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Is this a normal reaction?

Posted , 2 users are following.

carina10529
carina10529

Hi there,

I posted a few weeks ago about my increased anxiety levels, well I have improved greatly now. Turns out I had experienced an adverse reaction to Citalopram (causing rapid heart rate, increased panic and dizziness to name but a few), my doctor told me to come off the meds straight away with no tapering etc. which needless to say has made me suffer, I am on my third week and the withdrawal symptoms are pretty much gone, finally!!! smile however my health anxiety has definitely been effected by this experience and I becoming increasingly worried about my heart rate as it has been sitting between 90 and 100 bpm at rest for the past 3 weeks, I get frequent chest pain and palpitations, my doctor has told me that my heart is fine, but I can't help worrying about it as it just doesn't want to go down and before all this started my pulse was normal (between 60 and 75 bpm at rest).

I'm sorry for the rant but it keeps playing on my mind and I'm not sure what to do so if anyone has some advice or has had a similar experience your feedback will be greatly appreciated

Thank you, Carina

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • meteor63
    meteor63

    Posted

    Hi carina

    Glad u have improved. I've had similar issues with ssris. Horrific. Off my second one now less than 3 weeks and getting withdrawal (I tapered too..May as well have cold turkeyed!) Never going on another.

    I'm so glad your doctor recognised this.

    You're bound to be affected by this. Bad reactions to ssris are awful. Over time you will feel better. Just focus on how much better you feel rather than the memories of the experience.

    Re your heart rate, has your doctor suggested propronalol? That slows the heart beat and is calming. Its not a psych drug.

    Good luck

  • carina10529
    carina10529

    Posted

    Thank you for the reply, glad to hear i'm alone in this and yes I am the same, I will never be using other antidepressants again! I asked about the propranolol but have been told I can't it due to a history of asthma, I have to go to the doctors again on Monday for a follow up and I will be asking about any other options for the pulse rate, like other beta blockers etc.
  • meteor63
    meteor63

    Posted

    It will all calm down in time. I don't know what kind of diet you have but cleaning up your diet can help. I'm currently cutting out sugar, gluten and dairy to detox my body and help the healing process.

    I had a racing heart for a while. It was over 100 on sertraline but the doctors never took me off it. So I took myself off. Over the time, my heart rate normalised. It's 60 now. I had countless serious symptoms which resolved over time. I developed new ones on sertraline and during withdrawal and I'm sure they will go too, over time.

  • carina10529
    carina10529

    Posted

    As a result of this experience I have cut out caffeine and am currently working on cutting out the sugar and the smoking (smoking has been difficult as the increased anxiety has made me crave like hell, but as the withdrawal symptoms are dying down now, it will be gone on Sunday! I think a part of it might just be the frustration with all these symptoms and becoming almost hyper aware, but I am hoping they will go away soon.

    PS. I am glad that your heart rate has returned to normal and that your symptoms are starting to go as well, it really is a horrible experience, so thank you for the reassurance, it has been very well received smile

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