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Looking to connect with people withdrawing from citalopram

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recoverygrrl
recoverygrrl

Hi I have been on citalopram for over a decade and have been weaning off it for the last year and a half. I rushed the last 3 dose reductions and am now paying the price! Its now been over a month since my last reduction and I'm still having intense symptoms- feel like a completely different person as most of the time my brian is foggy and I can't think straight. I don't want to go back up a dose as I'll feel the last month has been wasted and surely these symptoms will end soon??? (I take heart in that I had a few days a week ago where I felt back to my old self but sadly the symptoms returned!). Accupuncture is a god send and staves off my symptoms for 10 hours at a time but then they come back. Anyway I'd just like to connect with anyone who's had or who's having a similar experience.

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  • Capodingos
    Capodingos recoverygrrl

    Posted

    Hope you are feeling better, it sounds like things are stabilising a bit, keep on the same dose as long as needed. It was towards the end when I was taking very low doses I found the most difficult with anxiety and migraines.

    It is so confusing not knowing if it things will things get better with time or am I just torturing myself by not taking the prozac. I am determined to stay off them as I don't want to accept taking them for life, I just hope it is not a decision I will later regret and does not damage relationships and my future career.

    I agree that more natural remedies and life style are the way to go, the effects are more subtle but don't have a negative effect on your health like tablets can. I've been feeling more tired recently and think the diazepam and not eating healthily could be contributing to that. I have had a low couple of weeks but plan to cut out alcohol and do more exercise outdoors (walking, cycling) to improve my physical health. The things I find most difficult to cope with are the lack of energy and the demands and lack of understanding of other people, and need a lot of time and space for myself at the moment.

    I found the survivingantidepressants forum site recently, it is worth a look, it is interesting to read the advice and people's experiences on there too.

    Hope things go well for the rest of your withdrawal, keep positive and take it slow.

     

    • recoverygrrl
      recoverygrrl Capodingos

      Posted

      Thanks. Had a bad day yesterday but feel stronger again this morning but am trying to remain confident that I've nearly stabilised. I hear you about the dilemma as to whether to go on meds again. I have witnessed people torturing themselves trying not to go on meds and then feeling a whole lot better when they bit the bullet and went on them. Equally I've seen people battle through not going on meds and coming out the other side. Such a hard call. Only you can determine. Have you tried counselling? Also if you do take the Prozac it doesn't necessarily mean it's for life. I really understand about people not understanding. I think some of my friends are exasperated with me! And keep trying to rush me into feeling better! But I guess you don't know how withdrawal is until you are in it!!!!
  • recoverygrrl
    recoverygrrl

    Posted

    Just wanted to offer up some hope here. I am now off citalopram and doing ok. I stabalised from the second last drop (which I wrote about above) with the help of a wonderful herbalist and Accupuncture. I then had a terrible time dropping to zero which has lasted about a month but which seems to be settling now. I felt terror like I had never before!!! but this is subsiding now. I found EFT tapping extraordinarily useful and I continue to take the herbs and meditate. Wishing you all every success in your journeys!
    • recoverygrrl
      recoverygrrl

      Posted

      Pah! I spoke too soon. After feeling fine I've nosedived in the past 2 days and am going to go back on a low dose and reduce much more slowly as the symptoms are unbearable!

      What a nightmare this is!!!!

      0

  • tiffany87207
    tiffany87207 recoverygrrl

    Posted

    Hello,

    When I first come off I experienced what felt like shock-disoriention feel. Waking up often at night. I don't want to do ANYTHING!! Most times I have zero tolerance to anything or anyone - short tempered, other times its the complete opposite to overwhelming heartfelt tears.

    I was on 20mg for about 4 years, I decided to come off it. I reduced dosage for 3 weeks (once every 2nd day) - then stopped altogether. It wasn't nice but got easier over 2 weeks.

    Nowing coming up  5 weeks free - Im still waking at night. The shock feel isn't all that bad, i think i'm getting use to it. Zero tolerance is still hanging around. I found exercise and good food helps, but each day you wake - you never know what your brain will do even though you may have plans - turns out so does your brain!!

    • recoverygrrl
      recoverygrrl tiffany87207

      Posted

      Thanks Tiffany, are you managing to work?

      I've done 7 weeks at zero (not worked for 5 of them!!!) and have had easier times where I've felt better and then hellish times again!!! Over the past 3 days I've had a real dip and can no longer tolerate the huge feelings of terror, especially in the mornings! I'm seeing the doc on Monday and hope to reinstate either on a low dose of citalopram or Prozac (which has a longer half life thus easier to get off). You sound like you're doing ok though on the whole? I was on citalopram for 11 years so I think this is part of the reason I'm struggling so much

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