Cipralex and joint pain

[David Baxter PhD]

Re: Cipralex joint pain

There are some reports of this. It may be an allergy. Have you talked to your doctor about this?

 

[karensimon]

Re: Cipralex joint pain

Yes I have, David. But he did not get too excited about it. I tried over the counter 24hr allergy medication, but it has not helped.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Re: Cipralex joint pain

Okay, then I'd suggest you talk to your pharmacist. That side effect isn't common with Cipralex (aka Lexapro in the US) and I'm not sure whether one of the other medications or an interaction between your medications may be the cause - or of course it could be unrelated. Allergic reactions are difficult to pinpoint.

On the other hand, there are lots of choice for antidepressants besides Cipralex. Maybe it's worth talking to your doctor about switching to something else if you think Cipralex is the cause. Either you're right and the mouth sores will go away or the doctor's right and they won't, but either way you and your doctor will have some additional information.

 

[karensimon]

Re: Cipralex joint pain

Thanks for your speedy reply, David. I am at present without a family doctor. Mine is retired as of today. I do see an obesity specialist who is a MD. and a RD. I will discuss this on my next visit on the 14th of Aug. They can do testing and refer. I am also in Canada, (Calgary in fact) so you know what I am up against finding a Family Doc. By the way 40lbs in 5.5 months, not bad.

 

[MimiWhatserface]

Re: Cipralex joint pain

Sorry to hear about your problem with Cipralex. I have been Taking Cipralex for some time now and it is working very well for me. I take one 10 mg pill every evening before bed. I am in Canada as well (BC). Just thought I would say that Cipralex is also not a cheap prescription. I pay around $60 dollars a month for my pills. 3 dollars a pill. For me it does make a huge difference. I also suffer from a pain issue (joint pains, Muscle pain and Migraine headaches) but I have had this problem long before being on the Cipralex. I also take a small dose of Amitriptyline, which has been the only thing that has worked for the pain I am having. Good luck with your search and best wishes.

 

[Kathy]

Re: Cipralex joint pain

I have been on Cipralex for one full year...from July 1st 09 to August 19th 10.. I am experiencing terrible joint pain in my knee and back pain also.. the back pain was there before Cipralex but not to this extent. I cannot bend my knee and the sciatic nerve has really acted up.

Back in 76 I was given a botched epidural for childbirth..The doctor swore when he put the needle in my back so I knew he had made a mistake. I am suffering with that mistake even now..33 years later.

However, after taking Cipralex for about 6 months, I noticed my knee was stiffening, my back was hurting a lot more than usual and I was generally not able to move very well. My ankles were stiffening too. Also with venous insufficiency in both legs due to varicose veins, and blood pooling in my lower legs, I noticed the swelling in my legs getting worse..Between the pain of the knee bending and the pain in my ankles and the pain in my lower left hip..I have been very miserable.

On July 18th I made the decision to get off Cipralex. Granted it helped my anxiety..and it helped me get my head on straight for the second time. I have GAD but it doesn't always get me and when it does I suffer terrible anxiety until such time that I get a grip on it with medication..I tried paxil first..and got off that too in 06. My legs were swelling up then as well. this is my story..I am almost off cipralex and hope soon I can walk up and down stairs as before..maybe I will be able to bend my knee again..

thanks for this forum. It is good to find a place where others have experienced my pain.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with Cipralex.

However, as I said above in this thread, the fact that you didn't react well to Paxil or Cipralex/Lexapro doesn't mean you have to give up and simply endure the anxity. For one thing, there are several other SSRI or SNRI medications that could help the anxiety without the side-effects you experienced. Additionally, there are other classes of medication for treating anxiety that could be considered.

Talk to your doctors about your options.

 

[Kathy]

Hi David
I appreciate your words of advice..However, I need to know and everybody else does here...will the joint pain subside after Cipralex ends.????? That is the $64,000 question isn't it???

I want my pain to go away...Hello... I want the pain to subside..please find out for me and others if this pain is permanently part of our lives...If it is, Cipralex is very very dangerous.

It surprises me how easily I have been able to get off this med. no nausea..no headaches..no dizziness..no nothin... In the mornings I have a sore throat and that seems to the only withdrawal symptom I had..Granted I went off slowly..There was never a question about whether or not to withdraw..I had to get off this. It was obviously causing great distress. My legs have blown up to three times their normal size. I have stasis dermatitis on both lower legs...on top of everything else. My legs itch really bad especially at nighttime. I have special lotions that I have obtained from a naturopathic doctor who makes wonderful natural solutions. The swelling will form above the rashy areas and makes my legs look like upside coke bottles. It is so embarrassing.

The botched epidural back in 76 caused my circulation to weaken..and caused my veins to pool blood down by my ankles. Cipralex just slowed me down so much that it caused the circulation to slow even more..I also have hypothyroidism and am on .125 mg of Synthroid every day..so you see...slow circulation and pain and swelling are all related to the botched epidural. My GAD has been with me long before the epidural..I just didn't know I had it in my 20's. Circulation issues have mushroomed substantially since the epidural..cipralex made everything worse..Try and tell the doctor that....he will not listen..When I was on Paxil and my legs swelled up..I went to him..and he wanted to put me on a diuretic ..on top of my Paxil...I walked out of his office thoroughly disgusted. All doctors want to do is put us on medications...and more meds to offset the original med...I think it is deplorable.

