3 Month Nightmare...Celexa Wrecked me. PLEASE READ

[bodekar]

Hi folks. I'm getting really frustrated and need some experienced folks opinions.
I quit smoking last April. In the fall, I began to have heat flashes...red faced and very hot and slightly dizzy. I also developed severe gas in the morning and the feeling of a knot behind my navel.

I went to a Doctor, and he initially believed I had an anxiety disorder. (though I had no anxiety, I believe he thought the hot flashes were anxiety).

Anyway, he put me on Celexa and the nightmare began. For two days I had amplified hot flashes, nausea, vomitting. I took LSD in college so I believe the drug kicked in severe hallucinigenic effects. The experience was much like food poisoning if you've had that....

After I stopped taking the Celexa I was completely screwed up. My stomach now had a severe burning sensation. The gas and hot flashes were worse in hot environments or if I had physical activity. I was foggy and confused...and now I actually was having some anxiety. I couldn't sleep the night through, and I had both C and D where I had neither before.

I took a leave from my job and returned to the doctor. Blood tests showed everything was normal with the exception of slightly elevated SGPT liver enzymes. 24 hour urinalysis showed nothing. Ultrasound showed nothing. Upper GI showed some esophogus and stomach damage. The doctor put me on Nexium and reglan and I returned to work.

No good. The stomach problem really didn't change. I was getting woken up every morning at 6 am with a burning stomach. I had to drink pepto and ginger ale every morning to settle it down. I was also having severe anxiety and nausea while on the meds. Chills, etc.

I went back and told my general practitioner. He was stumped. He sent me to a gastroenterologist.

The gastro told me the stomach and esophogus problems were minor. Without running a single test, he believed my problem was IBS. He told me to start taking citrucel and Robinul Forte and told me to stop taking Nexium and Reglan.

The Robinul gave me dry mouth, sweats and severe anxiety so I stopped taking it. I'm not sure if the fiber is helping at all. My mornings are a bit better but I still am sluggish and nausous often.

I'm completely unconvinced I have IBS. First, I can eat ANYTHING. I feel better with food in my stomach. I never need to rush to the bathroom, and my symptoms are never relieved by defication.

I sometimes have nausea and vomit. I have days where I am incredibly gassy all day. I have a burning sensation in my stomach, some bloating, and my stools are very soft, occasionally having what look like very small tomato skins in them, but no bleeding. I get very tired in the evenings, and am still occasionally having anxiety. Since the Celexa I've had what feels like a cramp in my left lower abdomen....my stomach gurgles like when hungry, but for minutes at a time accompanied with severe gas and facial flushing.

I asked the doctor why he never ran a stool culture, and he told me it was because unless you are having severe diarreah, they don't think that's necessary. I've also not had a lower GI.

The Doctor's last idea was to perscribe Zoloft, which I thought was completely insane, since I had such a bad reaction to the SSRI Celexa, which is supposed to be the easiest one to tolerate. Same drug family. SSRI's are a path I DO NOT wish to take.

I told him I would not take the Zoloft. I had no anxiety before taking the Celexa the first time. In fact all of my conditions were minor before the Celexa. I think the fact he even thought this would be a good idea tells me he's not aware of what I'm even saying. His specialty is IBS, he seemed to have that as the diagnosis before I opened my mouth....keep in mind he ran not a single test.

Is this something that will just take time to heal? I'm looking for a second opinion at the moment. I've been away from work for a month, and I just want my life back. Any input would be appreciated.

[karizmaflip]

that is the best thing to do- a second opinion. have you ever had a egd? ask your doc about it. or a colonoscopy.hope you feel better!

[bodekar]

What is an EGD?  

The doctor won't budge from the Zoloft and Citrucel combo...therefore kind of forcing me to get a second opinion.

I am 100% sure that if I take the Zoloft it will screw me up worse.  It's an SSRI of a slightly meaner temperment from Celexa.

I'm also curious...was it my LSD use in college that made me so unable to tolerate this med?  Or is it that my liver can't process it somehow?

