Snorting Zoloft
Zoloft (sertraline) is generally taken medicinally for depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders. It raises the “feel good” neurotransmitter, called serotonin, and makes a person feel better. Some people however are into snorting Zoloft in order to get a Zoloft high. It is fortunately not a common practice because it can cause severe side effects and even death. Those who are into getting a Zoloft high are flirting with danger and need to watch what they are doing.
Zoloft is a non addicting drug so that those who are snorting Zoloft do not get a lasting Zoloft high or cravings for the drug. Snorting Zoloft does not give you a high like cocaine or other drug that is addicting. It can only really lead to serotonin syndrome, which can be life threatening. Snorting Zoloft to get high is definitely not a positive experience for most people who take it and Zoloft abuse is not common as a result.
Effects of snorting Zoloft
The main effects of snorting Zoloft include the same symptoms as serotonin syndrome. In addition, it can really burn the inside of the nose so that you are in pain for an hour or more after snorting it. Just this unpleasantness alone should keep you away from snorting Zoloft. There really isn’t any such thing as a Zoloft high so you really should think twice before expecting it to do something positive for your system.
Serotonin syndrome is the biggest side effect of snorting Zoloft. It is more likely if you are snorting Zoloft along with taking things like LSD, ecstasy, MAOI drugs, Demerol or dextromethorphan (a cough medicine). Snorting Zoloft to get serotonin syndrome is very dangerous and you can die from it if you don’t get medical attention. The main symptoms you have to watch out for include restlessness, agitation, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, delusions, increased body temperature, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, hyperactive reflexes and changes in blood pressure that can change quite rapidly, resulting in difficulty managing the blood pressure and death.
In suspecting the snorting of Zoloft, doctors look for the symptoms as noted above along with heavy sweating at rest, fever, confusion or hypomania. Muscle spasm can be a sign of snorting Zoloft along with overactive reflexes, shivering, tremor and ataxia, which involves uncoordinated movements.
It is mostly those in their teens who are snorting Zoloft. The snorting of drugs gives an immediate reaction, not all of which are positive as you have noted above. Teens are at risk for Zoloft abuse because they think it’s cool to snort drugs, even those that aren’t illicit drugs. They are also at the highest risk of serotonin syndrome. Parents need to worry about Zoloft abuse, not because it is so addictive (it isn’t) but because kids will try anything they think will give them an unusual experience. They don’t seem to be aware that snorting even one Zoloft can kill you due to serotonin syndrome.
Treatment of snorting Zoloft
The treatment of snorting Zoloft and its resulting symptoms include flushing out the nose and throat with water or saline to get the excess Zoloft out of the nasal passages. The rest of the treatment of snorting Zoloft is purely supportive. This can include giving the person IV fluids to flush out the Zoloft from the system, providing respiratory support using oxygen and a ventilator as well as treating the symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
There is a very small subset of individuals who have a Zoloft addiction and are snorting Zoloft for the hallucinatory effect. They may take it with another drug and may not be experiencing too many negative side effects. These are individuals who may need to be treated with addiction therapy. They may need inpatient or outpatient treatment, or both, in order to break themselves of the habit of snorting Zoloft. Zoloft, if needed for depression or another psychiatric condition, can be switched to another medication and the person needs to understand the risks they are taking with snorting Zoloft. They need to know the symptoms and signs of serotonin syndrome and the risks of death with snorting Zoloft on a regular basis. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to treat a Zoloft addiction because there are no negative withdrawal effects and there is no true addictive potential with Zoloft.
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Snorting Zoloft | Zoloft Abuse | Effects of Snorting Zoloft