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Why is tremors listed as very serious side effect on my leaflet?

Posted , 5 users are following.

r99666
r99666

Hi,

Been on citalopram since February but only 3 weeks at 30mg. I started getting very bizarre side effects I thought I was having serotonin syndrome. I went to my doctor immediately but they said all was fine. Since then I have had tremors. Mostly at night but a stomach tremor sort of feeling, like my stomach is shaking. Anyone else had this?

Anyway here in Australia on the leaflet it says you need to seek urgent medical attention or go straight the hospital if you start experiencing tremors. My doctor said everything was fine and she couldn't answer my question. Can someone else inform me I can't find the info anywhere. When or why would these tremors be and emergency? I'm still really anxious about them.

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • philippa240
    philippa240

    Posted

    Can't really advise you on this one but I would be getting a second opinion as soon as possible.

    I've just been taken off Citalopram because I started having Myclonic Jerks - another serious side effect. They took this very seriously and more or less had me go cold turkey. I've still got the jerks so it may not have been the Citalopram. However, the possiblity still exists as due to the 'half-life effect' there is still some in my system 10 days later.

    I'd been on Citalopram 8 months at this point so I shouldn't have been having new side effects but they did take it seriously. So second opinion or even third opinion is my suggestion.

    BTW: I'm in NZ so similar doctors and opinions.

  • jane_lily
    jane_lily

    Posted

    Morning,

    I have recently come off citalopram and I too had tremors but I never association the two.

    All I can say about Citalopram is more me it worked. I help me climb out of a very deep, dark, fearful whole.

    I am also on Tegretol for epilepsy.

    Jane

  • amy89817
    amy89817

    Posted

    Hi, I think it was explained to me that tremors were serious if you had all of the other serious symptoms too. I had all of the serious symptoms and it was actually serotonin syndrome (a sometimes fatal drug reaction) I was hospitalised and very seriously ill for some time afterwards.
  • pam02338
    pam02338

    Posted

    Go back to your doctor and insist on a second opinion. It could be linked to Serotonin Syndrome, which is

    very serious. I wouldn't advise stopping the Citalopram without your doctor's input because there can be

    nasty withdrawal symptoms and it has to be done gradually, but I agree with your concerns and you need

    a second opinion - I would mention Serotonin Syndrome to your doctor as he may not have associated it.

  • bigzapper
    bigzapper

    Posted

    2nd opinion definitely...... Thats one I have not come across.......Tremors. Maybe you need to change to an alternative medication
  • r99666
    r99666

    Posted

    Is it an early sign of Parkinson's? Does it mean I'm going to get Parkinson's? It's now just a resting tremor in my stomach.

    A pharmacist said it was related to Parkinson's but said I would be okay on the medication. I'm so scared and confused.

  • philippa240
    philippa240

    Posted

    I know exactly we're you're coming from. The problem is pharmacists. Doctors etc have a 'full disclosure' thing now. That means that if they even 'think' you might have something on the list they HAVE to tell you. The odds on it actually being something YOU have may be remarkably unlikely but they HAVE to tell you...

    The first time I met this was 20 years ago when I was having my 18 week scan. First they told me I was having non-identical twins (something my doctor had assured me I wasn't big enough for!) then they tell me that one of them has something wrong with their brain...

    When I went to the Specialist he said don't worry about the brain thing. 'We used to see it all the time but didn't have to tell the patients/parents' My identical boys are now twenty and unless you count being extremely bright they have nothing wrong with their brains...

    As far as your tremors are concerned all I can repeat is that their are definitely some very weird side effects associated with Citalopram. Get a second opinion TODAY. If possible a psychiatrist as they should have more knowledge than a GP. Worrying is only going to make things worse.

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