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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Problems with Citalopram?

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Darksidesam

Darksidesam

Bluelight Crew
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May 18, 2011
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Uk, London
Im Currently on 20mg of Citalopram, and the only time ive had these symptoms, is when i did 800mg of DXM, which the major effects lasted around 3 days (id say i drifted between plateus in these days and nights) then i had a very long afterglow, in fact my eyes took 6 days until they uncrossed.

What the problem is, i am "Zoning out" first, (kind of like a Im not here anymore sense, almost out of body but i cease existence for a second and i lose memory of past 5 mins Ie cant remember playing last 2 rounds of Mortal kombat ) Then im getting a fuzzing/burning sensation (not very painful) then finally a tangy slightly painful sensation on my tounge. This takes about 20 seconds and it has happened to me Twice in the past 2 days.




Ill describe all my drug use accurately and in total from december till now.

I dont roll on e in excess of 1 time a month.

2g of ketamine within 5 months Sparingly used.
1 . 800mg dxm hbr powder trip
3 E's
800mg mdma
3 teaspoons of Papaver Rhoeas, Smoked
1/3 gram of Base/speed in january
few puffs of a joint in february


These problems reoccured when i took E as i was coming up last (i waited around 7 weeks since my DXM trip to take it) This E was Very good, no bullshit, Confirmed.

Someone please help me out, is my brain malfunctioning. Is it the Citalopram doing this to me?

Im fine unless i seem to touch something that interferrs with Serotonin *

I Never HAD ANY trouble before i took the 800mg of DXM
red text is for moderators :)
 
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It sounds like "brain zaps" which happen to some people on citalopram. I would talk to your doctor about discontinuing the drug, or reducing the dosage. I don't think any of the other drugs you have taken would be causing this, and I think it's a fairly common side effect of SSRI drugs anyway.

They are physically harmless although they may seem very scary. Usually they disappear after SSRI treatment stops.
 
sekio said:
It sounds like "brain zaps" which happen to some people on citalopram. I would talk to your doctor about discontinuing the drug.

They are physically harmless although they may seem very scary. Usually they disappear after SSRI treatment stops.
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Ive had brain zaps before, i used to get them as a child too when going to sleep (without use of Any substances) Im not sure of that, seems different than that.. Its a panic induced state, feels like ive been poisoned is the only way i can describe it.

But im scared of coming off it i think its working for me, i was really badly depressed i am just hanging in there now


Can i just add, when i do mdma , I always get sooo out of it from soo little.. All the time too i swear im the happiest guy in the world while im rolling
 
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You should not be taking MDMA if you are on a SSRI.

I think you should look into changing your antidepressant if it is causing issues. If you don't want to make a change then don't expect your problem to get better.

Excessive serotonin in the synapse can lead to "zoning out", brain zaps, etc. While going to sleep, this is normal and called hypnic jerks - in the waking day it is not. Problems just like yours have been associated with SSRI treatment.
 
Excessive serotonin in the synapse can lead to "zoning out", brain zaps, etc. While going to sleep, this is normal and called hypnic jerks - in the waking day it is not. Problems just like yours have been associated with SSRI treatment.
Click to expand...

Sounds like thats about right.
Is it possible my experience with DXM has brought out anxiety in me?

Also i rolled on 25th june, then i only just started my citalopram on 26th and dont plan on rolling for months now, maybe not again =S

Maybe my brain already has enough serotonin and the ssri isnt doing me any good then?


Whats this tangy numb feeling thats appearing on my tounge
 
Timeline:

Dxm 800mg Trip May 2011 > Mdma Roll 1 tablet 180mg Strong End of June > Started Citalopram (never been on Antidepressants before this point

Basically started them on the way home from a music festival
 
I thibk your body just doesn't like elevated levels of serotonin. MDMA, DXM, and citalopram are all serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it could explain some of the similarities in symptoms.
 
sekio said:
I thibk your body just doesn't like elevated levels of serotonin. MDMA, DXM, and citalopram are all serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it could explain some of the similarities in symptoms.
Click to expand...

