Healthanxiety101: citalopram withdrawal/urinary symptoms

[Healthanxiety101]

Hi I was on citalopram for the past year or so and towards the end of January this year I started getting some urinary issues.

 

At first I noticed I was going to the toilet a lot more often than I usual do. Then one day I had a really bad urge to go, so I went...and the urge never left.

 

A constant pressure around the pelvic area, and a feeling of needing to urinate all the time even if I don't have too. Or even if I've just been.

Sometimes there is a burning but that is very rare I have found.

 

I've had around 3/4 urine samples taken, all of which came back negative. I was also on a course of antibiotics to "make sure", as the doctor put it, that there was no 

 

I've seen a few other people post about this issue, it 100% has to be related to the AD'S. I find it quite sad the doctors give us these things and then don't offer any help when it's time to come off them.

 

The closest explanation I can get is that these meds alter our chemistry and nerves. So it takes the body a while to adjust back to "normal" depending on how long you've been using the drug.

 

I was supposed to have a review last October and the doctors never sent for me. I feel as though this could of been avoided.

 

I was also on citalopram 5 years ago which caused the same issue. It lasted for around 6 months I'd say. 

I clearly remember saying to the doctor who prescribed the same meds in 2020, that they made me feel like I needed to wee all the time!

 

More fool me!

 

If anyone has any advice or supplements they've been using that would help this issue It would be greatly appreciated.

 

I will never ever take another anti depressant in my life!

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  You said "I find it quite sad the doctors give us these things and then don't offer any help when it's time to come off them."  I couldn't agree more.  That is why this forum is in place.  Are you having any other symptoms besides the urinary issues? 

 

Can you please give us specific information about your drug history?  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  Please list drugs, dosages, and dates. 

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

When we are suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

As we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Apparently many people using and getting off these drugs have urinary issues.  Here is a link where other people discuss urinary issues: 

 

Urination and Bladder Issues

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart. It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

[ChessieCat]

@Healthanxiety101

 

Please create your drug signature.  This appears underneath every post you make and allows members to see your drug history at a glance and gives more context to your posts.  Thank you.

 

Follow these instructions:

 

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

[Healthanxiety101]

@getofflex

Thank you!

[ChessieCat]

Thank you for creating your drug signature.

 

Please add some additional information about the dates, especially for 2020 and 2021.  If you do not know the exact date, please put early, mid, late and the month.  Thank you.

[Healthanxiety101]

@getofflex

Just read your post properly.

I do have other symptoms, mostly slight pains around the bladder area and sometimes my right side near my hip and extreme anxiety over the whole situation.

 

I have been through this before but it dosent make it any easier.

 

Many times I have felt suicidal with this as it just absolutely ruins life. 

 

One thing I'm not doing though is going back on medication, maybe I shouldn't of stopped straight away but I knew the tablets where causing the problem so I didn't want to take another. 

 

 

[getofflex]

I would suggest you go to a doctor to have this urinary issue check out, in case there is another cause besides psychiatric drug withdrawal.  

 

I'm happy to hear that you are not going to go back on the medication.  Going off psych meds cold turkey is not recommended by SA, as this can cause many problems.  Suicidal thoughts and anxiety are common withdrawal symptoms.  Here are some other links that can help:  

 

Symptoms, Health Anxiety, and Reality

 

Health Anxiety, Hypochondria, etc.

 

 

[Healthanxiety101]

@getofflex

Thank you. I have been to the doctors 3 times. All they do is run a urine test then tell me no action is needed.

 

I also went through the same situation 5 years ago when I was also on citalopram! I went through all the modern medicine avenues, even had a cystoscopy, which is not nice at all ha!

 

So yeah connect the dots...its the medication. Plus the countless other members here all complaining of the same symptoms.

[getofflex]

Sure sounds like it to me.  It's good you had it checked out. 👍

[Healthanxiety101]

@getofflex

Yep, going to get some bloods done in the next few days just to check the kidneys and if that's all good, which I'm sure it is, then all I can do is wait it out I suppose.

[getofflex]

I have found some of the non drug coping skills to be very helpful while I wait it out.  See the link in my first response to you above.  For me, this process has required a great deal of patience.  Many who have been through this report that it has increased their inner strength and patience.  Reading the success stories helps me a great deal when I'm tempted to despair or discouragement.  

[Healthanxiety101]

@getofflex

Thank you I will be sure to check it out!

