Hi my name is michael, I am being treated with imipramine 150mg per day, for anxiety, and depression, i think its just starting to work, panic attacks have stopped. but I have a strange vague feeling, with my vision, its like not being able to snap out of a day dream. If i wear sunglases, i carnt notice it so bad. but it really is frightening. Has anyone else experianced anything similar.

{REMOVED}

I took this class of antidepressants for migraines....
They made me feel "weird" and I stopped taking them..
I wonder if what you are experiencing is a fatigue that is drug-induced?
Do you mean that you are in kind of a zone?
It is probably something that you will get used to in time, but if it is bothering you too much, ask to switch...
All of these have strange side effects...you just have to choose whether or not it is bad enough to request a change...
Good luck to you
:wave:

If you're having anxiety attacks, or any severe anxiety, it may be
comforting to know that this is one of the most common mental health issues. In my experience, just learning that the symptoms I has having (including frequent nervousness and fear, racing heartbeat, a sense of dread and social disconnect, thinking I was losing my mind, etc) were actually a result of anxiety was an important part of my recovery. I was then able to begin reducing the severity of my anxiety by exercising vigorously and regularly, and cutting out caffeine. I've also done a couple anxiety programs, most notably {REMOVED} which was extremely effective. But given that this is such a common problem, there are also many other options for dealing with anxiety.

I dont think its the medication amylynne, because it started before i took it, thanks anyway. The caffine is interesting chillout 1, I didnt know about that. Im having acupunture at the moment. I think it may be working. Do you think it may help you??

Hi my name is michael, I am being treated with imipramine 150mg per day, for anxiety, and depression, i think its just starting to work, panic attacks have stopped. but I have a strange vague feeling, with my vision, its like not being able to snap out of a day dream. If i wear sunglases, i carnt notice it so bad. but it really is frightening. Has anyone else experianced anything similar.


Or how about when your sitting in front of the computer with your eyes focused on the close monitor. Then you look out the window and try to focus on distant objects? Whoa, I really feel out of it then. The beta blocker I take for high blood pressure does that to me, beta blockers have a similar effect as what you describe. :yawn:

I also have Xanax (benzo's) for anxiety but I do not want to take that full time for anxiety, I only use them when I need them.

Do you know where the 150mg sits in the dosage range? Perhaps the dose can be adjusted down until it's right?

How long have you been dealing with your anxiety? Like me, there are many here who learn to come to terms with their anxiety and control it for the majority of the time. I only take the xanax for situations I feel 'trapped' in. For sure it takes a strong will to control and it gets easier over time, it might be a goal to work towards?

If you have the ability to check your blood pressure, it might be interesting to know what it is when you feel wierd. Some have suggested that low pressure, from blood pressure and anxiety meds, can/will make you feel light headed and out of it at times??? :dizzy:

Hi Michael

Just wanted to let you know that I've experienced this feeling and I'm pretty sure it's related to anxiety. For me it feels like a sort of unreality feeling, like a dreamy situation which can last for anything from a couple of minutes to about an hour, sometimes they can keep coming and going throughout the day. I also get a kind of muzzy head and slightly blurred vision which comes and goes. Apparently, it's something to do with tension in the head/eye muscles.

I was put on imipramine shortly after my initial depression/anxiety was diagnosed. I never experienced side effects except for a dry mouth - no visual disturbances. Unfortunately, it didn't do much for my anxiety but many people have been helped by it.

There are so many weird symptoms that are experienced with anxiety but make sure that your doctor always rules out any other reason for the symptoms because you shouldn't just assume it's anxiety.

From what I've learned the best advice for dealing with any anxiety related symptom is to just 'go with the flow and try and float through it'.
Believe me, I know this isn't easy to do!
But if you don't add the extra tension then the muscles do eventually relax and the symptoms can ease.

Hope this helps and good luck with the imipramine.
Kitty

thanks gib 150mg of imipramine is not that high, you can go up to 300 per day although you would have to be in hospital. I dont think it is the medication, as the vague feeling started before the medication. Are the beta blockers controlling your heart beat??. as mine races most of the time usual between 95-105bpm.

thanks for your help kitty, its nice to know that there is someone else who has had similar experience. Has this righted itself for you now?? if so how long did it take ??. I think your right about " go with the flow " that is what i am trying to do. My doctor has lent me a book OVERCOMING ANXIETY, by Dr James Le Fanu GP. It is a self help guide using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, I carnt concentrate to read it yet, but my doctor says she can put me in touch with someone who uses the technique. It is said to be the most effective form of therapy for anxiety. For me i just want it to go away
regards michael

Michael

I still get it sometimes and when it first comes, I do start to panic a little but because it's happened to me so many times now, I've learnt to accept it. I don't want to tell you it won't ever go away (because it may be different with you), but once I realised it was just happening as a result of anxiety, I have managed to live with it when it comes. I would say that these sensations have definitely become less frequent though. When it first happened they were happening throughout the day but now it happens maybe a couple of times a month.

I don't know if it's the same with you but with me I started to add more panic to it by thinking I was going to faint or make myself look stupid or I started to think there was something really wrong. I think all this just makes it worse. If you just accept it when it happens and don't add the extra fears, it's surprising how quickly anxiety symptoms can go away.
Take care
Kitty

thanks so much kitty, it really does sound like the same thing as me. I get worried that i may be going mad, or getting dementia or something, but everyone says i sound and look fine, but i dont feel it. I wear sunglasses that usually hides it, except i have to take them off at night. I keep trying not to pay any attention to it, but it is not easy, when its right infront of you.

thanks for all your help Michael.

Hi Michael,
You didn't mention going to the eye doctor. Have you had your eyes checked?
While some medications can cause increased eye pressure (certain antidepressants did this to me) and although I did take note that you said this occurred before you ever started the meds, you might want to go to a good opthamologist. I discovered the problems with my eyes were related to 3 things: needing glasses, pre-glaucoma/increased eye pressure, and something I'd never heard of before: opthalmic migraine (basically a "headache" in your eye).
Another thing you might want to investigate is something called Sensory Processing Disorder. Sunglasses are what my daughter's doc used to help her reduce sensory input to the brain from the eyes. It worked.
Take it easy.

thanks yesmetoo, some interesting points there, ill have a look more in detail

thanks once again michael