celexa burning skin

ive been on celexa for a week now started at 10mg now taking 20mg, and since ive started my back gets really warm, it feels like i have sunburn, but i dont, there is no redness or anything. has anyone experienced anything like this before. thanks for any help.

mike,

Today I expereinced the same feeling..only in my chest area. It almost caused me to have a panic attack. I'm not sure if this is a normal side-effect to the drug. Hang in there.

There are many and varied skin associated side-effects.

Normally... rashes, photosensitive reactions (have either of you been out in the sun?), itches and the like.

Also citalopram is associated with burning and tingling sensations e.g. from a standard citalopram patient drug sheet: tingling, burning, or prickly feelings on skin.

This is called paraesthesia, or paresthesia, and it usually falls into the common side-effect category: Common symptoms include dizziness, paraesthesia, headache, anxiety and nausea.

If you google: celexa burning; celexa tingling; citalopram burning; citalopram par(a)esthesia (two spellings)... you should be able to access the various information.

Probably one to go and talk to you doctors about?

i have been on citalopram for one month. I have recently started to get a burning sensation in my skin along with pins and needles and muscle jerking. I want to know is this normal as i am quite frightened about it.

Ciara,

You need to tell your doctor about it.

The skin problems - sounds like parathesia, should be listed on any professional citalopram drug info sheet... ask your doctor to check it out, if they are initially unaware of the possible connection.

The muscle jerking - the SSRIs are associated with four main categories of neurological effects, the muscle jerking is one of them. Your doctor needs to know about it.

If you read the first chapter of Joseph Glenmullen's book on SSRI side-effects (citalopram is an SSRI antidepressant) then you will be able to read about the muscle jerking... this chapter is available on-line:

http://www.prozacbacklash.com/prozacBacklash....

After you've read it, then you will be in a good position to judge whether this is a tic, or a case of muscle spasms...

Report it to your doctor.

It is discussed in more detail, further in 'Prozac Backlash', the book should be available via any bookshop or your local library.

mike wrote:

ive been on celexa for a week now started at 10mg now taking 20mg, and since ive started my back gets really warm, it feels like i have sunburn, but i dont, there is no redness or anything. has anyone experienced anything like this before. thanks for any help.

Yes I did.I only took it for a few days and I felt a burning sensation in my eyes,on my head and down the back of my neck.
It was bad enough so that I had to stop taking it.The doctor said it was an allergic reaction.
Hope things work out for you.

I got the same thing when I started, but my face, shoulders, back of neck and upper back would go red, like flushed and my skin would tingle or itch. After being on Celexa for 1.5 years, I've developed alot of small brown patches on my skin.

Sparx,

If the small brown splotches are upon regions of your skin that are exposed to sunlight, then you may be looking at a photodermatological reaction. One to discuss with your doctor... likewise, the fact that your initial skin reactions seem to have occurred on exposed regions - where sunlight can fall. Celexa's dermatological side-effects are listed on a detailed drug sheet like this one:

http://www.drugs.com/pro/citalopram.html

Which lists "Skin and Appendages Disorders – Frequent: rash, pruritus. Infrequent: photosensitivity reaction, urticaria, acne, skin discoloration, eczema, alopecia, dermatitis, skin dry, psoriasis. Rare: hypertrichosis, decreased sweating, melanosis, keratitis, cellulitis, pruritus ani."

Rashes are not uncommon e.g. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/432399_3

http://www.eblue.org/article/PIIS019096220602...

I have been on Celexa for about 2 weeks. I noticed the skin tingling thing reight away. It reminds me of the 'flush' that I get when I have taken straight vitamin B12 before (niacin). It's not necessarily unpleasant, but it does remind me of how a new sunburn feels. I haven't been out in the sun - I live in Seattle and we've had pretty much straight rain for several weeks now.
The other side effects I have felt are heart palpitations and dry eyes. I have a follow-up with my doc next week - I'm going to see how I am at that point. So far I've not experienced much in the relief category. Still experiencing terrible insomnia and my depression is still hanging around...

I haven't really felt any

[I had a similiar reaction to citalopram. However, the burning never went away and I've been off the drug for 18 months. The drug gave me peripheral neuropathy. It is as close to hell as you can get. For anyone out there that is having burning pains while on a SSRI beware: neuropathy is a listed side effect of Prozac and Citalopram. Don't count on your doctor to warn you about this potential nerve disorder. Mine certainly did not. Started on citalopram on 7/9/07 and am in rough shape as of 11/27/08. The neuropathy has crippled my legs and the burning is relentless.

