SSRI’s for Anxiety

[Jubilee36]

Hi all

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of SSRI’s (Citalopram etc) taken for anxiety. I am suffering from anxiety now that I am peri-menopausal (44 year old female) and I have had a few breakthrough seizures. I’m also suffering with insomnia, probably due to a mixture of it all really. I’ve never had anxiety or insomnia before.

It seems that increasing serotonin levels might actually help a bit with seizures (as well as anxiety ) but I certainly wouldn’t want to make them worse! Any help/information/your experiences would be very much appreciated.

Thank you in advance 😊

[RQ0803]

Make sure you discuss it with your epilepsy specialist. For many people, SSRIs can increase seizure frequency and intensity.

My seizures were always relatively mild focal aware, but when I started taking Sertraline (ironically because my doctors kept misdiagnosed my seizures as panic attacks) they progressed in into nocturnal tonic clonics.

When I finally got to see an epileptologist, the first thing he did was take me off SSRIs.

[Jubilee36 in reply to RQ0803]

Thank you for the reply. My epilepsy nurse says that many people who have epilepsy do take them but it obviously depends on the individual. That's why I'm asking for real life experiences. Suppose the risk is there for any person with epilepsy when trying new neurological drugs. I'm sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience and I hope they have now settled down more.

[Leylla13]

hi. I hope this link from Dr Louise Newson will help you. She is a national treasure in menopause world. HRT has helped me with my anxiety and many other side effects. I think it’s important to balance your hormones without first opting for SSRIs.

I have joined Anxiety UK which has helped me very much on top of using grounding techniques to naturally lower anxiety levels. I walk in nature. I’m very mindful and it has become part of my daily life. Meditation. Journaling or just using notepad write down all your worries. Keep to same time every day if you can. Just 10 min. If you are not sleeping well writing down your thoughts and offloading them onto paper is extremely therapeutic.

Anxieties do lead my daughter to experiencing disassociative seizures (non epileptic seizures) and when she’s looks after her well-being the focal seizures disappear. Good luck on your journey x

[Leylla13 in reply to Leylla13]

balance-menopause.com/wellb...

[Jubilee36 in reply to Leylla13]

Thanks for your reply. I'm aware of Dr Newsons work and agree she is fabulous. I also do meditation and grounding but to not as much of an affect as yourself. The problem isn't just my thought processes. My seizures prevent me sleeping therefore I'm in a viscous cycle. SSRI's are definitely not my first option, I should have made that more clear in my post.

Thanks for the reply, all of the advice given and for the well wishes!

[Angie140720]

Hi, everyone is different but for me having juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, when I tried a couple of different sorts many years ago I had a tonic clonic seizure. I tolerated citalopram at a low dose 10mg but when I increased to a higher dose 20mg, I had another tonic clonic. I am menopausal now and had an increase in seizure activity a few years ago which led to medication changes. I am on progesterone because I take epilim but avoid oestrogen as there may be links to seizures and I am not prepared to risk it. I have opted for lifestyle changes instead, changed my job from an intensive care nurse to something less stressful, seen a counsellor, work shorter hours, and have more time walking in nature and doing things I enjoy. Sleep is improving, anxiety has reduced, hot flushes reducing and no seizure for a few years. I have less money but it's a small price to pay. I hope there is something in here that can help you with your decision, and if nothing else, it will improve as you come out the other side of the menopause.

[Jubilee36 in reply to Angie140720]

I have Juvenile Myoclonic as well! Similarly, my seizures have started at peri menopause stage. The ones I'm having falling asleep, through night and then in the morning are the worst they have ever been. Sometimes lasting all day, hundreds of the myoclonic jerks. They often prevent sleep. It's a viscous cycle, as you know, since lack of sleep is the worst trigger. I also take Sodium Valporate - the same brand as you, Epilim. Thanks for your reply, especially since our experiences are quite similar.

I already know a lot about the menopause and I am hopefully starting on HRT soon - I've discussed it with my doctor. Like you, I'm only going to take progesterone first and hopefully that will be ok.

[Angie140720 in reply to Jubilee36]

Thanks for replying, that's really interesting. I also had the ones at night but was initially told they were sleep starts until they did a 24hour eeg. They were a huge pain and very disruptive to sleep. They introduced ethosuximide on top of epilim which stopped the myoclonic and the absence seizures which I am grateful for. Sleep is important for us with epilepsy! Sounds like you are on a similar path to me and fingers crossed it all helps, good luck.