medication query - tricyclic to cipralex??

[kizzie]

Hi everyone - would just appreciate opinions on my on going medication saga because Im seeing psychiatrist today.
Ive been on tricyclic (clomipramine) for 3 months now after coming of seroxat following 3 years of failed withdrawal attempts.
Im only on 75mg which is apparently quite a low dose - the dr thinks I probably need to be on min 100-150mg. But it makes my pulse race and blood pressure plummet so havent been able to get any higher.
The other side effect (apart from usual constip etc) thats causing a problem is major muscle spasms and jerks.
Theyve got bad enough now for other people to notice them.
They make me feel very uneasy and worried that they could be causing some long term damage.
The dr isnt keen on me taking an SSRI because of the probs I had with seroxat but he has said one option is to try cipralex. I know a few people including esbee started this recently and just wondered how you are getting on with it.

Also has anyone else had these muscle spasms or similar as a side effect.
Thanks everyone.
Kizziex

Hi kizzie,

Yes movement disorders, like muscle spams, are a known side effect of clomipramine. Cipralex is an SSRI drug like seroxat but it seems that certain SSRI's are more likely to cause withdrawl problems than others. There is an additional caution in the BNF drug book that withdrawal syndrome is more common with seroxat than other SSRI's. I'm not sure how problematic cipralex is for withdrawal.

Generally, the SSRI's are better tolerated than older drugs like clomipramine so you should have fewer side-effects.

By the way I am a medical writer that specialises in mental health but am not a doctor.
HTH and good luck

Did you see the Panorama programme on Seroxat the other night? Very worrying. I've heard Cipralex is better. I'm on Prozac and don't experience any adverse side effects.

Hi - thanks for the replies.
Strawberry - thats really useful to know about the movement disorders.

Spacemonkey - ive followed the whole seroxat thing on panorama (that was the 3rd prog theyve done on it.) I wont bore everyone AGAIN with my experience but it really is the hardest thing ive ever been thru.
Would still love to hear any experience of cipralex.
Thanks again
Kizziex

Hi Kizzie

I am on cipralex. The only side effect that I have had was severe tiredness within the first few weeks. Apart from that I have experienced no other problems.

I was very reluctant to go onto cipralex because last time I had PND and was on antidepressants (not cipralex)they made me feel like I was walking around in a daze. This time I have not experienced that.

Hope all goes ok with the change in medication.

Hi Jupiter - thanks for letting me know. I know we're all different but its good to hear from others. Do you 10 or 20mg?

Kizzie, I've been on Citalopram for a couple of months now, and had side effects (nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, wooly-headedness etc) for about a week but then settled down well. I have just moved from 20mg to 40mg, and had just a couple of days feeling nauseous every so often. One of the listed side effects of Cipralex is muscle spasms, but they are apparently uncommon. My doctor prefers to prescribe Citalopram as it's well tolerated, less side-effects and withdrawal is easier.

I wouldn't say I'm starting to feel better yet but dh reckons I'm calmer and less irritable - so who knows! I sometimes feel a bit vacant (dh would say "what's new"), but on the whole I haven't had any of the zombie-like feelings I had with tricycliates years ago.

Hope you get on ok

im on cipralex at the moment and god am i feeling sick....only started on it yesterday though. I hope it wears off soon!!! Hope you get on ok whatever you do.

Titania, sorry you're feeling rough but do stick with it. I had side effects for a week but only felt shitty for about three days. I'm sure it will settle down.

Titania - I started taking Cipralex on Wednesday and am also having severe nausea . Will be good to feel a bit more normal again I think.

Message withdrawn

Thanks for all this extra info - Im still not seeing any improvement so probably will need to switch.
Thanks again everyone.
Kizziex

Hi to all, i was on Citalopram (cipramil) for about 2 years have to say that it took a couple of week to stabilize and for the sickness and headaches to disappear but was so so so much better off on them till i made the decision it was time to come off. The doctors advised the slow cut down of grams and i struggled for weeks and weeks with the return of the sickness and headaches and then decided to just cold turkey it I decided 1-2 weeks of feeling disgusting was better than week and weeks of it too!! but i was very luck to have the support of my dp while it did it!!! Guess what i am saying is that (if you are on a low enough dose !) and have good enough support around you, you can get off them (or change meds) much quicker!

Probably gonna get shouted out by others now.......

(skulking off to hide in the corner before the onslaught!!!)