Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi I’m after some advice. I have withdrawn from citolapram very slowly over a year. I am currently on the dose 2.5mg. I am staying put for now as I feel very anxious sometimes! I do have periods where I feel ok and then the time of my period and just after experience bad anxiety and depression. Can anyone advise ? Is this withdrawal or is it me ? I wasn’t like this before I went on tablets. Please help anyone been through withdrawal and come off successfully ?
0 likes, 61 replies
Kirky12
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Thank you for all your replies. I am going to stay on 2.5mg for the foreseeable and hopefully things will settle. It’s so hard to know what to do I don’t feel good at the minute find it hard to calm down but I can’t take the weight gain and the numb feeling citolapram gives me. I just want to know how long these withdrawals will last or is this just how it will be from on 😩
lois95799 Kirky12
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lois95799 Kirky12
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gillian176 lois95799
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There’s hope for me then!
White carbs a no no 😂
lois95799 gillian176
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Yes Gillian I didn't think it could be done with the weight issues..my phychiatrist was shock when I showed up to my appointment in my normal weight again..
Kirky12
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gillian176 Kirky12
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You may just need it
With hindsight that’s what I should have done in 2013 after my year of reducing
Am back on 20 mg
I may eventually work myself down to 10mg
Don’t beat yourself up about being on it
I learnt my lesson the very hard way
simona66866 gillian176
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I’m trying to stop Citalopram now. On week 3, halved my dose from 20mg to 10mg and was fine but went on holiday this week and I think I may have delayed withdrawal symptoms - nausea, anxiety, tiredness, don’t want to anything or talk to anyone (really hard when you came back to see your family for a week). Do you think I should go to 15mg and come off to the 10mg slower or should I keep being on the 10mg?
Thanks for any advice.
Simona
gillian176 simona66866
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I know some people say they do with success... altho now I think about it there are more have problems than not
I was on 20 mg for6/12
Reduced over one year... I know that sounds a long time but it worked for me with withdrawal problems
However if I didn’t feel quite right I would go back to the previous two week dose
So I would do
20/17.5/20/17.5. For a month initially then moved to two week tapers
17.5/17.5/17.5....
17.5/15/17.5/15...
And so on
I requested 10 mg tablets
Got a pill cutter
Saved the cut bits for the next day
Worked down to
2.5/1.25/2.5/1.25
Then 1.25 /1.25/1.25
I think I even did
1.25/0/1.25/0
However after 6/8 weeks of nothing I did feel anxiety resurface
It took me nearly 3 years to go see about going back on it
The second time of getting established took much longer
I shall stay on them forever
I just am missing that chemical seratonin link
Is that helpful ??
simona66866 gillian176
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Just seen this now. Thanks for your response. I have been taking 15mg for 3 days now and hope to feel better by the end of the week. I’m a little bit scared to introduce the 20mg again as I don’t want to get the start symptoms. Do you think that can happen?
In the meantime, taking some magnesium, B12 and drinking tea from St John’s wort which read should help. Going back to work in a day so really scared I won’t be able to control the anxiety
lois95799 simona66866
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simona66866 lois95799
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lois95799 simona66866
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simona66866 lois95799
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lois95799 simona66866
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gillian176 simona66866
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Try staying on 15 mg then for a month
Or get 10 mg tablets and do the 17.5:15:17.5 :15
For a month until your absolutely stable
There are no prizes in this game for tapering
BUT......You CANNOT take St. John’s wort in any form at same time
It’s same thing/ similar to Citalopram but a herbal thing
You can’t run the two together
Overdose situation
Anyone else reading this I think I recall it interacting with contraceptive pills too ...
simona66866 gillian176
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Thanks Gillian! I’m doing the 15mg until I feel better. Hope that's soon because I’m going back to work tomorrow and need to somehow make it through the day. Had a horrible night last night. I was ok until I went to bed and fell asleep but then somebody woke me up and my heart didn’t stop beating faster and faster. I have a plane to catch in a couple of hours for a 3.5hrs flight which stresses me out a little bit more. I’m determined to be ok though when I put my foot on English land! Thank god this forum exists and there are so many supportive people out there. Sincere thanks to all of you!
