Celexa blood clots

[tommygirl739]

Hi,
I was taking Celexa for bipolar depression for about 1 1/2 years. I was at a very low dose - 10mg/day. I stopped taking Celexa approximately 3 months ago. This week I tried to donate blood, and they couldn't even get any blood out of me. My nurse practitioner says it's because Celexa thins your blood. I had an awful bruise from the blood tech trying to get an IV in both right and left arm. Here's my question: since I've been off of it for several months, how much longer does it take to have a normal blood flow? I'm scared to death of blood clots.
Additionally, she has prescribed Topamax for me which also seems to result in a high rate of blood clots. I am not feeling a lot of confidence in this nurse practitioner. What do you all think?
Thanks for any input you may have, I really appreciate it!

[Anonymouse88]

At this point the drug should be gone from your system, and your body should have had time to replace any inhibited clotting factors.  Celexa won't necessarily thin your blood, but it can (and there are a LOT of different ways for a drug to do that).  I see nothing in the prescribing info for topamax saying it causes blood clots or increased bleeding.  I don't see why you're worried about blood clots when you think that your blood is too thin.  If it is thinned, that means you will bleed more and be at less of a risk of blood clots.

Have you ever had issues getting blood drawn before?  It could just be the tech, or you might have not the best veins.  Anyone will bruise if you stab their veins and it bleeds into the surrounding tissue, especially if they stab multiple times as they attempt to get access.  Some people who normally have no issue will have a colorful bruise all the way down to their hand after donating blood if it bled a little extra.  Are you bruising easily or getting nosebleeds?  There are generally other signs if you actually have a bleeding issue.  You could get bloodwork done to check.  ILADVOCATE is right about the free clinics.

[ILADVOCATE]

  There should be insurance options where you could be covered.
For example there is the Medicaid Buy In Program for Working People
with Disabilities which has a higher income limit because it
is designed for people who work and are otherwise eligible
but their income would otherwise exclude them. Also there
is the Patient Assistance Program where the companies
that make the prescriptions can provide the medications
without cost. This would depend on the specific medication
and eligibility factors A psychiatrist  or other
medical doctor or practitioner would have to fill out the forms.
    There are clinics where a psychiatrist would
have a sliding scale fee. An organization such as NAMI
could provide information on where to obtain a referral list.
Generally a psychiatrist who had more specific knowledge
could in a one time consult put together some ideas
on what might be of help and then speak to who you are currently
seeing now. There should be some other ways the situation
could be addressed. Health insurance options should be increasing over
time..
   There are specific guidelines they have to follow
as regards medication side effects and interactions
within FDA guidelines. If you have specific concerns
they should be able to tell you how they are being addressed.

[tommygirl739]

Hello,
I appreciate your advice. I was asking here because I can't afford to see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist I was seeing was an intern at a University and even that wars $150/per 1/2 hour, so she was the person that suggested I see a psychiatric nurse practitione for my med management. She put me on all these meds to begin with….I really don't trust her judgement. I don't know where to find the money to go see a psychiatrist, because I know they can't fix any problem in one visit, and I'm sure I can't afford that….I make just enough money that I can't qualify for Medicaid in my state, so I'm one of those people slipping through the cracks. I do appreciate your attempt to help me though. Thank you.

[adel_ezz]

I presume you need a doctor not this forum to advise you or inform you properly of the relation between celexa/citalopram or topamax to blood clots. the 1st is an antidepressant and most of them are known to cause blood thinning this is why taking it with aspirin another blood thinner may cause bleeding. On the other hand the second is an anticonvulsanr and known for blood clotting, so really whether you change your SSRI or the antipsychotic you need a true medical advise and not asking in this forum. Clotting and bleeding deprends on vitamin K which some drugs affect it and it's important for blood clotting.

I just wonder why you ask a nurse for start, you need a doctor. Besides blood clotting can cause your anticonvulsant to become sub therapeutic i.e. ineffective.usually it's said don't discontinue the drugs suddenly.

truly, I suppose you need a doctor, I know nowadays health insurance is getting very bad in the USA, but I assume no one here can advise you properly as it's is an ethical responsibility. you need a pdoc who can change the meds for you. Even if you change your anticonvulsant to an antipsychotic like risperidone or seroquel etc... some if not most of the atypical ones are known to cause blood clotting. I take seroquel and it's the worst regarding this issue and I also frightenned to death but i have no other solution at the moment. All BP drugs have got severe side effects.