Hi Herco,

I am experiencing an almost identical story to yours. I was on escitalopram (the patent updated citalopram) for 3 years. In trying to change medicines, I tapered off escitalopram down to 1.5 mg\day and began prozac at 5 mg/day to begin. After two days the burning began in my right foot. I stopped prozac immediately and continuted on with escitalopram for one month. Over this time the burning came and went, but spread to the other foot, hands, knees. It did not travel in a path but seemed to “teleport” across the body. Neurology appointments came up with normal EMGs and NCSs. I was told I was “healthy” and my symptoms were not explained. My B12 was found to be low, but my symptoms did not improve with supplements, which I continue to take.

After this month, I have stopped all medicines completely (2 days ago, will update as time passes). The burning continues and is currently the worst it has been. I’m afraid there is something about Prozac that causes this issue and Celexa that propagates it. The medical literature has a few cases regarding parastheaia and prozac, but your story most closely resembles mine. What has helped? Can you update us on your story? Also, did the neurologists conduct and observe any unusual EMGs or NCSs?

Hoping for both of our sakes your condition has improved..

Take care

Hi Corgidog, and welcome!

It looks to me as if Herco hasn't been here in a while and so may not reply but you never know.

I'm no authority on the drugs you mention but noticed on Drugs.com that burning is mentioned as a rare side effect of escitalopram:

Escitalopram Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term - Drugs.com

But most drug listings involve a whole boatload of possible side effects. One good way to find out if symptoms you're having are caused by a drug you're taking is to do exactly what you're doing--stop taking the drug for long enough to see if the symptom goes away.

If that doesn't solve the problem, you might want to think about something you're doing that might be bringing on the burning. Have you changed shoes? Shoe-fit problems can cause an astonishing number of problems.

Or maybe you're sitting, standing, or walking in a certain way that you could modify? If you're in a wheelchair most of the time, just adjusting the legrests can solve quite a few issues.

All this may sound ridiculously simple-minded but I have diabetes and MS and have discovered that looking at the simple, "obvious" possible causes of a problem is a very good idea.

I took Prozac back in the 90's for a short time but stopped as it did not help my issue.

Never took and would not take Celexa.

My issues years ago were thyroid related, low sluggish thyroid.

I've mentioned how Inosine has helped me with the neuropathy issues and of course I'm s sold on Grape Seed Ex for decades.

Hi Corgidog

Welcome to NeuroTalk :).

I hope that you will find the community both knowledgeable and supportive.

The site that agate has provided is very good.

You can also use it to search for negative side-effects and interactions of Prozac and any other prescription medications you may on.

Best wishes.