CITALOPRAM

[Josana13]

My doctor told me that Citalopram would not affect my RL. In desperation, I've taken it for 5 weeks and just tonight my legs started bothering me. Does anyone know how I could get off of this s#*t

to avoid side effects? Thank you much.

[SueJohnson]

Since you have only been on it 5 weeks you could probably just stop it. Otherwise reduce slowly. If you find you are getting symptoms like irritability, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, mood changes, muscles aches then go back on it and reduce slowly. Safe antidepressants for RLS are trazodone and Wellbutrin.

[Josana13 in reply to SueJohnson]

I am on Wellbutrin and Trazadone and she added the citalopram because I had a lot of anxiety. Has anybody had anxiety in the pit of their stomach or is it something else?

[SueJohnson in reply to Josana13]

A safe medicine for anxiety is Buspar (Buspirone) which may actually help with RLS.

[Josana13 in reply to SueJohnson]

Can I take Buspar with Bupropion and Trazodone?

[SueJohnson in reply to Josana13]

Ask your doctor or your pharmacist.

[Birdland in reply to Josana13]

Wellbutrin caused me extreme anxiety and insomnia. So much so that I had to stop it.

[67Waterman]

Citalopram absolutely and utterly does trigger RLS (I have been through it). As Sue says below, safe anti depressants include Trazodone (which has to be prescribed by a specialist first [certainly in my case]). I am due to start it tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see if my RLS subsides a little.

[Josana13 in reply to 67Waterman]

I was prescribed Trazadone and it gave me horrible nightmares and I would wait up shaking.

[67Waterman in reply to Josana13]

I am so sorry. I am on my third night now with it, and I have no side effects at all - and it seems to be keeping my depression at bay. I hope you find something that suits. x

[ChrisColumbus]

Doctors know so little if anything about RLS. I hope that they'll allow you to try buspirone and that it helps. Good luck!

[Josana13 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Chris, I was on Buspirone for a while and it didn’t help. Do you think maybe my dose was to low?

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Josana13]

Depends on how much you were taking, and in combination with what, so talk to your doctor. Dosage may be limited by other drugs that you're taking (if they'll allow it at all).

NICE only recommends it for short term use stating "5 mg 2–3 times a day, increased if necessary up to 45 mg daily, dose to be increased at intervals of 2–3 days; usual dose 15–30 mg daily in divided doses".

A US source says "Usual Adult Dose for Anxiety: initial Dose: 7.5 mg orally 2 times a day. Maintenance Dose: Dosage may be increased 5 mg per day at intervals of 2 to 3 days, as needed. Maximum Dose: 60 mg per day

Use: Management of anxiety disorders or the short-term relief of anxiety symptoms."

[Doctorplacebo]

Regarding anxiety, have you considered that maybe it's not a separate problem from your RLS but actually a symptom of it? Being unable to get restorative sleep at night can make one feel unprepared for the responsibilities of daily life which is very anxiety -provoking. Also if you have daytime RLS, as I do, being twitchy and unable to relax during the day is certainly a reason to be anxious. So make sure your RLS is as well controlled as possible before adding more meds for anxiety. (Yes, anxiety can definitely manifest in the pit of the stomach. Personal experience).