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They said downstairs the Parnate made me black out. It did…

“They said downstairs the Parnate made me black out. It did a blood pressure thing. My mother heard noises upstairs and found me she said down on my side chewing the rug in my room. My room’s shag-carpeted. She said I was on the floor flushed red and all wet like when I was a newborn; she said she…” quote by David Foster Wallace
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““They said downstairs the Parnate made me black out. It did a blood pressure thing. My mother heard noises upstairs and found me she said down on my side chewing the rug in my room. My room’s shag-carpeted. She said I was on the floor flushed red and all wet like when I was a newborn; she said she thought at first she hallucinated me as a newborn again. On my side all red and wet.' 'A hypertensive crisis will do that. It means your blood pressure was high enough to have killed you. Sertraline in combination with an MAOI2828 will kill you, in enough quantities. And with the toxicity of that much lithium besides, I'd say you're pretty lucky to be here right now.’ 'My mother sometimes thinks she's hallucinating.’ 'Sertraline, by the way, is the Zoloft you kept instead of discarding as instructed when changing medications.’ 'She says I chewed a big hole out of the carpet. But who can say.””

David Foster Wallace

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A severe hypertensive crisis caused intense physical symptoms, potentially fatal, especially when combined with certain medications, highlighting medical danger and personal vulnerability.

In simple terms: A dangerous blood pressure spike can be deadly, especially with risky drug mixes.

Key Takeaway

Seek immediate medical help for severe hypertension.

Themes

health danger medication personal crisis

Mood

anxious urgent

Type

warning medical

When to use this quote

  • hospital emergency
  • mental health crisis
  • family support
  • medication review

Key Concepts

hypertension drug interaction psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you recognize when a medical symptom requires emergency care?
  • What role does family perception play in health crises?
A Different Perspective

Self‑diagnosis can be unreliable; professional assessment is essential.

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