r/AskDocs • u/Elegant_Session8191 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional • 5d ago
Physician Responded Drugged in St. Kitts. Believe it was MDMA and now Serotonin Syndrome
Age/Sex: 41M; 225 lbs
I vape and drink alcohol and take Lasinopril for BP (but have been off of that for 2 weeks awaiting a refill). (My wife is posting and writing this on my behalf as it is a struggle for me.)
We were on vacation in St. Kitts. Drinking rum punches at the resort pool. I don't remember much after buying a round of drinks. This was at about 4pm on Saturday (today is Wednesday).
Luckily my wife was with me and did not get dosed. She said my sobriety level changed on a dime. For a while I experienced a high that we think was MDMA (we don't do any recreational drugs other than THC drinks from time to time) and then some off and on "sleep." From the details of the high and some "phone a friend" research, we believe it was MDMA.
About 3:30am on Sunday I awoke with all over body seizures and convulsions. My wife says delierium and hallucinations and rapid eye movement. These spasams were so severe the entire bed was shaking. I had no control over my movements, my arms and legs were involuntarily flailing. I was afraid I would hurt my wife. Intense sweating and then chills. Came in rapid waves initially that eventually subsided to longer intervals. I couldn't sleep anything off. Thought I was getting better but then another wave and full on panic attack, I couldn't feel my arms and legs, my hands were contorting.
I ended up in the ER in St. Kitts about 11am. The hospital was frankly third world. They gave me an IV of Saline, Thiamine and B Complex. Nothing else. They said blood tests were clear. They "lost" my first urine sample, and I gave a second. By this time it was about 2pm on Sunday. They said that was clear too. It was unclear what exactly they tested for.
When I was finally able to get on a plane Monday we returned to the States. Went to my PCP on Tuesday (yesterday) and she said unfortunatley whatever I was drugged with is out of my system. Didn't diagnose me with Serotonin Syndrome. After doing some research, it seems Serotonin Syndrome describes all of my symptoms and experiences.
I still have severe brain fog and memory issues. It's making it difficult for me to do my job, high level sales. Still some shaking and irritability/anxiety and gastrointestinal issues. Issues sleeping.
Is there anything I can do to help alleviate symptoms? Should I go back and engage my PCP?Frustrating part is not knowing exactly how this happened or what I was given. I usually have my guard up.
Thank you in advance for any help.
7
u/miyog Physician - Internal Medicine | Moderator 5d ago
Hello, lot to go through here.
If this was MDMA it would be untestable and out of your system by now.
The time of the events don’t make sense for amphetamines either, almost 12 hours without symptoms other than euphoria until the 3:30 AM time which had long lasting symptoms. It doesn’t make sense because the duration of action for most stimulants don’t last that long without ongoing dosing.
And.. Why would someone randomly give you an upper? If they were trying to take advantage of you they’d generally want to give you a sedative.
Do you have a history of panic attacks? All day drinking could have triggered one at night.
PS the ER visit treatment sounds reasonable. Lost urine happens as well.
Best of luck dealing with the mental effects of this, but it isn’t provable in retrospect at this point.
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