Citalopram overdose. Could it have caused brain damage?

[addick]

Considering the mechanism of citalopram, is it impossible for brain damage to occur, bar serotonin syndrome?

It block's the re-uptake of serotonin. I don't think a large dose could damage any receptors or nerves. It would just mean there is more serotonin in the synapse, causing serotonin syndrome. The hospital said I didn't have this. So I have been worrying over nothing. Is this right?

Alternatively, maybe the overdose caused chronic serotonin syndrome, while the 53 citalopram tablets were being cleared from my system. All I know is that I felt really spaced out for the first few weeks after my OD.

Could the overdose have damaged the liver or kidneys? I wasn't tested for this.

Thanks

[bobbin]

Considering the mechanism of citalopram, is it impossible for brain damage to occur, bar serotonin syndrome?

It blocks the re-uptake of serotonin. I don't think a large dose could damage any receptors or nerves. It would just mean there is more serotonin in the synapse, causing serotonin syndrome. The hospital said I didn't have this. So I have been worrying over nothing. Is this right?

Alternatively, maybe the overdose caused chronic serotonin syndrome, while the 53 citalopram tablets were being cleared from my system. All I know is that I felt really spaced out for the first few weeks after my OD.

Could the overdose have damaged the liver or kidneys? I wasn't tested for this.

Thanks

Severe cases of serotonin syndrome generally occur when different serotonin potentiating drugs are combined eg. an SSRI + an MAOI. If you did not have serotonin syndrome while in hospital, you will not have had it when you went home.

Citalopram is not associated with liver or kidney damage.

[addick]

Ok. Thanks again.

[Shwampa]

can I just ask why you overdosed. Suicidal thoughts are more urgent to attend to than worrying about any brain damage you might have caused with the od.