthy! If your muscles are still weak, take it easy & don't over do it. Muscle strength should come back with time, keeping at building up your strength slowly & steadily should help with that. I did take a vitamin B complex for a week or two but I honestly don't know how much of a difference it made. I don't know how much of a difference diet makes, just as long as it's healthy. Time seems to be the best cure. In the States you can report drug side effects to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). There is a website for it or you can phone them. Personally I don't live in the States but if you do it would be a good idea to report what the Doxycycline did to you, I think it is really important that the FDA learns what this drug is like! I am so thankful I have been able to encourage you. Sometimes I wonder, why did I have to go through this hell?? I guess it was to give hope to people like you :) Thanks for encouraging ME :)
Leyla - Oh My God!!!
Thak you sooooo much!!
you guys have no Idea!! How much reading this has helped me!!
I went thru the same thingm I stopped taking the doxy 7 weeks ago, at the beggining I did not know what was happening, but then I found out this pills were hell!
I am taking Vitamin B12, and yes, I think this pills, deplete you from Vitamin B's, I was recommended to get Vitamin B complex, once or twice a week, I went to doctors too, and they dont believem this pills cause all of this problems!
God has helped me soooo much!! I pray a lot and he listens to me!! and not only that, I have been going to psyquiatrist and doctors, and the funny thing is that they dont give me any medication, is like God thru them is protecting me from getting antindepressants.
WoW!! I am sooo happy I found your experiences, all I can tell you, is that yes, it takes time, but little by little you will go back to normal.
I dont have the side effects as strong as the beggining, here and there I get weir thoughts, but I change my mind to positive and God, and they go away.
Thank you guys!
good luck!!
Love! Leyla =)
Smacky - Leyla, I'm really glad we could help you & encourage you! Keep trusting in God, He will help you get through this, I would not have been able to do it without Him, my husband, and this website!! Don't let any doctor or psychiatrist put you on any antidepressant or antianxiety medication, stay strong girl!! All the best :)
Stay_positive - @ Smacky & @ Baba_dark : I, too, have been having serious problems with anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, etc. since coming off the Doxy. I was using it as an anti-malarial while my boyfriend and I traveled through Cambodia, and after 5 weeks I experienced a "crazy" night where I woke up with intrusive, suicidal thoughts. Completely abnormal behaviour for someone who is happy and loves her life... so the next day I threw those pills out FOREVER!!! It's been 4 weeks since and everyday is torture. I am experiencing severe insomnia and I feel like my life has been ripped away from me. It feels SO good to read your stories... and it makes me want to beat this so much more! I'm seriously considering a class-action lawsuit when I start feeling better and would love to get more people on board. My e-mail is screw_doxy@hotmail.com if you want to touch base with me outside this forum. Hope to hear back from you and any other sufferers.
Leyla - m,
I will definately will colaborate with you for the lawsuit, and please! Be patience, you will get better! Little by little, but you will!
As i said in the forum, have faith in God and yourself, get medical help and sorround youself with positive people and exercise a lot!! Do not give up! Remember is not you! These are side effects of a medicine, if you have any other question let me know!
Valerian tea with drops of pasiflora will help calm down your nerves and anxiety and it will help you sleep, drink a lot of lemon water! A lot it will clean your system faster! B complex helps too!
Good night!
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