I was on Citalopram for 5 months when I started twitching, a side effect of the drug. My brother had epilepsy as a child. I got off the medication because it was so disturbing. I am still having twitching at night; it is impossible to sleep on my right side. I also am having bouts of headaches. I had three weeks of headache before getting of the medicine, and sporadic headaches now. Something I have not had for years, however, I am living in a new climate where allergies are rampant.
Will twitching caused by citalopram go away and will it cause brain injury and possibly lower IQ?
Question posted by Anonymous on 11 June 2012
Last updated on 12 June 2012
Answers
Delila
11 June 2012
Hi did you taper off the Citalopram or stop cold turkey? I ask because headaches can be a withdrawal symptom and if you stopped the medication suddenly then the headaches could be much worse. They should improve in time though. The twitching sounds similar to Tardive Dyskinesia - but i've not heard of it being attributed solely to Citalopram? However with TD as Pledge has already said, you would not experience a lowering of your IQ or brain damage. Only if the twitches turned in to fits could this be a problem. I moved house recently and moving to a new area did cause me quite a lot of disruption in my life, so don't underestimate this causing stress and/or headaches. Have you started on a different anti-depressant now in place of the Citalopram? I hope you are feeling better soon!
Inactive
12 June 2012
I did taper off of the Citalopram because of the twitching. I am convinced it was the medicine as twitching was listed as a side effect, and it was suggest to not take the medicine if epileptic. I not epileptic, but my brother was. The twitching is continuing every night and I have impulses to move my legs at rest. I am not on any antidepressant after this.
taleese
12 June 2012
My son did get twitching from the citalipram, the twitching did go away and it was a side effect of his meds. He now takes celexa instead.
Good luck
Delila
12 June 2012
Hi Ak, as taleese has said the twitching should improve the longer you are off the medication causing it, so hopefully you will notice a difference soon... if not i would suggest to talk to your doctor about it.
Taleese, Citalopram and Celexa are the same medication, bit confused?
Inactive
11 June 2012
Hello akgenova. Citalopram/Celexa is an SSRI and I believe that the longer you are no longer on the drug, that these side effects will diminish and disappear. Only in the reasoning that its a SSRI, effecting the serotonin levels of the brain. and I can not see a persons IQ being effected or even possible brain damage. I do know and am aware of Serotoin Syndrome.(SS) My opinion is that you are not experiencing SS.Citalopram is not an anti-psychotic medication where these type of side efects are more prevelant and can often not be reversed. All of the above is my own point of view and I am not a doctor, Regards pledge
Related topics
depression, head injury, epilepsy, citalopram, side effect, anxiety and stress, medication
Further information
- Citalopram uses and safety info
- Citalopram prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Citalopram (detailed)
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