[karizmaflip]

AN EGD IS A TEST WHERE THE DOC GIVES YOU SOME VOLUME,AND SOME CLOROSEPTIC AND THEN PUTS A TUBE WITH A CAMERA ON THE END INTO YOUR STOMACH. IT SOUNDS BARBARIC BUT IT IS REALLY NOT.

[imkindly]

bodekar
Take a quick look at these two sites:

http://www.healthatoz.com/atoz/TestProcedures/TPupendoscopy.html

http://www.endowsec.com/pated/epdgs18.htm

They show what an EGD is, how they are done, and what they are used for (what they can diagnose).

[INALOTOFPAIN]

..........The exact same way you feel I feel. It all started about a month and half ago, I m not a smoker but did drink quite a bit, at 31 I was down loading almost a six pack a day, then it all came crushing down. I started to bleed (black tar), then severe abdominal pain, these were later controlled. Then came a bullshit Primary Care Physician idea that, although I was not H Pylory positive, a antibiotic treatment should commence at the earliest possible. Note that there were no heartburn feeling whatsoever on the above "diagnosis". 14 days later, having taken a massive, brutal beating from bioxim, amoxcy something, and prevacid, my pain had not only gotten worse but, the acid in stomach was beyond comprehention, I would take my bleading ulcer and deal with it in exchange for all the **** that Im going through now. I have a name for you, "Pill Esophagitis" in combo with an ulcer and you got yourself an answer to your problems. The reason your doc prescribed, reglan and nexxium is because he she wanted you to (1) take more frequent dumps with reglan (which didnt help, you claim) and (2) Nexium to control your acid. If you were to read under "pill esophagitis" youll encounter 3 things, gerd feeling i.e. gas, acid, nausea, all of this starts when you were prescribed the wrong medication for something that perhaps wasnt as bad as it was. I am now on priolosec because of the antibiotic damage it might take now years before I go back to normal, its a battle, one that can be won only if you dont let anyone mess with your system from here on out. Endoscopies are known to cause stomach lining perforations, ph 24 test to check refluxing out is also known for that (damages to your esophageus) becareful, double tripple check your docs recommendations, its never final till it is.

ta ta

[Yan]

To Help PLease
It sounds as though you have ulcers and your Dr. was trying to reduce the acid. Somethimes in the beginning of ulcers, is the stomach cramping, hot flashes, knot feeling.Here's what I did for this problem, I took what my Dr had prescribed me for reflux and gas and also a antibiotic. Then I left out of my diet for "6 weeks"."This is very important"  no salads,any dairy products.Limited coffee to two cups a day. One in the morning, one in the afternoon. No Juices or sodas. If you do this for 6 wks as I said, your problem should clear up. I had the upper GI amd Lower GI and had one ulcer. I couldn't believe what hell this little thing had caused me. I had people asking me if I was pregnant. I was by mid-morning, holding my guts like they were falling out. I also had bought a small fan to carry from Home Depot. This was seven years ago, while I was in college. I haven't had any problems since. What I was doing wrong, was I would drink a small glass of milk at bedtime to help me sleep and I would wake up in a few hours about to die. Also with nightsweats and pain. In the AM, I would drink a glass of juice,one coffee,one milk and two pieces of toast and go to school. Then three hours later be in labor from the pain. Try what I said and let us know how you come out.You have to stick to the diet I prescribed, also No fried foods either.
Yan

[bodekar]

Thanks all.

It wasn't ulcers, as there was never any sharp pain, and the H Pylori tests were negative.

I've completely stopped taking all medicines and completely lost my faith in modern doctors over this.

I've quit coffee....I now drink tea with honey and take echinacea and vitamins daily.

I'm looking for a second opinion from a gastroenterologist and I'm having additional blood work done early next week.

I think it could be some kind of hormonal imbalance, parasites, or malabsorbtion issue....

