Can celexa cause restless legs syndrome?

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “Can celexa cause restless legs syndrome?”. Celexa is an antidepressant which is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. 

This antidepressant is associated with a number of side effects and it may make your legs restless. This blog will cover what researchers have to say about this and what you can do to make this side effect go away, or at least tone down a little. 

Can celexa cause restless legs syndrome?

Yes, celexa can cause restless leg syndrome. It is indeed a disturbing condition which is associated with involuntary movement of lower extremities. However, this is one of the rare side effects.

This side effect is also called Parkinson’s like side effect, because the same thing happens to a person who’s suffering from Parkinson’s disease. 

However, this led researchers to believe that just like this disease affects the brain, similarly celexa and other antidepressants can also affect that part of the brain which is responsible for the movement of your legs. 

What does research suggest?

A 2018 study monitored the effects of solo or combined therapy with antidepressants in the Turkish population. The study included more than 400 patients and they were monitored for the occurrence of restless leg syndrome. 

All patients were divided into two groups and they were given a questionnaire in order to determine the exact symptoms each one of them were going through. The study concluded that SSRIs, including celexa, can induce restless leg syndrome in patients. 

Another 2007 study reviewed case studies which included people who were suffering from restless leg syndrome and they were on antidepressants for quite a while. The study tried to interpret any relationship present between these two and it actually found one. 

It was concluded that SSRIs can cause restless leg syndrome. However, the same study indicated that this side effect is based on the dopamine levels and can get a little better with the use of bupropion. 

The study also indicated that sertraline possesses the lowest risk of causing RLS, which indicates that it is more commonly found in celexa users as compared to sertraline users. 

Another study has indicated how antidepressants are linked to this condition and how restless leg syndrome can become disabling, especially when the condition progresses. It can also take a nocturnal turn and can significantly reduce your sleep quality. 

How to get rid of celexa induced restless legs? 

There are a few things you can do if you suffer from celexa induced restless leg syndrome. These include:

Talk to your healthcare provider 

The first and the most important approach to get rid of celexa induced restless legs is to ensure the safety of this antidepressant if you continue to use it. If this med doesn’t suit you and continues to deteriorate your restless leg syndrome, then it is not worth using celexa. 

Your doctor may try dose reduction at first, if it’s a possibility. If your condition seems to become better and you start noticing a reduction in the restlessness of your legs, then your doctor will consider continuing your treatment. 

If your condition doesn’t become better then it clearly indicates that celexa is not the right choice of antidepressant for you and the treatment is too risky to continue. 

Avoid foods that can trigger RLS

Another thing you can try to avoid an episode of RLS is avoid the foods that seem to trigger this condition. For some people, the use of caffeine, alcohol and cigarette smoking can exacerbate the symptoms of RLS. 

Make sure you avoid these things as much as you can because they don’t fit well with antidepressants in the first place. They can not only make your RLS worse but can also exacerbate your other side effects. 

They can also make your depression or any other mental health condition for which you’re taking this med much worse. 

Rule out other underlying health conditions

Ruling out other underlying health conditions is also necessary to make sure that only your antidepressant is responsible for your RLS and there’s nothing else that might fuel the fire. 

Conditions like diabetes, anaemia, thyroid diseases, kidney diseases and an undiagnosed Parkinson’s disease can be a cause of your RLS or make your existing RLS much worse. 

Make sure you go for a thorough checkup and rule out any other health condition that may make your symptoms worse. 

Physiotherapy 

Physiotherapy is a good option to get back in control of your leg movement. A typical physiotherapy session includes massage, exercise, cold and hot press and stretching. It can help make the symptoms of your RLS better. You can also try doing these at home. 

Adopt a better lifestyle 

You can adopt a healthier lifestyle that can help control an episode of your RLS, especially at night. Nocturnal RLS can significantly decrease your sleep quality and make you feel tired the next day, which can drastically mess with your daily life activities. 

In order to prevent restless legs at night, the following tips are important:

• Do not smoke. Cigarette smoke contains stimulants which can make your symptoms much worse. 
• Do not drink coffee or take any stimulant in the evening. 
• Exercise regularly 
• Do not continue to take any medication that can make your symptoms much worse. 
• Leg massage 

What are the additional side effects of celexa? 

Common side effects of celexa include:

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea or Constipation 
• Acid reflux or heartburn 
• Abdominal pain 
• Loss of appetite 
• Weight gain or loss 
• Excessive sweating or night sweating (nocturnal/night hyperhidrosis) 
• Frequent urination 
• Polydipsia or excessive thirst
• Tremors 
• Muscle twitching and pain
• Drowsiness 
• Dizziness 
• Excessive tiredness or fatigue 
• Insomnia or inability to fall asleep 
• Xerostomia or dry mouth 
• Dysmenorrhea or heavy periods
• Flu like symptoms including irritation in eyes and runny nose
• Loss of libido in both male and females. Males may suffer from inability to release, while females may suffer from inability to have a climactic experience. 