It's definitely a long process so I can see how that would increase patience ha. 

 

I just wish the doctors knew more about the medications their throwing out like sweets! The doctor I spoke to today basically tried to say I'm the first person in the world with this symptom from AD'S...Which I thought I was until I came across this site and instantly found dozens more ha

[getofflex]

The ignorance of these doctors is truly breathtaking.  smh 😒

[Healthanxiety101]

Well I think I had my first window yesterday. It was absolutely brilliant. My symptoms where so low I could hardly feel them or be bothered by them. In fact I started to worry I wasn't peeing enough!

 

Fast foward to today and their back with a bang haha. 

I do wonder if sex can aggravate these symptoms as that is the only thing thats changed since yesterday. Lucky me. Wish I hadn't now 🤣 

[Healthanxiety101]

Little update....

Feelings of this issue seem to wax and wane some days are better than others but overall its improving. Day by day is hard to tell its more comparing the current week to the last week.

 

Also been waking up with dry mouth which I've seen other users post about during SSRI withdrawals, seems to be a common thing not many people attribute to withdrawal. 

 

Will keep posting weekly to update so anyone struggling with the same issue can give it a read or comment their experience. 

 

Staying calm about the issue seems to be key, as when stress arises it does make the problem worse for a while. 

[Healthanxiety101]

Another update for anyone seeing this.

 

It's not gone. Still here, but better. A lot more bearable at times. At times it flares.

 

Tension is big factor due to stress etc, fixating on the problem itself and limiting your activities because of it also worsen it.

 

Some days I think I've not made any progress and feel as hopeless as ever. Then I remember how far I have come. How much less it is compared to the start, how much better mentally I am, all the little symptoms that went away such as burning when peeing, pain in the bladder. 

 

All that's left is the constant urge that some days isn't as constant.

 

I guess that's progress.

[getofflex]

3 hours ago, Healthanxiety101 said:

Some days I think I've not made any progress and feel as hopeless as ever. Then I remember how far I have come. How much less it is compared to the start,

I'm sorry for those rough days, but I'm very happy to hear that you have come a long way since this started!  This is how I encourage myself, too, especially on my bad days.  My bad days now are not as bad as my bad days in early recovery.  

 

It's sounds like you are doing very well, and have come a long way since January.  Keep up the good work!  

[Healthanxiety101]

On 7/20/2021 at 5:54 PM, getofflex said:

I'm sorry for those rough days, but I'm very happy to hear that you have come a long way since this started!  This is how I encourage myself, too, especially on my bad days.  My bad days now are not as bad as my bad days in early recovery.  

 

It's sounds like you are doing very well, and have come a long way since January.  Keep up the good work!  

Thank you for your support! 

 

And to you also! Hope you are healing in the best ways possible!

[DinaDina]

On 7/20/2021 at 4:30 PM, Healthanxiety101 said:

It's not gone. Still here, but better. A lot more bearable at times. At times it flares.

 

 

I'm happy to hear that you're better. I still have bladder pain and pressure, not for all time but I have. The constant urge is also still here but it's more tolerable that it was before.

[Healthanxiety101]

On 7/23/2021 at 9:54 PM, DinaDina said:

 

I'm happy to hear that you're better. I still have bladder pain and pressure, not for all time but I have. The constant urge is also still here but it's more tolerable that it was before.

Glad your seeing some improvement dina. It's a very long and miserable road to healing through this.

 

My pain has also lifted somewhat.

 

The constant urge is the main thing that bothers me and seems to be the thing thats sticking around the longest.

 

As I've said before sex/masturbation sends it back to square one for a few days, then it improves. It must be something to do with nerves and muscles in that area. 

 

Either way as long as we have all been checked out medically we can be certain it's nothing to worry about and just an unfortunate, yet debilitating side effect of the meds we have been on.

 

Pelvic floor exercises have helped me somewhat.

 

Stress seems to also make it worse at times. 

 

A lot of ups and downs but overall seems to be moving in the right direction.

[DinaDina]

I'm without any meds for almost 7 months. Sometimes I think that my condition is forever. I'm so tired to live with these thoughts and I try to fight with them. I've been avoided sex and masturbation since March. Any sex stuff increased my genital symptoms for a long time. It was really terrible. So I avoid it. I also can't wear tight pants because it affects my genital sensations and the urge.

[Healthanxiety101]

Yes I am also 7 months off meds too. Your condition isn't for ever I can promise you that much. 