I'm just fascinated with:

1.  How quickly these doctors pass out these mind altering SSRI drugs.  It's completely insane.

2.  How clueless they are when it comes to diseases of either the gastro tract or the mind.  They are like cavemen with stone tools. They really don't seem to have a clue.

[Prilobabe]

Hi. I am so sorry that you are suffering with this. I agree that the doctors can be too quick to hand out meds. I won't go into my whole story here but I may have endometriosis of the bowel and my gastro doc never even mentioned this possibilty after not being able to find anything wrong in my colon. My sister-in-law found info on the net and I went to my GYN and she thinks I may indeed have endo. It is really frustrating when it seems that your doc is not listening or has already made up his mind. I also have reflux problems and he gave me nexium and a scrip for reglan. All I know is that YOU know your own body and you have to try to get the doc to listen AND you have to do as much research as you can on your own. Good luck with this, I wish you all the best.

[Greyeber]

Hi,
Just wanted to let you know I know how you feel....I too was given Zoloft because I was having trouble with dizziness....and the doctor claimed it was anxiety.....found out that it was probably due to an inner ear problem......I too have never had problems with anxiety.....well the second day I was on Zoloft ....I couldnt sleep ....I felt like I had no control over my body...my legs hurt so bad I couldnt sleep....I had head ticks.....I took it for 4 days and then quit which I guess you arent suppose to quit cold turkey...even though they say its non addictive..(ha ha)...well then I couldnt sleep for 2 days and it felt like my nose is stuffed up and I cant breath through it but there is nothing there......my head tingled...I gained 15 pounds.....then I developed theses stomach spasms that got to the point I couldnt function....I had upper endoscopy done and they found nothing....I have suffered with heartburn and acid reflux for almost 2 years and have a hiatal hernia but I have never had this squezzing stomach spasms....It made it difficult to breath...but when they did the endoscopy ...they found nothing....no damage or anything.....I took the Zoloft in September of 2000.....and I still suffer from head ticks at night....my stomach is all messed up...and I have problems with my legs aching......And the doctors will swear up and down its not the Zoloft that caused the problems...but they cant explain what is happening.....just look up side effects with these meds and you will find tons of people suffering from withdrawl and the seretonin syndrome........dont give up.....I just wanted to let you know your not alone.....

[karie]

Comforting and sad to read how many of us have not been helped by medications and sometimes even given the wrong kind.
I am concerned with the Ph and Endoscopy for the harmful mentions above , The ripping of the throat,
Wish there were less invasive ones that were conclusive as well.

[pikamom]

Celexa was a nightmare for me too. My psychiatrist started me on it in the hospital. I was also on a lot of other meds including narcotics for my IC (interstitial cystitis) and depression. I felt drugged and I slept alot. I was also gaining weight and my bowels were very sluggish, I'd go like 5 days without a BM. The celexa was giving me severe stomache pain, I felt nauseated all the time. I kept telling the psychiatrist I couldn't take all that medicine but he said I needed it. Finally my bowels quit working. I went to my urologist who treats my IC and he said to take 3 enema's in a row. I did and it helped but then nothing for another 7 days so I took matters into my own hands and threw out 6 of the 12 prescriptions including the celexa and oxycontin. My psychiatrist was against it and said I'd have siezures. Well, for 3 weeks my eyes felt funny every time I moved them or my head, but no siezures and in the end I felt so much better. No more drugged/tired/sluggish feeling. I still have chronic stomach problems with alternating bouts of diahrea/constipation, nausea and reflux. But if someone tries to give me a medicine and it makes me feel worse, then I just don't take it. I'm becoming a better advocate in on my own behalf.

[into-wishin]

This was pretty inlightning.I've had gerd for years now.I've been on the www.zoloft.com web site and answered there self tests an boy am I now confused.I thought I had another option, but from reading your comments I'm affraid to take zoloft.I have a friend whose on it and he can't function if he doesn't take it.So I'm REally confused now!I'm really tired of the way I feel everyday!I'm willing to try anythng, to me its like how much worse can it get.I'll keep you guys posted on what happens.I feel like a bumb ***!I've been telling everyone to take the zoloft self test.Hopefully they have read this!
Thanx for the info!