I experienced burning sensations while on citalopram. The stuff gave me periheral neuropathy. It feels like hell on earth. Don't count on your doctor to warn you about this possible side effect. I started on citalopram on 7/9/07 and took it for 8 weeks. The burning never stopped and got worse. The neuropathy is crippling my legs, my spirit and my bank account. I'll regret to my last day seeking medical help for depression. Beware of SSRI drugs!

ok tod now your scaring me, i have warm sensations, pretty comfortable actually. should i stop taking/ been on a for a week at 20 mg

Tod wrote:

I experienced burning sensations while on citalopram. The stuff gave me periheral neuropathy. It feels like hell on earth. Don't count on your doctor to warn you about this possible side effect. I started on citalopram on 7/9/07 and took it for 8 weeks. The burning never stopped and got worse. The neuropathy is crippling my legs, my spirit and my bank account. I'll regret to my last day seeking medical help for depression. Beware of SSRI drugs!

Can anyone tell me if they have gotten off of the Celexa,has their symptoms lessened? I have neuropathy in my feet severely, the burning and shooting pain is horrible. The Gabapentin and Amitriptyline have ceased helping. Since it is advisable to get off the Celexa,has anyone found an amino acid/herbal combo that helps with the depression?

Been on Celexa for about a year and a half. I'm supposed to be taking it for peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes which is the burning, tingling of the feet and legs but it hasn't helped this at all and still fighting with doctors to put me on something else as all Celexa has done is make me extremely irritable and very depressed at times; can't handle any kind of stress on it either. I take 40 mg a day at nighttime. Stay away, its not good stuff!!!

Celexa (citalopram) was seemingly a miracle drug for me when I was going through some emotional distress. I took it for 2-3 years without problems. Within the last 4 months I have been diagnosed with periphreal neuropathy (ie: my feet are asleep). I had no previous awkward side effects such as burning or anything of that nature. I went to doctors and had tons of bloodwork done, went to a neurologist, spine doc, etc and everything is seemingly normal. The neurologist found that my small motor sensory nerves are not responding correctly but had no reasoning why. I HAVE STOPPED taking celexa and my feet are already improving. Please note I tapered off this medication for my mental stability. My feet are already improving and I look forward to speaking with all my doctors who ASSURED ME the medication was not the culprit. Complete and utter b.s. The medication is the culprit. CALL the company and let them know of your side effects. The medication should be banned. Luckily my feet are improving but not all neuropathy's improve..

chur5025@gmail.com title it neuropathy if I can help any other sufferers in any way.

Kathy,
get off celexa as soon as you can. There are other medications for neuropathy. Try neurontin.

My symptoms have definitely lessoned. I plan to see my neurologist again for a followup JUST SO I CAN TELL HIM AND SHOW HIM that my medication was the reason for all of this. Doctor's are naive to not look at the obvious reasons for neuropathy. Hello...its a side effect of citalopram.

When you do get off citalopram do it a little at a time because it definitely helps with the side effects. I got headaches and was extremely lethargic..but it has all been improving. You can do it!

dani wrote:

<quoted text>
Can anyone tell me if they have gotten off of the Celexa,has their symptoms lessened? I have neuropathy in my feet severely, the burning and shooting pain is horrible. The Gabapentin and Amitriptyline have ceased helping. Since it is advisable to get off the Celexa,has anyone found an amino acid/herbal combo that helps with the depression?

correction**
small fiber sensory nerves

Jordan wrote:

Celexa (citalopram) was seemingly a miracle drug for me when I was going through some emotional distress. I took it for 2-3 years without problems. Within the last 4 months I have been diagnosed with periphreal neuropathy (ie: my feet are asleep). I had no previous awkward side effects such as burning or anything of that nature. I went to doctors and had tons of bloodwork done, went to a neurologist, spine doc, etc and everything is seemingly normal. The neurologist found that my small motor sensory nerves are not responding correctly but had no reasoning why. I HAVE STOPPED taking celexa and my feet are already improving. Please note I tapered off this medication for my mental stability. My feet are already improving and I look forward to speaking with all my doctors who ASSURED ME the medication was not the culprit. Complete and utter b.s. The medication is the culprit. CALL the company and let them know of your side effects. The medication should be banned. Luckily my feet are improving but not all neuropathy's improve..
chur5025@gmail.com title it neuropathy if I can help any other sufferers in any way.

Took celexa for 1 year no problems then off for a year and just took my first pill tonight and immedietly after taking it I got a burning sensation that is still ongoing right now and it's been 4 hours. I think I'm quiting it

I can recommend a reputable pharmacy (Celexa) canadian-pharmstore.org/item.php... I received the order and it was on time and the pills work great.