Please tell me this pain will soon go away...pain in my knees, ankles and back. I need a cane in the morning to just get out of bed... At 62 years of age..this is not acceptable at all.

The manufacturers of this drug need to be made aware of this really bad side effect. it doesn't come on right away..it takes time. when I first went on this drug, I experienced all the usual side effects ...dizziness, insomia, lightheadedness. etc..some of it was from the GAD..not the med..sometimes it is hard to differentiate what is side effect and what is anxiety..and then depression. For me anxiety came first..then depression..in that order. Once I get the anxiety to lift..I no longer have depression.. Cipralex was very good at relieving both anxiety and then depression. There is no doubt about that..

anxiety comes on whenever I think I am really sick or when I have to see the doctor for a check up..isn't that stupid.? as long as I stay away from the Doctor's office I am fine.

anyways..please find out how long this terrible joint pain will continue. I have rambled on but I feel very very sad for us poor cipralex people...knowing that we all will have this terrible stiffness and joint pain..It really is demoralizing. something must be done about it...

thanks
Kathy

 

[David Baxter PhD]

I am not the last word in pharmaceutical information by any means, but if the pain was indeed caused by the drug and you dicontinued that drug then in time I would expect that the pain would disappear. I've never heard of a side-effect associated with this class of medications which did not revert once the drug was discontinued.

On the other hand, if the joint pain had another cause, perhaps exacerbated by the use of that medication, it may continue. You would need to consult a physician, perhaps a rhuematologist.

 

[Kathy]

Allow me to apologize right off the bat ... I have not read any "stickies" outlining protocol for these forums, as one of my most prominent symptoms of depression is an overwhelming anxiety that shortens my attention span to about 5 seconds ... hhhmmm .. maybe I actually have some type of anxiety disorder ... but I digress ...

In desperation, brought on by a rapidly deepening depression/anxiety state, and not one red cent to my name with which to purchase my SSRI of choice (Fluoxetine), I asked my doctor for any SSRI samples she might have on hand. Her office called to let me know that they had some, and I quickly dispatched an anti-depressant posse to retrieve the loot.
My relief turned to a mixture of disappointment and swiftly downward spiraling anxiety, as I read the name on the four generous boxes of SSRI ... Cipralex. Although this newly reconstructed medication is supposed to work wonders for anxiety, when I tried it for several weeks last fall, I was left nearly crippled by joint pain ... no exaggeration ... I could barely stand or walk or lift a coffee cup.

Not exactly certain what I'm looking for here ... possibly ... hopefully ... to hear from someone who has taken this medication, experienced the joint pain side effects, followed by the nice, gradual disappearance of this nasty effect. Problem is ... I don't believe that I can deal with the pain again ... but it's the only SSRI available to me right now ... talk about that excruciatingly awful position between a rock and a hard place

Hi..Toll..I totally agree with you..this drug causes joint pain of unimaginable proportions...read my messages below..this drug is truly a menace to our joints. and our quallity of life.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Hi..Toll..I totally agree with you..this drug causes joint pain of unimaginable proportions...read my messages below..this drug is truly a menace to our joints. and our quality of life.

Please do not make statements like this one. You may (or may not) have experienced a rare side-effect of this medication. However, the vast majority of people using this medication do not experience this side effect or anything like it. To state that "this drug is truly a menace to our joints and our quality of life" is inaccurate and unfair, both to the drug and to the majority of people who have used it and found it to improve quality of life.

I have also experienced rare or unusual side effects to various medications over the years, including antibiotics and medications for hypertension and cholesterol. That doesn't alter the fact that millions of people worldwide have benefited from those same medications. I can say that i have a sensitivity to those specific medications but I cannot condemn the drug or call it a "menace to health".

 

[Kathy]

Hello David
You have given me some hope that the pain might go away now that I am off Cipralex. However, you also have indicated that I might not get relief simply because I have a pre existing condition..I understand that...there is no way to get relief if that is the case. I guess I will just have to wait and see. At least now that I am off Cipralex, I can take Advil and ibubrofen for pain..which was not allowed before on this drug. I have been using Tylenol and that hasn't worked very well. they say turmeric is also a good nerve pain killer. Other natural remedies are available besides Advil..which in itself is very bad on long term use.

Like everything else..time will tell..
Thanks so much for giving me some hope.

Kahty

---------- Post added at 02:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 AM ----------

Please do not make statements like this one. You may (or may not) have experienced a rare side-effect of this medication. However, the vast majority of people using this medication do not experience this side effect or anything like it. To state that "this drug is truly a menace to our joints and our quallity of life" is inaccurate and unfair, both to the drug and to the majority of people who have used it and found it to improve quality of life.

I have also experienced rare or unusual side effects to various medications over the years, including antibiotics and medications for hypertension and cholesterol. That doesn't alter the fact that millions of people worldwide have benefitted from those same medications. I can say that i have a sensitivity to those specific medications but I cannot condemn the drug or call it a "menace to health".