 

I had this before in 2015 (on the same meds) and after around a year or so it went away. 

So it can be beaten and it WILL go away.

 

You have to think positive @DinaDina

We can't let this thing beat us, because it will if we let it.

 

Mentality is also key. I found the less attention I give it, the less it is. This can be very hard to shift your attention though, i understand that it's easier said than done.

 

Try some pelvic floor stretches on youtube.

They helped me over the last week or 2, also get a small firm bouncing ball and roll it up and down your buttocks either standing against the wall or butt to the floor. 

 

This is supposed to relax and release muscles around this area and help everything to calm down.

 

I am here if you need to talk.

 

 

 

[getofflex]

On 7/26/2021 at 3:20 AM, Healthanxiety101 said:

Mentality is also key. I found the less attention I give it, the less it is. This can be very hard to shift your attention though, i understand that it's easier said than done.

Excellent coping skill.  

[Healthanxiety101]

Switching SSRI, zoloft to prozac.

 

Hi all...hoping to get a bit of advice here.

 

I will update my drug signature shortly.

 

Back in February I was prescribed 50mg of zoloft. Then 100mg about 8 weeks later, then back down to 50mg as the side effects where worse. But that didn't help either really, so my doctor suggested i go onto prozac. 

 

We didn't do a taper as such, he told me cut the 100mg zoloft in half and take that for a week and then start 20mg of prozac.

 

So I did.

 

As of now its been 2 weeks since I made the switch.

 

The first week I noticed the "brain zaps", a little bit of an off stomach but nothing major.

 

I felt better mentally and physically.

 

Then 2 days ago I started having loose bowel movements again, a little diahreaa, and stomach pains.

 

It might sound minor but it shares the hell out of me.

 

These symptoms happened whilst on zoloft and was the main reason for me switching.

 

My question is this, is it possible I am having withdrawal symptoms, 2 weeks later AND start up symptoms at the same time? 

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.

H x

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[manymoretodays]

Hi Healthanxiety101,

Since you have an Introduction topic going already, best to post after long absences here, in your Introduction topic, so we have the benefit of your history at our disposal as well.

Yes, please do.....update your signature:  Account settings/signature

On 7/14/2022 at 10:20 AM, Healthanxiety101 said:

Back in February I was prescribed 50mg of zoloft. Then 100mg about 8 weeks later, then back down to 50mg as the side effects where worse. But that didn't help either really, so my doctor suggested i go onto prozac. 

 

Waah......what happened to your resolve?  This was a little over a year ago.......

On 4/14/2021 at 1:37 AM, Healthanxiety101 said:

One thing I'm not doing though is going back on medication, maybe I shouldn't of stopped straight away but I knew the tablets where causing the problem so I didn't want to take another. 

 

And then onto your question:

On 7/14/2022 at 10:20 AM, Healthanxiety101 said:

My question is this, is it possible I am having withdrawal symptoms, 2 weeks later AND start up symptoms at the same time? 

 

Yes, and as you have learned thus far any SSRI may cause dependence and then the possibility of WD after a month or more of usage.  And a different SSRI may not cover side effects or WD effects from the first drug.

 

Welcome back buddy.  Have you had a chance to work on much as far as non-drug coping for your health anxiety?  You'll find some self help for anxiety link above too, now that you are back to your main page.

And let us know when you might like to work on a tapering plan.

 

Best, Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

[Healthanxiety101]

Thank you for your advice

[Healthanxiety101]

Ssri, Direct switch. Zoloft to prozac.

 

Can anybody help me please...

 

I seem to be having delayed side effects...or withdrawal from zoloft and start up effects from prozac.

 

Is this possible?

 

I've been on prozac nearly 3 weeks now and around a week ago I started with some minor stomach issues, but it still ramps up my anxiety and makes me worry.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

X

 

Edited July 21, 2022 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[Healthanxiety101]

Hi all...I know this is an old thread but wanted some advice.

 

I've switches from zoloft to prozac directly. Around 3 weeks ago.

 

The first week I was OK, some brain zaps but other than that I felt good.

 

So all was fine until maybe a week ago when I started having some stomach issues.

 

Is this basically withdrawal and start up side effects, as prozac has the longest half life, are the side effects kind of delayed? 

 

Thank you.

 

X

[DutchMaddy]

Yes! withdrawal and start up symptoms. It will pass!  Takes care!