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Escitalopram and myoclonic jerks

5 replies

Lostpuzzlepiece · 23/06/2019 17:43

Posting here for traffic - was just wondering if anyone has experienced the same.

In early April I was started on 10mg of Escitalopram for PTSD (along with diazepam and Zoplicone which I took when needed - averaged about once a week). This seemed to be helping along and was suffering no side effects, so my GP upped me to 20mg.

I was fine for a week or so then the (what I now know) myoclonic jerks started. My legs and arms jerk out, my stomach clenches and my whole body jolts. It is uncomfortable at best, painful at worst.

To cut a very long story short, I ended up being admitted to hospital via A&E where I stayed for a week. Once they ruled out serious a brain tumor, stroke or bleed on the brain they basically lost interest and put it down to Serotonin Syndrome or an adverse reaction to the AD's. Not once was I offered any treatment - just the odd painkiller and tranquillisers for when they needed to scan me.

They also put me on a weaning course of Escitalopram - so I went from 20mg, to 10mg for two weeks, and currently on 5mg for another week or so bet stopping completely.

The problem is that I'm still having the jerks! They have eased off a tiny bit, but not much. I get them about 50 times a day, maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more. My stomach muscles are wrenched and everything aches. Hospital did not give me anything to help with these and basically told me to wait it out.

Saw an on call doctor last week who was also reluctant to prescribe anything and is going to get me referred to a neurologist there is an issue the hospital may have missed.

In the meantime I'm still jolting around (it looks like I'm stamping when I'm standing up! 😆) and getting a bit fed up with it all.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced experienced the same after being put on antidepressants?

OP posts:
Her0utdoors · 23/06/2019 17:52

This isn't uncommon, but is often ignored. I have had similar side effects from a different drug which was unpleasant and traumatic. There's an anti psychiatry movement/Facebook page called Drop the Disorder that could offer support.

Squiff70 · 23/06/2019 17:57

Have you been assessed for Tardive Dyskinesia?

Lostpuzzlepiece · 23/06/2019 17:58

Sorry to hear you've gone through this too :( will have a look at that page now, thanks :)

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Lostpuzzlepiece · 23/06/2019 18:06

Hi Squiff, no I haven't. Have just googled and will definitely mention it to my GP.

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Lostpuzzlepiece · 25/06/2019 07:14

Just bumping to see if anyone else has had the same?

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