Tag: Dissociation

According to one study, as many as 40-60% of people taking Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) may experience a degree of emotional 'blunting,' which is a form of dissociation. This highlights that certain antidepressants can trigger dissociation as a side effect, and it is a topic worth understanding for patients and clinicians alike.

According to a study published in *Neuropsychopharmacology* in 2023, up to 60% of people taking Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline may experience emotional blunting, a flattening of feelings that can contribute to a spaced-out sensation. This detached, zoned-out feeling is a known effect of many antidepressants and often manageable.

According to reports compiled by patient advocacy groups, dissociative experiences, including derealization, are relatively common with some antidepressant use. While designed to alleviate mental health symptoms, some patients find that these medications, particularly SSRIs, can lead to or worsen feelings of unreality or detachment from their surroundings.

While lamotrigine (Lamictal) is often favored for its more favorable cognitive profile compared to many older mood stabilizers, a significant number of patients still report experiencing feelings of fogginess, dizziness, or detachment. This can lead to the question: does lamotrigine make you feel spacey? It's a valid concern rooted in the medication's potential neurological impacts.

Approximately 40% of patients experience a temporary sense of dissociation during Spravato treatment, which leads many to question: does Spravato cause psychedelic effects, and how do they differ from those of other hallucinogens. While the medication can induce altered perceptions, its psychoactive properties are distinct from the visionary states associated with classic psychedelics.

For individuals with treatment-resistant depression, traditional antidepressants fail to provide significant relief in up to 30% of cases. When exploring a new option, patients often wonder, *what does Spravato make you feel like?* before beginning treatment.

In clinical trials for treatment-resistant depression, 61% to 84% of patients treated with Spravato experienced dissociation or perceptual changes [1.2.5]. But does Spravato get you high in a recreational sense? The answer is complex and rooted in its unique pharmacology and strict administration guidelines.

While no specific medication is approved to cure dissociative disorders directly, up to 80% of outpatients with these conditions receive adjuvant medication for related issues. These pharmacological treatments aim to manage co-occurring symptoms like anxiety, depression, and mood instability, which often fuel dissociative episodes.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), up to 75% of people will experience at least one depersonalization/derealization episode in their lives, but there is no single medication specifically approved to treat dissociation itself. Instead, pharmacological treatment for dissociative disorders focuses on managing co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can trigger or worsen dissociative symptoms.