Paula2019 simona66866
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gillian176 simona66866
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Well done. Hope that settles over a month
Flights always are stressful
Never used used to be!
I have propranolol beta blockers which I very occasionally take 10 mg for that kind of anxiety attack your probably having. Heart races and you feel awful as a consequence of the adrenaline and cortisol
Maybe speak to your GP next visit
I am flying the other way today 😎
gillian176 Paula2019
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Yes. That works too 👏👏
Paula2019 gillian176
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simona66866 Paula2019
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simona66866 gillian176
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Weirdly flight was fine .. even ate. Probably had a massive window of feeling good and now it came crashing me. I'm really scared. I’m going to try and book an appointment with my GP but that won’t be until next week probably. If only I knew how long until I get ok
Paula2019 simona66866
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simona66866 Paula2019
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Paula2019 simona66866
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simona66866 Paula2019
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simona66866 Paula2019
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Paula2019 simona66866
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Have you looked into CBT? I wouldnt keep going from 15 to 20 to 15 etc in a short space of time, give yourself more time to settle its not a quick fix
lois95799 simona66866
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You haven't given the 15 a chance ..these meds work really slowwwww.. upping your dose is going to make you feel right back where you started..
simona66866 Paula2019
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Yes think only about the recovery. Hopefully, the withdrawal symptoms have passed and you feel a bit better now? Is you doctor helpful?
I’ve done CBT before and it was really helpful but the waiting list is 4 weeks so need to wait for this. Found a depression meeting today to which I am going to go after work so hopefully this would help. So then I should keep still to 15mg? I just don’t understand why my doctor is so negligent and said there’s not point of me to stay on 15mg cause then I’m not getting a correct dose due to the cutting of pills. She literally said choose wither 10mg or 20mg .. I’m so confused 😐
simona66866 lois95799
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lois95799 simona66866
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Why do the doctors put all this people including myself thru hell and back with multiple Medications and lots of increase and decreasing dramas?15is just so you can move easier to twenty...if you don't mind the drama staring all over again .take your doctor's advise on the twenty...good luck
simona66866 lois95799
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That's what I’m asking myself and can’t understand. I don’t really think my doctor cared anyway. Definitely can’t take all the side effects of starting all over so hope to have a better night and leave the 15mg to work. Going to take your advice and try to pull through this. I did read quite a lot of people are doing the 15mg so hoping for the best
lois95799 simona66866
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gillian176 simona66866
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Well that’s rubbish
Of course you can cut them
I am VERY cross on your behalf
Lots of us have with great success
She is not as worldly as we are!
I was so mad when I read her comment
Don’t call her Chat to us !!
Can u change Gp or insist on 10 mg tabs
Then 15 is more easily measured
But I agree you need to give the 15 mg more time... it’s tough I know but stick with it distract yourself... I spent two weeks watching Netflix myself once
Exercise. Be kinder to yourself
Hold on
👍
Paula2019 simona66866
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I would imagine your doctor has said this because the tablets only come in 20 and 10's and cutting them is not necessarily accurate. I have a few pill cutters and have thrown more pills than kept because of the inaccuracy. I still would use this method though, am just very careful with my measurements.
Paula2019 lois95799
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Paula2019 simona66866
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lois95799 Paula2019
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lois95799
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Paula2019 lois95799
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simona66866 lois95799
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simona66866 Paula2019
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simona66866 gillian176
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gillian176 simona66866
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I saved every piece/bit when I cut them and wud use the 5 mg one night and the other 5 the next
It’s not hard with a pill cutter and to be honest with the half life of the tablet and how long it stays in your system.. it’s not worth worrying about mgs being slightly out as you have it the ne t night with your 10...
Beware though at the time it will take to get 10 mg tabs. The chemist won’t change it on the script
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