[daisydaffodil]

I've stopped taking my escitalopram (anti anxiety) and feel rotten from it..

What caused it was the worry of being told my escitalopram can cause heart problems.. I was given a new antibiotic the other night for a tooth problem and it made me have vertigo.. I googled a bit and stupidly came across some medical journal which said the antibiotic (metronidazole) has killed two people before also by causing the same heart problem..

Now - by being told not to take another medication that can cause similar heart problems alongside the escitalopram, I panicked about taking it. As it happened I became quite ill with it anyway and so after phoning out of hours, was sent to A&E where they told me not to take it. I discussed the palpitations with the dr and he wasn't too worried but said the escitalopram only seemed to be making me feel worse now and so to discuss changing meds with my GP..

So I stopped taking it last night, and am planning not to take it tonight. My GP has said she doesn't want me in for three months unless there's a dire emergency so I've decided to just leave it, not contact her now until she contacts me, and sort it myself.

I don't think it's a good idea to simply quit medicines though is it? I was on the smallest dose but I think I've made a big mistake and I'm not sure what to do. I can't muster up the courage to take it again but at the same time I don't think I should *not* take it, if that makes sense..

Sorry if this is confusing but needed to ramble a bit.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

I know it's not a dire emergency but any med changes or coming off the meds DO need to be discussed with your GP. It's not wise to just stop suddenly, even if you're on the lowest dose, without having a plan in place.

Big hugs though. PM me if you want me to come on Facebook chat or anything

[superwolf]

I'm with The_Lonely_Goatherd - med changes need discussing with your doctor. Who was it that prescribed you the antibiotics? Sounds like you could do with checking that you should be on them, given your severe reaction, and also consult with your regular GP if you're planning not to take the escitalopram any longer. You'll be on that medication for a reason, and I'm sure your doctor wouldn't want you going untreated for the next three months.

Don't worry too much, most likely everything will work out fine.

[Noodlzzz]

With the heart problems - it's only at too high a dose (above 40 I believe?) and those with pre-existing vulnerabilities. You could always ask for some tests to be done such as ECG to make sure your heart is fine?

[daisydaffodil]

Have started taking them again but I don't feel good at all. As in mentally. I'm going from feeling nothing to feeling awful - no happiness or feeling relaxed at all. Can't contact GP, she is away anyway but as I said told me not to contact them unless there's an emergency.. So I'm taking the hint and not getting in touch anymore. I must have done something wrong for them to not want to help anymore. I'm confused as I have letters for various things/people in which my GP wrote that she would be seeing me regularly for review; I can't understand what's changed in that they no longer feel I need the support.

Have got the dentist tommorow and was planning on telling her I am feeling awful, because I have managed to confide in her before - but my mum has insisted she is coming too so can't talk to the dentist.

Am going days without speaking to anyone or doing anything at the moment. Tempted to phone GP surgery and ask to speak to someone on duty, and even made an appointment for next week but think I will cancel it..

[in_jeopardy]

(Original post by daisydaffodil)
Have started taking them again but I don't feel good at all. Can't contact GP, she is away anyway but as I said told me not to contact them unless there's an emergency.. So I'm taking the hint and not getting in touch anymore. I must have done something wrong for them to not want to help anymore. I'm confused as I have letters for various things/people in which my GP wrote that she would be seeing me regularly for review; I can't understand what's changed in that they no longer feel I need the support.

Have got the dentist tommorow and was planning on telling her I am feeling awful, because I have managed to confide in her before - but my mum has insisted she is coming too so can't talk to the dentist.

Am going days without speaking to anyone or doing anything at the moment. Tempted to phone GP surgery and ask to speak to someone on duty, and even made an appointment for next week but think I will cancel it..

Problems with your medication would be serious enough for you to contact your GP, especially if it's causing you distress.

Ring your GP sugery and make an appointment to talk to someone about your concerns, no one will think you're silly for doing it!

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by daisydaffodil)
Have started taking them again but I don't feel good at all. As in mentally. I'm going from feeling nothing to feeling awful - no happiness or feeling relaxed at all. Can't contact GP, she is away anyway but as I said told me not to contact them unless there's an emergency.. So I'm taking the hint and not getting in touch anymore. I must have done something wrong for them to not want to help anymore. I'm confused as I have letters for various things/people in which my GP wrote that she would be seeing me regularly for review; I can't understand what's changed in that they no longer feel I need the support.

Have got the dentist tommorow and was planning on telling her I am feeling awful, because I have managed to confide in her before - but my mum has insisted she is coming too so can't talk to the dentist.

Am going days without speaking to anyone or doing anything at the moment. Tempted to phone GP surgery and ask to speak to someone on duty, and even made an appointment for next week but think I will cancel it..

I don't think your GP is trying to get rid of you, per se. It could just be that she thought the meds were working well for you and that there would therefore be no reason to see you/be available as regularly as she was before. I know that now that we've finally found the right medication, my psychiatrist is much less interested in seeing me every month. Sometimes I can go about 2-3 months without seeing him

Remember you can always text me and I can come onto Facebook chat, if you ever want company

[G-Sticks]

With the heart problems I thought that was for Citalopram? The concerns were for the 60mg dose so 40mg is now the maximum dose (there has been suspicion that the research could have been funded by rival drug companies, if you throw enough money at research you can find any conclusion).

As far as your medication goes let me start by telling you I am not a medical professional. I have 10 years experience working in mental health but not as a qualified nurse, at a support worker level. Now when you start or stop taking medications there are changes that medications cause. As a general rule of thumb, it can take between 4 to 6 weeks for medication (in psychiatry) to take full effect, however after a just few days it's not likely that medication would be out of your system so therefore restarting medication, it shouldn't take that long to take effect, however it could still take a few days to get back into your system, it's not like paracetamol that works immediately, it needs to build up in your system gradually.

Stopping medication is never a good idea without medical advice first. You should definitely go to your GP again. They have a duty of care to you and it is their job to see you if you're unwell, whether it be mental or physical health. If they refuse to see you you should consider changing your practice as that is not right.

Like I said I'm not a doctor and I'm a complete stranger to your situation but I'd definitely try to wait it out for a few days to see if the medication gets back onto your system. I've never seen anybody die from heart problems taking escitalopram and all medications have side effects, most of them are incredibly rare but you can't take chances so they have to be reported!

Go to your doctor too!

Edit: also this is a pretty good website detailing information about different medications, their uses, side effects and advice etc: http://whatyoushouldknow.depression-...talopram-faqs/

[Sabali]

Your doctor may not want you in unless it's a complete emergency but changes to medication do need to be discussed with your GP and if you honestly feel like you have valid concerns then you have every right to book an appointment and get yourself checked out.

I do think maybe you are over worrying but as I'm not a doctor, I can't fully reassure you. If speaking to a medical processional about concerns in regards to your medicine will alleviate your fears and reassure you then I suggest booking a non emergency appointment with the duty nurse who can decide to refer you to the GP if she feels she can't answer your questions and deal with the symptoms you've said you've been having.