Anxiety and Panic Relapse after Citalopram withdrawal

hi Howard, please don't worry, things will return to normal. I too went cold turkey, I'm on 40mg, not the best decision I've ever

made. The temptation when you're feeling good, is to stop the

meds which are keeping you well. As you've found out, you can't

simply stop, you must be weaned off the meds. Be strong, life

will get better, I promise. And wow, you have a baby on the way.

The best boost of all. Don't worry about feeling distant, that

feeling will go away. Be kind to yourself, you didn't ask to be ill,

everything takes time. Congratulations on the baby. Keep in

touch and let me know how you're getting on. Best wishes, Geoff.

Hi Howard, I am in a similar situation to yourself. I have been back on Citalopram 20mg for 40 days and I am just starting to feel a little better. You will need to give the meds 6-8 weeks to work and your symptoms of low mood and anxiety may worsen at first. My anxiety was very bad during the initial weeks. Stick with it - you WILL recover and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Your feelings of detachment from your wife are symptoms of the depression, not the real you, and be assured that you will feel that bond returning as the symptoms ease. I am still not back to my usual self, but I am in a much better place than I was a few weeks back. I wish you all the very best and hope you are feeling much better soon. Myself and other members are here if you have any other questions or worries. Hugs X

Hi Howard

I'm on Citalopram for the second time around .... first was 15 years on them, had a year's break but sadly had to restart due to the stress of family illness and this time around I've been on them just over a year now.  Yes they will work for you again - just give them lots of time.  For me, it took a good 4 months plus to feel well again, and have been great ever since.

When I was off medication I took 5-HTP and l-tyrosine instead with great results.  The family illness was however very great indeed, and so I restarted Cit before I fell too far into a dark hole again.  Am now back down to 5mg only and will stop again next year and return to 5-HTP etc.

Something to think about if you ever decide to come off them again.

5-HTP is a natural SSRI which needs to be taken with l-tyrosine.  There are no side effects with this, which is great.  Both can be bought from Holland & Barrett (if you're in the UK) and you need to take them both.  Read a book called 5-HTP The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity by Michael T Murray ........ it's a really interesting read.

You need to be off SSRI's completely before starting 5-HTP as they must not be taken together.

Being back on Citalopram will take time ....... but you will get there again.  My anxiety has completely gone again.

K x 

Hi Howard, I have been taking it now for about 26 days, n I'm not even used to it yet. Cold turkey is the worst thing to do, n then to go back on right at 20 at as in after a couple months of none. I would say ur brain is very confused right now. But I've heard of people going back on it n getting relief again from their anx/dep so I'm sure u will be fine In due time, but u can't just stop n start so abruptly. U Must go down slowly when u go off it, as well as starting it to make it the easiest on ur body and chemicals. How long have u been back on it?

Hi Howard, 

Sorry you got stung!  Severe anxiety and depression from a cold turkey withdrawal are due to withdrawal and not a relapse, important to know it isn't your original illness, and yes, those symptoms can wait to come out until months out from the CT.  What dose did you CT from and what dose did you reinstate?

The withdrawal advisors suggest taking a smaller amount than you jumped off from.  If you just started up again, you might try taking half or a quarter and seeing if that makes you feel better.  Your system was in fact adapting to the lack of drug, so going back to the full amount when you jumped could be causing you the start-up side effects, hard to separate from WD effects.

It is possible to taper off of these meds slowly enough to not notice withdrawal symptoms, allowing your system to gently return to the "factory settings." How long were you on Cit? 

The action of these SSRIs causes the nervous system to adapt in an effort to regain neurochemical balance, actual physical changes.  The body incorporates the action of the drug into the equation.  Imagine ivy growing in the natural state, and then add a trellis, and the ivy incorporates the trellis into its growth pattern.  You did the equivalent of yanking out the trellis and leaving the ivy with no support!  If you gradually remove bits of the trellis, the ivy will gradually adapt to its absence.  That is what tapering is all about.

And returning to the predrug condition does not mean that you will revert to being depressed or anxious, whatever you were taking the drug for.  There is no scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis that these mental illnesses are caused by imbalances of neurochemicals.  There was a time in your life where you didn't have the depression and anxiety and you can get back there.

So, if you want to try again in future, here's some info that can help:

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/withdrawing-from-antidepressants-and-benzos-safely-485891?page=0#1809368

Do consider cutting the dosage to see if you will feel better.

Good luck!

Hi Howard

Have been on Citlopram on and off for 15 years now, have been off them for a couple of years every now and then, but have now been on them for five years now, when ever I crash I always feel that I will never get better , even though I do, but it seems a very steep climb but you will get better , try to keep that thought in mind,

All the best fella