[JAE]

Interesting topic about Celexa.  I'm new here and found this message board out of frustration.  I am 49 and I too suffer from something like this and can't seem to get it fixed.  I was put on Celexa about a 2 years ago.  I thought I was having a heart attack - the EMTs hauled me out of a Basketball game to the ER and later I was told I had a Panic Attack (actually my third at the time).  Well I was put on Celexa and It has not done the job.  In fact after numerous bouts, the Doc increased the amount to one full tab per day (20mg), but I could not hack it.  It gave me the chills/shakes worse.  So I backed off to 1/2 tab.  I am no better than I was 2 yrs. ago, except I had a battery of heart tests and they claim it is fine.  

What happens to me is everything is fine, then I may walk/run with the dog(like today), come back to the house, maybe a little out of breath, but not bad.  I sit down to rest, I get this weird tingle flush feeling (adrenilian rush when I don't need it?).  I become very nervous, my stomach starts to act up and alot of gas occurs.  I belch to relieve it (my Wife hates me for these symptoms).  I go off alone, can't sit still, I tingle if I do.  I try to force myself to sit still, it gets scary, chest pains, gas pains, then it may subside after an hour or two.  But even then my stomach hurts all night - still get gas and belch the air (it feels like my stomach was at war).  I am scared the Celexa causes a problem but I'm afraid to cut it out completly. I must have a stomach disorder that is being mis-diagnosed as Panic attacks or I have both.  I am at my wits end, I may try to see the Doc this week.  This happens now about once a week and I can't seem to finger what sets it off.

Thanks for listening to me rant.  I have never complained before.  I always thought myself a tough guy when it came to my body, but this is wierd and frustrating as heck.

[BDR]

Dear all

I too am interested to hear your experience with SSRI's and understand what you have all been through. I suffered a host of symptoms following a high dose exposure to methylene chloride in April last year. I eventually became very ill - gastointestinal problems, liver pain, lung problems etc etc etc.

After losing 10 kg and no assistance from the Australian medical profession (which is typical for chemical exposure victims worldwide) I was admitted to hospital with sever stress and anxiety. The week previously I had taken 5 tablets of st Johns wort but stopped them due to the photosensitising reaction I sustained. A few days later I was given Murelax (a benzodiazapine) for sleep as I had not slept for months due to the pain from liver, spleen and GI. In hospital I was given 1/2 an Aropax tablet (20mg) - within ten minutes my eyes were so light sensitive I coudn't watch the television  because it was too bright. I took no more Aropax however the next evening I suffered stroke like symptoms (numbness down entire right side of body,loss of balance, visual distortion, electric shock sensation, tremors, a feeling as if both hemispheres of my brain had suddenly separated and convulsions) which I am currently (9 months later) recovering from - not to mention the symptoms from the chemical exposure.

I believe I suffered a serotonin syndrome as the symptoms were very similar. I may also have suffered some effect of the acetylcholine mechanism in my liver going astray due to the monoamine oxidase inhibiting effect of the St Johns Wort. The other possibility for me is the toxin load on my liver and the possibility of other complicating interactions.

Basically I wouldn't touch another SSRI. Due to the stroke like symptoms 3 months later I was again hospitalised suffering severe anxiety and depression. I was placed by a caring psychiatrist on the antdepressant AVANZA (Mirtazapine). This medication which is very gentle (and is designed to quell anxiety by assisting the parasympathetic nervous system) is bringing me back from a very dark place. My eyesight is finally improving and the blood swirling feeling in my head and loss of balance are slowly correcting. I have been on this medication now for six months and will continue for another six weeks. This is a new medication and if the doctors are trying to get you to take an SSRI then it may well be worth looking at Avanza as an alternative. I suffer with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) and I was concerned about this medication as well - but I have found it to be of benefit to me with minimal side effects.

Hope this helps.

Cheers


Bernie