Feeling strange in the head... Concern or no?

[cjwilson80]

Lately I've been feeling very strange. I don't know how else to describe the feeling other than 'Brain Zaps.' If any of you have ever been on an anti-depressant and have forgotten to take your medicine for a few days, you've probably had this feeling of withdrawl.

I am taking Citalopram (Celexa) 10mg a day and sometimes I forget it but lately I have NOT been forgetting to take it and I'm still getting these brain zaps. I am kind of worried, so much that I almost have myself convinced that I've had a stroke. I'm sure I didn't but I can't help but worry about everything these days.

I've got a lot going on with work, school, baby, and my photography on the side that's got me more and more busy these days. I'm thinking it could be stress related too.

Sometimes if I move my head too fast from one side to another I get that brain zap feeling / dizzy feeling and it freaks me out. If I get into an argument or have an episode of 'Road Rage' while driving it will happen to. Almost like it has something to do with adrenaline? I don't know ... I'm grasping at straws here.

Anyone have any similar experience?

 

[jessrabbit]

I was on citalopram when I found out I was pregnant, my doctors surgery was closed at the time and the out of hours advised me to stop it straight away cold turkey, which was totally the wrong advice to give, especially as I was on a high dose.

I know what you mean about brain zaps as I would have these if I missed a pill or a day or two once in a while.

When I stopped cold turkey I suffered the zaps for a couple of days until the meds were out of my system and then didnt have them anymore.

I always thought zaps were made worse by stressful situations on the days where I had missed a pill, but then I think thats how you remember you forgot to take it. ie arrgghh brain zap... im stressed out... oh yeah I forgot to take my pill.

Although you havent been forgetting to take yours, have you only starting taking it recently or has your doctor been cutting down your dose. I used to get the zaps when they increased my dose, sometimes for a couple of weeks before I felt 'normal' again..

 

[cjwilson80]

I have been on it for several months, but I forgot to take my pill 2 days in a row about a week ago so I doubled up on them. I wonder if that has anything to do with it...

Thanks for the response

 

[jessrabbit]

I would say the doubling up is probably it, if you miss one you shouldnt double drop!

citalopram has an accumulative effect and once you have taken it for a while if you miss a dose the meds stay level in your system for a certain amount of time. So doubling up would be like increasing the meds and make you likely to get the zaps.

if the zaps continue even though you are remembering to take it and not double dosing then go back to the docs, it may just be its not the right meds for you.