Your possibly right there i think.
But i never used to get any anxiety when coming up on mdma Before that dxm . Has DXM given me Serotonin related Anxiety?
 
No, you've given yourself serotonin related anxiety by continuing treatment with a drug that you know makes you feel wierd, and fixating on your DXM trip. I know DXM trips can be very profound and definitely... "stay around" for a while, but not for months. Almost always, anything psychological, and even some "physical" ailments, that occurs for months after the trip (positive or negative) is psychologically based and not actually the result of direct "increases in serotonin" or whatever the popular theory is these days.

Serotonin is not a generic "happiness horomone". It regulates a whole bunch of things including blood pressure, anxiety, hunger, wakefulness, attention, memory, and so on, through a huge spectrum of receptors. It's likely that your particular set of receptors are just more sensitive to the anxiety-inducing effects of too much serotonin. The strange feelings you get in your tongue and head could be the result of blood vessels contracting due to excess serotonin.

DXM, MDMA, and/or SSRI use are all reversible with time. The key thing is you need to detox from the drug and stop wprrying so much. It may take up to several months, but eventually everyone returns to a working state.

If you *need* an antidepressant there are many out there that are not SSRI based and have some efficacy. Ask your doctor about drugs like Wellbutrin (buproprion), tianeptine, mirtazepine, or buspirone.
 
I was gonna echo what some of the others have said but i dont really need to so i wont.

Just listen to some hard trance and you will be fine ;)

Btw i saw my GP today who prescribed me another 4 weeks worth of 20mg per day citalopram (ive been on it for 3 weeks now) i have an appointment to see her again in 2 weeks to see if i start to feel any beneficial effects (im yet to feel any) and if i have started to notice some positive effects then a doseage increase is what she will give me,if not,then i will probably be given the choice to either change medication or keep going.

The side effects ive noticed are mostly sleep difficulty,excessive yawning and sensitivity to light.

Good luck to you :)
 
hate to whine but mine have been

diarrhea, Constant passing of smelly farts, pooing lots, midnight hunger (Annoying when you cant sleep), zoning out, dizzyness, numbness of my manly parts, tiredness during day, tremor, that numb tingling sensation in my head and tounge occasionally, light sensitivity and dry mouth
 
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darksidedsam said:
hate to whine but mine have been

diarrhea, Constant passing of smelly farts, pooing lots, midnight hunger (Annoying when you cant sleep), spacing out, dizzyness, numbness of my manly parts, tiredness during day, tremor, that numb tingling sensation in my head and tounge occasionally and dry mouth
Click to expand...

I also experienced some of this but i put it down to opiate/benzo withdrawal.

How long have you been on the Citalopram for now?

'Touch wood' i think my side effects are beginning to subside....
 
Gastrointestinal side effects (diarrhoea etc) are really common.. I'm sorry you are getting such a range of nasty effects, I would definitely speak to your doctor about it. Some people just don't get on with one particular SSRI; some people don't get on with SSRIs in general. There are lots of other meds you can try out there.

Everyone is different - I have friends on fluoextine and citalopram who have never had a single side effect where as I also know people like you who have found it really hard to tolerate them I had horrible side effects from venlafaxine, but they passed in time. If it was me I'd stick it out for a couple of weeks if I could (so you're pretty much there) then try to decide if the side effects were getting better, worse, or staying the same. If they were getting worse or staying the same I'd def want to stop taking that drug. If they were getting better I guess you could stick it out if you can as chopping and changing might mean it takes longer for the antidepressent effects to kick in. Talk to your GP though - that's just my opinion, am sure you have your own feelings about it and your doc can talk your options through with you :)

Good luck both of you!
 
Citalopram is an SSRI so it directly messes with your serotonin. Also, I'm surprised no one said this...STAY AWAY FROM DXM. Serotonin Syndrome is very serious and can be lethal, and DXM + SSRI can certainly cause it :\
 
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