Ok..granted you have a point David..but..on this particular thread..everybody is complaining about it..I have every right to make my point here. this drug causes people on this particular thread ..obvious pain...

there is no denying this fact...

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Ok..granted you have a point David..but..on this particular thread..everybody is complaining about it..

Hardly... Two people mentioned joint pain. One other had flu-like symptoms initially which went away. One other had joint pain as a pre-existing condition, not caused by Cipralex. And two had no such symptoms at all. That hardly qualifies as "everybody is complaining about it".

I have every right to make my point here. this drug causes people on this particular thread ..obvious pain...

No. That is simply not true.

there is no denying this fact...

I am denying that fact on the basis of reviewing this thread, and on the basis of numerous clients who have taken this medication over the years without the kind of adverse effects you describe.

I would also ask that you carefully review the Forum Rules and that you refrain from making sweeping statements such as this about medications.

 

[Kathy]

You say that I ""may or may not" have experienced a rare side-effect of this medcation. I find fault with your statement as well. I ""know"" without any doubt at all ...and let me say again...""I know"' beyond any doubt at all..that this medication has caused me much pain...take it or leave it...That is the story and I am dying inside every day from constant stiffness and pain. I am not very happy that you would suggest that I ""may not" have this pain because of Cipralex.. there is no other answer especially since I experienced the very same results while on Paxil..Once off Paxil..my swelling went way way down on my legs.

So. when cipralex did the very same thing, I am able to say without a doubt..that cipralex caused the same problems as paxil.

Please don't be upset with me again...I have every right to vent my anger at this drug company. they need to do some more research on side effects and stiffness of joints.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

You say that I ""may or may not" have experienced a rare side-effect of this medcation. I find fault with your statement as well. I ""know"" without any doubt at all ...and let me say again...""I know"' beyond any doubt at all..that this medication has caused me much pain...take it or leave it...That is the story and I am dying inside every day from constant stiffness and pain. I am not very happy that you would suggest that I ""may not" have this pain because of Cipralex.. there is no other answer especially since I experienced the very same results while on Paxil..Once off Paxil..my swelling went way way down on my legs.

I'm not questioning yoyur statement that you are suffering from those symtpoms. But I have no way of knowing what the cause may be. I don't dispute your claim but obviously I haven't had the opportunity to examine the evidence for it.

I have every right to vent my anger at this drug company. they need to do some more research on side effects and stiffness of joints.

You are free to believe what you choose and there are many forums that encourage their members to rail away at physicians and psychiatry and pharmaceutical companies. This is not one of them. Indeed, a big part of my motiuvation for starting this forum in 2004 was to counter the enormous amount of misinformation and dubious anectodtal claims about mental health and its treatment that exists on the internet.

You can make statements such as "this medication did not agree with me and I suffered some intolerable side-effects while taking it". As noted above, there are several medications that I have taken that had nasty side effects for me.

You cannot make blanket statements about medications as you are doing here. That is a contravention of our forum rules and guidelines.

 

[Kathy]

I'm not questioning yoyur statement that you are suffering from those symtpoms. But I have no way of knowing what the cause may be. I don't dispute your claim but obviously I haven't had the opportunity to examine the evidence for it.



You are free to believe what you choose and there are many forums that encourage their members to rail away at physicians and psychiatry and pharmaceutical companies. This is not one of them. Indeed, a big part of my motiuvation for starting this forum in 2004 was to counter the enormous amount of misinformation and dubious anectodtal claims about mental health and its treatment that exists on the internet.

You can make statements such as "this medication did not agree with me and I suffered some intolerable side-effects while taking it". As noted above, there are several medications that I have taken that had nasty side effects for me.

You cannot make blanket statements about medications as you are doing here. That is a contravention of our forum rules and guidelines.

So very sorry for over reacting ..thanks for being so patient with me. I understand if you take my statements off the forum....I deserve a good slap on the wrist now and then..

 

[Kathy]

Hi..
I can honestly say that I think I am feeling some better today..I have been taking two pills that maybe are helping..one is for sciatic pain relief and the other is called Wonder Legs...Both these alternative remedies have turmeric in them..

Joint pain seems a bit less today..

I have been off Cipralex now for 5 full days.. In time I will see if my swelling goes down on my legs.

Thanks David for letting me share my story here...Maybe others will benefit ..I don't know..I would love to hear other stories about side effects of cipralex..

Did you know that there was at one time, a site where people taking Cipralex could find support. It was taken off cyperspace quite suddenly and most folks were devastated by that..A friendship of people who shared a common problem had been formed and then boom..it was all taken away. Have you heard of the Irecover or the old name..Ican..?
I was on there while I was suffering so badly with depression..It really was a comfort to write my diary there and to read others situations..We shared and helped each other by constant encouragement. The site still exists but we can no longer write a diary every day there and share in each others stories and solutions..This site here can replace that one...?

Lundbeck in the United Kingdom still runs the site but no longer runs it like a forum..They do have the graphs where you can trace your progress in the depression journey to recovery.

Just want to thank you for this site ..since it obviously is a place where people can get some encouragement along the way in their battle with depression.