Looking for some help.

Posted , 4 users are following.

First off this is about my 3rd post in the last two weeks and you have all been such a great help. I am a little down today and feeling out of it and need some help. I had been on Citalopram for about 5-6 years of 20mg before going cold turkey and stopping about 2 months ago. I feel into a deep dark place and had to go to urgent care because I thought I was dying. They put me back on the 20mg which I have been on now for two weeks. I can say I have been feeling better off and on. I have had anxiety for most of my entire life but this go around I am going through something much different. At times I feel like I am not in my body which is very scary. I feel like it is my time to go and I am close to dying. This morning I woke up and started freaking out because I had no idea what was going on and felt confused and very out of it. I went for a quick walk and just felt like I was walking with no where to go. I also have a lot of pressure in my head. I almost went to the ER this morning because of what was going on. I finally say down and played a video game and it helped me to calm down a little. I am just wondering if anyone else has had experiences like this. My concern is that it is a brain tumor or brain cancer that is causing this. I can't be myself and it effects me every living moment. When will this medicine kick in again? Will I be ok?

2 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hey 

    Sorry you are having a tough time. I've been on citalopram for 2 years roughly and it took 3-4 weeks before I started to feel better. 

    I too have had times where I feel like I am not in control of my own body anymore. Times when im going somewhere and then have no idea where I am going.

    Going cold turkey is never wise. I have also done this before and had similar side effects. 

    If you are concerned about your health generally you should go to your gp and ask for blood tests etc to put your mind at rest.

    Life is incredibly tough when we suffer with mental health issues, I sympathise completely. I have good days and bad days. Or days where I am ok one minute and and then down the next.

    Stay strong and keep taking your medication. smile

    • Posted

      Thanks for the support. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow with a new doctor to get all checked out so will possibly have the run some blood work to make sure everything is ok. It's a scary feeling not being able to control your body. I believe I have GAD and Health Anxiety and everything worries me. When I stopped taking my medication I think it all just added up and was like I feel into a hole. I am hoping I can pull myself out because this is an awful feeling. 
    • Posted

      I have GAD and PTSD I take pregablin for this as well as citalopram. I was only given these after I had seen a pyhschiatrist. But they have def relieved the anxiety levels to a more manageable level. 

      Ask your gp if they can prescribe something for the anxiety too as often citalopram on its own isn't enough. 

      I'm stuck in the rut of being on the meds now long term but am coming to terms with the fact that I need them to function properly. 

      It's not easy at all and I people who don't have mental health problems simply do not understand. Luckily we have each other on here to keep us strong and make us feel that we are not alonesmile

  • Posted

    Firstly, you're not alone, as you know from posting on here.  At one time or another someone reading this will have felt such similar things.  Louisa is right about not going cold turkey.  It's the worst possible thing to do.  It will mess around with your seratonin levels and your body won't understand what's happening.  This will in part be causing some of what you're feeling.   You definitely are experiencing health anxiety, which is not as unusual as you might think.  It's a rotten anxiety to have and very stressful and as we all know stress can actually cause ill health to occur where before there was nothing wrong.  

    Get as much rest as possible until your body has adjusted to being back on the Cit.  Two weeks is too soon for it to balance out and work properly.  Although going to the doctor will probably give you evidence that you're not about to die and are just suffering extreme side effects while your body adjusts, your anxiety will still cause you to worry that they've missed something.  This will eventually sort itself as the cit starts working properly - probably another 4 or so weeks before that happens.  Whatever you do, do NOT stop and start, particularly not by going cold turkey, you'll never get better that way.  If once it does start to work, it makes you feel better, why in heaven's name stop taking it.  The old saying 'if it aint broke dont fix it' was never truer about effective medication.  If it doesn't settle down in a couple of weeks, perhaps go talk to your doctor again and discuss it fully.  Good luck my friend.

  • Posted

    Thank you all for the kind words. Dealing with a headache currently but other then that feeling better. Still a little anxious but at least can feel my body and know what is taking place. Just wish I could blink and go back to feeling like the old me. This is something I wish upon my worst enemy. Fingers crossed the meds work and start to kick in. 

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