Hello again. Not been on this site for s long while but need some advice. I have been on citlipram and pregabalin for about 5 years. About 4 weeks ago I was asked to go and have a chat with my go. He informed me that new research has shown that these two together may interfere with the relectrical pulses to the heart. I have weened myself off over 4 weeks and I feel really rubbish. Very tired, dizzy, muddled, and pain everywhere. W Vivid dreams waking me up. I had previously had conversations with MS nurse about changing anti depprrsants as these leave me feeling very flat. She also advised me to cut down and see how I feel Well I feel awful. Has anyone else come off citilipram with these affects?
Hi Caz,
Yes, I understand. Good to know your doctor is on the ball. I’ve take this med & like all others’ (no matter what medication, there is ‘aways’ side effects. Well, usually anyway.
The will subside, but unfortunately you no choice but to ride it out. I take various types of Psychiatric Medication, may not be useful to you, a of course everyone is different. I also have a diagnosis of Bi-Polar Disorder.
Hope you feel better soon & possbly find helpful alternatives.
Erm, excuse the spelling mistakes. I’ve always found this site to be a bit of a problem when typing posts. Some letters don’t show up lol. (Or it could just possibly be me),…Oh well .
Hi Caz,
Yes, some modern anti-depressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) are notoriously hard to come off. They usually advise weaning off slowly, but as you’ve already done that, there doesn’t seem to be much else you can do. One of the problems is some of them have very short half-life, so when you stop, or even miss one, there isn’t much left in your system to let you down gently. If you are being considered for another AD in the same class, but longer half-life - e.g. Prozac - then getting started on the new one ASAP may mitigate the withdrawal effects - but I don’t know if other drugs in the same family would have the same contraindications about the heart. As they work in the same way, it’s likely they would.
The manufacturers inist it’s not genuine “withdrawal”, by the way, but instead call the discomfort - which can be severe - “discontinuation syndrome”. To me, it’s a distinction without a difference, as both result in feeling ill when you try to stop or cut down. I had the full works - shakes, shivers, nausea, nightmares, runny nose, sore throat, and “head zaps”.
Tina
In December I was actually prescribed Citalopram and offered Pregabalin too. Decided to just start with one - just as well on reading your post. Thanks for the info. Hope things improve for you soon. X
my daughter (who doesn’t have ms) was told to stop taking citalopram after she’d developed a rash over her arms and legs that was steadily getting worse and had caused a tingling sensation on her lips and tongue. she had to stop taking them all (3 a day) at once. she felt terrible for weeks, had really vivid, terrifying nightmares but just kept wanting to sleep. i have ms and take pregabalin, for neuro pain, for the past few years i’ve also taken nortripyline, as it’s not just an effective anti-depressant, it’s meant to help with neuro pain too… they both do ‘what they say on the tin’, so i’m happy with them.
hope you get something that helps you too.
wendy x
Unfortunately - its a side affect of coming off anti-depressant medication - just take it slowly - I am on cipralex (10 mg) daily and would like to come off it, as I have gained weight and can’t get it shifted - I am on LDN (4.5mg) and thinking of taking resveratrol tablets, but I will ease off them gradually and see how I go, I love feeling well and never want to sink into the depressed place that i was in a year ago…