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Celexa Withdrawal Triggered Sound of Eyes Moving

Abruptly stopping Celexa led to withdrawal symptoms of anxiety, agitation, a swooshing sound when moving the eyes, insomnia and crying.

Q. I was concerned about a swooshing sound when my eyes move. Thank goodness I found your website. I thought I was losing my mind.

I had been taking Celexa for generalized anxiety for the last eight years. Four weeks ago I lost my health insurance and had to discontinue the Celexa just like that.

In addition to the swooshing sounds, I’m having anxiety attacks and trouble sleeping. I cry at the drop of a hat. (Don’t show me any pictures of soldiers being reunited with their families!)

Thanks to comments I read about Cymbalta withdrawal I learned that other antidepressants can also cause misery if stopped suddenly. I now know that A) I’m not crazy and B) my eyeballs are not going to explode out of my head.

A. Antidepressants like citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro) and sertraline (Zoloft) can cause awful withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly. Some people describe “brain zaps” as electrical shock-like sensations. A very gradual taper, when possible, is preferable.

Without medical insurance, it may be difficult to get that swooshing sound checked by a neurologist, but hearing your eyes move can sometimes be a symptom of superior canal dehiscence syndrome. If the sounds of moving eyes persist after your other Celexa withdrawal symptoms fade, we urge you to ask a physician to rule it out.

 

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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