Celexa (Citalopram) is also associated with some serious side effects, which may include:

• Allergic reaction associated with symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc. 
• Auditory or visual hallucinations 
• Nose bleeds
• Severe headache
• Arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeats
• Impaired memory and concentration 
• Convulsions 
• Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body.

How to ensure the proper use of celexa? 

• Make sure celexa is the right choice of antidepressant for you. Stick to your doctor’s recommended dose. Do not take more or less than that. 
• Ask your doctor before taking celexa if you’re pregnant, trying to conceive or if you’re a breastfeeding mother. 
• If you fail to understand how to use the drug properly or have any other question, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• In case of overdose, immediately reach out to the hospital. Make sure you properly guide them about how much drug you have taken and when. 
• If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if a lot of time has passed and your next dose is near, do not take it. It’s better to skip the missed dose and take the next one.
• Report any problems with bleeding or bruising to your doctor. If you see any unexplained blisters or rashes on your body, or experience any problems with urination, or if you feel changes in your vision, immediately report to your healthcare provider. 
• Keep the bottle away from children and pets. In case of overdose, immediately take them to the hospital. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed celexa induced restless leg syndrome. Celexa is an antidepressant which is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. This antidepressant is associated with a number of side effects and it may make your legs restless.  

It is indeed a disturbing condition which is associated with involuntary movement of lower extremities. This side effect is also called Parkinson’s like side effect, because the same thing happens to a person who’s suffering from Parkinson’s disease. 

Your doctor may try dose reduction at first, if it’s a possibility. If your condition seems to become better and you start noticing a reduction in the restlessness of your legs, then your doctor will consider continuing your treatment. 

Make sure celexa is the right choice of antidepressant for you. Stick to your doctor’s recommended dose. Do not take more or less than that. 

FAQs: celexa restless legs

What antidepressants cause restless leg syndrome?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause restless leg syndrome. These meds include zoloft (sertraline), lexapro (Escitalopram), prozac (Fluoxetine), paxil (Paroxetine) and celexa (Citalopram). Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can also cause RLS. These include Effexor (Venlafaxine), Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine), Ixel (Milnacipran) and Fetzima (levomilnacipran). 

Why do SSRIs make restless legs worse?

SSRIs may affect the level of dopamine in your system which can give rise to restless leg syndrome. This syndrome is common in people with Parkinson’s disease. 

What are the side effects of Celexa?

Common side effects of celexa include:

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea or Constipation 
• Acid reflux or heartburn 
• Abdominal pain 
• Loss of appetite 
• Weight gain or loss 
• Excessive sweating or night sweating (nocturnal/night hyperhidrosis) 
• Frequent urination 
• Polydipsia or excessive thirst
• Tremors 
• Muscle twitching and pain
• Drowsiness 
• Dizziness 

What are the symptoms of serotonin syndrome?

• Excessive sweating 
• Restlessness and fatigue
• Headache, which often feels like your head is pounding
• Changes in blood pressure and/or temperature
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Bradycardia
• Tremors
• Muscle twitching and muscle pain
• Shivering and goosebumps

Can antidepressants make you restless?

Yes, antidepressants do make you restless and can cause restless leg syndrome.  It is indeed a disturbing condition which is associated with involuntary movement of lower extremities. This side effect is also called Parkinson’s like side effect, because the same thing happens to a person who’s suffering from Parkinson’s disease. However, this led researchers to believe that just like this disease affects the brain, similarly celexa and other antidepressants can also affect that part of the brain which is responsible for the movement of your legs. 

References 

• Faruk Ömer Odabaş (2018) – Is there any association between antidepressants and restless legs syndrome in a large Turkish population receiving mono or combined treatment? A cross-sectional comparative study https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24750573.2018.1480855#:~:text=In%20several%20studies%2C%20the%20use,effect%20of%20second%20generation%20antidepressants.
• Nader Perroud et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry (2007) – Restless legs syndrome induced by citalopram: a psychiatric emergency? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17189751/. 
• Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Blog http://rlsfoundation.blogspot.com/2018/10/depression-and-rls.html?m=1
• Restless legs syndrome https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20377168#:~:text=Restless%20legs%20syndrome%20(RLS)%20is,eases%20the%20unpleasant%20feeling%20temporarily.
• National Health Service (NHS) – Treatment of Restless legs syndrome https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/treatment/ 
• James M. Ferguson, M.D. – SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181155/
• Celexa – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8603/celexa-oral/details
• Citalopram (Oral Route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/citalopram-oral-route/description/drg-20062980