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Allodynia - extreme sensitivity to touch


Onmyway

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I have been having strange pains recently - my skin is painful to touch. Sometimes all over and sometimes in very specific areas. The first time it happened it was severe for a day and when I woke up the next day it was gone. It came back mildly a couple of other times and then it localized in specific areas - thigh and back. It's not in Glenmullen's list of symptoms but I'm wondering if anyone else has had it. Because it comes and goes I am assuming it is WD but also worried that it might be something more sinister. Anyone else experience it? 

"Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig 

 

I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. 

 

In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. 

 

Aug  2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg,  xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn 

Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used)

Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up)

September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0

Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd

March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week

Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering)

citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg,  7/27/19 -1.5 mg,  8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg

 

Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate

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Hi Onmyway,

I'm sorry you are having this symptom, yes, it can be withdrawal related, many people report cycles of body pain, including skin issues and skin sensitivity. I've had this on and off throughout my recovery process, not as severe as it sounds like you have at the moment. Mine manifested as feelings of burning or prickling on the bottom of one foot and down the side of my body.

 

You could go and have it checked out if you wanted to, but if it comes and goes, and isn't getting worse, I would assume it's withdrawal related.

 

Have a look at this topic:

Skin Issues

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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16 hours ago, Petunia said:

Hi Onmyway,

I'm sorry you are having this symptom, yes, it can be withdrawal related, many people report cycles of body pain, including skin issues and skin sensitivity. I've had this on and off throughout my recovery process, not as severe as it sounds like you have at the moment. Mine manifested as feelings of burning or prickling on the bottom of one foot and down the side of my body.

 

You could go and have it checked out if you wanted to, but if it comes and goes, and isn't getting worse, I would assume it's withdrawal related.

 

Have a look at this topic:

Skin Issues

Thank you so much for your kind response @Petunia. It's so great to see you back here though I am also glad that you are feeling much better and don't need to be here any more. Can't wait for that time myself and looking forward to reading your success story. 

 

It is good to know that it has happened and goes away. With neurological symptoms I often think of MS which to me is quite scary. 

 

As this has developed, I am thinking in my case it could be actually shingles. Apparently there is a version of it where there are no blisters but just neurological symptoms (pain, burning, prickling) along very specific areas of the body. It matches my symptoms. Will see doctor tomorrow because if it is actually shingles I need the antivirals that can perhaps shorten its course and lower the excrutiating pain. I am unable to sit/lie properly at the moment. 

"Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig 

 

I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. 

 

In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. 

 

Aug  2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg,  xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn 

Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used)

Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up)

September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0

Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd

March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week

Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering)

citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg,  7/27/19 -1.5 mg,  8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg

 

Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate

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Yes, also have this. Even shower feels feels painful on my skin. 

1999:  Paroxetine (20mg). Age 16. 2007-2008: Fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1.5 years (age 25) Citalopram 20mg 2002-2005, 2009: Escitalopram (20mg), 2 weeks, (age 26) (adverse  reaction)/*Valium 5mg/Temazepam 10mg 2010: Mirtazipine (Remeron)( do not remember dosage) 2010, 5 months.                     2010-2017: Citalopram (20mg) (age 27 to 34) 2016: i.1st Sept- 31st Oct Citalopram 10mg , ii.1st November 2017-30th November 2017, Citalopram 5mg iii.1st December 2017- 4th February 2018, Citalopram 0mg, iv.5th February 2018- March 2018 Citalopram 5mg (10mg every other day) 28th February- tried titration of 5mg ( some adverse effects)

2018: 1st March 2018- 1st June Citalopram 10 mg (tablet form) /started titration 8mg , then 7 mg.2018: June 15th- 10th July Citalopram 10 mg pill every other day 2018: 10th July - 13th Sept Citalopram- 0mg  (CBD oil first month of 0mg, passiflora on and off) 2018 13th Sept Citalopram  2mg ,  approx 16th Sept 4mg , approx 25th Sept 6mg held.  2019: 11 Feb 19: 7mg (instant bad rxn) 12 Feb 19 6mg held 1 May 19 5.4mg held 5 Oct 19 5.36mg 22 Oct 19 5.29mg 30 Oct 19 5.23mg 4/NOV/19 5.18mg 12 Nov 19 5.08mg 20 Nov 19 4.77mg 7 May 22 2.31mg 17/09/2023 0.8mg

(Herbal/Supplements since 1st September: Omega Fish Oil 1200mg, 663mg of EPA- 2 tablets a day, magnesium and magnesium bath salts)

I did not die, and yet I lost life’s breath
- Dante
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On 2/4/2020 at 11:40 PM, India said:

Yes, also have this. Even shower feels feels painful on my skin. 

Hi India,

So sorry to hear you also have this. It's so disturbing. 

