If you or someone you love is taking the prescribed medication CELEXA, be cautious. Especially if you or the loved one is a SENIOR CITIZEN.
Within 23 months of taking the medication, CELEXA, I lost the central vision in my right eye. I WAS 37 YEARS OLD.
I began taking the antipressant Celexa in June of 1999 as prescribed by my Doctor for extreme Premenopausal symptoms.
I was 35 years old, with no other health or uncorrectable vision problems (though I do wear glasses), and took NO other medications on a regular basis - prescription or over-the-counter. I had an annual physical exam and eye exam every 2 years.By April 16, during a routine eye exam - it was discovered that I had NO CENTRAL VISION IN MY RIGHT EYE! 3 specialists later - I was diagnosed with
IDIOPATHIC MACULAR DEGENERATION "WET" Type which was determined to be INOPERABLE, UNCORRECTABLE, and RESULTED IN PERMANENT BLINDNESS in my right eye, central vision.
I was 37 years old, no health or eye problems, no family history of this disease, and no other information to what caused it. I visited the CELEXA website & reviewed the Animal Toxicology Report online - which indicated that there had been noted RETINAL CHANGES in LAB RATS subjected to CELEXA during the course of the STUDY. The "study" was only for a 24 month term. At this point, I was stunned.in January I filed an ADVERSE REACTION REPORT WITH THE FDA. I was contacted by Kate Phelen of the FDA to discuss my condition. February 11, I forwarded to Forest Pharmaceuticals, Drug Safety Department - a summary of my condition and my concern that CELEXA had caused my blindness. Mr. Pat Yorky of the Drug Safety Department of Forest Labs, contacted me Feb. 14 to respond to my complaint, asked general questions and advised he would forward the information to Forest Labs Public Affairs Department. April 11, Kate Phelen of the FDA contacted me to advise me that at that point - she could not rule in or out that CELEXA might have caused the blindess. The 3 specialists could not rule the use of CELEXA in or out as the cause of the blindness.
This is what i've learned:
the fda, unfortunately, cannot determine what medications cause any affliction until enough adverse reports of a similar nature are filed with them.
For me - I've learned to adjust to living with one eye. There are many areas of life for which I must compensate. No long term reading - it causes too much strain. Very little depth perception - hammering a nail or threading a needle requires extreme concentration. I sincerely appreciate my left eye and will never take my vision for granted. I also want others to know the potential of what this medication can cause before they take it - particularly SENIOR CITIZENS - who are already at risk for MACULAR DEGENERATION. Senior Citizens are also a big segment of the antipresssant market becasue they take many medications that cause a depressant effect. Many times, antidepressants, like CELEXA, are prescribed to couteract them.
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