Are these withdrawal symptoms-or something else? Help!
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all, I will give a run down in hopes that you may be able to give some reassurance or advice. At the end of September I had a bad viral infection and ear infection, which led to my ear drum rupturing. I had lots of vertigo and chest problems (shortness of breath, tightness, palpitations, etc.). After an EKG, they found I have Wolff Parkinson White syndrome of my heart, which typically is an incidental finding and causes little symptoms. I was told to go to ER if I had any symptoms before my cardiology appt. I started having tingling in my legs, which i'm wondering was simply anxiety from the heart finding. When I went, they did every test under the sun and scared me with looking for major conditions -MS, Lymes disease, lupus, blood clots, etc. I had a CT of my chest, MRI of my head and neck, echocardiogram of my heart, CT of my ear/sinuses, an EMG, and a spinal tap. All my tests came back within relatively normal limits. So after following up with my GP, she suggested taking 10mg of Citalopram/Celexa. I took this for 7 days and felt horribly worse than before. Muscle/nerve pain, achey joints, muscles twitching all over my body, tingling and pins and needles everywhere, burning skin sensations, anxiety through the roof, dizziness and brain fog. I stopped taking it cold turkey because it had only been 7 doses. It has been 16 days since my last dose and i'm still having constant muscle twitches (limbs, facial, abdomen), pins and needle sensations, aches in my arms and hands and legs that move each day, and headaches. Because I never struggled with anxiety before the sickness bout, I didn't want to continue taking the medication with uncertainty or confusion as to whether these effects were due to the Celexa or something unrelated. I'm worried that these sensations are still lingering, as my aunt that has Fibromyalgia said this sounds similar, but I was a very active person before all this began. Also, my husband and I are very much ready for more children, and I didn't want to take it throughout pregnancy. So, I am wondering if anyone has any input as to whether I could be having withdrawal symptoms after only taking 10mg for a week, or similar situations? Please, I will be happy to hear any reassurance or peace of mind!!
0 likes, 8 replies
jenna214
Posted
I must add, your help is much more appreciated as i'm in the process of getting a new GP. She prescribed me the Celexa as a "fix all" and insisted that there would be NO side effects when starting, and I would feel at ease within 4-5 days. I also asked her about withdrawal as I knew we were ready for kids soon, and she also assured me that there would be none. After doing my research within that first week, I realized how wrong she was. So now i'm stuck between not knowing whether it is due to a health issue, or withdrawal after the side effects I had. TIA for any input!!
VideoShooter jenna214
Posted
I have all those symptoms! been on it for a little over 3 weeks. i think you maybe should have gone down to 5mg for a week before quitting.
jenna214 VideoShooter
Posted
I'm sorry to hear you're struggling as well! I've been having good days and bad -physically and mentally. Like you said, I wish I would've tapered even after such a short time. But I was so frustrated over feeling worse than before, and my GP being so uninformative. I called her twice asking if they could have been side effects when I was still taking them, and also when I stopped. Of course she said that it would cause neither. The aches, muscle twitches and electric/pins and needles feeling throughout my body have been driving me crazy since stopping! But after 16 days being off of it, I don't want to go back on and am trying to stick it out!
toria_07298 jenna214
Posted
hi jenna, cit withdrawal mimics fibro, i was put on it for migraine and diagnosed with fibro, im withdrawing now and have all your symptoms and more x
jenna214 toria_07298
Posted
Thank you for the reply. I wouldn't think i'd have withdrawal after such a short time but I had tons of side effects when starting. Of course my GP said it couldn't be the medicine. Do you always have fibro now, as a result of this medicine? Or only during the temporary withdrawal? Any idea how long it may last? Thank you!
toria_07298 jenna214
Posted
hi jenna well you have the fact that you werent taking it long going for you 😃 and no honestly when i have good days i have zero pain so its the cit causing it, blooming doctors know zero about these meds, i was on and off a different med in 8 days and had withdrawal for 5 months then fully healed but i am very sensitive, thats why im getting off everything as i think its the drugs causing it all! if you have any questions just ask x
jenna214 toria_07298
Posted
Thank you for the help and input! You are right, doctors know very little about the true effects of the medications they easily prescribe. Do you still have the diagnosis of fibro, or was it only given when you were going through withdrawal? I am hopeful that these symptoms are only temporary, but also scared as i'm only 26 and ready for more children. Do you think these could still be withdrawal symptoms after 17 days since last dose, and only taking them a week? I am worried that I could experience these symptoms lifelong, and hope to not have a diagnosis of fibro in time. I hope you continue to have more good days than bad, and you get through your withdrawal quickly. Thank you again!
toria_07298 jenna214
Posted
i was only diagnosed when i went on and get a lot of pain coming off until i settle on a dose, it takes me a whole year to reduce by 2mg, these are strong drugs, dont worry jenna youve not done yourself any long term damage x