SSRI+antibiotic=suicidal depression?

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I take 40mg of Prozac for OCD. Last Wednesday I started on a routine antibiotic round for an ear infection. Last Thursday I cut my wrist. This Sunday I threw a gigantic two-year-old fit for no particular reason. Today I got stage fright for the first time in my whole life and hid from my drama teacher, and the school sent out a search party. I feel okay most of the time, but I can't stop thinking about how I would kill myself if I did.

I'm really wondering if the antibiotic is f***ing with the Prozac. Seriously.

Are adverse reactions to antibiotics common in SSRI users?

SSRI's are awful in general.

But I have absolutely no idea about interactions with antibiotics.

I can't offer any help, but that sounds to me like something you should tell your doctor or psychiatrist about ASAP.

I agree with beau99 that SSRIs are bad news for most people, but don't go off them abruptly. That could make your already fragile condition worse. I also don't know if there is a correlation to the antibiotics, but I can only assume you've been on Prozac for awhile with limited problems to be at 40 mgs. Can you think of any other psychological or environmental reasons for your recent behaviors, or are you pretty sure this is chemical?

I know when Paxil users quit abruptly or tolerate at high doses, it sends about 40% of users into serious withdrawels that do alot of weird things to both their minds and bodies. Suicidal thoughts and tendancies, as well as self harm, severe anxiety and intense reactions to stress are common during this stage. This phenomenon isn't very common with Prozac which is much more benign (in fact it's often used to ease people off Paxil who are going through WDs) but they are both SSRIs and work in very similar ways, so who knows? This may have nothing to do with the antibiotics, but again, I don't know much about interactions with antibiotics and SSRIs.

Either way, I agree, you need to communicate with a doctor right away, especially if you think you're going to hurt yourself again. Even if you think you are ok now, there's no guarentee that will be the case later. Let other people around you know, too so they can intervene if you lose control, or just decide to do something you wouldn't normally do.

most people don't realize that a side effect of antibiotics is depression. antibiotics throw off your electrolyte balance which can create a cascade effect that drives depression. which AB you take, how much and for how long can determine the effect but almost all of them list depression as a side effect.

sulfonamide (sulfa) antibiotics, which are very strong, are the worse at that. i know first hand because of an episode i had about 10 years ago when i had a nasty cold. every morning i'd find myself balled up like a baby on the floor crying my eyes out for hours. it occurred to me one day that i seemed to be the worse after i took my AM meds, which included a sulfa antibiotic. one internet search later and just knowing that my crappy feeling was triggered by the AB and not because i was bonkers was a great relief.

sulfas aren't the only type that can do that. i have had the same reaction while on clarithromycin, a completely different kind of AB.

i found this post about Biaxin, another common AB:
http://psychdata.blogspot.com/2006/07/s ... tonin.html

NO it is not you. YES it is the drug - well, i say that not knowing what you have taken but i think my assumption is well grounded. it appears you may be more sensitive to the interaction it creates with your SSRI. unfortunately if you have to take the AB there's not much you can do other than be mindful of what is going on until you are done with it. while on the AB if you feel unexpectedly down and gloomy remind yourself that it is NOT YOU. it is the DRUG. And when you are done taking it that crappy feeling WILL pass.

i hope you get to feeling better.