Tic Disorder citalopram ssri

[bluejosh]

hi there
I have been on and off ssri's for the last 15 years because of an Ecstacy induced panic disorder that seems to have given me a chemical imbalance of sorts. I have endured every side effect in the book it seems but over the last 6 years or so I have developed nasty tics in my arms, hands, shoulders and neck. Having suffered for years I thought they may have been induced by all the ssris I have taken as I never suffered as a child (I'm 36). There seems to be a little evidence to back this up but the neurologist dimisses it and says that the tics and panic disorder are probably linked but NOT caused by the SSRI usage. I am off SSRIs and cope OK (not great but OK) with the panic anxiety but recently the doc prescribed Tetrabenazine for the Tic Disorder. This however brings my anxiety/panic back and only marginally helps the tics. I am now thinking of ditching the Tetrabenazine and going back to the SSRIs but don't want to make the Tics any worse for the future as they can be unbearable to cope with. Feels like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place - again! Has anyone else suffered with the tics or been diagnosed with adult onset tic disorder?
Thanks

[CrazyCatLady]

I don't have any experience I'm afraid Bluejosh, can the doctor give you any advice perhaps? Is there anything in the medication forum about side effects and tics?

:flowers:

[joannap]

mmm - i don;t have a lot of faith in doctors i'm afraid regarding this kind of thing. my thyroid played up last year and my blood pressure was all over the place for the first time ever in my life and my specialist told me it was nothing to do with it and yet several sites on the internet mention this link so i would not put a great deal of store by what he says - although of course - it may be something that you would have developed despite ssris. i do find in general that most gp's are very dismissive - i can count at least 5 occasions where my own diagnosis has been proved right in the end and yet the doctors initially poo pooed what i said.

i have been suffering stomach troubles for 4 months which i am sure are as a result of long term ssri use and unless i feel there is no other option - i am never going back on anti depressants because even though i am not anti meds - no one truly knows exactly how they work/what they may be doing to our bodies in the way of side effects etc.

you may like to read at last a life by paul david - his anxiety was set off by drug use but he overcame it naturally after suffering for 10 years - he has a website too.

regarding the medication - if it makes your anxiety worse - can you not ask to try something else - i am sure there must be several drugs they can use for tics? it would be a shame to go back on ssris if you feel you are coping without xx