Cheery Here

[cheery]

Hello!  I am SO grateful to have found this site.  What a wonderful place and great form of support!  I had never taken antidepressants but was prescribed escitalopram after a tragedy I experienced.  I started last August and had terrible side effects.  So lethargic, jaw clenching, hair loss, tooth pain, swallowing issues to name a few. 

 

I believe now I tapered far too quickly.  On the advice of a friend I simply cut the pills in half during a two week period and was done.  I had some brain zaps and dizziness for the first few weeks and then felt fine.  After about two months I started experiencing new symptoms each day.  Started with weakness in one arm that got to the point my wrist would just flop over.  Then horrible ear pain.  Then numbness, tingling, burning, twitching, muscle aches, joint pain all over.  Electric shocks through my body were horrible also.  Tender spots on my scalp really freaked me out.

 

I had NO idea until I found this site these were withdrawal symptoms.  I thought something was terribly wrong with me.  I had gone to the doctor and had every test and they were all perfect.  He said I was stressed which I am not.  I just returned from vacation so very relaxed.  The symptoms have started to subside thank goodness but now 6 months out I am having terrible sinus pain and sinus headaches that have lasted for days.  My sinuses will also get inflamed when irritated but certain things but it is never consistent.  Sometimes it's food, sometimes perfume, sometimes the cold weather. 

 

This is all so depressing.  I just want to feel normal again.  I have literally tried every over the counter drug for my sinus headaches and nothing works.  I have bought a million supplements and nothing seems to help either.  Some bring my nerve symptoms right back to the forefront.  It is still mind-blowing to me that a drug I was on for such a short period of time could do all this.  Has anyone else had these sinus headaches and found something that has helped reduce the pain?  How long should I expect all this to last?  Thanks for your responses and reading my story.

Edited April 21, 2016 by KarenB
added paragraph breaks

[mammaP]

Hello Cheery, welcome to SA. It is tragic that you are suffering so badly after such a short time of taking the drug.  Sinus pain is something that many members have reported having problems with and we have a topic that you might like to read through and add to. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1829-sinus-congestion-sneezing-and-runny-nose/

 

I'm glad that your symptoms have lessened and you have been feeling more relaxed, that is great news!

You will most likely find that symptoms come in windows and waves, which means that there will be new symptoms that come to replace others and as time goes by they can lessen in intensity, the windows get longer and the waves shorter.  It is your brain and nervous system going through the healing process. You can read about windows and waves here..... 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/82-the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-stabilization/

The good news is that it will get better and you will be able to get on with life again. 

Have a good look around and you will learn lots about how to cope and look after yourself while going through this.  

[KarenB]

Hello Cheery,

 

There are two main supplements we recommend, because so many people find them useful:  Fish oil and Magnisium.  

 

You'll get through this, just take things slow and give yourself all the help you can via things like good rest and diet.  Too much exercise can make symptoms worse, as can coffee and alcohol.  

 

Welcome to s/a,

Karen

[JanCarol]

Hey Cheery - I'm sorry you had this happen to you.

 

They prescribe these strong drugs with very little respect for how they operate - and - as you've discovered, they don't just affect the brain.  They affect endocrine, digestion, immune response and histamines, along with the nervous system.

 

Is there anything you'd like to know more about?  Did you read about Magnesium and Fish Oil?  

 

If your symptoms get unbearable, it is possible that reinstating a tiny, tiny amount of the citalopram - like .5 mg or 1 mg - could smooth your symptoms somewhat.  You are six months out, so it would be less effective than if you were closer to your last dose.  But it has worked this far out for some people.

 

The best way to get this tiny amount is to make a liquid from a tablet:  How to Make a Liquid from Tablets or Capsule then siphon up your dose with a syringe or pipette.   

 

What are your symptoms now?  How well are you coping with them?

 

Could you please put dates in your signature, so that we know how close or far away to the drug you are?

 

Welcome to SA!

[cheery]

Hi MammaP, KarenB and JanCarol!!  Thank you so much for your responses, well wishes and words of wisdom!!  Much appreciated   Thank you for the suggestion to reinstate but I do not want to do that.  I just want this poison out of my system and would rather deal with the residual symptoms a little longer.  The side effects I experienced on the drug were horrible also.  The worst was hair loss.  It came out in clumps in the shower.  The pharmacist told me to contact the manufacturer as it wasn't listed as a potential side effect.  I did that and they told me they had people who had experienced hair loss in clinical trials but weren't compelled to list it as a side effect as it was prior to the drug being finalized for distribution. Ugh!  I took a product called Priorin for 3 months after I tapered and it has done wonders for my hair.  It is almost back to normal now thank goodness.

 

I did try fish oil for a while but found it was too activating for me.  As well as a host of other vitamins and supplements. I started taking magnesium about a month ago and wasn't noticing any changes but kept taking it.  I also added another product that was recommended by the lady who owned the health food store.  She said she was confident it would help me.  She said it brought your immune system back in balance.  I have been taking it in addition to the magnesium for about two weeks now and in the last week have really felt a lot better!!  My nerve symptoms have all but disappeared!!  I have only noticed a slight tingle in my knee and eyebrow that will come and go but that's it!  My headaches that were constant have let up also.  My sinuses were getting completely stuffed up when I would eat certain things or smell certain smells and now it only seems to be when I drink tea or drink alcohol.  I am not a big drinker but enjoy a drink now and then with my husband.  I tried again last night to have a glass of wine and am still stuffed up today.  I am hoping since it is just down to these two things that irritate my sinuses they will eventually go away also!  I am very hopeful and so glad I seem to be finally feeling better.  I hope it lasts.  Oh and the product I started taking is called Immuno-Care.  It is not cheap but I have been willing to try anything.  

 

I will keep you all updated on how things progress from here Thanks again for all your help!!!

[Ali4]

I had all the sinus stuff, it will go away in time ☺ Ali