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Antibiotics as a cause of DP/DR?

1472 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  gimpy34
Some of you may think I'm crazy, but from thinking back and doing some research in the last 7 weeks on what caused my DR, I think I got a theory. I was searching old threads from this site through google and I came accross reading about a few people that said they were on antibiotics at the time their DP/DR started and that they may have caused it. Well, I was taking Xanax for a few weeks and I stopped it abruptly and right after that, I was dizzy and had a cough so I rushed to the doctor and he gave me some antibiotics. So I took them assuming I was sick, but I really wasnt. It was because I was withdrawaling from the medication I took prior to the antibiotics. So anyways, my DR started while I was on the antibiotics almost 2 months ago and I've been in a 24/7 state of it ever since. And to mention, before that, I never had any DR or DP and never even heard of it. Does anybody else know or think they can be a cause?
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Sometimes these days I think that anything is possible. I'd guess it's not the antibiotics however see my post at the top of the forum:

http://www.dpselfhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35

It notes a case of a woman who used an anti-acne medication and experienced DP on it. This study notes "transient" DP though, I believe, i.e. when the med is introduced the DP/DR come on, when it is removed the DP/DR subsides.

These are drugs, Rx and Rec that are known to bring on DP/DR:

(see the article)

Alcohol
Antihistamines
Antipsychotics
Anxiolytics - (Anti-anxiety medications)
Benzodiazepines
Caffeine
Carbamazepine
Fluoxetine
Fluphenazine
Hallucinogens
Indomethacin
LSD
Marijuana
Meta-chlorophenylpiperazine
Minocycline <-------------------- anti-acne med
Nitrazepam
Sodium pentothal

I know with myself alcohol in small amounts always brings on intense DP/DR. I noted this at age 16. I have never been able to have more than 2 glasses of wine in my life, or one aloholic drink. I don't drink alcohol these days.

Also caffeine increases my "disconnected" feelings. There is also one case study of caffeine increasing DP/DR in a patient w/DP. The patient didn't know when she was being administered caffeine or a placebo.

Both guaranteed for me.

D
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PS, note that anti-anxiety meds, major tranquilizers and even SRIs have been known to CAUSE onset of DP/DR, but in these studies the removal of the drug causes cessastion of the DP/DR.

And there is a paradoxical effect then. They can both cause and relieve DP/DR. I've heard this re: alcohol. It can give relief then have a rebound effect.

For me, I had DP/DR with no drug onset at all.
Depersonalized said:
Thats wierd, cause alcohol is the only thing that lets me feel normal and happy again at least for a little while. Totally brings me back, when it wears off I feel out of my body again. I haven't had a sip of alc. for more than a month now and it sux.
See, this is why I say, each and every case here, each individual has to be seen as a UNIQUE case.

For me, before I knew what I had ... DP/DR from age 4 or 5 that came and went and WASN'T scary to DP/DR that took over and terrified me... the "drug of choice" at my school (granted I graduated in the 1970s!) was alcohol. Ah, those were the good ol' days. Things were simpler then, LOL. :shock:

I recall the first party I attended in high school where there was beer and wine and hard alcohol... oh, pot too. Never have tried that. But I had about 1/2 a glass of wine on an empty stomach, and within about 20 minutes a MAJOR wave of DP/DR hit me. This ALWAYS happened.

I have never been drunk as a result. Also, as I get older, I can't even tolerate wine in small amounts as it gives me a "hangover" or what I assume a hangover might feel like. Headache, malaise, flu-like symptoms.

Interesting though. When I added Lamictal to my med combo my doctor said it was still OK to have the occasional glass or two of wine, or a drink (man I could use a Marguerita now and again -- I know, I sissy drink, 8) ). The Lamictal for some time made having a drink a pleasure. But only white wine or a Marguerita.

My favorite medical quotation, Ask not what disease the person has, but rather what person the disease has.
(attributed to William Osler, M.D., neurologist)

I insist it is VERY important here to LITERALLY look at every case here with a fine-toothed comb. I believe we fall into a variety of categories, and hence a variety of treatments are necessary.

Also, my doctors always knew I didn't abuse medication (such as benzos). I have never had a problem with them. I also have very few side effects with medications. Obviously, my metabolism is different from many others here on the board. My brain is different.

I again recall an ongoing study at UCLA (I think) where they are dissecting human brains (dead ones, LOL :shock: ) and have found that each and every brain is like a snowflake or a fingerprint. NO TWO ARE ALIKE.

We obviously have great similarities in our overall responses to meds, etc. And yet you must look at each person individually.
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