 

I had this all over the body in the very beginning of WD for a couple of weeks in a flu like episode without any upper respiratory/stomach issues or fever but just feeling sick like I was having the flu. I subsequently realized it was withrawal. Then a month ago again all over the body for just a day. Both resolved so I'm sure yours will as well but it's so disturbing when you're in it.

 

The one from two weeks ago I had along a very specific patch of skin along the L2-L3 dermatome. Self diagnosed as shingles (without the rash) and immediately started antivirals at high doses - it was excruciatingly painful to touch. Involved some negotiating with doctor but spoke to a neurologist friend and he said it's a reasonable hypothesis and he had recently seen multiple cases of this (shingles without rash).

 

GP said he had never seen it and so did not believe it was possible or believed it was but it was extremely rare. (Literature now shows it's not as rare as I've thought). But knowing how my GP diagnoses everything with psychosomatic issues I don't really trust his judgement. Also how would he know he has never seen it if he wouldn't believe that what he was seeing is potentially that. It's like someone says - I've never seen a zebra, you bring

them a zebra and they say - "nice horse but interesting unexplainable stripes, hmm," you tell them it's a zebra, not a horse with stripes and they say "well I've never seen a zebra, I don't think they exist."

So I took large doses of the antivirals without issues and it resolved within 7-8 days with some residual sensitivity for a few more days. Shingles without trearment goes for 2-5 weeks and can remain painful in some patients for months and years. And the pain sometimes only responds to opioids. I wasn't risking that.

 

At this point I'll go with "this episode was shingles" but previous whole body ones were WD. I'm sharing development here so it's accessible for others to whom it might happen. 

 

"Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig 

 

I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. 

 

In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. 

 

Aug  2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg,  xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn 

Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used)

Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up)

September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0

Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd

March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week

Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering)

citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg,  7/27/19 -1.5 mg,  8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg

 

Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate

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  • 2 years later...
On 1/27/2020 at 11:21 AM, Petunia said:

Hi Onmyway,

I'm sorry you are having this symptom, yes, it can be withdrawal related, many people report cycles of body pain, including skin issues and skin sensitivity. I've had this on and off throughout my recovery process, not as severe as it sounds like you have at the moment. Mine manifested as feelings of burning or prickling on the bottom of one foot and down the side of my body.

 

You could go and have it checked out if you wanted to, but if it comes and goes, and isn't getting worse, I would assume it's withdrawal related.

 

Have a look at this topic:

Skin Issues

Hi @Petunia thanks for your input. I have similar symptoms emerging now, four years into withdrawal, alongside extreme heel pain and what appears to be inflammation of the bladder muscle. My entire body hurts. This began after I took vitamin D and collagen supplements for a while then stopped because they were ruining my sleep and gave me nervous tension. I got appointments to get everything checked. But want to ask if you know others who developed such symptoms this far out? I didn’t have them before in withdrawal despite having had other horrid symptoms. I’m worried cause the pain is big and I can barely walk. Thanks for your kind feedback.

Summer 2016 - summer 2018: put on Lexapro, going from 5 mg up to 20 mg over the span of the 2 years (had visited shrink for help with obsessive thinking, was not diagnosed with anything in particular, just prescribed Lexapro 15 mins into first session)

Summer 2018: tapered down by 2.5 mg every few weeks

Protracted withdrawal ever since. 0-14 months began with a massive panic attack that landed me in ER, followed by prolonged anxiety, mental fog and a skin rash on my back. Was regularly consuming alcohol as did not know I was in WD. From then onwards, hit with worse myriad symptoms. Currently at 22 months and have electromagnetic sensitivity, brain zaps, brain fog, memory problems (especially name recall), twitch in right eyebrow, daily waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. with fast heartbeats and "sticky" negative memories, suicidal thoughts, rage episodes, temperature dysregulation, physical numbness & weakness, libido loss.   

 

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On 2/5/2020 at 12:40 AM, India said:

Yes, also have this. Even shower feels feels painful on my skin. 

Hi, did that symptom resolve for you and if so did it happen on its own? Thanks for your feedback.

Summer 2016 - summer 2018: put on Lexapro, going from 5 mg up to 20 mg over the span of the 2 years (had visited shrink for help with obsessive thinking, was not diagnosed with anything in particular, just prescribed Lexapro 15 mins into first session)

Summer 2018: tapered down by 2.5 mg every few weeks

Protracted withdrawal ever since. 0-14 months began with a massive panic attack that landed me in ER, followed by prolonged anxiety, mental fog and a skin rash on my back. Was regularly consuming alcohol as did not know I was in WD. From then onwards, hit with worse myriad symptoms. Currently at 22 months and have electromagnetic sensitivity, brain zaps, brain fog, memory problems (especially name recall), twitch in right eyebrow, daily waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. with fast heartbeats and "sticky" negative memories, suicidal thoughts, rage episodes, temperature dysregulation, physical numbness & weakness, libido loss.   

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

In early withdrawal I couldn't stand people hugging me, it felt painful for them to touch me. It did clear up. 

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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