m2345: itching and skin sensitivity citalopram or sertraline?

[m2345]

Hi

 

Has anyone else experienced heightened skin sensitivity with taking SSRIs such as citalopram or sertraline?

 

I was on citalopram for about 10 years at 20mg per day and would get times where it felt like someone was sticking needles into my skin and hitting nerves, or at other times my skin burned horribly and I tried every lotion to calm it down. The result was normally that while it calmed the burning it made the prickling sensitivity worse. I tried changing my diet to cut out certain foods. I'm not sure if that helped. Like I said, I feel like I tried everything to fix it. 

 

It was a shooting nerve discomfort that would last for several days and then go away for a while.

 

I've had about a three month break from it since I reduced my citalopram to 10mg and went on to pregablin - 75mg three times a day - for severe back pain.

 

But, I've just been moved on to sertraline. I started on 50mg for two weeks and now I've been moved on to 100mg. I'm at about day 10 of that. I'm still on pregablin at the same dose as mentioned.

 

Now, the nerve pain and skin burning is back again and it's not something I want to live with.

 

When it's at its worst I don't want to leave the house or do anything really.

 

Has anyone suffered with this the same and what solution did you find to the problem - if any?

 

Thanks

 

 

[Shep]

Hi, m2345.

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants.

 

On 10/6/2020 at 6:57 AM, m2345 said:

Has anyone else experienced heightened skin sensitivity with taking SSRIs such as citalopram or sertraline?

 

Yes, these drugs can definitely cause this symptom. Also, making changes in these drugs can cause it. Please see:

 

Skin issues: hives, acne, dryness, itching etc.

 

Are you here to taper off these drugs? Or are you looking for assistance in setting up a new drug cocktail? Please note this forum is only for giving tapering information for people interested in coming off psychiatric drugs. 

 

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[m2345]

Hi. Thanks for the reply. That was a really helpful link.